It's Giving Tuesday! You can make a difference by contributing to Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area. Your contribution will empower local heritage sites and make a difference in our community. Or donate to our heritage stakeholders, please consider a donation today! bit.ly/3i6T2em

Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area is pleased to announce nine new Mini-Grant awards to local heritage-related nonprofit organizations as part of our FY23 Mini-Grant opportunity. This matching Mini-Grants program, made possible through a Block Grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, augmented this year by an anonymous donor, leverages other funding to assist local heritage related non-profit organizations to create new programs, products, activities, and events that build upon heritage-based interpretive themes, foster collaborative partnerships, and enhance local cultural historic resources and heritage tourism.

Organizations and projects approved for Fall FY2023 Mini-Grant awards include:

— Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park, “Marine Survey and Preservation Plan for AMM’s Wooden Boat Collection,” $2,500

— Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation, “‘The Radical Voice of Blackness Speaks of Resistance and Joy’ Exhibit,” $4,000

— Captain Avery Museum, “Emojis for the Chesapeake,” $4,000

— Chesapeake Arts Center, “Spring Break Art and Culture Mini-Camp,” $1,494

— Chesapeake Children’s Museum and Partners, “Maryland Day Weekend 2023,” $4,000

— Chesapeake Children’s Museum, “‘Free to Fish” Exhibit and Programs,” $3,000

— Historic Annapolis, “’The Beaches” Exhibit at the Museumof Historic Annapolis,” $1,500

— Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, “African American Female Pioneers Book Project,” $2,000

— Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, “Ballet After Dark,” $4,000

For more information about the grant program, please visit the Mini-Grants page at www.chesapeakecrossroads.org.

As our organization plans to revisit and revise our Interpretive Themes, we are planning a series of lunchtime seminars on the themes developed for recent Interpretive Plans in our area. The recordings of the first two presentations are now available.

On October 25, Darian Beverungen presented about the County’s eight interpretive themes, with a concentration on the topic of Immigration and Migration in the County. Here is a link to the recording of the presentation: https://youtu.be/SvQvhqz-jY0

The second seminar in the series was presented by Karen Theimer Brown, President and CEO of Historic Annapolis, on the themes in the Master Interpretive Plan for the Annapolis City Dock Area. Here is a link to the recording of the presentation: https://youtu.be/WsErkR7Wb70

Saturday, December 3 – Annual Odenton Christmas Tree Lighting – 5:00 PM

Odenton Marc Station (west side) Odenton Heritage Bank Building.

There will be refreshments, music, tree lighting, and Santa and Mrs. Santa’s arrival on the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company’s fire truck. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to visit with Santa and to meet your neighbors. 

Sunday, December 4 – OHS Open House and Christmas Bazaar -1 PM-4PM  

The Odenton Heritage Society will be celebrating the holiday season on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at our Christmas Open House Bazaar and Bake Sale. Please join us as we continue to celebrate Odenton’s 150^th Anniversary. There is much to learn and see about Odenton as you tour our museum.  On sale will be a variety of handmade items, baked goods, and Odenton history related items. There will also be a “Silent Auction”. The OHS Historical Center Museum presents more than 150 years of local history through objects, photographs, and Audio-Visual programs in our restored 1912 Colonial Revival two-story building located at 1367 Odenton Road. Hours are 1 PM-4 PM. Admission is free.

Saturday, December 3

2:00 - 6:00 pm (timed entry on the hour)

You are cordially invited to celebrate a colonial holiday with Historic Annapolis! Bring the entire family to welcome yuletide at the William Paca House and Hogshead. It’s the year 1772, and you'll experience the holiday traditions, music, and stories of Christmases past.

William Paca House and Garden

186 Prince George Street

• The Annapolis Living Historians will bring the Paca House to life! Meet William and Mary Paca and their friends as they fill this home with laughter, games of chance, gossip, and political news of the day.
• Be entertained by the colonial musical ensemble Bedlam as they regale you with holiday songs on harpsicord, guitars, flute, and more! It’s a holiday treat for the senses!
• And more!

Hogshead

43 Pinkney Street

• Continue the celebration at “Hogshead Tavern” on Pinkney Street where the middling sort and tradespeople are of good cheer.
• Enter the humble dwelling where fun and frolic await and enjoy flute music and garland demonstrations. 
• And more!

Advance registration strongly recommended; walk-ups will be accommodated as space permits.

Cost: FREE for HA Members and Volunteers; $12 General Admission; $7 Child (ages 3-17, free for 2 and under)

Saturday, December 3 at 1pm

and Sunday, December 4 at 1pm

Captain Avery Museum

1418 E West Shady Side Rd, Shady Side



Captain Avery Museum and The National Ballet Company present Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy & The Nutcracker Prince. Join the museum for this exciting holiday classic story of The Nutcracker. Tea, Cocoa and Treats will be served. Expect a visit from Santa!

Only $25 per person for Members! $30 for Non-members.

Buy your tickets to Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy

The first two Thursdays of December from 4 pm until Midnight and the third Thursday of December from 4 pm until 11 pm.

Downtown Annapolis Partnership proudly presents Midnight Madness—a Historic Downtown Annapolis holiday tradition that encompasses the charm and character of our most beloved memories of Norman Rockwell and Charles Dickens. We will adorn the streets and participating storefronts with holiday decorations, trees, garlands, snowflakes, bows, and lights to create a Downtown Winter Wonderland and free on the street entertainment.

Residents and visitors are invited to stroll along Main Street, West Street, Maryland Avenue, State Circle, Market Space, and Dock Street from 4 PM until Midnight to support our local businesses. When we Shop locally, we reinvest in our community and help our downtown businesses thrive. Check out all the stores, galleries, and boutiques throughout the downtown area.

Thursday, December 8

5:30-7:30 pm

Maryland Hall

801 Chase St, Annapolis

Green Drinks will be in the new Community Room at Maryland Hall. This month's event celebrates not only the season but also the activities and opportunities that event sponsor, Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area, is known for, as our organization celebrates our larger boundaries, new partners, and new brand! We’ll also celebrate Maryland Hall’s commitment to sustainability as events in the Community Room will all be Zero-Waste.

Event partner Greenstreet Gardens will create a holiday fantasy land with garlands, wreaths, a nine-foot tree, and over 1000 lights and cheerful décor. Caliente Grill is going to provide Latin American appetizers! The menu will include such treats as mini tacos, pupusas, chips and salsa and more. Delicioso!

Saturday, December 10

11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Banneker-Douglass Museum

84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

Join Banneker-Douglass Museum for their 2022 Kwanzaa celebration! This year’s festivities will focus on the creativity (Kuumba) of the people of the African Diaspora. We will highlight the museum’s current exhibit, The Radical Voice of Blackness Speaks of Resistance and Joy, while presenting live African dance and storytelling performances, Black-owned businesses, and delicious food.

RSVP for the Annual Kwanzaa Celebration.

County Executive Pittman and Mayor Gavin Buckley announce the opening of the Watershed Restoration Grant Program.

The Anne Arundel County Watershed Restoration Grant Program is a partnership between the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration, and the City of Annapolis. It funds projects in Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis that reduce pollutants through the implementation of watershed restoration practices. Non-profit organizations, community associations, faith-based organizations and others are all eligible to apply for grants up to $300,000.

The deadline to submit applications for the grant is March 16, 2023 at 4:00pm EST. Projects must be implemented in Anne Arundel County, Maryland (including within the City of Annapolis), and must include at least one partner that represents a stakeholder group based in the County/City. 

Applicants are urged to reach out to the Trust to discuss project ideas and schedule a site visit. Site visits must be completed by February 28, 2023 with the Trust and funding partner staff. The application and detailed information about the grant can be found on the Chesapeake Bay Trust website. 

Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area | 410-222-1805 | heritage_area@aacounty.org | chesapeakecrossroads.org