Nautical Christmas Events - Things To Do

Montauk Lighthouse | credit USCG

The Mid Atlantic Region is known for its nautical events. This post focuses on nautical theme Christmas and winter holiday things to do in the area.


New York

Christmas with Santa 2019 at the Montauk Lighthouse

Santa Claus himself will be at the Montauk Point Lighthouse on Sunday, December 1st, 2019 from - 11:00 AM - 03:00 PM. Families will enjoy caroling, pony rides, and more.


New Jersey

West Cape May (WCM) Community Christmas Parade

Always the first Saturday in December, The West Cape May (WCM) Community Christmas Parade sets the stage for the areas holiday season. Now in its 54th year, the parade steps off at 5:00pm sharp from the WCM Volunteer Firehouse and marches South on Broadway, winds East on Perry, and onto Carpenter Lane in the City of Cape May. The Parade reschedules to December 8th in the event of inclement weather.


Maryland

Baltimore Inner Harbor Boat Parade

An annual parade of lighted boats is scheduled to occur in the Northwest and Inner Harbors at Baltimore, MD on December 7, 2019, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The holiday season boat parade consists of 30 sail and power vessels (19-60 feet in length). Vessels will gather in the Northwest Harbor near Canton at Anchorage Marina, proceed to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and conduct two counter-clockwise loops before returning to the starting area. Participants will be supported by sponsor-provided watercraft. Additional event information is available at www.anchoragemarina.com.

Middle River Boat Parade

An annual holiday season boat parade is scheduled to occur in the Middle River on November 30, 2019, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Approximately 100 sail and power vessels (15 to 60 feet in length) will operate along the Middle River and its tributaries, near Baltimore County, MD. Participants will be supported by sponsor-provided safety vessels.

Ocean City MD Winterfest of Lights

This year's Ocean City MD Winterfest of Lights runs November 21 - December 31, 2019. On display will be more than one million holiday lights and hundreds of animated light displays throughout Northside Park. Relax and sip hot chocolate in the heated Winterfest Village pavilion, take a photo with Santa, and board the Winterfest Express to tour fairy tale themed exhibits. The one-mile journey takes visitors through 58 acres of lights and features a 50-foot Christmas tree.

Christmas in St. Michaels

Christmas in St. Michaels is held annually the second weekend in December in historic St. Michaels, Maryland. Ticketed and free events include the Tour of Homes, Holiday Gala, Breakfast with Santa, and the Christmas Parade along Talbot Street, the largest holiday parade on the Eastern Shore.


Virginia

Holiday Parade at the Beach - Virginia Beach

On Saturday, December 7, at 5:30pm, the Cox Communications Holiday Parade at the Beach will include giant balloons, marching bands, lighted floats, equestrian units, fire trucks, performing dance groups, motorcycles, and Santa. The parade travels north on Atlantic Avenue from 15th Street to 25th Street. The reviewing stand is located at 25th Street and Atlantic Avenue.

Related Information

Christmas In New England

Baltimore Inner Harbor

Hampton Roads Christmas Holiday Events 2019

Things To Do In Ocean City MD

Chesapeake Bay Foundation State of the Bay Report

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's (CBF) biennial State of the Bay Report score decreased one point to 33, equivalent to a D+.

The lower score for 2018 was due mainly to increased pollution and poor water clarity caused by record regional rainfall.

"The good news is that scientists are pointing to evidence of the Bay's increased resiliency and ability to withstand, and recover from, these severe weather events. And this resiliency is a direct result of the pollution reductions achieved to date. In addition, we did see increases in scores for dissolved oxygen and Bay grasses since 2016, but the recovery is still fragile," said CBF's Director of Science and Agricultural Policy Beth McGee.

Established in 1998, CBF's State of the Bay Report is a comprehensive measure of the Bay's health. CBF scientists compile and examine the best available data and information for 13 indicators in three categories: pollution, habitat, and fisheries. CBF scientists assign each indicator an index score from 1-100. Taken together, these indicators offer an overall assessment of Bay health.

Dissolved oxygen and bay grasses improved. In the pollution category, toxics were unchanged, while water clarity, and nitrogen and phosphorus pollution were worse. In the habitat category, scores for bay grasses and resource lands improved, and buffers and wetlands remained the same. In the fisheries category, scores for oysters, crabs, and rockfish remained the same, while the score for shad declined.

This year's score is still far short of the goal to reach 40 by 2025 and ultimately a 70, which would represent a saved Bay. The unspoiled Bay ecosystem described by Captain John Smith in the 1600s, with its extensive forests and wetlands, clear water, abundant fish and oysters, and lush growths of submerged vegetation serves as the theoretical benchmark and would rate a 100 on CBF's scale.

The Clean Water Blueprint requires the Bay jurisdictions to decrease pollution to local creeks, rivers, and the Bay. State and local governments have committed to achieve specific, measurable reductions. The states agreed to have the 60 percent of the needed programs and practices in place by 2017, and to complete the job by 2025.

Of the primary Bay states, Virginia and Maryland were close to meeting the 2017 goals but need to accelerate pollution reduction from agriculture and urban/suburban runoff. Pennsylvania continues to be far short of its goals, mostly as a result of falling behind in addressing pollution from agriculture.

The full Chesapeake Bay Foundation 2018 State of the Bay Report can be accessed at: http://www.cbf.org/document-library/cbf-reports/2018-state-of-the-bay-report.pdf

source: Chesapeake Bay Foundation