Vendors will sell their goods in a virtual marketplace.
2020 just can't give us a break: Baltimore's Christmas Village, the festive event we look forward to each year, has unfortunately been canceled this year due to the pandemic.
Organizers made the call last Friday to postpone the open-air market as COVID-19 cases continue to spike across the region. In a press release, Christmas Village President Thomas Bauer expressed regret at the decision, noting the public's safety took priority over an adjusted event:
“Our team worked tirelessly to produce a socially-distanced version of Christmas Village in Baltimore and to offer the people a piece of normalcy during these challenging times, but in consultation with the City of Baltimore, we decided to prioritize the safety of our staff, vendors, and guests and to focus on 2021.”
The Christmas Village in Baltimore is based off authentic German markets that date back to the 16th century, and has been a beloved tradition for Baltimoreans for seven years and counting. Beginning on Thanksgiving, Inner Harbor transforms into a charming winter village offering delicious cuisine, live entertainment, and craft vendors against a backdrop of twinkling lights. Visitors come far and wide for the experience: over 150,000 people strolled through West Shore Park in 2018 alone, which isn't surprising—you're basically walking through a winter wonderland that's straight out of a fairytale!
The Christmas Village isn't the only holiday event to close up shop; the Inner Harbor Ice Rink will be calling it quits for 2020, while Hampden's annual Mayor's Christmas Parade canceled back in September.
While we're bummed the holiday season won't look the same this year—no gingerbread or bratwursts—there's a silver lining to all of this: a selection of vendors will be available to shop from virtually, so those of us wanting to shop small for the holidays can still support our favorite businesses. You can browse the virtual marketplace here. In the meantime, we'll be prepping ourselves for 2021. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder!
**Courtesy of Christmas Village in Baltimore's Facebook
Marylanders, are you bummed the German Christmas Village isn't happening this year? Sound off in the comments and share your favorite memory with us!
