Would you like to take an imaginary ride on a broom stick with a witch and her purring cat? As we read Room on A Broom we will fly through the air, make new friends, and meet a Big Red Dragon. Crafts, songs, and a snack will reinforce the theme. Space is limited; reservations encouraged. Cost: Free for Family Circle Members, $8 per child for HA Members and Volunteers, $10 per child for Non-Members  

Featuring guest speaker Nicholas Fessenden It is a little known story that, during 1830-1914, 1.5 million immigrants landed in Baltimore, which was America's third largest port of entry. Mr. Fessenden will describe the stories of the largest groups who came here; Germans, Irish, Jews, and Poles, why they left their homeland and how they fashioned new lives in their adopted country. Nicholas Fessenden taught History in the Upper School at Friends School of Baltimore (1972-2010) and also as an adjunct at Towson University, Maryland Institute of Art, and Community College...

A crisp autumn evening is the perfect time to walk through one of the historic neighborhoods in Annapolis. The experience is even better when the doors to some of the homes are open and you are invited inside. During Annapolis by Candlelight, Historic Annapolis showcases privately-owned historic houses. Visitors see how 21st century Annapolitans care for and live in buildings built in the 20th, 19th or 18th century. Each house is a reminder of the rich architectural and cultural heritage of Maryland’s capital city and illustrates the practical and aesthetic...

November kicks off with a bang when Oldton’s Baltemore Rangers return to London Town. Representing early Maryland Militia, the Rangers come to live in the town over the weekend so they can drill, cook their food over hearth fires, and talk to you. Included with general admission and free for members.

Drawing on a decades-old rivalry, the annual charitable event features the longest tug-of-war over a body of water in the world, pitting downtown Annapolitans against the rebels of the mock-breakaway Maritime Republic of Eastport. Dubbed the Slaughter Across the Water, it features a 1700-foot rope, 450 tuggers and about 1,000 spectators. A festival-like atmosphere overtakes downtown Eastport and Annapolis beginning at 11:00 a.m. Tugging begins promptly (more or less) at the crack o’ noon. Free.

The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, but Emancipation in Maryland did not happen until November 1, 1864. Join the Banneker-Douglass Museum to celebrate Maryland Emancipation Day for a fun-filled day that includes Arts and Crafts Workshops, Scavenger Hunt, Goodie Bags, and Docent Guided Tours. Registration is encouraged. To make a reservation, please contact LeRonn Herbert by phone (410.216.6180) or by email ([email protected]).

November kicks off with a bang when Oldton’s Baltemore Rangers return to London Town. Representing early Maryland Militia, the Rangers come to live in the town over the weekend so they can drill, cook their food over hearth fires, and talk to you. Included with general admission and free for members.

Celebrate the camellia by discovering the art of tea, which is traditionally made from Camellia sinesis. Meanwhile, enjoy a delightful brunch of light refreshments, courtesy of Palate Pleasers catering, including: homemade scones with lemon curd on the side, sliced apple cake, fresh fruit platter, tea sandwiches, and roasted vegetable quiche bites. London Town has a new operations and capital improvement plan with great things in store for the gardens. Our staff and board are finalizing a new collections policy, and big projects are underway to the entry way. Join us to learn...

Enjoy live entertainment as you stroll along the first block of West Street and Calvert Street next to Whitmore parking garage and peruse the work of 130 local and regional artists in search of unique holiday gifts. Local restaurants set up outside cafes that are perfect for people watching and an afternoon bite to eat. Free parking for the family-friendly event is available at the state parking garage on the corner of Calvert and Bladen Streets. Event includes some of the region’s best artists, crafters, musicians, and food. It’s the...

A rare opportunity to step beyond a classic guided house tour awaits. Every second Wednesday this fall, visitors will peek behind closed doors, explore unique features in the extensive grounds, and discover hidden details and stories. This experience transcends the content of the standard house tours and is ideal for those who love the William Paca House and are intrigued to delve deeper into the site’s long and rich history. Reservations required. Cost: $20 for HA Members and Volunteers; $25 for Non-Members  

Join the Banneker-Douglass Museum for an evening of thought-provoking research and conversation in celebration of the birthday of Benjamin Banneker, the great man of science, with a lecture from Historian C.R. Gibbs. Registration is encouraged. To make a reservation please contact LeRonn Herbert by phone (410.216.6180) or by email ([email protected]).

Élan Ensemble – Historic Music Annapolis Music of Barbara Strozzi & Francesca Caccini with lute solos by Gianoncelli and Piccinini Elissa Edwards, Soprano Richard Kolb, Archlute & Theorbo   $40 per person/$35 Members

Archival Treasures of a Monuments Man: Marvin Ross Before the Hammond-Harwood House Marvin Chauncey Ross joined the Hammond-Harwood House Furnishings Committee in 1948. As a Trustee, he was instrumental in some of the most valuable acquisitions of 18th-century American furnishings for the museum. But, what about his life before that time? During World War II, Ross was a Monuments Man. Baltimore-based archivist Melissa Wertheimer shares documents from the Marvin Chauncey Ross Papers at the Walters Art Museum to fill in the gaps about Ross’s military service and his contributions to museums...

Tour Hammond-Harwood House with the curator. Topics include decorative arts and architectural features and the connected social history. For reservations email [email protected] or call 410-2634683 ext.10 $10 per person/Members Free

A two-hour, in-depth tour of the architecture of the Hammond-Harwood House, highlighting the exquisite plasterwork, woodwork, and architectural details. For reservations email [email protected] or call 410-2634683 ext.10 $20 per person/$15 Members

Saturday Family Day! Born in 1731 in Ellicott Mills, Maryland, Benjamin Banneker was a self-educated scientist, astronomer, mathematician and Civil Rights activist. Join the Banneker-Douglass Museum as we celebrate Benjamin Banneker's Birthday with activities including Science and Craft Workshops, a Scavenger Hunt, Goodie Bags, and Docent Guided Tours. Registration is encouraged. To make a reservation please contact LeRonn Herbert by phone (410.216.6180) or by email ([email protected]).

Four Rivers Heritage Awards recognize individuals, organizations, programs and products that contribute significantly to the community by interpreting, promoting, preserving, researching and/or supporting our historical legacy. Cost is $15 per person. Please email [email protected] or call 410-222-1805 to RSVP.

Do you gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends? Does everyone bring a dish to share? Bear wants everyone to join him for a big dinner, but his cupboard is empty. What will he do? Let’s find out as we read Bear Gives Thanks. Songs, crafts, and a snack will reinforce the theme. Space is limited; reservations encouraged. Cost: Free for Family Circle Members, $8 per child for HA Members and Volunteers, $10 per child for Non-Members    

Share your history and stories online with Annapolis Past Port. Learn how to create your own pages and upload photos and documents to our own version of Wikipedia! Created by Make Your Mark Media and student interns from AACPS, the Annapolis Past Port is a free and public resource for preserving and sharing the history and stories of the Annapolis area and communities. We will show you the ins and outs of the "wiki" (the same open-source application used by Wikipedia) and walk you through how to create and edit your content....

Ever wonder what the colonials drank? Come to the William Paca House to find out! Learn about historical practices in brewing and distilling and practices today, just in time for the upcoming fall and winter holidays. Cash bar available. 21+ only. Reservations encouraged. Cost: $10 per adult for HA Members and Volunteers, $12 per adult for Non-Members. Entry includes one drink ticket. Additional drink tickets available for purchase.  

Tour of the house that compares the customs and social graces of the Loockerman family, who lived in the Hammond-Harwood House in the early 19th century, with those of characters in Jane Austen novels. $10 per person/Members Free For reservations email [email protected] or call 410-2634683 ext.10

Norm Barker, Professor of Pathology and Art as Applied to Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, will discuss the “Hidden Beauty” exhibition at 5:30 p.m. in the Conversation Room, across from the Mitchell Gallery. The scientific image no matter what discipline, medicine, chemistry, biology, oceanography, etc. is essential for the transfer of knowledge. We are a visual culture and observation is such an important part of the scientific method. As far back as the Ancient Egyptians more than 5000 years ago, documents have been unearthed describing empirical methods...

The celebration features an evening of food, wine and beer - all from local restaurants and breweries. In addition, renowned pianist and vocalist, Courtyn Carr, will be performing live.

Have you ever wondered what preservation in progress really looks like? Beginning November 18th, take a peek behind the scaffolding in the James Brice House, where a major preservation effort has recently begun to restore the house to its 18th century grandeur. Schedule your own group tour or join one of our public tours to peer beyond the sawdust to learn about the people who built the house, lived and worked in it and the craftsmen restoring it today. $18.00 per person Tours will start from the William Paca House and...

The Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians returns to London Town for our annual celebration of native peoples in Maryland. Skip Black Friday and join in a dance, talk with an elder, and enjoy the state holiday alongside the Piscataway. Included with general admission and free for members.

With support from the Annapolis business community, the Annapolis Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) will once again host the Lighting of the Tree in Annapolis during the City’s Grand Illumination event. Watch Santa arrive in town and enjoy singing and dance performances by area youth. The Jaycees will provide refreshments and ornaments children can use to decorate the tree. Attendees are invited to bring nonperishable food items and new, unwrapped toys for the Jaycees’ annual Angel Tree Project. Free.

In celebration of his new book, "Musical Maryland: A History of Song and Performance from the Colonial Period to the Age of Radio,"renowned musicologist David Hildebrand presents a rare concert experience at the Maryland State Archives.

Have you ever ridden on a bus to take a trip to the market, to visit Annapolis, or go to a park? As we read The Last Stop on Market Street, we will join a boy, C.J., and his grandmother on a bus ride. C.J. asks his grandmother many questions, and she gives him some answers that help him look at their travels from a positive point-of-view. Songs, crafts, and a snack will reinforce the theme. Space is limited; reservations encouraged. Cost: Free for Family Circle Members, $8 per child for...

As the celebration of the James Brice House’s 250-year anniversary continues, don’t miss this opportunity to meet further members of the project’s impressive preservation team. In this unique demonstration and lecture, historic interior finish experts, Christopher Mills and Erika Sanchez Goodwillie, will demonstrate methods of producing historic paints and traditional paintings techniques, discuss their portfolio of past work, and provide insight into the daily dilemmas that conservators in the field face with regard to preservation and restoration. Reservations encouraged. Cost: Free for Curator’s Circle and Preservation Circle Members; $15 for...

Building off the success of their presentations in 2016, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County has asked the Symmetry Agency to help create a monthly series that highlights specific, educational topics for their partners. Free. Senator John C. Astle Conference Room. November 30 – Analytics with speaker Ben Isenberg

New this year: Friday AND Saturday Nights! Experience the magic of a winter evening at Illuminated London Town! Sip hot cider and roast s'mores beside roaring fires in the Historic Area, included in the price. Explore the gardens, illuminated with festive holiday lights. Discover colonial nighttime and holidays at a candlelit William Brown House, decorated for the season. Enjoy special performances in the gardens each week, such as the Chesapeake Revelers or the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra. The Coffee Table Truck will have hot specialty drinks for sale. Bring the family to...

Learn about the origin of holiday traditions – including the significance of evergreens, Yule logs, Christmas trees and Santa Claus as you stroll through Annapolis with a festively attired guide. Includes a tour of the Hammond-Harwood House. Admission: $21/Adults; $12/Children ages 3-11; Children 2 and under, free Tours depart from the Information Booth at City Dock, Annapolis

Start your holiday season with our annual wreath workshop! Create your own holiday wreaths and centerpieces using greenery from our wooded gardens, bows, ornaments, and other festive decorations. Our expert wreath makers will guide you in making the perfect natural holiday decorations for your home!​ 1 centerpiece or 1 wreath is $35 each for members or $40 each for non-members. Make both for $60 for members or $70 for non-members. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. Last year sold out!

Celebrate the timelessness of play! Join us for an exhibit opening featuring an interactive mural of Spa Creek through children's eyes by Christina Fiedler. Enjoy a family friendly concert with Frolic the Fox! Cost: $10.00 for adults, $ 5.00 for children Light refreshments served

Schedule: 5:45pm - 7:00pm Potluck Dinner (bring a dish to share)  7:00pm - 8:30pm Family-Friendly Dancing  8:30pm - 10:00 pm More Challenging Dancing    LIVE Traditional Appalachian Dance Tunes by Leah Weiss (fiddle), Gary Wright (guitar), & Friends.   Square dances + circle dances + contra dances called by Janine Smith. No partner and no experience necessary. ALL AGES WELCOME! Adults: $10, Ages 5-17 years $5, Under 5 FREE   Call (571)238-1080 for more info/questions or visit http://communitysquaredance.wordpress.com/

Are you a chocoholic in need of a fix? You won’t want to miss the 2nd Annual Chocolate Binge Festival. A dozen local chocolate vendors will be selling chocolate specialties, including chocolate caramels, cakes, chocolate bars, truffles, fudge, cookies, candies, hot chocolate, fondue, martinis and more. The afternoon also includes family-friendly entertainment, holiday shopping and the lighting of the newly expanded West Street Holiday Light Canopy. Enjoy live music, a marshmallow roast, a gingerbread house moon bounce, giant snowball run, hot chocolate with members of the Annapolis Police Department and...

Bring your own ornament or decorate one on site to help trim the tree before it gets lit with Santa at 4:45 p.m. Enjoy music, cocoa, cider, rum cake, cookies and more. Fun for the whole family! Free.