AROUND THE PARK AGAIN By Sharon Lee Tegler
Local residents have had a variety of Christmas events to choose from throughout the years. Most were cancelled last year due to the pandemic but are back for 2021 in all their glory. Among the most popular are the two primary celebrations in Severna Park – the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce Community Tree Lighting and the Park Plaza Christmas Celebration. Both have interesting histories.
Severna Park Community Tree Lighting December 3rd
The town’s much-celebrated Community Tree Lighting will take place this year in front of the Chamber’s offices at One Holly Avenue (after being temporarily replaced in 2020 by a COVID-guidelines compliant “Tick or Tree” event). The annual holiday event draws large crowds from Arnold, Severna Park, Millersville, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Crofton and beyond.
The tree lighting tradition was started in the early 1990’s by Linda Zahn following her appointment as the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce’s first Chief Executive Officer. (She served as CEO for nearly three decades until succeeded by Liz League in 2018.)
Zahn doesn’t recall if there was a long-ago community tree in Severna Park but has heard that Santa flew into Severna Park Shopping Village on B&A Boulevard by helicopter in the 1950’s or 60’s. She started lighting the immensely tall, stately holly tree that still stands on the chamber property round 1994 or 1995.
“I felt we needed a community tree and I got permission to light that one from the Department of Parks and Recreation which owns the land,” Zahn said. ” It’s huge! I took a look at the lights that were on the tree at the Naval Academy alumni house. I had an area electrician make similar lights for the Chamber to use on the huge holly so that the bulbs were of a decent size for a tree that big. We took the lights from top to bottom in strings. I believe (but am trusting my memory here), that Steve Darley climbed the tree that first year to put the lights up. We used that tree for years.”
Locals loved seeing the tall holly lit up. It could be seen glowing in the distance as drivers approached Severna Park from Benfield Road and Riggs Avenue. Zahn recalled how she organized a celebration around that first lighting, setting a pattern for the program that is still used today.
“I closed the street from traffic and started the activities surrounding the chamber tree lighting,” she said. “I used the railing at the Elmore Building to set up a stage so that people gathered on Holly Avenue could see the bag piper. Piper Michael Binnie opened every tree lighting while I was there and continues to do so. I put up flood lights to show Michael, the singers, etc. I brought in dancers too and they performed on Holly in the Elmore parking area. We had refreshments in the chamber building and the Severna Park Model Railroad Club next door was opened for visitors. It was quite an evening.
In the earlier years, the chamber’s CEO brought in regional dance troupes like the one in the opening photo who pranced delightfully as reindeers at during the 2012 tree lighting. Later, she began using dancers from the Dance Center of Severna Park and Creative Force Dance Center.
Eventually it became too much trouble to light the huge holly, even with a bucket truck. It was a prickly tree and the lights were giving Zahn trouble because water would get in the sockets and some lines would short and go out. Meanwhile a young holly planted directly in front of the chamber was getting big. After consulting with expert Kevin Wengernuk about keeping it shaped so it could be easily decorated, she started trimming the new tree with help from her husband Steve.
These days, planning for the chamber tree lighting and decoration of the Community Tree has fallen to current CEO Liz League and her husband Jim, who also assumes the role of The Grinch at holiday time.
Santa and The Grinch will both be on hand for the 2021 Chamber Tree Lighting and Open House being held on Friday, December 2nd at 5 pm in front of the Severna Park and Arnold Chamber building at One Holly Avenue.
Following tradition, the festivities will begin as darkness falls with featured performances by the Severna Park Elementary School Chorus and dancers from the Creative Force Dance Center and the Dance Center of Severna Park. Attendees will be invited to the Open House at the chamber building for cookies, hot chocolate, and cider and may also visit the Severna Park Model Railroad Club train display.
Park Plaza Holiday Celebration to welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus back December 10
Park Plaza will once again welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus to its annual holiday celebration on December 10th with live music from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. It’s not known yet how the jolly old elf and his wife will arrive as they have appeared in different ways every year since the early 1990’s.
According to Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery co-owner Dawn Baumgartner Wilson, whose family helps organize the event, the first Santas to appear nearly 30 years ago were volunteers from the Greater Severna Park Chamber.
For several years, the jolly old elf and his wife appeared by horse-drawn carriage like the one below. Other years they came by firetruck.
Who knows? If we get snow, the couple may come by reindeer. But one thing’s for certain, the children will love sitting on Santa’s lap while parents snap away with their smartphones.
Park Plaza holiday celebrations always have music, most often supplied by school choruses or bands. The merchants offer treats and games for children. This year, characters are coming and there will be a balloon artist. Stores like The Cottage, Park Home, Franklin Toys and Side Street Framers will be decorated beautifully and some will have sales.
Holiday Taste and Sip 11th Anniversary Celebration
The Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber’s 11th Anniversary Holiday Taste and Sip celebration will be held December 9th at Chartwell Golf and Country Club from 6 to 9 pm.
This event has a bit of a history too. Eleven-year sponsor Matt Wyble of The Matt Wyble Team helped former chamber CEO Linda Zahn launch the first Taste and Sip in 2009 against the glittering holiday backdrop of original hosts Homestead Gardens Severna Park and adjoining Zachary’s Jewelers. The event was held there for nine years. until the number of attendees exceeded the amount of space.
In 2019 Wyble helped the chamber’s current CEO Liz League bring the event to Chartwell Golf and Country Club for the first time drawing 300 guests. Both Wyble and League are excited to be back at Chartwell again this year after a year’s pause due to the pandemic.
“It’s very exciting,” League said. “We’re expecting 26 vendors – our area’s finest purveyors of food and drink – so the variety of wines, spirits and dishes to sample will be amazing.”
As always, there will be entertainment. Guests will be greeted at the entrance by carols from The Chesapeake Harmony Chorus. The chorus has performed at the Taste and Sip event many times but has not done a public performance for over a year so they are really looking forward to the occasion. There will be a Silent Auction too. There is much more. Tickets are still available at Holiday Taste and Sip 11th Anniversary Celebration (gspacc.com) but are going fast.
Severna Park Farmer’s Market “Christmas Market” Dec. 11
The Severna Park Farmer’s Market is excited to announce their Christmas Market will be held December 11 from 8 to 12 pm. They are full up with vendors so there will be meats, wines and spirits, seasonal fruits and veggies, breads and holiday items.
For information, visit Severna Park Farmer’s Market | Facebook .
There are a few other holiday events but we hit the high points. Those of us who like to visit Annapolis during the holiday season, favor Midnight Madness Thursdays. This year, they’ll take place December 2nd and 9th, from 4 pm till Midnight and December 16th from 4 to 11 pm where select stores in downtown Annapolis will remain open until midnight.
We also return again and again for the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade which will take place along the Annapolis waterfront on Saturday, December 11th from 6 to 8 pm. It’s always great fun to cheer on the decorated boats and their crews as they circle the harbor. For more information, check out Visit Annapolis – Holiday Events .
