Things to Do in Baltimore in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Baltimore
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Festival season hits peak momentum - the Miracle on 34th Street holiday lights display in Hampden runs nightly through December, and you'll catch the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's holiday concerts at Meyerhoff without the crushing summer tourist crowds that plague other months
- Indoor attraction weather is actually perfect - those 85-117°F (29-47°C) swings mean you'll appreciate spending afternoons in the American Visionary Art Museum or National Aquarium without feeling like you're missing ideal beach weather, since there aren't really beaches here anyway
- Hotel rates drop 30-40% compared to summer and fall shoulder season - you can book Inner Harbor properties for typically $120-180 per night instead of the $200-300 you'd pay in October, and booking 3-4 weeks ahead usually locks in decent rates
- Restaurant reservation stress disappears - even popular spots in Fells Point and Harbor East have same-day availability most nights, except the week between Christmas and New Year's when locals are actually in town
Considerations
- That temperature data is genuinely bizarre and likely reflects some reporting error - actual December temperatures in Baltimore typically range 28-45°F (minus 2 to 7°C), meaning you'll need real winter gear, not the summer clothing those numbers would suggest
- Daylight ends around 4:45 PM in early December, so outdoor harbor walks and neighborhood exploring need to happen before 4 PM unless you're comfortable navigating unfamiliar streets in darkness - this cuts your effective sightseeing window to roughly 7 AM to 4 PM
- The city empties out December 23-26 when locals leave for family gatherings - many neighborhood restaurants close entirely, and you'll find a surprisingly dead downtown if you're here for Christmas itself, though the aquarium and major museums stay open
Best Activities in December
Inner Harbor Museum Circuit
December weather makes this the ideal month for Baltimore's museum cluster. The National Aquarium rarely has summer-level crowds, meaning you'll actually see the jellyfish exhibits without elbowing through school groups. The American Visionary Art Museum's outsider art collection works perfectly for those short daylight hours since you'll spend 2-3 hours indoors anyway. Port Discovery Children's Museum is worth it if you're traveling with kids under 10. The 70% humidity matters less when you're moving between climate-controlled spaces.
Hampden and Mount Vernon Neighborhood Walking Routes
The quirky Hampden neighborhood becomes genuinely magical in December when 34th Street residents cover entire rowhouse facades in holiday lights - locals call it Miracle on 34th Street and it runs dusk to 11 PM nightly through December. Mount Vernon's Washington Monument and surrounding Gilded Age architecture photograph beautifully in winter light. You'll want to tackle these walks before 4 PM when darkness hits, or specifically after dark for the light displays. The actual walking is flat and manageable - about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) to cover 34th Street, 2.5 km (1.6 miles) for a Mount Vernon loop.
Fells Point Food and Pub Crawl Routes
This waterfront neighborhood dating to 1763 has the city's densest concentration of bars and restaurants in preserved colonial buildings. December means you'll get tables at popular spots without 90-minute waits - places that are packed September through November become walk-in friendly. The cobblestone streets get slippery when wet, so those 10 rainy days matter. Evening temperatures in actual December weather (28-45°F or minus 2 to 7°C) mean you'll want to bar-hop rather than linger at outdoor tables, but the short walks between venues work fine.
Fort McHenry and Waterfront Historic Sites
The fort where the Star Spangled Banner was written during the 1814 British bombardment sits on a peninsula with genuinely dramatic Patapsco River views. December visitor numbers drop to maybe 20% of summer levels, meaning you can actually stand at the ramparts without crowds. The exposed waterfront location makes wind chill a real factor - those variable conditions mean layering matters more than the temperature numbers suggest. Plan for 90 minutes to 2 hours on site. The flag ceremony happens at specific times worth checking ahead.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Performing Arts Events
December is actually peak season for Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Hippodrome Theatre performances. The BSO runs multiple holiday concerts and Handel's Messiah performances that locals genuinely attend - these aren't tourist traps. The Hippodrome brings in touring Broadway productions. Indoor evening entertainment makes perfect sense when sunset hits at 4:45 PM and you've already done your daylight sightseeing. Dress codes are relaxed - business casual works fine, no need for formal wear.
Lexington Market and Cross Street Market Food Halls
Lexington Market just completed a full rebuild in 2023 and represents the real working-class Baltimore food scene - Faidley's crab cakes have been here since 1886. Cross Street Market in Federal Hill skews younger and more polished. December means you'll navigate these indoor markets without summer tourist crowds clogging the narrow aisles. The crab season technically runs year-round now due to Gulf imports, though purists argue December blue crabs lack the summer sweetness. Budget 60-90 minutes per market.
December Events & Festivals
Miracle on 34th Street Holiday Light Display
Entire blocks of Hampden rowhouses compete in elaborate holiday light displays that draw thousands of Baltimore residents. This is a genuine local tradition since the 1940s, not a manufactured tourist event. Residents sit on stoops handing out hot chocolate some nights. The spectacle peaks mid-December when every house is fully decorated. Completely free to walk through, though crowds get thick on weekend evenings.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concerts
Multiple performances throughout December at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall including Handel's Messiah and holiday pops concerts. These represent actual quality performances, not just tourist background music. The Messiah sing-along performance lets audience members join in if you know the score. Locals treat these as genuine cultural events and dress accordingly.
New Year's Eve Spectacular at Inner Harbor
Fireworks launched from harbor locations at midnight with multiple viewing points around the waterfront. Free public event that draws 30,000-plus people. Gets genuinely cold standing outside for hours, so this requires real winter gear. Bar and restaurant packages in Harbor East and Fells Point run typically $75-150 per person with reserved indoor viewing.