What to do with kids in Baltimore over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus six dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Baltimore Visitor Center, Inner Harbor · 401 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21202
Good to know: Walk-ins welcome, but booking ahead gets you a time. Pets on a leash can be in the photo, and Black Santa is there on select dates.
34th Street in Hampden · 700 block of W. 34th St., Baltimore, MD 21211
Good to know: The street lights up Nov 28 at 6pm. It’s usually closed to cars, so park a few blocks away and walk.
West Shore Park, Inner Harbor · 501 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21202
Good to know: A German-style market with a carousel and a Ferris wheel (rides extra). Gingy the gingerbread mascot walks the market weekends 1–4pm.
Merriweather Post Pavilion area · Hickory Ridge Road and Broken Land Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
Good to know: More than 300,000 lights from the car. The line starts at Hickory Ridge Road and Broken Land Parkway.
Color Burst Park, Merriweather District · Columbia
Good to know: Opens with the Merriweather District tree lighting on Nov 20, with themed skate nights through the season.
Light St. and Pratt St. · Inner Harbor
Good to know: First come, first served. Buying ahead online is encouraged.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum · 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Good to know: A countdown to noon in the atrium with confetti, plus a quieter sensory-friendly countdown with no confetti, hat making and a dance party.
National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation · 901 W. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21223
Good to know: Party hats, a resolution station, a ball drop and a toast with apple juice. A New Year’s run of the Reindeer Railway leaves at 11:30am and 1pm, with train tickets sold on site.
Symphony Woods, Merriweather Post Pavilion · Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
Good to know: A walk-through night at the light show that rings in the new year early.
Baltimore County Public Library – Catonsville Branch · Catonsville
Good to know: A crafting hour where kids make paper sparklers and countdown clocks to ring in the new year.
Baltimore County Public Library – Randallstown Branch · Randallstown
Good to know: A dance party for babies, toddlers and preschoolers that builds up to the noon countdown.
Baltimore County Public Library – Pikesville Branch · Pikesville
Good to know: Activities for preschool and elementary kids, with a countdown to noon in the middle of the hour.
34th Street in Hampden · 700 block of W. 34th St., Baltimore, MD 21211
Good to know: The street lights up Nov 28 at 6pm. It’s usually closed to cars, so park a few blocks away and walk.
Merriweather Post Pavilion area · Hickory Ridge Road and Broken Land Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
Good to know: More than 300,000 lights from the car. The line starts at Hickory Ridge Road and Broken Land Parkway.
Open on New Year’s Day: Christmas Village in Baltimore, The Maryland Zoo, National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation (B&O), Maryland Science Center.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in BaltimoreEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in BaltimoreEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in BaltimoreFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in BaltimoreIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in BaltimoreBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in BaltimoreHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in BaltimoreParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in BaltimoreKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in BaltimoreParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in BaltimorePolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in BaltimoreBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in BaltimoreChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in BaltimoreDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Christmas Village in Baltimore (Dec 24: noon–5pm; Dec 25: closed), The Maryland Zoo (Dec 24: open 10am–4pm; Dec 25: closed), National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation (B&O) (Dec 24–25: closed), Maryland Science Center (Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
On the calendar: Santa at Christmas Village.
Christmas Village in Baltimore (Closed (season ends Dec 27)), The Maryland Zoo (Open 10am–4pm), National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation (B&O) (Closed), Maryland Science Center (Not listed).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Miracle on 34th Street and Symphony of Lights. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas Village in Baltimore, Symphony of Lights, Color Burst Ice Rink and Inner Harbor Ice Rink. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Baltimore, through the holidays.
