Baltimore’s Waterfront to Shine Bright This Holiday Season With The Return of “Winter on the Waterfront”

November 2, 2023

Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore is set to transform Baltimore’s promenade into a winter wonderland with a series of seasonal events running from November until January 

The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore has announced the return of Winter on the Waterfront highlighting the many events and activities available along the Inner Harbor waterfront this winter. The festivities officially kick off with the return of seasonal favorites including the Inner Harbor Ice Rink on Saturday, November 11th, Christmas Village beginning November 18th and the Harbor Point Ice Festival returning on January 20th.  

“As we start to feel a chill in the air and the holidays are upon us, we can look forward to the many activities that will take place along the waterfront,” said Laurie Schwartz, president of the Waterfront Partnership. “From the return of family favorites including the Inner Harbor Ice Rink and Christmas Village to new and exciting happenings such as the Made in Baltimore pop-up shop at Rash Field Park, we invite everyone to enjoy all the events, shopping, dining and more that the waterfront has to offer!” 

Located at the top of the Amphitheater at the Inner Harbor, the ice rink will be open daily through January 15, 2024, complimenting many seasonal and holiday activities that will take place as a part of Winter on the Waterfront programming. On the rink’s opening day, November 11th at 11:00 a.m., the first 50 children will enjoy free ice-skating and skate rental along with sweet treats from Crust by Mack and hot cocoa.  

“We take pride in knowing that our support of the Inner Harbor Ice Rink actively reinforces Baltimore’s waterfront as a vibrant destination year-round. By supporting these iconic public spaces, we are helping create a welcoming environment where families can gather, creating unforgettable memories that will endure for a lifetime,” said jointly by Amy Elias on behalf of the Pearlstone Family Fund and Elizabeth R. “Buffy” Minkin, president of the Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds. 

Listed below are some of the many activities and events included in this year’s Winter on the Waterfront lineup: 

  • Nov. 10 – Dec. 23: Shop for exclusive products made in Charm City at two Made in Baltimore (MIB) Holiday Pop-up locations along the waterfront, the MIB Holiday Store will open at 301 Light St. at Harborplace and the Made in Baltimore’s Home-Run Accelerator program will pop-up at the BGE Pavilion in Rash Field Park. Made In Baltimore’s Home-Run Accelerator is a 5-month small business development program designed to help home-based entrepreneurs scale up and out into commercial production space. The program is specifically tailored for product-based businesses that are currently run by entrepreneurs out of their homes or shared maker space. Meet the makers and shop their products!
  • Nov. 11, 2023 – Jan. 15, 2024: Take in the magical views of the harbor and create wintertime memories in the heart of downtown Baltimore at the Inner Harbor Ice Rink. Sponsored by the Pearlstone Family Fund and the Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, the rink will return to the top of the Amphitheater between the two Harborplace pavilions at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor beginning November 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with an opening celebration during which the first 50 people to arrive will skate free. Attendees on opening day can enjoy coffee, hot cocoa and treats available from Pizza di Joey and Crust by Mack. The rink will remain open until January 15, 2024. Regular hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 12:00-10:00 p.m., Friday, 12:00-11:00 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
  • Nov. 18 – Dec. 24, 2023, from 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. every Wednesday through Sunday: Christmas Village in Baltimore, an authentic German Christmas market with a combination of outdoor and indoor wooden stalls, returns to West Shore Park at the Inner Harbor. Modeled after the traditional Christmas Markets in Germany, Baltimore’s Christmas Village will feature gift shopping and traditional food, sweets and drinks.
  • Dec. 2 – 3, 2023: Enjoy the Baltimore waterfront’s Most Festive Weekend of the year! Take some time to explore Baltimore’s Waterfront with fresh eyes. The entire waterfront district which includes Fells Point, Harbor Point, Harbor East and Inner Harbor, will be adorned with decorations, overflowing with festivals, art, and holiday wonder, including the Fells Point Old Tyme Christmas, Parade of Lighted Boats, Holiday Maker’s Market at the Harborplace Light St. Pavillion featuring 60+ homegrown brands and entrepreneurs, vintage picks by The Charmers Club and a fashion show highlighting Baltimore’s best by Tightfisted fashion.
  • Dec. 23, 2023, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Enjoy a late morning visit from Santa at the Inner Harbor Ice Rink. Take photos with Santa and Santa’s Helper and enjoy complimentary sweets from Crust by Mack as well as hot coffee and cocoa while supplies last.
  • Jan. 20, 2024, from 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: At the Harbor Point Ice Festival, watch as award-winning sculptors use chainsaws and chisels to create pieces of art. Enjoy some of Baltimore’s best food trucks, hot toddies from Bar Movement, interactive ice for the little ones and chill tunes. Come marvel at the stunning view as this Harbor Point park fills with winter wonder and cheer.  

For a full list of events and for more information on Winter on the Waterfront, visit waterfrontpartnership.org/winter.   

For full rink program details, special holiday hours and updates throughout the season including inclement weather closings, visit innerharboricerink.org or visit the Waterfront Partnership Facebook page, facebook.com/WaterfrontPartnership.    

Waterfront Partnership, in collaboration with our government, business, and community partners, creates a clean, green, safe, sustainable and thriving urban waterfront for all to enjoy. We’re lean, nimble and effective; the only organization that wakes up every day, rolls its sleeves up and gets to work on new ways we can make Baltimore’s Waterfront even more active, attractive and appealing. We’re the hosts who greet visitors, the creators of programs and promotions and managers of our beautiful parks. We encourage investment in Baltimore’s most celebrated asset so it can continue to grow, to serve as a place of pride and the place where Baltimoreans come together to recreate and to celebrate. For more information, visit waterfrontpartnership.org.