Bowie Holiday Events 2026: Tree Lighting, Belair Candlelight and the Festival of Lights

Bowie’s holiday season has two can’t-miss free nights back to back: the City tree lighting on Saturday, December 5 and Belair Mansion’s candlelight open house on Sunday, December 6. Here’s the lineup. Check each link for times before you go.

• Sat, Dec 5: Holiday Tree Lighting at the Bowie Senior Center, 14900 Health Center Dr. Activities start at 4 p.m. and the tree is lit at 7. Free, no reservation. City details.
• Sat, Dec 5, noon to 4 p.m.: Holiday Festivities at the Old Town Bowie Welcome Center and Railroad Museum: snow globes, letters to Santa, photos in the Chessie Caboose (registration required) and a Polar Express reading.
• Sun, Dec 6, 4 to 8 p.m.: Candlelight Open House with Santa at Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Dr. Free, no reservations.
• Dec 12, 13, 19 and 20, noon to 4 p.m.: Elf Hunt on the Belair Mansion grounds. Free.
• Weekends Dec 5 to 13: Letters to Santa at the Old Town Bowie Welcome Center, and weekdays at City Hall.
• Sat, Dec 12, 8 p.m.: Brencore Allstars holiday concert at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts. $40 advance.
• Dec 13, 18 and 20: A Christmas Carol at the Bowie Center. $26 adults, $18 children.
• Nightly through Jan 1: Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., $20 per car. New Year’s Day is free.

Kringle Kaboose, Breakfast with Santa and the Holiday Jingle Skate usually happen in mid-December too. Their 2026 dates weren’t posted yet, so watch the City’s Holiday Happenings page.

Everything in one place: Bowie events this fall and winter.

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