Things to do in Bowie, updated October 29, 2026

Bowie Events: November, December and the Holidays (2026)

What’s on in Bowie and right next door this fall and winter: the City tree lighting, Belair Mansion’s candlelight open house, the Festival of Lights, shows at the Bowie Center, and the Veterans 5K. Every event below is confirmed on an official City, Parks or venue page, with a link so you can check times before you go.

Holiday picks

Tree Lighting, Sat Dec 5

Bowie Senior Center. Activities from 4 p.m., tree lit at 7 p.m. Free.

Belair Candlelight, Sun Dec 6

Candlelit tours, live music and Santa at Belair Mansion, 4 to 8 p.m. Free.

Festival of Lights, Nov 27 to Jan 1

Drive-through lights at Watkins Regional Park, $20 per car, nightly 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

November 2026

  • “And Then There Were None” (Bowie Community Theatre)
    Nov 6 to 22 · Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Dr, Bowie, MD · Tickets via bctheatre.com
    Agatha Christie’s mystery on stage. Tickets through Bowie Community Theatre. Details
  • Green Bowie Veterans 5K
    Sat, Nov 7, 8:30 a.m. program, 9 a.m. run · Bowie Town Center (lot behind Five Guys) · Free
    A non-competitive 5K run and walk honoring veterans and active-duty personnel. ADA-compliant route. T-shirts for the first 500 registrants. Details
  • Give Your Parents a Standing Ovation (GYPASO)
    Sat, Nov 7 · Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, 15200 Annapolis Rd, Bowie, MD 20715 · $20
    A red-carpet tribute event. Details
  • Lecture: Indigenous Archaeological Sites
    Tue, Nov 10, 7:30 p.m. · Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Dr, Bowie, MD 20715 · See City listing
    What archaeology has found about the area’s earliest inhabitants in Bowie and Prince George’s County. Details
  • DAR Lecture: “Stars, Stripes, Boots, Paws”
    Sat, Nov 14, 2 p.m. · Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Dr, Bowie, MD 20715 · See City listing
    A talk supporting Paws of War, which provides service dogs to veterans and first responders. Details
  • This Is My Night: A Tribute to Chaka Khan
    Sat, Nov 14, 7 p.m. · Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, 15200 Annapolis Rd, Bowie, MD 20715 · $40 advance, $50 day of show
    Vocalist Bléz and DJ Maxx. Details
  • Board Game Night
    Fri, Nov 20, 6 to 9 p.m. · Old Town Bowie Welcome Center · Free, no registration
    Open game night. Games on site, or bring your own. Details
  • Holiday Arts and Craft Market
    Sat, Nov 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. · Bowie Senior Center, 14900 Health Center Dr, Bowie, MD 20716 · See City listing
    Local arts and crafts vendors. Details
  • Trot for a Turkey
    Sat, Nov 21, 6 to 8 p.m. · Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Dr, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 · $35
    A walk or run of almost 3 miles through the Festival of Lights. Each registration gives a holiday turkey to a family in need. Details
  • Bikes and Lights
    Sun, Nov 22, 5 to 7 p.m. · Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Dr, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 · See Parks listing
    Ride your bike past the light displays with no cars on the road. Bike lights and helmets required. Details

December 2026

  • Festival of Lights (40th season)
    Nightly Nov 27 to Jan 1, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. · Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Dr, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 · $20 per car; New Year’s Day free
    The drive-through holiday light show, about 3 miles of displays. Details
  • Paint and Sip: Glass Vase
    Fri, Dec 4, 6 p.m. · Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Dr, Bowie, MD 20715 · $35, register ahead
    Paint a glass vase with a seasonal drink and light snacks. Ages 18 and up. Details
  • Holiday Festivities at the Welcome Center and Railroad Museum
    Sat, Dec 5, noon to 4 p.m. · Old Town Bowie Welcome Center and Railroad Museum · See City listing
    Make a snow globe, write to Santa, take photos in the Chessie Caboose (registration required) and hear a Polar Express reading. Details
  • Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
    Sat, Dec 5, activities from 4 p.m., lighting at 7 p.m. · Bowie Senior Center, 14900 Health Center Dr, Bowie, MD 20716 · Free, no reservation
    The City’s annual tree lighting, with activities beforehand. Details
  • Letters to Santa
    Weekends Dec 5 to 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. · Old Town Bowie Welcome Center (weekends) and City Hall (weekdays), 15901 Fred Robinson Way, Bowie, MD · Free
    Write a letter or drop one in the North Pole mailbox. Weekdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at City Hall. Details
  • Candlelight Open House with Santa
    Sun, Dec 6, 4 to 8 p.m. · Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Dr, Bowie, MD 20715 · Free, no reservations
    Candlelit tours of the decorated mansion, live music, and a visit from Santa. Details
  • Elf Hunt at Belair Mansion
    Dec 12, 13, 19 and 20, noon to 4 p.m. · Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Dr, Bowie, MD 20715 · Free, no reservations
    Kids hunt for Santa’s elves hidden on the grounds and get a small prize. Details
  • Brencore Allstars: A Holiday Celebration
    Sat, Dec 12, 8 p.m. · Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, 15200 Annapolis Rd, Bowie, MD 20715 · $40 advance, $50 day of show
    A sing-along holiday concert, including songs from their Motown Christmas show. Details
  • A Christmas Carol
    Dec 13 and 20 at 4 p.m., Dec 18 at 7 p.m. · Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, 15200 Annapolis Rd, Bowie, MD 20715 · $26 adults, $18 children
    A 75-minute stage version of the Dickens classic. Details

All season

  • “Think Outside the Frame” art exhibit
    Through Feb 26, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. · Bowie City Hall, 15901 Fred Robinson Way, Bowie, MD · Free
    Art exhibit at City Hall. Details
  • Public skating
    Daily sessions through April · Bowie Ice Arena, 3330 Northview Dr, Bowie, MD 20716 · $8 residents, $10 non-residents, $3 skate rental
    Public skating all season, with extra sessions possible over the holidays. Sunday family session 2 to 3:45 p.m. Details

Watch for these

These City holiday traditions usually happen in December, but the 2026 dates weren’t confirmed when we updated this page: Kringle Kaboose, the Holiday Jingle Skate with Santa at Bowie Ice Arena, Breakfast with Santa, the holiday movie series at the Bowie Playhouse, and the Holiday House Decorating Contest. Check the City’s Holiday Happenings page for current dates. The Bowie Farmers Market season ended October 25 and returns in the spring.

Trash pickup changes around Thanksgiving and Christmas, so see the trash schedule, and the City’s fall leaf collection runs through December 14.

New to Bowie, or thinking about a move?

Bruno and Noël have lived in Bowie for years and know the neighborhoods street by street. Thinking about selling in the new year? Get a written value range from the closest recent sales near you. Moving here? Tell Bruno what you need and he’ll send homes that fit.

Get my value rangeNew to Bowie guide

Quick answers

What is happening in Bowie, MD this holiday season?

The City’s Holiday Tree Lighting is Saturday, December 5 at the Bowie Senior Center (tree lit at 7 p.m.). Belair Mansion holds a free Candlelight Open House with Santa on Sunday, December 6, 4 to 8 p.m. The Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park runs nightly November 27 to January 1.

When is the Bowie tree lighting in 2026?

Saturday, December 5, 2026. Activities start at 4 p.m. and the tree is lit at 7 p.m. at the Bowie Senior Center, 14900 Health Center Dr. It is free.

How much is the Festival of Lights at Watkins Park?

$20 per car, paid at the gate, nightly from November 27, 2026 through January 1, 2027, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. New Year’s Day is free.

Is there a Veterans Day event in Bowie?

Yes. The Green Bowie Veterans 5K is Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Bowie Town Center. It is free and open to runners and walkers.

Event details come from the City of Bowie, M-NCPPC Prince George’s County Parks and the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts as of October 29, 2026. Times and prices can change, so check the linked page before you go. Bowie Homes, Bruno Tarquinii, REALTOR®, Fairfax Realty Premier.