Tree Lightings, Holiday Festivals And Celebrations Abound In Bowie

BOWIE, MD — With Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa festivities filling the December calendar, the problem may be deciding which events in Prince George's County to attend.

Outside these religious and cultural celebrations, there are plenty of holiday light shows, parades, fairs and festivals to attend in Bowie and surrounding communities. Here are some to consider:

• Nov. 8 - Dec. 27 - Festive Fireworks at National Harbor and Nightly Tree Light Show
• Nov. 14 - Jan. 4 - Christmas at Gaylord National (including ICE! Polar Express)
• Nov. 23 - Festival of Lights: Bikes and Lights
• Nov. 28 - Dec. 14 - 26th Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show
• Nov. 28 - Jan. 1 - Festival of Lights
• Nov. 29 - Dec. 21 - National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show Series
• Dec. 2-23 - Winter Holiday Celebration
• Dec. 3 - Christmas Tree Lighting
• Dec. 6 - Santa Fly-In
• Dec. 6 - Holiday Marketplace
• Dec. 6 - Holiday Traditions from Around the World
• Dec. 6-7 - The Nutcracker with the National Ballet Company
• Dec. 13 - Holiday Jingle Jam
• Dec. 13 - Santa & a Movie: Prancer: A Christmas Tale
• Dec. 13 - Skate With Santa

As you plan your calendar, here are some key dates to consider:

• Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods, begins at sundown on Dec. 14 and continues until sundown on Dec. 22. The dates vary every year.

• Christmas, of course, is always Dec. 25.

• Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration primarily held in the United States to honor African heritage and African-American culture, is observed from Dec. 26-Jan. 1, culminating with gift-giving and a lavish feast. The dates of this holiday do not change.