December Blog
Did you know there is a poem, written circa 1910, called Christmas in the Valley? It is by Middletown native, Thomas Chalmers Harbaugh, and its last verse is as follows:
“Christmas in the Valley with the holly and the snow!
Christmas in the Valley ‘neath the mystic mistletoe
I catch the sound of music in the white-invested dells
Tis the jingle, jingle, jingle of the merry winter bells;
Beneath its coverlet of white Catoctin is at rest
The trolley scales the mountain, there’s a star o’er Braddock’s crest
I see the lights a-shining and I hear the children call
Oh, its Christmas in the Valley that is dearest to us all. “
We agree! Christmas in the Valley is dearest to us all! Some folks in Middletown secretly think that when Dr. Seuss wrote The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, he was basing this story on Middletown (but called it Who-Ville), because our Christmas in the Valley event is so charming!
And don’t we deserve this beloved event after the hiatus that COVID-19 brought? We’re filled with even more anticipation for Christmas in the Valley.
Not only does Middletown exude “charming village” year-round, but it’s also the quintessential place to be, especially on Saturday, December 4, from 4pm to 8pm when the Town shuts down Main Street. So many holiday things to do as the community comes together to drop off toys to donate to Middletown Valley People Helping People, visit with our Main Street businesses who open their doors to welcome you in from the chill with specials, warm drinks, and cookies. Music fills the air with the Catoctones singing, a quartet of high school musicians play holiday favorites, and the Middletown High School Chorus entertains us all as we gather by the Town tree to wait for just the right time to light it up! And just like that, every year, Santa Claus surprises us all for visits with the children. Santa stays until every child gets a chance to say hello! The vibe of this event is F.U.N.!
Awesome One-of-a-Kind Gifts
The nice thing about Middletown is, that even if you cannot attend Christmas in the Valley, the good cheer lasts. Our Main Street businesses are happy to welcome new and returning customers. While we may seem small, there is quite a range of gifts that can be found here! Hand-made, locally produced items can be picked up at Oak and Steel, Middletown’s newest furniture store, and it is full of pieces to give your home polished pieces with panache. Additionally, they offer little luxuries, like hand-carved razor handles, exquisite cheeseboards, and more. Mid-Maryland Farmer’s Market, has finds for everyone on your list, super cute hand crocheted reindeer paired with a candy cane will add a touch of home to any tree, or make for a great gift-topper, hand woven rugs and place mats, glass ornaments, scented candles, handmade bird houses, high quality bird seed, honey, and more! Next door at Wren’s Nest Gallery, there one-of-a-kind paintings by local artists Walter Bartman and his students, with local landscapes that anyone from Frederick County will recognize! The Vine Garden Plant Outlet has taken over the back yard of Wren’s Nest and has all the holiday greenery to fill your home with that sweet, fresh smell of pine.
Thoughtful Gift Cards
There are gift cards for dance, yoga, and pilates lessons. Mountain Spirit Yoga, Pioma Pilates, and Dee Buchanan School of Dance will get you moving! Each studio has its own specialty, and each studio offers classes for the beginner to the expert.
Pampering Galore
There are plenty of places to get pampered and give gift cards for those that need pampering: Serenity Salon, Hello Gorgeous!, Nails by Mary, Therapeutic Massage by Stevi Cearbaugh, and Soul of Skincare.
Food, Glorious Food
Entertaining out-of-town family and need a night out? Look no further than Middletown – from the award-wining crab cakes at Fratelli’s to the perfectly fresh American fare found at The Main Cup, to the amazing treats at Deb’s Artisan Bakehouse, and the thick and fluffy pancakes at Dempsey’s Grille, we got you covered!
Elf on the Shelf Contest
But, wait there is more! Grab the kids, and try your hand at our 2nd Annual Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt occurring the entire month of December! Download your game card from our Main Street website and start finding the elves peeping out of windows all over Middletown’s Main Street District. Don’t forget to turn in your game card at the dropbox at Town Hall for a chance to win prizes!
Happy Holidays from Middletown Main Street!
We invite you to make visiting Middletown a part of your holiday, so that you, too can experience and understand what T.C. Harbaugh proclaimed over one-hundred years ago, that “Christmas in the Valley that is dearest to us all” first-hand. Happy Holidays from Main Street Middletown, MD Inc.