‘Sounds of the Season’ and Screenings of Holiday Classics at AFI Will Be Among the Winter Events in Silver Spring

Sounds of the season performances by a variety of local bands, photos with Santa and screenings of holiday movie classics at the AFI Silver Theatre continue to make the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District a festive place.

More than 100 arts and humanities organizations, arts venues, attractions and entertainment businesses are within the Arts and Entertainment District, with many hosting or sponsoring special events during the holiday season and during winter break. Reservations or tickets are required for many of the events.

The winter special events of the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District will include:

• Sounds of the Season. Saturday, Dec. 23. Downtown Silver Spring is offering holiday performances by a variety of local bands with hot cocoa and s’mores stations. Times vary.
• A Gospel Big Band Christmas at Jesus House, Dec. 23. 7-9 p.m. A Gospel Big Band Christmas is a soulful celebration of Christmas through the rendition of traditional Christmas carols.
• Photos with Santa. Ellsworth Place is offering visits and photos with Santa through Dec. 24. Times vary.
• The Majestic Theater is showing holiday movie favorite Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and other holiday classics from Dec. 2-23. Showtimes vary.
• Holiday Classics at the AFI Silver Theatre. Enjoy perennial Christmas classics A Christmas Story, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Little Women and 1980s favorites Die Hard and The Muppet Christmas Carol and more. Screenings from through Dec. 24.
• Create Arts Center is offering a series of Winter Break Art Camp days for ages 6-12 as well as Counselors in Training. Dec. 26, 27, 28, 29 and Jan. 15. Parents can choose the days that work best for their schedule, with activities from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with before- and after-care available.
• Silver Spring Ice Skating, the outdoor ice skating rink at Veterans Plaza is open daily, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Skating sessions are for two hours. Reservations are available up to two weeks in advance. To purchase tickets, visit the website or purchase on-site. The rink has more than 400 pairs of skates available to rent, sized from toddler to adult.

Designated as an Arts and Entertainment District by the State of Maryland in 2001, the Silver Spring Arts and Entertainment District is a hub of performance venues, restaurants and nightlife, festivals and community celebrations and family friendly fun. An Arts and Entertainment District helps develop and promote community involvement, tourism and business revitalization through tax-related incentives that attract artists, arts organizations and other creative enterprises.

For more information and an events calendar, visit the official Silver Spring website.