The town is bustling with the kind of energy that is palpable.  Shopkeepers give each other a hand with the last of the decorations—another set of twinkling lights here, an additional sprig of fresh magnolia garland there.  Pleasantries are exchanged all around—the mailman stops periodically on his route to ask about children, holiday plans.  It’s like the scene out of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast when Belle visits town and everyone is singing—there’s even holiday music piped throughout the streets. 

Down Main Street trots a reindeer, or rather a horse (with bells, antlers, and booties, ala the Grinch’s Max), complete with a carriage bedazzled with lights.  Rumor has it Santa himself holds the reins on weekends. The street lamps, reminiscent of a 19^th century village are ensconced with garland and lights.  On any given day artisans could be seen carrying their wares in and out of shops that will sell them for holiday gifts.  A peak inside his shop might reveal the resident glassblower teaching children how to make bulbs for their trees.  The bakeries smell of gingerbread, pies and cookies—it’s the idyllic holiday Mayberry, otherwise known as Berlin, MD.

Further down the road, residencies have upped the ante, taking to their porches and windows with tens of feet of garland, wreaths and lighting, a Santa or two, perhaps an elf or an old sleigh.  It’s earlier this year—the reason for the holiday décor at personal dwellings.  It’s still November and unseasonably warm yet residents have ponied up en masse, especially those directly on the famous route.

Behind the scenes away from the obvious signs, in firehouses, school yards and gymnasiums, garages and backyards; in high school parking lots perfecting the march, in church basements and business back rooms, local elves are fastidiously working on their masterpieces.  School children practice holiday cheer best expressed in song, dance and gymnastics troupes memorize routines done while part of a moving entity.  It’s something, what’s about to occur, and everyone from the residents of Berlin, to the participants, to the spectators who come from afar are anticipating the tradition known as the Berlin Christmas Parade.

It’s the 41^st year, and it’s organized in an old school fashion.  There’s no website dedicated to counting down the days, naming the participants, and outlining the prizes.  It’s organized by the Lions Club, with a lion’s share of the work going to Gale West, who runs a daycare by trade.  She’s likely used to organization and patience, taking the helm of the parade with and tried an true approach to doing things—for as big as this event has come to be, for all intents and purposes, it goes off without a hitch. 

Year after year, participating floats line up past the fire hall, with paper plate numbers reflecting their order.  Registration is just $20, and participants go big.  It’s not uncommon to see an eighteen-wheeler pulling a flatbed filled with children doing flips around a pseudo-winter village, or a church that has built a replica of the manger scene, complete with real people and live animals. Suffice it to say that this small town has built a holiday wonderland on wheels.  And much like the magic of Christmas Eve itself, it happens only one night of the year.

For those who live in and around Berlin, it’s a nighttime spectacle that generations enjoy together.  On a different scale, much like Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Thanksgiving itself signify the start to the shopping season, locals look to the Christmas Parade as the true start to the holiday season. For those who aren’t local, the parade often makes a big impact.

Olive Mawyer, Director of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce moved to the area from Baltimore just three years ago.  When she first arrived, she asked around for activities to do during the holidays, and was continually told the same thing,

“I was told over and over by anyone that I’d ask that I couldn’t miss the Berlin Christmas Parade.  And I went for the first time and thought it’s just a huge and wonderfully done event, especially for such a small town.”

For those who haven’t attended, the Berlin Christmas Parade is unique in that it is a nighttime parade—fitting so that the grandiose displays and lights can be fully enjoyed.  It takes several hours to complete; time that goes by quickly, especially if you are lucky enough to know someone with a house on the parade route, or can get there early enough to grab a coveted spot at the Atlantic Hotel.  Attend this year, Thursday December 1^st, and ring in the holiday season celebrating a tradition that is the epitome of coastal life—an outdoor event that embraces all ages, and passes on the meaning of time well spent with friends and family.

The details:

• The 41^st Annual Berlin Christmas Parade
• Thursday December 1^st (parade is always the first Thursday in December)
• 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
• Route: North Main Street at the Fire Hall, to South Main Street at Tripoli/Church Street
• Parking: Municipal lots as accessed by Williams Street, or side streets