SOLOMONS, Md. — Families and visitors filled the Solomons Island Boardwalk waterfront for the 44th annual Solomons Christmas Walk on Saturday, which transformed the district into a holiday gathering place featuring a parade with Santa, live music, cultural performances, and local business and organization open houses along the Patuxent River.
The longtime community tradition, made possible by organizing from the Solomons Business Association, brought residents and visitors to Solomons Island Road and the boardwalk for an evening of seasonal activities that blended small business participation, volunteer-led programming, and maritime holiday customs.
The Christmas Walk, held annually in December, featured free family activities throughout the evening, including live music at the Solomons gazebo, visits with Santa, a petting zoo, and a vendor fair stretching along the boardwalk. Churches, nonprofits, and local businesses hosted events ranging from children’s crafts to hot cocoa stations as part of the coordinated community effort.
Bunky’s on Solomons Island Road served as a place for family gathering, with Christmas cookie decorating for the kids and farm animals in the parking lot. The longtime waterfront business has been open in Solomons for 36 years as a family-owned and -operated business.
Brian VanDevander, owner at Bunky’s, said the business has grown into a seasonal hub offering a full-service kitchen with carryout, ice cream, charter fishing, boat rentals, and a tackle shop, with multiple generations of the family now involved.
“We’ve been here for 36 years. Bunky was my father. It’s a family-owned and -operated business,” VanDevander said. “This is the second and third generation. My kids are here helping.”
VanDevander said that tourism in Solomons is always growing, and while the winter months are slower, the Solomons Christmas Walk plays an important role during the cold season by drawing visitors who might not otherwise travel to the waterfront. He said that he hopes visitors from across Calvert County and Maryland continue to see Solomons as a family-friendly destination year-round.
“If you’re in Calvert County, come check us out,” VanDevander said. “You can go fishing, grab your ice cream cone, you can rent a boat and drive it yourself.”
In addition to hosting many activities at the Solomons Christmas Walk, Bunky’s provided an indoor space for a vendor because of the weather. VanDevander said they joined many businesses and organizations along the boardwalk who worked with the Solomons Business Association and event organizers when they were asked for help offering any available indoor spaces for vendors to set up and avoid the cold.
“For the vendors who don’t have a brick-and-mortar building of their own, the Solomons Business Association asked, ‘Do you have room in your place?’” VanDevander said. “So, everyone kind of shares.”
Sadia Syed, owner of Make It Desi, had her pop-up shop set up inside Bunky’s. She said the Solomons Christmas Walk provided an accessible opportunity for small vendors to connect with the community while sharing cultural traditions through henna — hand art used for special occasions.
“I have a collection of clothes there, I have a little jewelry for kids, and locally I do henna,” Syed said. “There are a lot of people who like to see new things, and I’m showing them our culture and how we celebrate with henna.”
Syed said she operates Make It Desi as a local vendor focused on clothing, jewelry, and henna, with her inventory based out of her home. She said she regularly participates in pop-ups and community events across Calvert County.
Cindy Joy and her son, Gregory Joy, attended the Solomons Christmas Walk to watch and participate in live music, marking Cindy Joy’s return to the event after many years away.
Cindy Joy said she decided to attend after learning the Patuxent High School Jazz Ensemble would be performing under the Solomons Island gazebo. She said she has lived in the area most of her life but had not attended the Solomons Christmas Walk in many years.
“I’ve lived here almost all my life,” Joy said. “I decided tonight was the night to come back [to the Solomons Christmas Walk], and to see his jazz ensemble.”
Gregory Joy played the cajón and performed with the Patuxent High School Jazz Ensemble as part of the school’s music program, which regularly plays at community events. He said the group selected holiday music and performed for the community during the evening.
“Usually, the jazz band is the part of the music program that gets out and does some events,” Joy said. “This year we came back down [to the Solomons Christmas Walk], and we have these songbooks — we’ll pick out some Christmas stuff and we’ll just play it.”
Gregory Joy said he played the cajón during the performance and enjoyed engaging with the audience as people moved through the event.
“I think my favorite part about playing at the Christmas Walk was seeing all the people just walk by, stop, and admire the music a little bit,” Joy said.
Southern Maryland Sailing Association and Calvert Marine Museum Open Their Doors During the Solomons Christmas Walk
Southern Maryland Sailing Association Commodore John Blaney said the club welcomed the community during their open house held alongside the Solomons Christmas Walk, using the evening to introduce families to sailing and recruit new interest in learning to sail.
Blaney said the Southern Maryland Sailing Association offered drinks and hospitality while visitors watched the Army-Navy football game on large screens, and children participated in a build-your-own-boat activity designed to give young visitors an early hands-on connection to sailing. He said the club has held the open house in participation with the Solomons Christmas Walk for multiple years to invite people in and explain what the association offers.
“It’s an open house. We are part of the Solomons Island community,” Blaney said. “Part of what I do is tell you about the club, take you on a tour, and if you’ve got questions that you need to get answered, we can certainly supply you with the answers.”
Blaney said the Southern Maryland Sailing Association provides programs for a wide range of ages, including summer opportunities for children, high school sailing for teenagers, and instruction for adults who want to learn and build skills over time.
“We have kids for summer camp, we have teenagers for high school sailing,” Blaney said. “And then we also do adult learn-to-sail classes, where we will teach you to do the basics in a boat.”
Blaney said the club aims to make sailing approachable for beginners who have an interest in sailing, and that new participants can begin learning the fundamentals within a short time frame during the sailing season.
“If we’re teaching you, we will have an instructor on board, but you will be the one physically sailing the boat,” Blaney said. “You’re supposed to learn what I’m trying to teach you, and get a feel for it, and then you start to take over, and when I get a sense that you’re capable of it, away you go sailing.”
Blaney said the group encourages residents to visit and learn more if they have an interest in sailing.
The Calvert Marine Museum also opened its doors to the public during the Solomons Christmas Walk, offering free admission to the museum exhibits and live performances as part of its annual participation in the community event.
Mary Ellen Carsley, director of education at the museum, said the Christmas Walk provided an opportunity for families to experience the museum at no cost, while highlighting local and regional performing arts groups. She said the museum partnered with schools and arts organizations to showcase talent from across Calvert County and Southern Maryland.
“Tonight is a great opportunity for folks to experience the Calvert Marine Museum for free,” Carsley said. “It’s a great chance for families to be out and to see the wonderful talent and all of the great cultural resources that we have here.”
Carsley said the museum participates in the Solomons Christmas Walk every year and regularly hosts free admission events as part of its mission to serve the public. She said those events help maintain community engagement during the winter months when tourism is slower and connect residents to the region’s environmental, maritime, and cultural heritage.
“We are here for them,” Carsley said. “We are representing the beautiful environment, inspiring stewardship for that environment, and also stewardship for the rich cultural heritage of Southern Maryland.”
The museum’s participation was a popular draw for families to go indoors and explore exhibits focused on Chesapeake Bay wildlife, paleontology, and maritime history, reinforcing the Solomons Christmas Walk’s role as both a seasonal celebration and a community gathering centered on education and shared heritage.
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