December 31, 2020
New Year’s Eve Cookie Tromp Snowshoe — Meet at the Swallow Falls Canyon Trail Entrance, 9 AM. This will be a fun guided hike to Swallow Falls with an expert eco tour guide and freebie extras as our gifts to you. This trip is perfect for folks wanting to learn about the park and the Deep Creek Lake Area. During the tour you will explore some of the backcountry areas of the park and off-the-beaten-path hidden areas. You will also get to visit Maryland’s highest waterfall, Muddy Creek Falls at 53 feet and walk along the gorge in the old growth hemlock forest. If weather is snowy and snow depth sufficient it will be a snowshoeing tour with rentals included. If weather is not sufficient for snowshoeing it will be a guided hike (and you can deduct $10 per person. Every group will enjoy delicious gluten free chocolate chip cookies and each person will get their choice of a free 24×36 lithograph poster of the Deep Creek Lake Area, signed by your guide and local photographer Crede Calhoun. $50 per person, $40 if no snow. Reservations are required for there is limited space. Contact 301-746-4083 or email ccalhoun1@verizon.net

Through Jan 1
Christmas Light Show — Oakland Community Center, 14 North 8th Street, Oakland, starting at dusk each night. Come and enjoy this free show with approximately 30,000 lights choreographed to music. Program runs in a one hour loop. Park and watch from your car, or stand outside. Something for all ages. For information, email paul@chipsnetwork.com.

Fri – Sun, January 1 – 3
First Weekend & Self Guided Hikes – Area State Parks. Maryland State Parks will be offering self-guided hike opportunities across the state from January 1-3, 2021. First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks that encourages all 50 states to offer outdoor hiking opportunities on the first day of the new year! These trails are well marked and park staff may be available to provide you with the information to get started, however, due to safety precautions, staff will not be leading the hikes this year. Be sure to follow Maryland State Parks’ guidelines for outdoor exercise and recreation to slow the spread of COVID-19, including keeping a 6-foot distance from anyone outside of your household and wearing a face covering when in close proximity to others and when indoors. If you are sick or have been sick over the past two weeks, please stay home to recuperate. If the parking lot is full when attempting to visit a park, please return during an off-peak time, visit an alternative location, or return home and visit at another time when the park is not busy.

Deep Creek Lake State Park
898 State Park Rd Swanton, MD 21561
Beckman’s Trail – Easy- 2 miles. Self guided hike through the forest takes you past the historic Brant Mine. Hike starts at the Day Use overflow parking trailhead. Leashed pets are welcome, not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers, Portable restroom available in multiple parking lots. For additional information, contact the park directly: Office: 301-387-5563, Duty Ranger 240-405-9827, Email: deepcreek.statepark@maryland.gov

New Germany State Park
376 McAndrews Hill Road Grantsville, MD 21536
Orchard Loop: Pink Trail – Easy- 1 mile. This self-guided hike will take you through a mixed forest (softwood and hardwood forest) along the foothills of the Eastern Continental Divide near Meadow Mountain. Leashed pets are welcome; not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers; public restroom is available at the Lake House. For additional information, contact the park directly: Office: 301-895-5453 or Email: newgermany.statepark@maryland.gov

Herrington Manor State Park
222 Herrington Lane, Oakland, MD 21550
Green Trail – Easy- 1.7 miles
This loop trail is ideal for novice hikers. It is accessible from the park headquarters and traverses an open field then enters the hardwood forests before circling back to the park headquarters. The trail is not stroller/wheelchair friendly. Restrooms are available in the park laundry facility below the Park Headquarters. Trail guides are available at the trailhead and park headquarters. For additional information, contact the park directly: Office: 301-334-9180, Email: james.riley@maryland.gov

Friday – Sunday, January 1 – 10
HART’s NO SHOW FurBall Casino 2020 — You are invited NOT to attend! Stay at home on New Year’s Eve but you can still support HART by making a donation to enjoy your night off — think of the savings! Babysitter: $75; Mani/Pedi: $95; Casino Chips: $100; “Chocolate Labation” Signature Martini: $20; Hotel: $200. Stay in your pajamas all night: PRICELESS. There will be a silent auction available online as well. Visit www.hartforanimals.org for information.

Saturday, January 2
Mountain Fresh Farmers Market — Simon Pearce Building, 245 Glass Drive, Mt. Lake Park, 11 AM to 1 PM. Join us for homegrown produce, local fresh eggs and meats, delicious home-baked goods, homemade jams & jellies and much more! For more information, visit www.MountainFresh.org or call 301-334-6960.