Together With

Hello Friends—

Welcome to the 189 new subscribers who joined since last week’s edition. Happy to have you in our (growing) community!

Same deal this week. Lots of events so I’ll keep this part short.

In case you missed it, I rolled out a Bel Air Holiday Gift Guide — featuring local restaurants, charities, and a few can’t-miss hometown services. But I’m also planning ahead for 2026. One goal for next year is to bring more trusted, local home service businesses into the Brief, the kind of folks every homeowner wishes they had on speed dial.

To help me do that, I’ve got a quick one-question poll. It’ll take literally one second, and it gives me a better idea of what types of services to feature. Thanks for your help!

Now to this weekend: The Harford County Sheriff’s Office 44th Annual Toy Drive is on Saturday… Das Bierhalle is hosting Brunch with Santa on Sunday… And the Bel Air Community Chorus is performing “A Very Merryland Holiday”… Plus much more happening in and around town.

Scroll down, make plans, and enjoy your weekend!

Tar Heel Construction Group gets recommended long before that.

With 1,000+ Bel Air projects, 700+ 5-star Google reviews, and five SIX straight Best of Harford wins, they’ve become the go-to team families trust before the leaks, cracks, and surprises show up.

From roofing to siding, gutters, and solar — every job comes with manufacturer warranty coverage + their workmanship guarantee, so you never pay for the same problem twice.

Want a real opinion on your home’s exterior? They’ll come out for a free, no-pressure inspection right here in Bel Air.

Call (410) 638-7021 or click here to schedule your inspection with Tar Heel Construction Group today.

P.S. Tell them “Matt from Bel Air Brief” sent you!

With so many holiday events going on over the next few weeks, I figured I’d split them into days instead of categories until the end of the year. Hope you enjoy!

December Holiday Market @ The Painted Mill (Free)
📅 Thursday–Sunday, December 11th–14th | Various Times
📍 The Painted Mill, 1119 Main Street, Fallston
Shop a festive holiday market filled with Christmas gifts, seasonal décor, and unique finds at The Painted Mill, open all weekend for holiday shopping.

The City of Havre de Grace’s Christmas Spectacular ($)
📅 Friday–Saturday, December 12th–13th | Showtimes Vary
📍 The STAR Centre of Havre de Grace, 700 Congress Avenue, Havre de Grace
Experience a classic, family-friendly Christmas musical featuring beloved holiday songs, festive performances, special appearances from Santa and friends, and nostalgic holiday magic brought to life on stage.

Holiday Bingo Night @ Magnolia Middle School ($)
📅 Friday, December 12th | Doors 5PM, Games 5:30PM
📍 Magnolia Middle School, 299 Fort Hoyle Road, Joppa
Enjoy a festive community bingo night with raffle baskets, prizes, snacks, and holiday fun, hosted by the Magnolia Middle School PTO.

The Belle Aire Holiday Market (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 9AM–12PM
📍 121 S Main St, Bel Air
Shop dozens of artisan vendors for holiday gifts, décor, jewelry, and handmade goods in this festive open-air market.

Winter Craft Show @ Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 9AM–2PM
📍 Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company, 3825 Federal Hill Rd, Jarrettsville
Browse a variety of local craft vendors, hunt for the perfect holiday gifts, and check out the Train Garden during this festive community craft show.

Pet Pictures with Santa (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 10AM–2PM
📍 Homeward Bound Veterinary Services, 319 South Main Street, Bel Air
Bring your pets for festive photos with Santa and the Grinch, plus enjoy pet-friendly vendors and holiday fun for the whole family at Homeward Bound’s urgent care location.

Harford County Sheriff’s Office 44th Annual Toy Drive (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 11AM–3PM
📍 Friendship Park, 3520 Woodsdale Rd, Abingdon
Meet Santa, enjoy live music, festive cocktails, Christmas vendors, hot cocoa and cookies, and warm up by heated tents and fire pits while donating an unwrapped toy for local families in need.

Lunch with the Christmas Grump @ Silver Spring Mining Company ($)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 12–2PM
📍 Silver Spring Mining Company, 705 Bel Air Rd, Bel Air
Enjoy lunch and laughs as the Christmas Grump makes a special appearance, with reservations highly recommended for this popular, family-friendly holiday event.

Steppingstone Farm Museum Christmas Open House (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 12–4PM
📍 Steppingstone Farm Museum, Havre de Grace
Stop by for a cozy holiday afternoon featuring warm cider, light refreshments, and unique gift shopping in the Museum Store as the farm celebrates the season.

A Cyren Soirée: Grand Opening & Holiday Celebration (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 12–4PM
📍 260 Gateway Drive, Suite 17–18B, Bel Air
Celebrate the grand opening of Cyren Beauty Collective with cocktails, local vendors, live makeup demos, giveaways, raffles, and festive photo ops in a chic holiday setting.

Christmas Market @ The Creamery (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 3–7:30PM
📍 Prigel Family Creamery, 4852 Long Green Rd, Glen Arm
Bundle up for a cozy holiday market featuring local artisans, festive food and drinks, bonfires, a Christmas Cow Parade, carolers, kids’ activities, and plenty of seasonal cheer.

A Very Merryland Holiday – Bel Air Community Chorus (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 3PM
📍 Trinity Lutheran Church & School, 1100 Philadelphia Road, Joppatowne
Enjoy a heartwarming hometown holiday concert featuring classic seasonal favorites, beloved songs from stage and screen, and a special Maryland-themed choral premiere.

Winter Wonderland of Bel Air – Final Night (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 5–8PM
📍 Downtown Bel Air
Enjoy the last night of free holiday festivities with train gardens, princess photo ops, horse-drawn carriage rides, and twinkling lights throughout downtown.

Pictures with Santa @ American Design and Build (Free)
📅 Saturday–Sunday, December 13th–14th | 5–8PM
📍 221 Gateway Drive, Bel Air
Reserve a time slot for festive photos with Santa at this family-friendly event, with pre-registration required and a Toys-for-Tots donation box on site for those who wish to give.

Harford Community Christmas Music Festival & Nativity Display (Free)
📅 Friday-Saturday, December 12th-13th | 6–8:30PM
📍 2810 Emmorton Rd, Abingdon
Explore 100+ nativity displays, enjoy live Christmas music and sing-alongs, and bring the kids for crafts, cookies, and hands-on activities in this free, family-friendly holiday tradition.

Edgewood Christmas Tree Lighting (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 13th | 6-8PM
📍 Harford County Southern Precinct Sheriff’s Office, 1305 Pulaski Highway, Edgewood
Join this community holiday gathering for a festive tree-lighting, Christmas carolers, hot cocoa, and seasonal cheer for all ages.

Brunch with Santa @ Das Bierhalle Bel Air ($)
📅 Sunday, December 14th | 9–10:30AM or 11AM–12:30PM
📍 Das Bierhalle Bel Air, 119 S Main St, Bel Air
Enjoy a festive brunch, photos with Santa, and holiday fun at this reservation-only event requiring a $10 table deposit per party.

Cookies & Crafts with Santa @ Made Me Mine ($)
📅 Sunday, December 14th | 11:30AM
📍 Made Me Mine, 3474 Emmorton Rd, Abingdon
Enjoy a magical morning where kids can craft a special cookie tray, spend time with Santa, enjoy a continental breakfast and gourmet cookie, and write a letter to Santa, with tickets required per crafter.

Keeping it short this week with all the events. For live music on the schedule this weekend, check out the “Harco Live Music Round Up” facebook group…

Save the dates:
Holly Jolly Ugly Sweater Night Out, Dec 18th, Downtown Bel Air
Holidays on Hays with Black Oak Title, Dec 18th, Bel Air
The Amish Outlaws New Year's Eve Bash, Dec 31st, Fallston

Each week, we feature a few local Bel Air & Harford County experts sharing quick, practical advice to make your life a little easier — straight from the people who know this community best.

Financial Services

Paul Applegate | Financial Advisor | Serving Harford County

Managing risk at different stages of life

As an investor, risk is always part of the journey – but how you manage it can depend on where you are in life.

Early in your career, you can invest for growth and take on more risk, knowing you have time to recover from market downturns.

In midlife, with goals like retirement and college savings, it’s generally time to balance growth with stability.

Near retirement, preserving wealth becomes key – though growth still matters to help keep up with inflation.

And in retirement, you may want to reduce risk, but not eliminate it entirely. A balanced mix in your portfolio and a smart income withdrawal strategy can help your money last.

And while you’ll seek balance based on your life stage, even a diversified portfolio doesn’t fully protect against loss.

Risk tolerance changes over time, and your strategy should too. Staying informed and flexible can help you better navigate market volatility and stay on track toward maintaining long-term financial success.

^{*Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.}

Pro Tip from Paul: “A quick annual check-in can keep your investments aligned with your comfort level and long-term goals.”

Special Offer for Bel Air Brief Readers:
Paul Applegate is a former First Responder turned Financial Advisor. Paul loves helping Veterans, First Responders and Hardworking Harford County Residents navigate their financial life and help them be intentional with their money. Paul offers No Cost, No Obligation Retirement Check Ups and Consultations. Call or Email Paul at (410) 939-5270 or [email protected] to schedule your Retirement Check Up today

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Fresh Start Furnishings: The domino effect of a call for help

Fresh Start Furnishings, an Aberdeen-based nonprofit founded after a single foster youth’s call for help, now furnishes an average of 30 Harford County homes each month with donated beds, sofas, tables, and household essentials. Supported by more than 70 volunteers, the organization runs a free community showroom, offers donation pickup, and partners with ReSupply for larger-item moves — all to ensure local families transitioning out of hardship can step into a safe, dignified, fully furnished home. Read more…

Homeward Bound Veterinary Urgent Care Opens in Downtown Bel Air
Homeward Bound Veterinary Services celebrated the grand opening of its new urgent care center in downtown Bel Air, offering compassionate, same-day care for pets when they need it most. The ribbon cutting marked an exciting expansion for the team, who now welcome local families and their pets to the new facility at 319 S Main Street for urgent care needs. Read more…

Das Bierhalle Bel Air Rolls Out New December Specials
Das Bierhalle Bel Air unveiled its winter-themed December specials this week, featuring cozy, seasonal dishes like whipped cranberry jalapeño dip, holiday ham sausage, hearty tomato soup, a triple-decker sauerkraut sandwich, and a bone-in prime pork chop. The lineup brings warm, comforting flavors to match the season — perfect for a cold December night. Read more…

Give your pet the 5-star treatment & book a grooming session at Shannon’s Pretty Paws today. Your furry friend will thank you (and so will your furniture).

Click here to book an appointment with one of our experienced groomers!

This week’s reader submission is: Brodie

“Meet Brodie, our 4-year-old husky with a big personality and an even bigger heart. He’s a total chatterbox and loves every human and dog he meets.”

Have a furry, feathered, or scaly friend you’re proud of? Send a photo and a few fun facts, and we might feature them in an upcoming issue.

Are you a realtor (or know one) who is looking to expand your local visibility & feature your active listings in this section to 5,600+ locals? Click here to submit your interest.

📍 214 Mountain Rd, Fallston, MD 21047

This week’s date pick takes us to Earth, Wood & Fire Fallston — a warm, coal-fired spot with just the right mix of cozy and upscale. With its glowing ovens, rustic atmosphere, and menu built for lingering, it’s an easy win for couples who want a relaxed night out with seriously good food.

Start with one of their shareable small plates: the Baked Spinach & Artichoke Dip with house-made pita chips is a classic, while Nana’s Meatballs or the Roasted Beets feel a bit more elevated. If you’re in a snacking mood, the Coal-Fired Chicken Wings and Fried Zucchini Chips (with chipotle ranch) are both great for splitting.

For mains, you can go light or hearty depending on the night. Their wood-fired pizzas — from classic Margherita-style options to specialty pies like Barbecue Chicken, Pesto, or Scampi with jumbo shrimp — are always a standout. Prefer something from the grill? The Classic Burger, California Burger, or Salmon Fillet Sandwich all come with your choice of side, and the Wood Grilled Turkey Burger is a solid lighter option.

And don’t skip dessert: the Coal-Fired Blueberry Crisp or Warm Brownie with ice cream is exactly the kind of ending a date night needs.

👉 Explore the menu or plan your evening: earthwoodfire.com/fallston/

Sponsor the Bel Air Brief
Want to get your business in front of 5,600+ Bel Air residents? Click here to learn more…

Visit the Bel Air Restaurant Directory
Looking to try a new spot? Check out 160+ Bel Air area restaurants here…

Submit an Event
Hosting something fun in Bel Air or Harford County? Submit your event here...

Leave Feedback
Got a suggestion or just want to say hi? I’d love your feedback!