Together With
Hello Friends—
Welcome to the 138 new subscribers who joined since last week’s edition. Happy to have you in our (growing) community!
A few quick things… 1) Thanks to everyone who filled out last week’s poll on garage doors, Super helpful! 2) If you haven’t had a chance, check out our Bel Air Holiday Gift Guide, featuring local restaurants, charities, and a few can’t-miss hometown services. All local!
3) If you’ve been a reader for a while, you’ll remember I’ve been teasing a way to save at local Bel Air & Harford County restaurants — and since over 70% of you say you eat out at least once a week, I want to make sure this is something you’d actually use.
Here’s the deal: The Bel Air Bites Club — two restaurant deals per month (each worth $10 or more) via text, for less than a cup of coffee per month. Exclusive to subscribers, capping it at about 150-200 spots.
As a bonus, members will be automatically entered into a monthly local restaurant giveaway ($50+ value).
Would you join the Bel Air Bites Club?
If you click “Yes,” you’ll be first in line when we open the limited spots in January.
Now to this weekend: The Holly Jolly Ugly Sweater Night Out is happening tonight in Downtown Bel Air… The final Belle Aire Holiday Market is on Saturday… And the Fallston Barrel House is hosting their 9 year anniversay celebration… Plus much more happening in and around town.
Scroll down, make plans, and enjoy your weekend!
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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!
Things To Do This Weekend In Bel Air & Surrounding Areas - Holiday Edition
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!
Thursday Dec 18th/Friday December 19th
Holidays on Hays @ Black Oak Title (Free)
📅 Thursday, December 18th | 4–7PM
📍 Black Oak Title, 206 S Hays St, Bel Air
Celebrate the season with food, drinks, and plenty of holiday cheer at this festive after-work gathering on Hays Street, perfect for mingling, relaxing, and getting into the spirit.
Holly Jolly Ugly Sweater Night Out (Free)
📅 Thursday, December 18th | 5–8PM
📍 Downtown Bel Air
Throw on your ugliest holiday sweater and enjoy a festive evening of shopping small, with extended hours and specials at participating downtown Bel Air boutiques and shops.
Holiday Cocktail Hour @ Independent Brewing Company (Free)
📅 Friday, December 19th | 5–8PM
📍 Independent Brewing Company, 418 N Main St, Bel Air
Sip seasonal cocktails and enjoy live holiday tunes as Ed and Saxon bring festive classics and Great American Songbook favorites to this cozy evening at Independent Brewing Company.
Saturday December 20th
Reindeer Run Party @ Watchtower Brewing Company (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 8AM
📍 Watchtower Brewing Company, 22 Howard St, Aberdeen
The Reindeer Run 5K may be sold out, but the party at Watchtower Brewing is still on with $2 off beers from 8–12, good food, and live music from 5–9PM—no running required.
The Belle Aire Holiday Market (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 9AM–12PM
📍 121 S Main St, Bel Air
Shop dozens of artisan vendors for holiday gifts, décor, jewelry, and handmade goods in this festive open-air market.
Breakfast With Santa @ Bel Air High School ($)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 9AM–12PM
📍 Bel Air High School, 100 Heighe St, Bel Air
Enjoy a festive morning with pancakes, hot cocoa, live music, and photos with Santa and his elves, plus holiday activities for kids at this annual community favorite hosted by the Bel Air Drama Company.
Kids’ Christmas Party With Santa @ Serenity Salt Spa ($)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 10AM–2PM
📍 Serenity Salt Spa, 2203-A Commerce Rd, Forest Hill
Treat the kids to a festive holiday party with photos with Santa, games and prizes, hot chocolate, a popcorn bar, holiday treats, and goodie bags at this cheerful Christmas celebration.
Ugly Sweater & Christmas PJ Party @ Hickory Lodge (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | Lunch & Dinner times
📍 Hickory Lodge, 2119 Conowingo Rd, Hickory
Break out your ugliest sweater or coziest Christmas pajamas and celebrate all day with prizes, festive holiday cocktails, and Chef Lee’s special weekend menu during this annual holiday party at Hickory Lodge.
Christmas at the Creamery @ Prigel Family Creamery (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 11AM–8PM
📍 Prigel Family Creamery, 4852 Long Green Rd, Glen Arm
Celebrate the season with cookie house decorating, hot chocolate, holiday ice cream flavors, and a cozy candlelight hymn sing in the evening, with activities available throughout the day for families to enjoy at their own pace.
The Nutcracker @ Havre de Grace Opera House ($)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 12-7PM
📍 Havre de Grace Opera House, 121 N. Union Ave, Havre de Grace
Bel Air Dance Academy brought the holiday classic The Nutcracker to life with a magical ballet performance featuring Clara’s journey, dancing toy soldiers, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and enchanting scenes from around the world that captured the joy and imagination of the season.
Ugly Sweater Party @ Independent Brewing Company (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 12PM
📍 Independent Brewing Company, 412 N Main St, Bel Air
Break out your ugliest holiday gear for a festive afternoon featuring live music, prizes for best sweaters, Christmas jams into the evening, and food from Love.Crust.Pizza and Crossroads Bistro.
Fallston Barrel House 9-Year Anniversary Celebration (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 3PM
📍 Barrel House Live, 2403 Belair Road, Fallston
Celebrate nine years of Fallston Barrel House with a full day of live music, food and drink specials, and high-energy performances from Experience, AWAKEN, and Social Drinking on the Barrel House Live concert stage.
Ugly Sweater Christmas Party @ Double Groove Brewing (Free)
📅 Saturday, December 20th | 4:30PM
📍 Double Groove Brewing, 1659
Celebrate Double Groove Brewing’s 5th Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party with festive beers, live music from The Willig Boys, food from Vagabond Sandwich Company, and an ugly sweater contest with prizes.
Live Nativity @ Fellowship Chapel (Free)
📅 Saturday–Sunday, December 20th–21st | 6–9PM
📍 Fellowship Chapel, 3821 Federal Hill Rd, Jarrettsville
Experience the story of Christmas through a moving live nativity featuring actors, live animals, and scenes told through the eyes of Simeon, with both drive-through and walk-through options available for families.
Sunday December 21st
Breakfast With Santa @ American Legion Post 17 Edgewood ($)
📅 Sunday, December 21st | 9AM–12PM
📍 American Legion Post 17 Edgewood, 415 Edgewood Rd, Edgewood
Kick off the holiday season with a festive breakfast featuring pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy, and more, plus a visit from Santa where every child leaves with a gift.
Fallston Lions Club Scholarship Bingo ($)
📅 Sunday, December 21st | Doors 11AM, Games 1PM
📍 Fallston Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Co., Fallston
Spend the afternoon playing bingo to support local scholarships, enjoy food and refreshments, enter holiday basket raffles, and bring donations for the food pantry to earn free game cards.
Santa’s Stop @ Concord Point Lighthouse (Free)
📅 Sunday, December 21st | 12–3PM
📍 Concord Point Lighthouse, 714 Concord St, Havre de Grace
Bring the family for free mini photo sessions with Santa, holiday crafts, light refreshments, reindeer games, and time to browse the Holiday Shoppe at this festive waterfront stop.
Music & Entertainment
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:
Christmas at the Park, Dec 23rd, Havre de Grace
Christmas Eve @ Dwell City Church, Dec 24th, Bel Air
The Amish Outlaws New Year's Eve Bash, Dec 31st, Fallston
Locals Know Best
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.
Home Services
Top Ways Mister Insulation’s Attic Upgrades Cut Energy Use, Boost Comfort, and Help the Planet (Part 2)
In Part 1, Jeff shared the “big 3” that drive the best results: proper insulation + professional attic air sealing + solar attic ventilation (humidistat + thermostat). This week, here are 5 more benefits homeowners often don’t realize they’re getting.
5 More Ways an Upgraded Attic Pays Off:
Extends HVAC lifespan
When your home holds temperature better, your system cycles less often — fewer hard runs, fewer breakdowns, longer life.
Improves indoor air quality
A drier attic is less friendly to musty odors and mold, and air sealing helps keep attic air (and irritating particles) from drifting into living spaces.
Lowers peak energy demand
Venting hot attic air (especially in summer) and reducing leakage can cut those brutal late-day cooling spikes.
Quiet, low-maintenance, and off-grid
Solar attic fans move air without adding to your electric bill, and the humidistat/thermostat controls kick on only when needed.
Shrinks your carbon footprint
Using less energy for heating and cooling directly reduces household emissions — comfort that’s better for your wallet and the world.
Pro Tip from Jeff: The best results come from treating the attic as a system — seal first, add the right R-value, then optimize airflow with a solar fan controlled by a humidistat & thermostat.
Special Offer for Bel Air Brief Readers:
Want this done right? Mister Insulation’s Professional Insulation Experts offer all Bel Air Brief’s subscribers the option to have us assess, seal, insulate, and install solar ventilation tailored to your home.
Get your ZERO-Cost, ZERO-Pressure 90-Day quote (down to the penny!) with an attic insulation evaluation TODAY! (Quick! The $1200 insulation tax credit will END Dec 31st, 2025 at midnight with current legislation!) Call Jeff at 443-910-1656 NOW or click here and get on the schedule before it’s too late to save!
This Week in the Community…
Scratch-Off Tree Raffle Raises Funds for Humane Society of Harford County
A festive Scratch-Off Tree Raffle launched this holiday season to support the Humane Society of Harford County, giving locals a chance to win a $50 Maryland Lottery scratch-off tree while helping animals in need. Raffle tickets are available at participating spots including Das Bierhalle Bel Air, Looney’s Pub (Bel Air), Route 24 Ale House, and directly through the Humane Society, with all proceeds benefiting the shelter’s lifesaving work. Read more…
Looney’s Pub Bel Air Launches Festive Ugly Sweater Cocktail Menu
Looney’s Pub in Bel Air rolled out its seasonal Ugly Sweater cocktail menu, featuring a lineup of playful, winter-inspired drinks designed to bring extra cheer to the holidays. The limited-time menu includes creative cocktails with festive flavors and fun names, giving guests another reason to stop in, sip, and celebrate the season. Read more…
Bel Air Community Chorus Joins Rejoice! Community Musical Celebration
The Bel Air Community Chorus will perform selections from its recent concert this Sunday as part of Rejoice!, a festive community musical celebration hosted by the Maryland Center for the Arts. Taking place on December 21 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bel Air, the event invites attendees to sing along to holiday favorites and enjoy an evening filled with seasonal music, community spirit, and shared celebration. Read more…
Pet Of The Week: Presented by Our Friends at Shannon’s Pretty Paws Pet Grooming
We are more than just groomers, we’re a family!
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).
This week’s reader submission is: Yoda
“Yoda enjoys long walks with her mom every morning and chasing around squirrels and bikes!”
Yoda, a very good girl!
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.
Real Estate Corner
Are you a realtor (or know one) who is looking to expand your local visibility & feature your active listings in this section to 5,700+ locals? Click here to submit your interest.
Date Spot Of The Week
Watchtower Brewing Company (Aberdeen)
📍 22 Howard St, Aberdeen, MD 21001
This week’s date pick takes us to Watchtower Brewing Company — Aberdeen’s newest brewery and a great low-key option for couples who want something relaxed, local, and conversation-friendly. Recently opened in the heart of downtown Aberdeen, the space has a clean, modern taproom vibe with just enough character to feel special without being stuffy. It’s casual, welcoming, and perfect for easing into a night out.
Start by grabbing a flight and sampling your way through their rotating tap list, which features a mix of approachable crowd-pleasers and more adventurous styles. Whether you’re into crisp lagers, hop-forward IPAs, or darker, maltier pours, there’s enough variety to make tasting together part of the fun — and an easy conversation starter if it’s an early date.
Since Watchtower keeps the focus on the beer, it’s a great spot to pair with a nearby dinner before or after, or to keep things simple and linger over a second round while you plan the rest of the night.
👉 Check out the tap list or plan your visit: watchtowerbrewing.com
Thanks for reading the Bel Air Brief today! Share this with the person who hasn’t seen our Bel Air Holiday Gift Guide yet.
Matt | Bel Air Brief
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