Philadelphia
Running of the Santas
Dress up as St. Nick and enjoy a day of holiday festivities. Get things started early with a pub crawl featuring $2 beers at several local venues. Then head to Finnigan’s Wake to participate in the “Hottest Santa” contest or the ‘Pre-Run’ party. The run starts at Finnigan’s Wake and ends at Festival Pier, Penn’s Landing.
The Running of the Santas is Dec. 10. Tickets are $15; VIP tickets are $40 and include free beer and an after-party. The pub crawl is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The run starts at 4 p.m. Go to runningofthesantas.com/santas/philadelphia
New York City
New Year’s Eve Wishing Wall
The city where wishes come true? Of course! Visitors to Times Square can write their wishes on pieces of paper at the New Year’s Eve Wall in the Times Square Visitor Center. The wishes will be collected at the end of the year and added to the ton of confetti that showers down on guests in Times Square for New Year’s Eve. If you can’t make it to New York, wishes are being accepted online and will be printed on a piece of confetti for you. Go to timessquarenyc.org.
The Times Square Visitor Center is on Seventh Avenue between 46th and 47th streets.
Landover
Army-Navy Game
For more than a century, the Black Knights and Midshipmen have been taking to the field once a year for the Army-Navy game. The 112th annual event takes place this year at FedEx Field. Special events will be held throughout the week, including a pep rally and a military-only gala.
The Army-Navy game is Dec. 10 at 2:30 p.m. It will air on CBS. For tickets, go to armynavygame.com.
McHenry
Wisp Resort’s 56th Birthday Celebration
Wisp, Maryland’s only ski resort, marks its 56th birthday with discounts and special events for the weekend. Visitors can enjoy two days of birthday parties, music, games, hot cocoa and cider, ice carvings and free birthday cake. Discounts include one-day lift tickets for $10, discounted rentals and lessons, and a birthday lodging special starting at $59.
Wisp 56th Birthday Celebration is Dec. 11-12. Go to wispresort.com or call 301-387-4000 for reservations.
New Castle, Del.
New Castle by Candlelight
This Christmas, celebrate the history and beauty of New Castle, Del., with a candlelight tour of historic homes, sponsored by the New Castle Historical Society. Visitors will walk from one historical site to the next, enjoying festive lights and carolers along the way. Historical sites will include Amstel House, Dutch House, George Read II House and the New Castle Court House Museum. Each stop offers something new, from dancing and feasting to recollections of past Christmas traditions.
New Castle by Candlelight takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 10. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Go to newcastlehistory.org or call 302-322-2794
