The Christmas lights of Hampden

 

Note Mr. Boh overlooking the car hood. Photo credit: Miracle on 34th Street in Hampden Facebook page.

Among its "16 Most Dazzling Streets To See Christmas Lights in the U.S.," travel site Thrillist includes one in Maryland: 34th Street in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore. That's 150 miles from Frostburg, but worth a visit!

The Hampden section of Baltimore boasts some of the city's most impressive row houses, and directly after Thanksgiving (specifically, beginning December First) it becomes the city’s very own Miracle on 34th Street. Residents have been stringing lights across these homes for nearly seven decades, along with putting up other creative decorations like giant lit-up crabs, an overhead train, and snowmen made from bicycle rims.

The Facebook page for Miracle on 34th Street in Hampden Hon has an impressive FAQ:

*The Miracle on 34th Street block is the 700 block of West 34th Street between Chestnut & Keswick. If you want to enter a place for your GPS, you can use Falkenhan's Hardware.

*Every year, the official lighting is at 6 PM the Saturday after Thanksgiving, & the lights are on EVERY NIGHT through New Years Eve.

*Neighbors' lights go on & off at different times, but you should be able to catch all of them between 6—10 pm. Many neighbors have them on until 11 or 12 weekend nights. Many neighbors leave their lights on overnight on Christmas Eve & New Years Eve.

*Saturday nights & the few days before & after Christmas are usually the busiest nights.

*Decorating is optional. No money is collected to help pay for the lights. The street residents cover all costs. BG&E does not contribute to our electric bills.

*It is best to see the lights on foot. Many nights the block is blocked off from traffic. For those who can't easily walk, you'll have a better chance of driving on the block early Mon-Wed nights in early December when it tends to be less busy.

*Parking can be challenging. Street parking tends to be a little easier M-W nights earlier in the month. There IS usually a small lit up lot that charges money on Keswick between 33rd & 34th Streets if all else fails.

* Please do not litter-- not to sound like Scrooge, but the people living in the houses you are admiring get stuck having to clean it up, which is not a very nice way to show your appreciation. Remember-- Santa is watching! Thank you!

Many photos of the 34th Street decorations, including the one on Thrillist, foreground an illuminated, human-sized Baltimore icon: Mr. Boh, who has promoted Charm City's National Bohemian lager, beloved by people who still use the term Charm City, since 1936. The Natty Boh website says:

Their one-eyed, mustachioed mascot Mr. Boh has always relished his role as embellisher of great stories, and friendly faced reminder to always keep an eye on what’s most important in life.

He also sells a lot of beer, 90 percent of it in his hometown of Baltimore, though it's long been brewed out of state by Pabst.

If you don't know the origin of the phrase "miracle on 34th Street," TCM will fix you up.