Christmas in St. Michaels

Christmas in St. Michaels was founded in 1987 as a non-profit, volunteer organization to raise funds to benefit the St. Michaels community. A day care center was sorely needed and the first event provided the financial means to receive funding. The celebration is held in the second week of December and includes a black tie gala, parade, children’s events and tours of the historic area homes. The celebration is a big draw for people from outlying areas such as Washington DC, Baltimore, MD and Philadelphia, PA. However, as the tradition continues people from even farther destinations have made an annual Mecca to this small town and often wished to have something they could take with them to remember the event and this lovely Maryland area.

In 2004 the organization determined that there was a need for an additional fundraising tool that would commemorate each year, but would not be weather dependant, as are so many of the events and tours that comprised the celebration. A committee of seven people was created specifically for the running of the ornament program.

That committee decided to work with ChemArt to craft a special annual keepsake that would celebrate a distinctly local landmark or feature, and also something that might have some historical significance for that year. Local artists were given the opportunity to submit ideas to the committee and the first piece was created—the Hooper Strait Lighthouse, a local attraction.

A conservative order of 500 pieces was placed for the first year, and promptly sold out in early Fall. 700 more were reordered and sold out at the event, in the second weekend in December. In subsequent years, the committee would err on the side of conservatism, and each year sales grew— about 1500 pieces of the 2005 Skipjack sailboat, almost 3000 pieces of the Basket of Crabs in 2006. The 2007 ornament is titled “A Gaggle of Geese”.

The ornaments are marketed to local clubs (Garden Clubs, Women’s Clubs, etc) beginning as early as September. The ornaments are sold at local events throughout the year such as the CrabFest, OysterFest and Lighthouse Challenge. The Ornament Committee is proud to don their Santa hats and sit at their card table with their displays to promote their wares.

The St. Michaels community also helps to promote the ornaments. Sixteen retail stores in the town carry the ornaments, some carrying all the years. 100% of the profits of the ornament sale are given back to the community. Each year charities are chosen to be the recipients of the money raised.

Gloria Gibson, of the St. Michaels Ornament Committee, is delighted with the ornaments year after year. “ChemArt truly helps us make this ornament program a success. With a great product, beautiful design and professional staff, our annual ornament is not only fun but easy to sell and promote. Our ornament has become a collectors’ item for local people and also has great appeal as a souvenir for tourists, many of whom come to our town every year.” Over three quarters of a million dollars have been raised to support the needs of local organizations, with over $50,000 from ornament sales alone.

For more information on Christmas in St. Michaels, please visit the website at http://christmasinstmichaels.org.

 Download a PDF of the Christmas in St. Michaels case study