Nutcracker & Christmas Concerts in Harford County (2026): Dates, Times & Tickets

by Josh Tessier

Header photo: “Downtown Bel Air Winter” by Yaoiloverr, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.

Last updated: Oct. 21, 2026

Harford County has two full Nutcracker ballets in Bel Air this year: Harford Dance Theatre at the Amoss Center, Dec. 4-6, and The John Carroll School, Dec. 11-13. Little ones can see Ballet Chesapeake's short Nutcracker Sweets on Dec. 4. Concerts include the Harford Choral Society in early December, plus A Charlie Brown Christmas and the free Bel Air Community Band Winter Concert, both on Dec. 13.

Part of my 2026 guide to Christmas events in Harford County.

What Nutcracker and holiday shows are on in 2026?

Click any show name for the host's own page.

Date (2026)	Show	Town	Time	Cost
Sat., Nov. 14	Harford Choral Society Messiah Sing-Along	Bel Air	2-3 p.m.	$15 adult, $10 student, kids 12 and under free
Fri., Nov. 27	Chris Pinnella: Christmas by Candlelight	Havre de Grace	8 p.m.	Ticketed
Fri., Dec. 4	Ballet Chesapeake: Nutcracker Sweets* (ages 2-6)	Bel Air	6 p.m.	Tickets on Eventbrite
Fri.-Sun., Dec. 4-6	Harford Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker*	Bel Air	Fri. 7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 1 and 5 p.m.	$22, $20, $18
Sat., Dec. 5 (see note)	Harford Choral Society 2026 Winter Concert	Bel Air	3 p.m.	$20 adult, $15 senior (advance)
Wed., Dec. 9	I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas* (family musical)	Bel Air (HCC)	6:30 p.m.	$22 reserved
Fri., Dec. 11	My (Unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical	Havre de Grace	8 p.m.	Ticketed
Fri.-Sun., Dec. 11-13	The Nutcracker at The John Carroll School	Bel Air	Fri. 7 p.m.; Sat. 2 and 7 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m.	See host
Sat., Dec. 12	Tropical Christmas Tea Party with Santa & Friends	Havre de Grace	11 a.m.-1 p.m.	Ticketed
Sun., Dec. 13	A Charlie Brown Christmas, Eric Byrd Trio	Bel Air	4 and 7 p.m.	$20 adult, $10 kids 12 and under
Sun., Dec. 13	Bel Air Community Band Winter Concert*	Bel Air	3 p.m.	Free
Fri.-Sun., Dec. 11-13	Ballet Chesapeake: The Nutcracker* (nearby, in Towson)	Towson	Fri. 6 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Sun. 1 p.m.	Ticketed

* Posted only by the host so far. Confirm before you go.

Choral Society date note: The Harford Choral Society's home page and the Town of Bel Air calendar both say Sat., Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. The ticket page on its site says Dec. 6. Check the date on your ticket before you go. I'll update this once the group clears it up.

Which Nutcracker in Bel Air should I pick?

Both full shows are in Bel Air, a week apart.

Harford Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker

When: Fri., Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 5 and Sun., Dec. 6 at 1 and 5 p.m.
Where: The Amoss Center, at Harford Technical High School, across from Entrance 2 of Harford Community College
Tickets: $22, $20 or $18, reserved seats, sold through harfordevents.com
Nice touch: The host asks you to bring a new, unwrapped kids' gift for the Empty Stocking Fund.
Confirm before you go.

The Nutcracker at The John Carroll School

When: Fri., Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 12 at 2 and 7 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.
Who dances: John Carroll's dance program students and kids from its John Carroll Ballet Academy
Where: The John Carroll School, 703 E. Churchville Rd., Bel Air
Tickets: See the school's page.

Quick pick: Want the first weekend in December? Go with Harford Dance Theatre. Busy that weekend? John Carroll is the next one. Both have afternoon shows, which are easier for little kids. Check parking with each host before you go.

Nearby, outside Harford: Ballet Chesapeake puts on its full Nutcracker Dec. 11-13 at Stephens Hall Theatre at Towson University. Shows are Fri. at 6 p.m., Sat. at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., and Sun. at 1 p.m. The company says tickets went on sale Oct. 15.

Key dates for Nutcracker performances and holiday concerts in Harford County, Nov. 14 to Dec. 13, 2026 — *Key dates as of Oct. 21, 2026. Times can change, so check before you go.*

Graphic: joshtalksharford.com. Background photo: "Downtown Bel Air Winter" by Yaoiloverr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped, text added.

Is there a Nutcracker for toddlers and preschoolers?

Yes. Ballet Chesapeake's Nutcracker Sweets is Fri., Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Bel Air Armory, 37 N. Main St.

It's a short, sensory-friendly Nutcracker for kids ages 2-6. A narrator tells the story of Clara and her toy.
After the show, dancers in costume lead kids to a tea party, and each child can take a photo with a character.
The company built it for preschools, child care groups and kindergartens. It also sells tickets on Eventbrite. Eventbrite says no refunds.
Confirm before you go.

Want Santa too? See my where to see Santa in Harford County guide. For more family holiday ideas, check The Harford County Mom's seasonal guides.

What Christmas concerts are in Harford County in 2026?

Harford Choral Society Messiah Sing-Along: Sat., Nov. 14, 2-3 p.m., St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 1200 E. Churchville Rd., Bel Air. Bring a score, borrow one, or just listen. Tickets are $15 for adults and seniors and $10 for non-HCC students. Kids 12 and under with an adult get in free but need a ticket. Proceeds support The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region.
Harford Choral Society 2026 Winter Concert: Sat., Dec. 5, 3 p.m., St. Matthew Lutheran Church (see the date note above). The program includes Fasch's Magnificat, Haydn's Te Deum and Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium, plus a silent auction. The host says advance adult and senior tickets are $5 off, at $20 and $15. Non-HCC students are $10.
A Charlie Brown Christmas with the Eric Byrd Trio: Sun., Dec. 13, at the Liriodendron, 502 W. Gordon St., Bel Air. The Town of Bel Air calendar lists shows at 4 and 7 p.m., $20 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Great for a date night or the whole family.
Bel Air Community Band Winter Concert: Sun., Dec. 13, 3 p.m., at Bel Air High School, 100 Heighe St. The band lists admission as free. Confirm before you go.
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas: Wed., Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m., in the Chesapeake Theater at Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Rd. The Barter Players put on this family musical about a zoo, a baby hippo and Santa. Reserved seats are $22, and everyone needs a ticket. Confirm before you go.

On the Town of Bel Air calendar, but the host hasn't posted details yet:

Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra holiday concert: Sat., Dec. 5, at Bel Air High School, 100 Heighe St. The town lists a short family concert at 11 a.m. and a 7 p.m. concert. Get tickets and prices from the orchestra.

2025 dates, 2026 not yet announced:

Merry TubaChristmas: In 2025 it was Sun., Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. at Bel Air High School, free to attend. Kids love seeing a stage full of tubas.
Harford Community Christmas Music Festival & Nativity Display: In 2025 it ran Dec. 12-13 in Abingdon, 6-8:30 p.m., with music from 7 to 8 p.m. It was free and open to all ages.

What holiday shows are in Havre de Grace?

Chris Pinnella: Christmas by Candlelight: Fri., Nov. 27, 8 p.m., STAR Centre.
My (Unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical: Fri., Dec. 11, 8 p.m., Cultural Center at the Opera House. A fun date night.
Tropical Christmas Tea Party with Santa & Friends: Sat., Dec. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Opera House. Made for kids.

Prices aren't posted yet. More in my Havre de Grace Christmas guide.

Are there free holiday nights with lights and music?

Festival of Lights at The John Carroll School: The Town of Bel Air calendar lists Sat., Dec. 5, 3-7 p.m., free, with lit halls, an Elves Workshop, a Polar Express ride and a live nativity. John Carroll's own Christmas page still shows 2024, so 2026 registration details aren't out yet. Confirm before you go.
Rockfield Manor Annual Tree Lighting: The town calendar lists Tue., Dec. 1, 6-7:30 p.m., at 501 E. Churchville Rd. Admission is free with a new, unwrapped toy for Harford County Toys for Tots. There are sweet treats and a s'mores bar. Confirm with Rockfield Manor before you go.

Both are in Bel Air. For the rest of the season there, see my Bel Air Christmas guide.

Any tips for buying tickets?

Buy from the host links in the table above.
Resale sites list some of these shows too, often for more than face value. Harford Dance Theatre's face prices are $18-$22.
Buy early for weekend afternoon shows. They fit little kids' schedules best.
Keep your ticket handy and check the date on it, especially for the Choral Society concert.

What's it like living near the arts in Harford County?

Bel Air has its own Arts & Entertainment District, the Amoss Center hosts shows all year, and Havre de Grace has its Opera House. If you live in Bel Air, Forest Hill, Havre de Grace or Abingdon, a holiday show is a short drive. Thinking about a move? Call or text me at (443) 617-2099, or see my agent page.

FAQ

When is the Nutcracker in Bel Air in 2026?

There are two. Harford Dance Theatre performs at the Amoss Center Dec. 4-6, 2026, and The John Carroll School performs Dec. 11-13, 2026. Both are in Bel Air.

How much are Nutcracker tickets in Harford County?

Harford Dance Theatre tickets are $22, $20 or $18 with reserved seats. Check The John Carroll School's page for its prices. Buy from the official sellers, not resale sites.

Is there a Nutcracker for toddlers near Bel Air?

Yes. Ballet Chesapeake's Nutcracker Sweets is a short, sensory-friendly show for ages 2-6, followed by a tea party, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Bel Air Armory.

What Christmas concerts are in Harford County in 2026?

Highlights include the Harford Choral Society Messiah Sing-Along (Nov. 14), its Winter Concert (listed as Dec. 5, with Dec. 6 on its ticket page) and A Charlie Brown Christmas with the Eric Byrd Trio at the Liriodendron (Dec. 13).

Are there free holiday events with music in Harford County?

Yes. The Town of Bel Air calendar lists a free Festival of Lights at The John Carroll School on Dec. 5, 3-7 p.m. Merry TubaChristmas at Bel Air High School was free in 2025; its 2026 date isn't posted yet.

Where can I sing the Messiah in Bel Air?

At the Harford Choral Society's Messiah Sing-Along on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, 2-3 p.m., at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 1200 E. Churchville Road. Bring your own score, borrow one, or just listen.