Talbot Spy | March 8, 2026
Surpassing $1.7 Million in Community Giving
Christmas in St. Michaels has awarded financial grants to 19 local nonprofit organizations following the success of its 2025 celebration, continuing a tradition of community support that now spans nearly four decades.
“These grants may start with a holiday event, but their impact lasts all year long,” said Pat Martin, chair of Christmas in St. Michaels. “Seeing these organizations use the funds to educate children, support seniors, protect our environment, and strengthen our community is incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.”
The awards were presented during a celebration on Feb. 9, recognizing organizations whose programs strengthen and enrich life across the Bay Hundred area. Recipients included Bay Hundred Community Volunteers; the Classic Car Museum’s automotive apprentice program; Christ Church’s Back to School program; the Critchlow Adkins Children’s Center St. Michaels site; Partners in Care; Phillips Wharf Environmental Center; Pickering Creek Audubon Center; Royal Oak Community Church summer camp programs; Talbot Community Connection; the St. Michaels Community Center; the St. Michaels Fireworks Fund; the St. Michaels Middle High School After Prom Committee; the St. Michaels Fire Department; St. Michaels in Bloom; St. Mary’s Square Museum; St. Michaels Tennis; the Perkins Family YMCA; and the Tilghman Area Youth Association.
A special memorial grant was also presented to Sink or Swim (SOS) in honor of longtime Christmas in St. Michaels treasurer Linda Blades Seemans.
“We were especially proud to recognize Sink or Swim with a memorial gift in honor of our dear friend and longtime treasurer, Linda Blades Seemans,” Martin said. “Linda was the steady hand behind Christmas in St. Michaels for many years and my trusted partner in making sure everything ran smoothly. Her dedication, wisdom, and love for this community helped shape the event into what it is today.”
Founded in 1986, Christmas in St. Michaels began as a community effort to raise funds for a much-needed daycare facility. That effort led to the creation of the Critchlow Adkins Children’s Center at the St. Michaels school complex. In the 40 years since, the organization has contributed more than $1.7 million to nonprofits that serve residents throughout Bay Hundred.
The impact of those grants can be seen across the community. Funding has supported the colorful plantings maintained by St. Michaels in Bloom, new equipment for the St. Michaels Fire Department, youth camps through the Perkins Family YMCA, and hands-on environmental education for preschoolers at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. Grants have also helped Bay Hundred Community Volunteers build essential accessibility ramps for local seniors and supported youth development through programs such as St. Michaels Tennis.
Local nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for the next round of grants. Applications for the 2026 awards cycle are available at www.christmasinstmichaels.org and must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2026. Grants typically support specific programs planned for the following year.
Christmas in St. Michaels invites the community to help celebrate its 40th anniversary. Set for December 11-13, 2026, the town-wide celebration features family-friendly events including one of the Shore’s largest holiday parades, a lighted boat parade, breakfast with Santa, tours of historic homes, a collector’s Christmas ornament, a festive marketplace filled with local crafts, and more.
Information about attending, volunteering, or purchasing tickets is available at www.christmasinstmichaels.org.