By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Nov. 12, 2026) Ocean Pines residents will have opportunities to prepare for Thanksgiving and get into the holiday spirit through a series of seasonal markets, recreational programs, and community events planned for November and December.

The Ocean Pines Farmers & Artisans Market will host a Thanksgiving Festival on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a special pre-holiday market Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Both events will take place at the White Horse Park Marketplace, located at 239 Ocean Parkway.

Shoppers can find fresh produce from local farmers, baked goods, breads, pies, jams, jellies, honey, fresh meats and poultry, as well as artisan foods and other locally made products.

“Thanksgiving is one of our busiest times because people want fresh, local food for a meal that matters,” said Janice Curtis, events and happenings coordinator in an association press release. “With a Saturday market and a Tuesday market, shoppers can buy early for prep and come back for last-minute fresh items.”

In addition to the holiday offerings, the farmers market operates year-round, rain or shine, every Saturday morning.

Residents can also participate in several recreational and creative programs offered through Ocean Pines during the coming weeks.

A Tai Chi 24 Forms class is scheduled for Tuesdays through Dec. 29, from 9:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. The class will not meet Dec. 1 or Dec. 25.

The program introduces participants to a traditional variation of the 24 Forms practice, which focuses on improving health, fitness, relaxation, energy, and balance. The class is open to all ages and will be taught by Kim Reed of Radiant Motion for Health.

Registration costs $44 for Ocean Pines residents and $54 for nonresidents. Drop-in participation is available for $10.

Young residents can also work on their basketball skills through the Hoopsters basketball clinic, scheduled for Tuesdays from Nov. 17 through Dec. 15 at the Community Center gym.

The clinic is open to boys and girls ages four to 13 and will cover dribbling, passing, shooting, game strategy, and basketball rules. Weekly instruction will include skills and drills that build toward scrimmaged games.

Sessions are divided by age group, with children ages four to six meeting from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., ages seven to nine from 6:10 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. and ages 10 to 13 from 7:20 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.

Registration costs $45 for Ocean Pines residents and $55 for nonresidents.

For people looking for a creative project, Ocean Pines will offer an epoxy charcuterie board class on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The class is to be taught by Joan Guerriero and will introduce participants to creating their own epoxy charcuterie boards, combining resin techniques for aesthetics with functional designs for serving. The cost is $46 per person. The class will take place at the Ocean Pines Community Center.

As the Christmas season approaches, residents can also take part in the annual Light Up the Pines outdoor decorating contest.

Sponsored by Choptank Electric Cooperative, the free community event invites households to decorate their homes for the holidays and submit a photograph of their displays.

Registration runs from Friday, Nov. 27, through Monday, Dec. 21. Participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of three $50 bill credits from Choptank Electric Cooperative.

To participate, households must submit their name, address, phone number, and a photograph of their decorated home to info@oceanpines.org by the registration deadline.