Holiday festivities get underway at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

The holiday shopping season is officially underway at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Live performances, celebrity guests and holiday sale offers greeted shoppers at the popular retail center yesterday, as mall owner Westfield held a special holiday launch event six days before Black Friday. The Jingle Lounge is now open, with special beverages and a place to relax between stores, or while you're waiting for someone else to finish shopping. A special wine bar at the lounge hosted by Windridge Vineyards will be open again today, November 19, 2023.  

The Jingle Lounge

One of Santa's elves
caught on camera

Abe Lincoln from the
Racing Presidents of the
Washington Nationals

In this age of high crime, you can
trust Honest Abe to carry your
shopping bags to the car

He always was a little more cautious
after Fort Stevens...

Wine bar today only!

See's Candies returns to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The signs of holiday shopping season are many at Westfield Montgomery Mall ahead of the official Black Friday start, from decorations to Santa's photo area to holiday pop-up shops. Among the most-anticipated of the latter each year at the Bethesda mall is See's Candies. 102 years after its founding by the See family in Los Angeles, many of their candies still use Mary See's original recipes. Look for See's this year on Level 1, next to T-Mobile.

Montgomery Mall gets ready for holiday shopping season (Photos)

The elves are busy at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Christmas trees and other holiday decor are popping up all over the building, as the mall prepares for the biggest shopping season of the year.  Santa Claus will be arriving at the mall on November 16, 2023, but you can start making reservations online now. And the Jingle Lounge will be back for a second year.

The shopping season will officially start with a bang on Saturday, November 18, from 3:00 - 8:00 PM, with the Home for the Holidays Concert & Tree Lighting celebration. Special guests and performers will include Instagram stars The Holderness Family, Rudolf, Olaf, "Ice Princesses," Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt from the Washington Nationals, Rockapella, the Gay Men's Chorus of DC, the Maryland Youth Ballet in Nutcracker mode, and - of course - Old Saint Nick himself. Windridge Vineyards will host a holiday pop-up wine bar in the Jingle Lounge. The whole event is free, and you can RSVP online now.

Christmas tree at Rockville Town Square (Photos)

Here is a look at the Christmas tree at Rockville Town Square for 2022. The tree was officially lit last month with city officials on hand, and with performances by King Teddy, the Richard Montgomery High School Choir, and students from the Dawn Crafton Dance Connection school of dance, which is located in the Town Square development. Santa Claus also made an appearance. This year's tree has a green, blue and white color scheme. 

Toys R Us at Macy's experience improves over early launch at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

No one will mistake the Toys R Us at Macy's pop-up for the full-blown Toys R Us experience of childhoods past. But the special section at the Macy's at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda has greatly improved over its initial launch earlier this fall. There's a much wider selection of toys, and the shelves are filled and more-neatly organized than the "Clearance section at ROSS!!!" vibe the space initially had.

Rockville Town Square tree lighting 6:00-8:00 PM tonight, November 18, 2022

The annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockville Town Square will be held tonight, Friday, November 18, 2022, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Free to attend, the event will include ice skating on the outdoor rink in the town square, live music, crafts, and appearances by Rockville City officials and Santa Claus himself! For safety purposes, Maryland Avenue will be closed to automobile traffic from noon until 10:30 PM tonight. Parking garage access from Maryland and Beall Avenue will be maintained throughout the day, however.

What's happening at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for holiday shopping season 2022 (Photos)

The countdown to Black Friday 2022 is on at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Many favorite holiday decorations have been brought back, alongside some new ones we haven't seen before. An elf was seen testing Santa's chair, to make sure everything is just right for Father Christmas when he arrives. Here are some of the exciting events and new features the mall has planned for 2022:

Jingle Lounge

A new Christmas-themed seating area called the Jingle Lounge has been set up, with upscale white chairs, sofas and tables, near Talbots on Level 1. Nutcrackers stand guard, and a pillow promises "Christmas cheer here." From November 18 to December 24, the Jingle Lounge will offer pizza delivery from Frank Pepe's Pizza, and cocktails, along with scheduled activity events.

Jingle Lounge

Jingle Lounge

Jingle Lounge

Mario Lopez

Speaking of events, the mall will start the holiday shopping season with a bang this coming Sunday, November 20, with Mario Lopez hosting a Home for the Holidays Kickoff Concert from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The concert is free, but you are being asked to RSVP online. By RSVPing, you also could win a meet-and-greet with Mario Lopez. Consider making a generous donation when you RSVP, as 100% of the proceeds will go to the Children's National Medical Center, and the Seacrest Studios at CNMC.

Westfield has partnered with CNMC. The company will match donations up to $10,000 during the holiday campaign, so your $10,000 donation would turn into $20,000-worth of benefit for the hospital. Find the concert in the Center Court on Level 1.

If you can't get out of bed for Sunday's concert, keep your pajamas on and head to the mall on Saturday, November 26 for a Holiday Pajama Party with the legendary Geoffrey the Giraffe from Toys R Us, which has a shop inside Macy's this holiday season. Take a selfie of yourself in your pajamas and tag @WestfieldMontgomery on social media for a chance to win a $250 gift card from Macy's. RSVP online, and you could win a free children's birthday party performance by Zucchini the Great. The pajama party will be held in the Center Court on Level 1 .