10 Fun Holiday Season Things to Do in Maine
1. Lighting of the Nubble. Cape Neddick in York. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, holiday lights are switched on at the historic Nubble Lighthouse. There's caroling, Christmas music, and a visit from Santa.
2. Kennebunkport's Annual Christmas Prelude. A wide variety of holiday activies, events, dining, and entertainment throughout the town of Kennebunkport.
3. Festival of Lights in York. York's annual parade, plus pointsettias, wreaths, and greens for sale, a holiday crafts fair, gingerbread house display, visits with Santa, and more.
4. Harbor Lights Festival, Boothbay Habor. This holiday festival has a nautical flair. Santa arrives by boat and there's a lighted boat parade around the harbor. Add a craft show, horse drawn carriage rides, caroling, and a festival of trees, and you have a day full of fun.
5. Freeport Sparkle Weekend. This popular annual event kicks off with a Friday evening Parade of Lights. The rest of the weekend has a schedule full of free events and activities including carriage rides, visits with Santa, and a holiday movie marathon.
6. Old Fashioned Christmas in Bath. Highlights of the Christmas season in Bath include Friday evening trolley caroling, and the annual December 31st Paul Revere Bell Ringing.
7. World's Largest Lobster Trap Tree in Rockland. This waterfront town celebrates the season by constructing a big Christmas tree out of lobster traps. Very Maine and very fun.
8. Northern Lights Celebration at L.L. Bean. L.L. Bean puts on a nightly synchronized holiday light show at their flagship store in Freeport.
9. The Polar Express Train Ride. Ride the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad's Polar Express themed train. The train departs from the Ocean Gateway Visitor Center in Portland and proceeds to the "North Pole" where children will get to meet Santa!
10. Christmas at the Cathedral. Enjoy special Christmas season concerts by The Choral Arts Society, Portland Brass Quintet and organist Dan Moore at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.
Photo Credit: Maine Office of Tourism