Here Are The Top 13 Christmas Towns In Maine. They’re Magical.
Once Thanksgiving is behind us, it’s time to shift into holiday mode. In fact, starting the day after Halloween, many of us have just one thing on the brain: the holidays! (Guilty.) Many towns begin installing the telltale snowflakes on street lamps as early as October, but it’s not until the festive lights are up and the trees are sparkling that we know it’s time to light that yule log. Here are our picks for the best Christmas towns in Maine if you really want to feel the Christmas spirit this year.
Disclaimer: This list was a hard one! We wish every lovely town in Maine could have been included, but with all the decorating, baking and wrapping to be done, you just don’t have time to read a list that long!
There are so many fun holiday events in Gardiner that you'll stay busy all season long. During the wintertime, Maine looks like something straight out of a snow globe. That's especially true when you visit a Christmas town like Gardiner. Throughout the month of December, this community hosts an array of seasonal events you won't want to miss. And just a simple stroll down Main Street will showcase the town's exquisite holiday decorations. Couldn't you imagine spending Christmas in this magical village?
Bath celebrates Christmas all month long in their annual "Old-Fashioned Christmas" celebration that began just after Thanksgiving. Following Thanksgiving and typically running all through the month of December, Bath, Maine, hosts an "Old Fashioned Christmas" where Santa joins the Children's Tree Lighting along with caroling, contests, live music, entertainment, family-friendly activities, and much, more!
Enjoy Christmas by the Sea during Camden's annual holiday event. For more than 20 years, the seaside village of Camden has held a “Christmas by the Sea” festival each winter. The event has spread to include the people and businesses in the neighboring communities of Lincolnville and Rockport, and is one of the best-loved events in the Pine Tree State.
For a big, old dose of holiday cheer, head to Bar Harbor. One of the most quintessential Maine town in the summer only gets more magical when the snow falls. The tourists thin out a bit, but don't expect to have it to yourself. The secret is out that towns like Bar Harbor twinkle with the holiday spirit at Christmastime.
Perhaps the best name of all the Maine Christmas celebrations, the WordFreeport Sparkle Celebration brings together holiday cheer and shopping in one lovely weekend. The weekend kicks off Friday night with a Parade of Lights down Main Street, and the fun continues all weekend with a Sparkle Express Train Adventure, free horse drawn wagon rides, visits with Santa, and the talking Christmas Tree.
Come to Downtown Bangor in December, for loads of holiday fun and cheer. While the exact dates vary by year, the festivities remain the same: visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Santa's Workshop with a Santa Scavenger Hunt throughout downtown, cookie decorating, crafts, the annual Festival of Lights parade at Main Street & West Market Square, and later, the City Tree Lighting. This is an enchanting and beloved Christmas event in Maine!
There are so many fun events packed into the holiday season in beautiful Kennebunkport, Maine! Widely regarded as one of the best Christmas towns in the country, Kennebunkport's annual Christmas Prelude celebration is truly magical. This extravagant Christmas event fills the seaside town of Kennebunkport with an atmosphere of holiday spirit where visitors feel like they're entering the North Pole. Throughout town, shops are decorated with ornaments, visitors are served holiday shopping discounts and complimentary cider and snacks. During this two week event, Christmas carolers sing our favorite jingles, historic houses are open for tours, there are wine tastings, horse drawn wagons, a hat parade and so much more! At Dock Square, the celebrations officially begin with the Tree Lighting Ceremony on the first weekend of Christmas Prelude. During the second weekend, spectators can enjoy the Christmas Fireworks Display and the ever popular Pooch Parade where man's best friend displays the holiday spirit with Christmas apparel.
Pack up the kids and head over the river and through the woods for this year's Christmas festivities at Rangeley Lakes. Each year, Rangeley's downtown is transformed into a veritable winter wonderland, with specials in participating shops, open houses, refreshments, shoppers raffle, caroling, holiday hayrides, and even visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus!
Every year, the lighting of the tree in Portland, Maine, signals the start of the holiday season here in Maine. Congress Street, Commercial Street, and iconic downtown parks — including Longfellow Square, Tommy’s Park, Boothby Square, Lincoln Park, Pleasant Street Park, and Congress Square Park — are illuminated by a kaleidoscope of fantastical colors & shapes each year, bringing radiance, warmth, and magic to cold winter nights. These dazzling displays wow residents and visitors alike and have become a true signature of downtown Portland during the holiday season. The best part? The lights are illuminated on Black Friday — and they keep the city merry, bright, and beautiful all through March! We're here for it.
In December, Presque Isle dazzles and delights Mainers young and old. The Holiday Light Parade sets off from North Street and proceed to Clukey's Auto Supply for the lighting of the Tree of Hope and then continue to Gentile Hall at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Hot beverages will be served, and the Man in Red might make an appearance, too!
For an only-in-Maine experience, visit Cape Neddick in York during the holidays. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, the town of York lights the famous Nubble Lighthouse - often sited as the most photographed lighthouse in Maine. Visitors can enjoy live music, hot cocoa, and snacks while Santa makes his merry way to Sohier Park.
Welcome to Kringleville, the most cheerful Christmas town in Maine! For many years, with the help of Waterville Main Street, community volunteers create a fun family holiday experience that lasts from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Visit the official town website (linked above) for dates and details about upcoming celebrations.
We know we’re not alone in thinking that Maine is the best state in the country for cozy fires, winter vibes, and holiday cheer. Where have your best Maine Christmases taken place? And, what will you be doing to prepare for the holiday season this year?
What are some fun things to do during Christmas in Maine?
During the wintertime, Maine looks like something straight out of a snow globe, and you’ll be delighted by the festive events and happenings all around the Pine Tree State! From epic Christmas towns, like those listed above, to dazzling Christmas light displays and even Christmas train rides, the holiday spirit is alive and well here in Maine.
What are the best holiday lights displays in Maine?
Here at Only In Maine, we have an unabashed love for the holidays. And so does the rest of the state, as evidenced by the sheer number of amazing Christmas lights displays in Maine! From charming small towns to big cities, beloved attractions and festivals to seasonal events, there’s no shortage of holiday spirit here in the Pine Tree State. The following are 11 of the best Christmas lights displays in Maine that are sure to make your season very merry and bright. Among those on the list you’ll definitely want to visit is the Monument Square Tree Lighting in Portland. The unofficial start of the holidays here in Maine, folks flock to Portland each year to visit with Santa Claus, enjoy live music and free horse and wagon rides through town, and a truly wondrous holiday lights display. And, of course, the L.L. Bean Northern Lights Celebration in Freeport is about as quintessentially Maine as it gets, with the state’s iconic store decked to the nines in twinkling lights and displays.
What are some charming towns in Maine that I should visit?
The Christmas towns outlined above all make for amazing road trip adventures any time of the year. In fact, you’d be missing out on some truly amazing small-town festivals, seasonal restaurants, and historic sites if you *didn’t* make a point of visiting Maine’s charming small towns during the non-holiday season! Because while every state has winsome small towns, the ones in Maine just feel better. The community vibe here is strong and seeing independent businesses thrive reminds us just how important it is to visit these places. The next time you have time to explore, consider sticking close to home and visiting these small towns in Maine.
Address: Portland, Maine, USA
Address: Gardiner, ME, USA
Address: Bath, ME 04530, USA
Address: Camden, ME, USA
Address: Bar Harbor, ME, USA
Address: Freeport, ME 04032, USA
Address: Bangor, ME 04401, USA
Address: Owls Head, ME, USA
Address: Kennebunkport, ME 04046, USA
Address: Presque Isle, ME, USA
Address: Cape Neddick, York, ME, USA
Address: Waterville, ME, USA
Address: Rangeley, ME, USA
Maine In Your Inbox
Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!
Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
