The Magical Road Trip Will Take You Through Massachusetts’ Most Charming Christmas Towns
Christmas in Massachusetts is a truly special time. The holidays bring out the best in us, whether that means a spirit of community or some truly epic decorating skills. This road trip will take you to some of the most festive towns in the state and is guaranteed to put you in the Christmas mood.
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When the huge wreath on Chatham Light bursts to life, you know it's Christmastime in this charming Cape Cod town. Visit during Chatham's "Christmas by the Sea Stroll" weekend (December 8-9, 2017) for caroling, horse and carriage rides, cookies galore, and meet and greets with Santa. Even if you miss the stroll, the decorations in this community are pretty gorgeous.
Taunton's official nickname is "The Christmas City," so you know this town gets the holidays right. They've been celebrating Christmas with a beautiful light show on the town green since 1914. Visit for the annual Christmas parade and the Lights On festival for a dose of seasonal cheer. The town puts on a nearly endless array of family-friendly Christmas events, so check the Taunton town website for an updated calendar of activities.
Head to Attleboro to check out a beautiful wonderland of sparkle at LaSalette Shrine’s Festival of Lights. With more than 400,000 lights and 62 years of experience putting on a holiday show, this is the main Christmas attraction in Attleboro. It’s a family-friendly experience that is bound to make your heart grow a few sizes.
Springfield is home to the unparalleled Bright Nights at Forest Park light display. Featuring hundreds of thousands of sparkling bulbs and a three-mile tunnel of lights, visiting this town purely to check out this display is definitely okay. Springfield itself also plays host to plenty of holiday events and concerts leading up to the big day.
Stockbridge hosts an annual holiday event that turns the town into a scene worthy of Norman Rockwell. Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas includes readings of classic holiday stories, caroling, a holiday concert, and plenty of festive lights. If you visit after the event, you can still enjoy the town's dazzling Christmas decorations and a warm mug of cider at the Red Lion Inn.
Tucked away on the Mohawk Trail, Shelburne Falls celebrates the holidays in style. Their annual Moonlight Magic event is perfect for families looking for an evening of lights, candles, holiday crafts and moonlit trolley rides. Closer to Christmas, the town hosts holiday music events and is the perfect place to do a bit of last minute gift shopping.
Deerfield is a historic town that loves to do the holidays to the max. It's home to Yankee Candle Village, where it's Christmas all year long, and the town itself has plenty of beautiful colonial architecture that will delight you. Strolling downtown can't be beat when the holiday lights flicker on after dark.
This North Shore town is known for its massive Christmas light displays. The Lynn Fells Parkway is one street that you absolutely must drive down. The yards on this road are bedecked in hundreds of sparkling lights and blinking decorations.
Newburyport is a coastal community that is charming in every season, but it's especially magical around the holidays. Drop by for the annual Santa Parade (the jolly fellow will sail into town on a U.S. Coast Guard boat) and enjoy plenty of caroling and the lighting of the magnificent town tree. If you miss the parade, visit for the prime holiday shopping and quaint decorations.
Get back to a simpler time in Rockport this Christmas. This town brings the joy of the holiday season to life with a calendar of events for December that includes holiday parties, seasonal shopping sales, and, of course, the Rockport Christmas Stroll Weekend. Held December 9-10 this year, visitors will be able to enjoy carolers, unique gift ideas and free refreshments in shops, and a visit from Santa.
This road trip is the perfect holiday weekend adventure. For more Christmas cheer, check out this stunning holiday display with more than 650,000 lights.
