9 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire This Holiday Season

Whether you’re an out-of-stater planning a visit or a local looking to add a new tradition, here’s a sampling of the best holiday events in New Hampshire, inspired by Yankee’s 2021 feature“The New England Holiday Bucket List.” How many have you experienced?

9 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire This Holiday Season

LaBelle Lights
LaBelle Winery | Derry

These magical light displays are brand new to LaBelle Winery in Derry, New Hampshire, this year. A walk through the lights at the nearby golf course takes approximately 20 – 30 minutes, and the many seasonally themed nights are sure to delight visitors of all ages. Meanwhile, the nearby LaBelle market offers plenty of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks to visitors. It’s hard to imagine something more perfect than a stroll through the twinkling lights with a warm beverage in hand!

“The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol”
The Palace Theatre | Manchester

Between the ever-enchanting Nutcracker ballet and the timeless story of Scrooge’s journey through time in The Christmas Carol, there’s a little bit of something for everyone when it comes to holiday theatre. And this season, live performances of these two iconic holiday classics are coming to the The Palace Theatre stage in Manchester, New Hampshire. Shows will take place throughout the months of November and December, so be sure check the calendar and grab your tickets for one (or both) of these festive productions.

Seacoast Artisans Holiday Fine Arts & Craft Show
35 Lafayette Road | North Hampton

This 22nd annual yuletide showcase not only delivers a range of locally made art, fashion, and home decor but also teams up with Meals 4 Kids, a program run by the hunger relief nonprofit Gather to help feed youngsters around the Seacoast. Located in North Hampton, New Hampshire, the Seacoast Artisans Holiday Fine Arts & Craft Show would be a great place to look for unique gifts to give this holiday season. See more of the Best New England Craft Fairs & Artisan Galleries.

Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibition
Portsmouth Historical Society | Portsmouth 

Feeling creative? The annual Portsmouth Historical Society gingerbread contest is one of the sweetest ways to celebrate the holiday season. House submissions are due by November 16th at the latest (so it’s time to get baking you’d like to enter)!

Gift of Lights
NH Motor Speedway | Loudon 

Located in Loudon, New Hampshire, this drive-through winter wonderland will have you racing full-speed ahead into the holiday spirit. That said, with over 25,000 lights decking out the 2½-mile race course at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, you’ll likely want to drive slowly this time. So pack up the car, queue up some holiday tunes, and hit the road!

Symphony NH Holiday Brass and Holiday Pops Concerts
Varied Locations Throughout New Hampshire

Symphony NH’s beloved annual Holiday Pops concert, conducted by Maestro Roger Kalia, will enchant and delight audiences of all ages. The concert will also showcase a diverse array of holiday traditions, with Adam Shugar’s “Hanukkah Overture for Clarinet and String Orchestra” and the timeless charm of Tchaikovsky’s “Trepak” and “Pas de Deux” from “The Nutcracker,” along with beloved classics like “Silent Night,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour
Snowflake Inn and Jackson Village | Jackson

Ready to jingle all the way into the holiday season? Tickets to these festive celebrations include a jingle bell, a bag to hold chocolate treasures, and a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the village of Jackson, New Hampshire. With multiple dates throughout the months of November and December, what’s not to love!

Santa’s Christmas
Charmingfare Farm | Candia

From horse-drawn carriage rides through snow-dusted trees to live animal nativity scenes, there’s oodles of festive farm fun to be had at Charmingfare Farm in Candia, New Hampshire. The cherry on top? Visitors will end their journeys with complimentary hot cocoa and sugar cookies baked by Mrs. Claus herself.

Candlelight Stroll Under the Stars
Strawberry Banke | Portsmouth, NH

Part of the town’s annual Vintage Christmas celebration, the Candlelight Stroll Under the Stars is one of the most charming holiday traditions New Hampshire has to offer. These self-guided tours through the historic buildings and grounds of Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth will take you back in time — and into the holiday spirit — all at once.

What would you add to the list of the best holiday events in New Hampshire? Let us know in the comments below!

And see more festive things to do in New Hampshire (and beyond) in “The New England Holiday Bucket List.”

Don’t miss our top holiday events in all six New England states! Check out Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.