New England
Best Historic Christmas Celebrations in New England
In search of the historic Christmas spirit in New England? These nine Christmas celebrations are guaranteed to fill you with old-fashioned holiday cheer.
By Aimee Tucker|Dec 10 2019|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanIn a region as rich in history as New England, taking a trip to the Christmas past is easy, and doesn’t require help (or a visit) from any Dickensian spirits. If you’re feeling historically festive, you can head to one of the region’s many terrific living history museums for special holiday programs, or tour a historic house or two for examples of historic Christmas decor and style from different eras of New England history. Here are some of our favorite places to experience the best historic Christmas celebrations in New England. Which is your favorite? *** Updated for 2020 ***
Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Preservation Society of Newport County
Christmas at the Newport Mansions Newport, Rhode Island | November 23, 2019 – January 1, 2020
Prepare to be sparkled and dazzled as you tour three of the magnificent Newport Mansions (The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House) decked out in Gilded Age Yuletide finery, including thousands of poinsettias, fresh flowers, evergreens, wreaths, and more than 20 Christmas trees. At The Breakers, don’t miss the gingerbread mansion display in the kitchen or the iconic 15 foot tall red poinsettia tree. newportmansions.org SEE MORE: Christmas at the Newport MansionsChristmas at Victoria Mansion Portland, Maine | November 29, 2019 – January 5, 2020
Explore one of New England’s finest 19th century mansions decked out in glittering holiday finery. Each year a team of local designers get to work decorating each room to complement the year’s theme. Tours are self-guided, and the mansion also hosts a roster of special holiday events throughout the season. victoriamansion.org
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Mystic Seaport
Lantern Light Tours Mystic, Connecticut | November 23, 29-30; December 6-7, 13-15 and 20-22, 2019
Lantern Light Tours at Mystic Seaport offer a glimpse of Christmas Eve in 1876. Seasonal delights include a traditional tavern dance, a horse-drawn carriage ride and the glow of hundreds of lanterns, not to mention the possibility of a visit from jolly St. Nick himself! mysticseaport.orgChristmas at Hildene Manchester, Vermont | December 5, 2019 – January 1, 2020
Experience the beauty of a Victorian Christmas Robert Lincoln (the only surviving adult son of President Abraham Lincoln) and his wife Mary would have when they celebrated the holiday season at Hildene in 1909. On the weekend of December 3-4, the museum store welcomes visitors to shop for the holidays with special sounds and tastes of the season. And after your visit, the nearby upscale Manchester Designer Outlets are also ideal for holiday shopping. hildene.org SEE MORE: Celebrating Christmas in Manchester and Woodstock, Vermont
Photo Credit : Erika Sidor/Courtesy of Old Sturbridge Village
Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, Massachusetts | Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings December 6th – December 29th, with a bonus night on Monday, December 23rd
Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village whisks you back to New England during the early 1800’s, with sleigh rides, Victorian carolers, Christmas readings, gingerbread and mulled cider samples, a re-creation of Mrs. Cratchit’s Christmas dinner, musical performances, the chance to vote in the annual gingerbread house contest, and so much more! osv.org SEE MORE: Old Sturbridge Village | A Christmas by Candlelight Celebration [text_ad]
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Historic Salem
Salem Historic House Tours Salem, Massachusetts | December 6-8, 2019
Who needs Halloween? Trade your broomstick for a peppermint stick and enjoy a festive peek at a number of 18th and 19th-century homes decorated for Christmas in Salem. There’s also a free trolley service, dining and shopping discounts, and special events and performances throughout the city. christmasinsalem.org
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Canterbury Shaker Village
Christmas at Canterbury Shaker Village Canterbury, New Hampshire | December 6, 8, 13 & 15, 2019
Enjoy the special sights and sounds of a Shaker-style Christmas at Canterbury Shaker Village. Take a candlelight stroll through the Village, watch a 19th Century magic show, enjoy live music and tasty treats, or ride in a horse-drawn wagon. shakers.org SEE MORE: Christmas at Canterbury Shaker Village
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Billings Farm & Museum/Jon Gilbert Fox
Christmas at Billings Farm & Museum Woodstock, Vermont | Select Dates Throughout December
Discover the traditions of a 19th century Vermont farm Christmas, complete with horse-drawn sleigh and wagon rides, farmhouse tours, and the chance to make special Christmas crafts. Each weekend (including Woodstock’s popular Wassail Weekend) offers something new. billingsfarm.org
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Strawbery Banke Museum
Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll Portsmouth, New Hampshire | December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 & 22, 2019
Stroll through life in a simpler time as 350 years of American history, winter traditions, and holiday celebrations unfold around you in the state’s oldest waterfront neighborhood. Activities include historic house tours, horse-drawn carriage rides, live music, traditional barrel making demonstrations, 18th-century holiday hearth cooking, tinsmith demonstrations, and more. strawberybanke.org SEE MORE: Exploring Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH Where’s your favorite place to celebrate a historic Christmas in New England? This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated.SEE MORE: Best Christmas Celebrations in New England Best Places to See Christmas Lights in New England 5 Best Holiday Light Displays in New England
You really should check out the Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Historic Wethersfield, CT, where we do Three Centuries of Christmas complete with a preview gala, music, candlelight tours, and even include New Year celebrations, which predate Christmas in New England.
Don’t forget the Marblehead MA Christmas Walk with Santa and Mrs. Clause lobster boat arrival and the Gerry Regiment Parade. Lotsa good eats and shopping as well.
Gosh, any or all of the places described would make a wonderful trip. I want to do them all, but think I’d HAVE to start with some of the Newport “cottages” all decorated for Christmas. Can’t imagine how they look “in person” because the photos are gorgeous themselves. Thanks for all the ideas here & Merry Christmas! ⭐️
your e mails are great about the best Christmas celebration in New England…it brings tears to my eyes…thinking I had to leave the east coast for the west coast…which cannot compare the Christmas abiance that you create in the New England states……..keep them coming……miss it so very much…publish my thoughts if need be…..for those that live in that area enjoy every minute of what you have…there is no other place to celebrate the seasons than New England…
Ohhh how I MISS home! I have been gone from NH for 30 years and I miss it everyday, especially around the holidays. I remember as a teen caroling along the snow covered roads in Beautiful Fitzwilliam, NH and every splendid historical home around the quaint common was decorated with real wreaths and lit candles in their many windows. Breathtaking! I have lived in 14 different states since my departure but only New England has the magic that makes every day living truly wonderful. Thank you for these emails reminding me of where my heart belongs ❤
I love Fitzwilliam. I have never been there at Christmas but I just love that area.
If you are headed to West Springfield MA Dec. 2 – 9 plan to stop at Storrowton Village for the weeklong celebration called Yuletide at Storrowton – The village is decorated by local garden clubs and florists and Dec. 2 & 3 are packed with wonderful events for the entire family – you can see a complete listing of activities at Storrowton Village Museum.com Joann November 17, 2017
How about the Norman Rockwell painting recreation in Stockbridge, MA this weekend?
Main Street in Stockbridge recreating the iconic Norman Rockwell painting means Christmas to me!
Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield, Mass is a cool place.
I second Old Wethersfield, CT at Christmas! There’s a good reason why Hallmark Channel keeps coming back to film their Christmas movies there!
The lights at the Boothbay botanical gardens are quite spectacular.
I love New England, too. I am fortunate enough to retire in Maine. My small town may not offer the big city celebrations but seeing the lobster boats decorated in lights on the bay, homes with simple wreaths and a red bow on all the front doors, the tree lighting on Main Street, and the kids enjoying the town’s parade is good enough for me. Anywhere in NE is magical during the holidays.
A highlight of the Holidays is attending THE CHRISTMAS REVELS in Harvard University’s beautiful Sanders Theatre in Cambridge Massachusetts where the audience not only sees fabulous dancing, singing and theatre on stage, but also joins in to sing and even dance in the lobby at intermission! This year’s 49th Annual Christmas Revels is An American Celebration of the Winter Solstice. visit Revels.org/Christmas.
New England will always be in my heart and soul ! (New England accent stays with me wherever I go.)
Deerfield’s. Ma. Lovely. Simple. Decorations. Wonderful. Homes