10 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire This Holiday Season

Please note that many establishments throughout New England have modified their hours and/or operations in response to COVID-19. Always check for the latest information before making travel plans.

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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?

10 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire This Holiday Season

November 18 – February 26LaBelle LightsLaBelle 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! November 19 – 21 and November 26 – December 22“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. November 20Seacoast 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. November 20 – December 22Gingerbread House Contest & ExhibitionPortsmouth 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)! November 25 – January 2 Gift of LightsNH 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!November 27 – December 12Symphony NH Holiday Brass and Holiday Pops ConcertsVaried Locations Throughout New Hampshire Under the musical direction of Roger Kalia, the New Hampshire symphony is excited to welcome back live audiences for the 2021 season. This winter, performances will include multiple Holiday Brass and Holiday Pops concerts at locations throughout the state. November 28 – December 20Jingle Bell Chocolate TourSnowflake 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! December 3Boston BrassChubb Theatre | ConcordFor more than three decades, the members of Boston Brass have been bringing the fun to often-formal musical genres. Expect their top-notch showmanship to lend extra sparkle to yuletide standards.December 3 – 23Santa’s ChristmasCharmingfare 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. December 4 – 19Candlelight 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 10 holiday events in all six New England states! Check out Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.