Christmas season in Maine starts in mid-November with the light shows and runs through the first weekend of January. The big town festivals cluster in the first half of December, and several are on the southern coast, a short drive apart. Below are the 2026 dates I confirmed on each event’s own website, followed by towns where the dates change from year to year.
Biggest Christmas Events in Maine, 2026 Dates
- Gardens Aglow, Boothbay: November 14, 2026 to January 2, 2027
- The Polar Express, Portland: select dates from November 20 to December 28 (no trains December 24 or 25)
- Christmas Prelude, Kennebunkport: December 3 to 13
- Christmas by the Sea, Ogunquit: December 11 to 13 (the 40th year)
Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport (December 3 to 13)
Kennebunkport spends eleven days on its holiday festival. These are the highlights on the official 2026 schedule:
- December 4: tree lighting in Dock Square (caroling at 5:30 pm, lighting at 6 pm) and the Cape Porpoise Lobster Trap Tree lighting at 7 pm
- December 5: the 21st annual Hat Parade at 3 pm, rain or shine, and candlelight caroling at the Franciscan Monastery at 6:30 pm
- December 6: Santa arrives by lobster boat at the Nonantum Resort at 1 pm
- December 11: Family Street Festival at 4 pm and the 15th annual Christmas fireworks at 6:15 pm
- December 13: the 16th annual Pooch Parade at 11 am, and Santa arrives by fire engine at Cape Porpoise Kitchen at 2 pm
The official schedule also lists a Dock Square tree lighting on December 11, so check the Christmas Prelude app for the one you plan to attend. Times can change, and the full schedule is at christmasprelude.com.
Christmas by the Sea in Ogunquit (December 11 to 13)
Ogunquit’s festival is in its 40th year. The organizers list tree and bridge lightings, live holiday concerts, artisan craft shows, children’s activities, a parade, a bonfire, fireworks and visits with Santa. The detailed 2026 schedule had not been posted when I checked in October, so look for it at ogunquit.org. See our Ogunquit guide and things to do in Ogunquit for where to eat and stay.
Both Ogunquit and Kennebunkport hold their big weekends on December 11 to 13, so you will need to pick a town for the evening events. They are a short drive apart, so you can base yourself in one and visit the other during the day.
The Polar Express in Portland (November 20 to December 28)
The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad runs The Polar Express from the Ocean Gateway Marine Terminal in Portland on select dates from November 20 to December 28, 2026. There are no trains on December 24 or 25, and the ride takes about 50 minutes.
- Coach: $35
- First Class: $65
- Presidential: $105
- Lap child: $5
- Peak nights add $5 per ticket
Tickets are sold through the railroad at mainenarrowgauge.org/polarexpress. There is no will-call, so bring the emailed ticket on your phone. The railroad does not provide parking, so plan on street parking or a nearby lot. Fares and schedules can change, so confirm before you book.
Gardens Aglow in Boothbay (November 14 to January 2)
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens turns its grounds into a holiday light show. The 2026 theme is “Gathered in Maine,” with lit displays inspired by Maine traditions, including a maple tapping scene and a mushroom-foraging landscape. Base prices start at $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and veterans and $10 for children 3 to 17, and children under 3 are free. Prices vary by night, with weekdays cheapest and Saturdays the most expensive. Time slots and tickets are at GardensAglow.org.
Christmas in Portland
Beyond the Polar Express, Portland has held a Monument Square tree lighting on the Friday after Thanksgiving and a Portland Harbor Christmas Boat Parade of Lights on selected nights in December. In past seasons Victoria Mansion has also opened for decorated holiday tours from late November into early January. I could not confirm the 2026 dates for these, so check before you build a trip around them. Our things to do in Portland guide covers the rest of the city.
Christmas in Freeport
Freeport usually pairs the L.L. Bean Northern Lights Celebration (November 22 to December 29 in 2024) with Sparkle Weekend and a Parade of Lights on Main Street in early December (December 6 to 15 in 2024). Visit Freeport lists a 33rd annual Sparkle Celebration this season, but I could not confirm its dates. Our L.L. Bean and Freeport guide has the shopping and parking details.
More Maine Towns for Christmas
These towns hold regular holiday festivals. The timing below is based on past years, so check the town or chamber of commerce site for this year’s dates.
- Camden: Christmas by the Sea, usually the first weekend of December
- Boothbay Harbor: the Lights festival, usually the first Saturday of December
- Rockland: Festival of Lights, usually in late November
- Bath: Old-Fashioned Christmas in Bath, starting the weekend after Thanksgiving
- Belfast: Holiday on the Harbor, with Santa’s arrival, in early to mid December
- Bangor: Festival of Lights parade and tree lighting in West Market Square, in early December
- York: Festival of Lights Parade in early December, and the Nubble Lighthouse lighting the Saturday after Thanksgiving
- Bethel: Country Christmas in Bethel, from late November to Christmas Eve
Planning a Maine Christmas Trip
- Book lodging early for the Christmas Prelude and Christmas by the Sea weekends, which are the busiest.
- Check each event’s official site a week before you go, since times and locations shift.
- If you want snow, head inland or north. The southern coast is less certain.
- Use our Maine driving distances guide to plan drive times between towns.
- For weather and what to pack, see Maine in December, and for what stays open, see Maine in Winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best town for Christmas in Maine?
It depends on what you want. Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude and Ogunquit’s Christmas by the Sea are the two biggest town festivals. Portland suits a city trip with a train ride, and Boothbay’s Gardens Aglow is the pick for lights.
When do Maine’s Christmas events start?
Gardens Aglow opens November 14, 2026 and the Polar Express starts November 20. Most town festivals run from late November through mid December.
Does the Polar Express run on Christmas?
No. There are no trains on December 24 or 25. It runs on select dates from November 20 to December 28, 2026.
Where can I see Christmas lights in Maine?
Gardens Aglow in Boothbay is the largest light show. Freeport, Portland’s harbor boat parade and the Nubble Lighthouse lighting in York have also been popular in past years.
Is Maine a good place to visit during Christmas?
Yes, if you like small-town festivals and winter scenery. Many events are outdoors, so pack for cold, and read Maine in December before you go.
What is the most Christmassy town in Maine?
It is a matter of taste, but two towns stand out for the size of their festivals. Kennebunkport holds eleven days of Christmas Prelude events (December 3 to 13, 2026), and Ogunquit’s Christmas by the Sea is in its 40th year (December 11 to 13, 2026). Camden, Boothbay Harbor and Bath also hold their own holiday festivals.
What to do in Maine for Christmas?
Ride the Polar Express in Portland on select dates from November 20 to December 28, see the lights at Gardens Aglow in Boothbay from November 14 to January 2, and go to a town festival in Kennebunkport or Ogunquit. Freeport adds holiday shopping and its Sparkle Celebration.
Is there a Christmas festival in Maine?
Yes, many. The biggest are Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport (December 3 to 13, 2026) and Christmas by the Sea in Ogunquit (December 11 to 13, 2026). Camden also holds a Christmas by the Sea festival, usually the first weekend of December.