How does New Hampshire celebrate the holidays? Where should we begin? From chocolate tours and holiday lights, to festivals, shows and seasonal attractions! New Hampshire is a magical place this time of year and there’s no shortage of holiday events and celebrations to help get you in the spirit of the season. So pick a date, gather family and friends together, and make fun-filled memories this holiday season in New Hampshire!
Please note: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the following events may be subject to cancellation at any time. Please be sure to check with event organizers for complete details prior to attending any events.
The holidays in New England are cozy and beautiful, and Portsmouth is no exception. Take a holiday tour around town, or drive through Portsmouth and its neighboring towns for Christmas lights sight-seeing and wintertime fun. Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth is a month-long celebration of the season. Join us for shows, strolls and shopping!
Enjoy a classic holiday tradition in the Seacoast this year at Strawbery Banke’s annual Candlelight Stroll. Hundreds of candle lanterns set the open-air museum aglow, lining paths that wind through the museum’s festively decorated historic homes. Listen to holiday carols and let the scent of woodsmoke guide you to the celebratory bonfire. Explore the furnished homes and be greeted by costumed role-players who will regale the traditions of holidays in years past! The Candlelight Stroll is being held December 11th-13th & 18th-20th, 2020.
Can you imagine seeing over 4 million festive holiday lights all in one place?! That’s exactly what you’ll experience when you visit New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s Gift of Lights! Over 400 displays decorate the 2.5 mile long drive, where more lights than you can imagine illuminate the track and send you on a festive journey. Drive through the tunnel of lights to start your adventure and pass by countless holiday creations. Be sure to check the schedule for days of operation when planning your trip.
Celebrate this Christmas with a visit to the East Hill Farm in Troy! Choose between a host of classic Christmas activities such as crafting, ornament-making, or cookie-decorating. Try your hand at cow and goat milking, help groom ponies or pat bunnies in the barn, or simply take a barn tour to see the friendly animals on the farm. You and the family can snuggle up around the bonfire, roasting s’mores before playing BINGO in the barn! Enjoy a lunch buffet to break up the day—and finish up the festivities with a dip in the adjoining inn’s pool, which is included for all in the price of admission. This festive event takes place December 19, 2020.
This event is a holiday-must for chocolate lovers. The Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour takes place on Saturday November 28th, Sunday November 29th, Saturday December 5th, Sunday December 6th, Saturday December 12th, Sunday December 13th, Saturday December 19th and Sunday December 20th. The $30 ticket purchase includes a Jingle Bell, a festive bag to hold any uneaten chocolate treasures, a horse drawn Austrian sleigh ride through Jackson Village and home-made chocolate treasures presented to you right in your sleigh at each stop along the way.
Charmingfare Farm in Candia hosts an annual Christmas extravaganza where timeless traditions will please the whole family. It all starts with a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Christmas Trail, which features 12 charming holiday scenes to decorate the way to the ‘North Pole!’ Santa will wait for families in the Reindeer Barn where the kiddos can hand off their Christmas letters and feed the live reindeer! Then, pay Mrs. Claus a visit for complimentary sugar cookies and hot cocoa. Between holiday characters all dressed up, a campfire to warm by, and the true spirit of the season all present here—you won’t want to miss out. Open weekends in December leading up to Christmas on December 25th!