Holiday Lights and Santa Events in New England
12/19/18 by
Johnny Monsarrat
Hey, Events INSIDERs!
Don’t be timid. Bundle up and go out to see some of the nighttime holiday attractions near Boston and beyond! Here is this week’s list, lovingly curated and updated, of major attractions that you can visit, many rated and reviewed.
Make sure to check the ones I think are open on Christmas Day just to confirm it.
| Boston Metro | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Stone Zoo’s Zoolights (4.5 stars) 617-541-5466, Stoneham, MA Winter wonderland of tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Animals, including reindeer, and Santa. A magical holiday world filled with fairy tale characters and dancing plush animals. |
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| Blink! at Faneuil Hall (C?) Boston, MA Commercial event at a mall with blinking trees and music. Ice sculptures, Santa. |
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| Metro West | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Fatima Shrine (C?) Holliston, MA Religious Xmas lights. |
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| North Shore | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Nahant Santa Parade (B?) Nahant, MA Parade. One day only. |
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| South Shore | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Light in the Darkness at Plimoth Plantation (A?) Plymouth, MA Enter the house of an English family celebrating Christmas, and then another of a Puritan Family. From there, stroll to our Visitor Center, transformed to showcase the ‘gifts of Christmas’. Sample gingerbread and learn about the craft of candle making. You will then meet a very special guide who will prepare you to meet Queen Elizabeth! Your Majesty may call upon you, the members of her court, to perform for her! |
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| Edaville Railroad’s Christmas Festival of Lights (5 stars) 508-866-8190, Carver, MA Arguably the most-loved festival of its kind, having earned generations of loyal fans. Passengers relax comfortably in warm and dry coaches while riding through a spectacular holiday setting featuring an explosion of lights. |
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| Southeast Mass | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Middleborough Festival Of Lights (A?) Middleborough, MA Drive-through acres with 200,000 lights, Santa and the Grinch, stroll the village, model trains, alpacas, cabin decorating contest. |
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| La Salette Shrine Festival of Lights (4 stars) 508-222-5410, Attleboro, MA More than 300,000 lights covering 10 acres. Very religious. |
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| Breakfast with Santa at the Buttonwood Park Zoo (B?) (508) 991-6178, New Bedford, MA Day event. Breakfast buffet, Santa, animals, train and carousel rides, face painting, and crafts. |
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| Christmas in Edgartown Parade (C?) Edgartown, MA Parade with floats, animals, music, dancers, kids, fire engines, and of course Santa. |
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| Worcester | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Night Lights: Winter Reimagined (5 stars) Boylston, MA Daytime and evening lights at this botanical garden, with smores and additional special Christmas events. |
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| Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village (C?) 800-733-1830, Sturbridge, MA Gingerbread contest, live music, storytelling, sleigh rides, festive foods, bonfire, stroll the 19th century decorated village. Nightly tree lighting, Father Christmas, Santa Claus. |
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| Lowell | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Winterlights at the Stevens-Coolidge Place (A?) North Andover, MA 75,000 lights throughout the gardens, orchards, and grounds, with performances and activities for kids and adults. Santa and ice princesses nights, fire dancer, local choirs. |
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| Springfield | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Winter Wonderland Light Display and Santa’s Trains (C?) 413.584.5457, Florence, MA Free. Drive-through light displays, carols, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Breakfast with Santa, miniature villages with model trains, fire and cocoa. |
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| Santa’s House (C?) 413-263-3284, West Springfield, MA Meet Santa. Event is poorly described, seems basic. |
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| Bright Nights at Forest Park (4.5 stars) 413-733-3800, Springfield, MA Drive-through experience with nearly three miles of lighting displays. |
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| Six Flags New England Holiday in the Park (5 stars) Agawam, MA New Englands largest holiday celebration in a theme park with more than 50 rides, shows, and attractions. |
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| Rhode Island | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Blackstone Valley Polar Express Train Ride (A?) Woonsocket, RI 90-minute train ride, Santa, sing-a-longs. |
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| Cape Cod | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Heritage Museum Gardens Aglow (A+?) 508-888-3300, Sandwich, MA Garden and museums lit for Xmas. Carolers, fire pit, model trains, Santa in Model T Ford, Mrs. Claus, giant Lite Brites, roast marshmallows, reindeer scavenger hunt, live music, carousel, ice carving. |
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| Cape Codder Enchanted Village (B?) 855-861-4370, Hyannis, MA 100,000 lights with caroling and Santa at this hotel with an indoor water park. |
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| Train To Christmas Town (B?) Buzzards Bay, MA Elves, music, train ride to magical lighted town. |
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| Berkshires | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Winterlights at Naumkeag (A?) Stockbridge, MA 110,000 lights throughout the garden rooms and grounds, including the iconic Fletcher Steele-designed Blue Steps, with performances and activities for kids and adults. Santa and ice princesses nights. |
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| New Hampshire | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Santa’s Holiday Express (A?) 603-356-5251, North Conway, NH Two-hour train ride to the North Pole Theater and back. Hot chocolate, Santa, elves. |
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| Christmastime at Santa’s Village (A?) 603-586-4445, Jefferson, NH Large Xmas theme park with reindeer, Santa. |
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| Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (B?) 765-664-3918, Loudon, NH See how over-the-top decorating looks while being able to brag youve driven around the track. |
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| Christmas at Canterbury (B?) 603-783-9511, Canterbury, NH Candlelight stroll through the Village, old-time magic show, horse-drawn wagon rides, silent film with live organ. Father Christmas, hot cider, fiddlers. |
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| Lighted Winter Wonderland & Santas Big Party at Charmingfare Farm (B?) 603-483-5623, Candia, NH Lighted Winter Wonderland isa separate event. 30-minutes horse-drawn ride through thousands of lights. Santa, costumed characters, train ride to live reindeer, petting zoo. Takes 2 hours. |
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| Christmas Lights at La Salette Shrine & Center (3.5 stars) 603-632-7087, Enfield, NH 45,000 evening lights spread across 30 acres. |
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| Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke (5 stars) 603-422-7514, Portsmouth, NH Guided Holiday House Tours at this re-enactment museum focusing on the 18th century. This event features live music, a bonfire, participatory caroling, performances on period instruments, Masonry, hundreds of candles, a gingerbread house contest, and more. |
x | x | x | ||||
| Connecticut | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Holiday Light Fantasia (4 stars) 860-742-2267, Hartford, CT 2-mile drive-through park event with 1,000,000 night-time lights. |
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| North Pole Express at Essex Steam Train (B?) Essex, CT Train ride with live music, Santa and Mrs. Claus, sing-a-longs, hot chocolate. |
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| Northern Lights Limited and Santa Express (B?) Thomaston, CT Indoor / outdoor festival of lights with train right and Santa’s Train Workshop. Mrs. Claus, elves. |
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| Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce (B?) 860-583-3300, Bristol, CT Thousands of bulbs and spectacular light shows every half hour set to music. A selection of children’s and family rides will be open. Santa. |
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| Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights (B?) East Windsor, CT Trolley ride, Santa. |
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| Fantasy of Lights (B?) 203-777-2000, New Haven, CT Drive-through park with 60 attractions that include 100,000 lights. |
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| Lantern Light Tours (A?) 860-572-5365, Mystic, CT Theatre show that moves you to several locations in this 19th-century maritime village museum. Horse-drawn carriage ride, a spirited holiday dance, the beautiful glow of lanterns, Santa. |
x | x | x | ||||
| Maine | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (A?) Boothbay, ME Outdoor walk through a garden with more than 650,000 lights |
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| Northern Lights Celebration at L.L. Bean (B?) Freeport, ME Nighttime forest path, tree lighting, model trains, horse-drawn rides, Santa, reindeeer. |
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| Vermont | Wed 12/19 |
Thu 12/20 |
Fri 12/21 |
Sat 12/22 |
Sun 12/23 |
Mon 12/24 |
Tue 12/25 |
| Winter Lights in the Park (B?) Essex Junction, VT Outdoor walk through park with holiday lights. |
x | x | x | x | x | x | x |