The Christmas season is a magical time of year. Decorations and lights seem to pop up everywhere overnight; there are numerous festivities across the state, and families and friends gather to revel in Christmas cheer. Perhaps where the magic of the season can best be felt is in the small towns where life moves a bit slower. These Christmas towns in Massachusetts honor Christmas in the most magical ways possible.
- Concord
Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism/Flickr Known for its colonial history that dates back to the 1600s, Concord is a quintessential New England town that turns into a winter wonderland come the Christmas season. In early December, the town hosts a tree lighting ceremony on Main Street where you can see storefronts decked out for the holiday. Drive around town and you’ll see numerous historic homes decorated and all aglow with festive lights. Read more about Concord at Christmas in our previous coverage. Concord, MA, USA
- Nantucket
Nantucket Island/Facebook It may be small, but the island of Nantucket knows how to celebrate the holiday season! It all starts the day after Thanksgiving with the annual tree lighting along Main Street which will be lined with dozens of illuminated trees. The first weekend of December is the Christmas Stroll which features Santa and Mrs. Claus, entertainment, Santa’s Village Marketplace, live entertainment, and more. What better place to celebrate Christmas in Massachusetts than spending some time in Nantucket? You can read more about Nantucket at Christmas in our previous coverage. Nantucket, MA, USA
- Chatham
Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism/Flickr During the second weekend of December, the picturesque seaside town of Chatham hosts its annual Christmas by the Sea Stroll, one of the most memorable holiday events in Massachusetts. This event features a light parade, a tree lighting, carolers, entertainment, and more along Main Street. Stores and restaurants will be open so it’s a perfect time to join in the festivities and support local businesses. You can learn more on the Chatham Chamber of Commerce website. Chatham, MA, USA
- Rockport
Walter Bibikow/ DigitalVision via Getty Images While most visitors come to Rockport during the summer, the Christmas season is another incredible time of year. During the entire season, Rockport hosts a variety of activities and events such as an Ugly Sweater Night, Santa’s arrival on a lobster boat, the annual tree lighting, horse drawn carriage rides, carolers, and so much more. Not to mention that much of the town is festively decorated this time of year. Even the lobster shacks get decked out for the holidays in Rockport. Visit the Rockport USA website to view a list of holiday events. Rockport, MA, USA
- Stockbridge
JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Contributor/AFP via Getty Images There are plenty of reasons why Stockbridge has been called the “Best Christmas Town in America” by Country Living magazine. This picture-perfect town is so magical during the Christmas season that even Norman Rockwell created an eight-foot-long painting titled Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas (Home for Christmas). During this time of year, the town even gets together to recreate this famous painting. Read more about Stockbridge at Christmas in our previous coverage. Stockbridge, MA, USA
- Sturbridge
Old Sturbridge Village/Facebook Head to Old Sturbridge Village for its annual Christmas by Candlelight celebration. This old-fashioned holiday event is a glimpse into the past with horse-drawn rides, a Christmas Tree Trail, a tree lighting ceremony each night, visits with Santa, demonstrations, and decorations inspired by the 1800s. You can learn more about Christmas by Candlelight on the Old Sturbridge Village website. Sturbridge, MA, USA
- Shelburne Falls
Shelburne Falls Massachusetts Area/Facebook Celebrate the magic of Christmas in Shelburne Falls! Each year on the day after Thanksgiving, the village hosts its Moonlight Magic Christmas season kickoff event featuring candle-lit streets, trolley rides, entertainment, a parade, and activities for the whole family. If you miss the event, you can enjoy holiday decor around town and shopping during the remainder of the season. Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, USA
Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism/Flickr
Known for its colonial history that dates back to the 1600s, Concord is a quintessential New England town that turns into a winter wonderland come the Christmas season. In early December, the town hosts a tree lighting ceremony on Main Street where you can see storefronts decked out for the holiday. Drive around town and you’ll see numerous historic homes decorated and all aglow with festive lights. Read more about Concord at Christmas in our previous coverage.
Concord, MA, USA
Nantucket Island/Facebook
It may be small, but the island of Nantucket knows how to celebrate the holiday season! It all starts the day after Thanksgiving with the annual tree lighting along Main Street which will be lined with dozens of illuminated trees. The first weekend of December is the Christmas Stroll which features Santa and Mrs. Claus, entertainment, Santa’s Village Marketplace, live entertainment, and more. What better place to celebrate Christmas in Massachusetts than spending some time in Nantucket? You can read more about Nantucket at Christmas in our previous coverage.
Nantucket, MA, USA
During the second weekend of December, the picturesque seaside town of Chatham hosts its annual Christmas by the Sea Stroll, one of the most memorable holiday events in Massachusetts. This event features a light parade, a tree lighting, carolers, entertainment, and more along Main Street. Stores and restaurants will be open so it’s a perfect time to join in the festivities and support local businesses. You can learn more on the Chatham Chamber of Commerce website.
Chatham, MA, USA
Walter Bibikow/ DigitalVision via Getty Images
While most visitors come to Rockport during the summer, the Christmas season is another incredible time of year. During the entire season, Rockport hosts a variety of activities and events such as an Ugly Sweater Night, Santa’s arrival on a lobster boat, the annual tree lighting, horse drawn carriage rides, carolers, and so much more. Not to mention that much of the town is festively decorated this time of year. Even the lobster shacks get decked out for the holidays in Rockport. Visit the Rockport USA website to view a list of holiday events.
Rockport, MA, USA
JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
There are plenty of reasons why Stockbridge has been called the “Best Christmas Town in America” by Country Living magazine. This picture-perfect town is so magical during the Christmas season that even Norman Rockwell created an eight-foot-long painting titled Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas (Home for Christmas). During this time of year, the town even gets together to recreate this famous painting. Read more about Stockbridge at Christmas in our previous coverage.
Stockbridge, MA, USA
Old Sturbridge Village/Facebook
Head to Old Sturbridge Village for its annual Christmas by Candlelight celebration. This old-fashioned holiday event is a glimpse into the past with horse-drawn rides, a Christmas Tree Trail, a tree lighting ceremony each night, visits with Santa, demonstrations, and decorations inspired by the 1800s. You can learn more about Christmas by Candlelight on the Old Sturbridge Village website.
Sturbridge, MA, USA
Shelburne Falls Massachusetts Area/Facebook
Celebrate the magic of Christmas in Shelburne Falls! Each year on the day after Thanksgiving, the village hosts its Moonlight Magic Christmas season kickoff event featuring candle-lit streets, trolley rides, entertainment, a parade, and activities for the whole family. If you miss the event, you can enjoy holiday decor around town and shopping during the remainder of the season.
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, USA
What small towns in Massachusetts do you enjoy visiting during the Christmas season? Let us know in the comments! For even more holiday cheer, be sure to check out some of our favorite spots to view Christmas lights in Massachusetts.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Christmas in Massachusetts October 31, 2022 Jackie Ann What are the best drive-thru light shows in Massachusetts? One of the most popular holiday traditions during Christmastime is checking out the holiday displays, and the Bay State certainly goes all out in this department. There are plenty of places to check out the Christmas lights in Massachusetts, and one of our favorite drive-thru light shows is the Holiday in the Park Lights Event at Six Flags New England. The display features more than a million lights and countless displays that attract visitors from all over New England. The park also keeps a few amusement park rides open, too, as well as fire pits to keep warm and live entertainment on special nights. What are the best holiday events in Massachusetts? Whether you’re in the Berkshires or Boston, Christmas in Massachusetts is a magical time of year, and there’s always something going on. Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield is known for making it feel like Christmas year-round, but during the holidays, this place really kicks it into high gear with a Bavarian Village, a Nutcracker Castle, and so much more. Each room has something more magical than the next, and you can even experience indoor “snow” every few minutes! What are the best ice skating rinks in Massachusetts? There are several spots to strap on some skates and enjoy ice skating, but hands-down, the most iconic spot to go ice skating in Massachusetts is Frog Pond in the Boston Common. Boston Common is the oldest public park in the country, and every year the iconic Frog Pond transforms into an ice skating rink that’s a fun outdoor activity that anyone can do. It’s even more magical at night when the surrounding area is lit up with Christmas lights, making you feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Christmas in Massachusetts
October 31, 2022
Jackie Ann
What are the best drive-thru light shows in Massachusetts? One of the most popular holiday traditions during Christmastime is checking out the holiday displays, and the Bay State certainly goes all out in this department. There are plenty of places to check out the Christmas lights in Massachusetts, and one of our favorite drive-thru light shows is the Holiday in the Park Lights Event at Six Flags New England. The display features more than a million lights and countless displays that attract visitors from all over New England. The park also keeps a few amusement park rides open, too, as well as fire pits to keep warm and live entertainment on special nights. What are the best holiday events in Massachusetts? Whether you’re in the Berkshires or Boston, Christmas in Massachusetts is a magical time of year, and there’s always something going on. Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield is known for making it feel like Christmas year-round, but during the holidays, this place really kicks it into high gear with a Bavarian Village, a Nutcracker Castle, and so much more. Each room has something more magical than the next, and you can even experience indoor “snow” every few minutes! What are the best ice skating rinks in Massachusetts? There are several spots to strap on some skates and enjoy ice skating, but hands-down, the most iconic spot to go ice skating in Massachusetts is Frog Pond in the Boston Common. Boston Common is the oldest public park in the country, and every year the iconic Frog Pond transforms into an ice skating rink that’s a fun outdoor activity that anyone can do. It’s even more magical at night when the surrounding area is lit up with Christmas lights, making you feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
One of the most popular holiday traditions during Christmastime is checking out the holiday displays, and the Bay State certainly goes all out in this department. There are plenty of places to check out the Christmas lights in Massachusetts, and one of our favorite drive-thru light shows is the Holiday in the Park Lights Event at Six Flags New England. The display features more than a million lights and countless displays that attract visitors from all over New England. The park also keeps a few amusement park rides open, too, as well as fire pits to keep warm and live entertainment on special nights.
What are the best holiday events in Massachusetts?
Whether you’re in the Berkshires or Boston, Christmas in Massachusetts is a magical time of year, and there’s always something going on. Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield is known for making it feel like Christmas year-round, but during the holidays, this place really kicks it into high gear with a Bavarian Village, a Nutcracker Castle, and so much more. Each room has something more magical than the next, and you can even experience indoor “snow” every few minutes!
What are the best ice skating rinks in Massachusetts?
There are several spots to strap on some skates and enjoy ice skating, but hands-down, the most iconic spot to go ice skating in Massachusetts is Frog Pond in the Boston Common. Boston Common is the oldest public park in the country, and every year the iconic Frog Pond transforms into an ice skating rink that’s a fun outdoor activity that anyone can do. It’s even more magical at night when the surrounding area is lit up with Christmas lights, making you feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie.
