A Festive Time In The Maine Beaches Region
There is a quiet kind of wonder that settles over the Maine Beaches once winter arrives. The coastline softens, the towns glow a little brighter, and the whole region leans into its most nostalgic season. If you begin in York and drift north along the water, you can feel the holidays unfolding town by town, each with its own traditions, its own celebrations, and its own invitation to linger.
Yuletide York
You can start in York, where the ocean feels crisp and new and Nubble Light stands dressed in its holiday best. The Nubble Holiday Lights shine nightly from Saturday, November 29 through Sunday, February 1, and there is something magical about seeing that small island lighthouse wrapped in warm color while the Atlantic moves in slow winter rolls below. It is a moment that makes you want to hold your coffee a little tighter and breathe the cold air a little deeper.
Holiday Glow in Ogunquit
Continuing north to Ogunquit. The village feels like a seaside storybook in winter, full of cozy streets and a shoreline that seems to glow. When Christmas by the Sea begins Friday, December 12 through Sunday, December 14, the town transforms. Carolers gather near storefronts, garlands sway in the breeze, and the spirit of the season settles over the Marginal Way and the harbor with a kind of gentle joy. Even if you come between events, the anticipation itself feels festive, like the whole town is waiting for the next soft snowfall.
Wintertime Wells
Travel onward to Wells, where the calm of the coast feels almost meditative this time of year. The beaches stretch long and open, perfect for an unhurried walk at low tide. The 2nd Annual Festival of Trees, held Wednesday, December 10 through Sunday, December 14, brings a cozy brightness to the town center. Trees decorated by local groups glow in the winter light and offer a charming contrast to the quiet shoreline only a few minutes away.
Sanford/Springvale Sparkle
From there, you can head inland toward Sanford and Springvale. These communities carry a strong sense of hometown pride, especially during the holidays. The Sanford Spree of Trees arrives Thursday, December 4 through Sunday, December 7. It is cheerful and spirited, the kind of event where you can feel generations of memories in the making. Lights, raffles, decorations and children tugging mittens from their hands so they can point at their favorite trees. There is something so comforting about being welcomed into a tradition so deeply rooted!
The Kennebunks at Christmastime
Returning to the coast as the afternoon softens and make your way to Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. These villages glow in winter, the streets lined with white lights and evergreen wreaths. Home for the Holidays runs from Saturday, November 29 to Wednesday, December 31. It stretches across the entire season and feels like a monthlong invitation to walk slowly, admire the window displays, sip something warm, and feel the charm of a community that truly loves this time of year.
Bright Nights in Biddeford/Saco
As evening settles, head north to Biddeford and Saco. The mill buildings shine with warm light against the early darkness, and the theaters and restaurants hum with winter energy. A Swingin’ Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett takes the stage at City Theater on select dates December 5th – 21st. It is rich and nostalgic and perfectly suited to a December night! The kind of performance that leaves you walking out into the twinkling city with a full heart and humming a tune that stays with you long after the curtain closes.
Old Orchard Cheer
End your perfect winter day in Old Orchard Beach. The seven miles of sand stretch quietly into the dark, the pier lights reflecting gently across the water. On Saturday, December 6, the Saco Bay Artists’ Holiday Art Walk fills the town with color and creativity. It is a beautiful blend of coastal calm and local artistry, a reminder that even in the quietest moments of winter, the Maine Beaches region brims with life and magic!
Festivities Beyond the Beaches
And if you feel like wandering just beyond the shoreline, the Berwick Somersworth Christmas Parade marches through on Saturday, December 6. It is festive, welcoming, and full of hometown cheer. A fitting final note if you are the kind of traveler who likes to see how each community celebrates in its own way!
Winter in the Maine Beaches is not simply a quieter version of summer. It is its own beautiful season. Gentle, glowing, welcoming. A place where celebrations gather like constellations along the coast and where every town offers a new moment of joy.
There are many more holiday celebrations throughout the Maine Beaches Region, right into the New Year! You can find more information at