These Mass. towns put on the best Christmas celebrations in New England, according to Yankee
It’s officially the holiday season here in New England, which means it’s also Christmas festival season.
And the six-state region, replete with picture-postcard perfect small towns that soon, hopefully, will be covered in seasonally appropriate snow, puts on no shortage of can’t-miss holiday observances.
But which holiday festival to hit first in the 22 days that remain to you before Christmas Eve? Not to worry, the folks at Yankee magazine have you covered. The regional stalwart has put together its list of the 10 best Christmas celebrations across New England in 2023.
The Bay State takes three spots Yankee’s countdown. Here they are:
Main Street at Christmas, Stockbridge, Mass.
This community, nestled in the heart of the Berkshires, and famed for its vigorous arts and culture scene, earlier made a list of the coolest small towns in the nation. Now it can add best Christmas festival to its list of accolades.
Artist Norman Rockwell “made Stockbridge famous in his depiction of the town’s Main Street at Christmas, and the town pays tribute to the beloved painter each year in a weekend-long celebration of vintage holiday cheer,” according to Yankee.
The celebration, which takes place this weekend, includes holiday house tours, caroling, horse-drawn rides, a visit with Santa, and enough concerts make to appease even the most enthusiastic caroler. And make sure you don’t miss the “the Sunday afternoon re-creation of Rockwell’s painting, complete with period automobiles,” Yankee noted.
Nantucket Noel and Christmas Stroll, Nantucket, Mass.
This month-long celebration, which kicked off on Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, starts with Santa’s arrival on a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. It also includes craft shows, a holiday house tour, and the “Festival of Lights” at the Nantucket Whaling Museum, according to Yankee. The kids also will love the “Magical Talking Tree.”
Christmas in the City, Boston, Mass.
“Whether it’s a day of holiday shopping on Boston’s city sidewalks, admiring the tree and musical light show at Faneuil Hall, treating yourself to a fancy dinner and performance of The Nutcracker or the Holiday Pops, skating on the Frog Pond, or even sipping a hot chocolate while cruising the city via trolley tour, Boston offers just about everything the urban holiday spirit desires,” according to Yankee.
Add in a stop to Snowport in the Seaport neighborhood, and your holiday celebrations in Beantown will be complete.
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