It’s no secret that New England is one of the best places in the country to celebrate the holiday season, and New Hampshire’s festivities most definitely contribute to that.
Thinking of spending Christmas in New Hampshire this year? I’ve got you covered! In addition to the best holiday festivals in the state, I also give you some fun ideas to celebrate the season in the Granite State, and give you the best suggestions on where to stay. So, let’s get started!
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Is New Hampshire Worth Visiting During Christmas?
Most definitely! The state has so much to offer when it comes to a variety of things to do during the holiday season. Between great shopping destinations, cozy mountain cabin vibes, awesome parties and festivals, cool holiday workshops, and tons more, it’s easy to plan a memorable holiday getaway in New Hampshire.
Where To Stay During Christmas In New Hampshire
While there are so many great lodging options for a holiday getaway, there are two that really stand out:
1. Christmas Farm Inn in Jackson
I mean, the name says it all, right? But really, the Christmas Farm Inn is such a wonderful experience, and one of the most perfect places for a holiday escape in New England.
Located in the cute town of Jackson, this inn has different types of accommodations, including really homey cabins, and they also offer spa services, and have a really cozy dining room. You won’t even need to leave if you don’t want to!
But of course, you’ll probably went to get out and explore since you’re right in the heart of the White Mountains, which is truly magical in the winter season. You’ll be close to The Cog, which offers winter rides up Mount Washington, honeymoon covered bridge, Nestlenook Farms, and even the next suggestion on my list – the Omni Mount Washington.
Jackson also does a lot of holiday festivities during the month of December (which you’ll see further down on my list!), so staying right in town makes it easy to plan the perfect getaway.
This inn also offers really great Christmas With Mrs. Claus packages, which includes a very fun dinner event with Mrs. Claus in their beautiful barn, a welcome gift and book signing by the woman of the hour, discounts on spa services, breakfast, and more.
They also offer an adults-only Wine With Mrs. Claus event in their barn, which includes live jazz music, drinks, and a dinner buffet.
Additionally, the inn is, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, perfectly decked out during this time of the year, and it’ll feel like you never left home.
Pro Tip: There’s also a special perk to booking a stay at the Christmas Farm Inn, which is early access to tickets for the Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour – more on that later in the post!
🎄 Click here to check holiday rates & availability at the Christmas Farm Inn
2. Omni Mount Washington Resort
Next up, the iconic Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, which is right on the border of the Northern Woods and White Mountains. It’s also just a few minutes from The Cog, which as mentioned above, does some really fun winter excursions up Mount Washington in December.
The Omni Mount Washington is really great year-round, but in the fall and winter, I think it really shines. During the holidays, you’ll find the resort beautifully decorated and extra cozy, and they celebrate Christmas during the entire month of December with special holiday events.
With Cocoa & Cookie events featuring Santa, special Elf Tuck-In Nights for the kids, and their Merry Little Christmas festivities during the days leading up to Christmas, they’ve really thought of everything.
If you’re planning a holiday getaway with kids, the Elf Tuck-In Program is really something special that your kids are sure to remember. One of Santa’s Elves will make a special bedtime appearance in your room with milk and cookies, and do a reading of a Night Before Christmas. They’ll also present you with a gift certificate to the toy shop to make your own critter.
During their Merry Little Christmas festivities, you can enjoy special holiday dinners, holiday movie screenings, gingerbread and cookie decorating, Santa’s crafting workshops, family board game nights, and lots more.
Visiting after the holidays? They have you covered there, too. Let It Snow Family Fun Week begins the day after Christmas, and includes more family movie nights, outdoor winter activities, aprés ski family socials, and winter crafting workshops.
🎄 Click here to check holiday rates & availability at the Omni Mount Washington Resort
Very Cool Events To Check Out At LaBelle Winery
Located in the southern region of New Hampshire, LaBelle Winery does a fabulous job celebrating the holidays, and puts on some very fun and exciting events and workshops worth checking out. Here are a few I recommend having on your radar.
3. Enjoy LaBelle Lights
LaBelle’s Derry location is transformed into a winter wonderful during the holiday with their LaBelle Lights event. Taking place mid-November through the first week of January, they string over 1 million lights that create a whimsical walking path through the grounds. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season with your family!
It’s super easy to book your excursion to the event, as you can buy tickets right on their website. The winery will have snacks and festive beverages available to purchase to enhance your evening, and there’s also a restaurant next door called Americus for dinner before or after your visit.
Pro Tip: LaBelle offers half-priced tickets to the lights show every Tuesday! Click here for more information on this event.
4. Attend The Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner
For something a bit different during the holiday season, the Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner is a fun one to attend!
Complete with professional actors that put on an exciting performance, a 3-course dinner, and a wine sample as a welcome drink, come prepared for a night of solving the mystery (and general holiday merriment, too 😉).
During the event, there’s a full bar available to purchase drinks at an additional cost.
Pro Tip: It’s good to know that dietary restrictions might not be able to be accommodated, so it’s best to reach out and ask before purchasing your tickets. However, it does seem that vegetarian options are available each year.
5. Holiday Cooking With Wine Demonstration
This fun and interactive event at the Amherst location gives you the inside scoop on amazing meals to prepare for the holidays, using wine! Chefs will explain how each course is prepared, and you’ll get to sample them all while sipping on an expertly paired tasting of LaBelle wine.
To recreate the magic in your own kitchen, you’ll also receive the recipe cards to take home, which is the perfect souvenir.
6. Nutcracker Tea Party
I especially love the Nutcracker Tea Party, which is a heart-warming way to spend a December afternoon. Join LaBelle Winery at their Derry location as they provide tea and cookies to enjoy while you get to watch special performances of Nutcracker excerpts by the Southern NH Dance Theater.
During this event, there’s also a fun meet and greet and photo opp with the Nutcracker characters, as well as a very cool mini dance class at the end.
7. Cookie Decorating Class
Join LaBelle at their Amherst location for a day of cookie decorating! This beginner-friendly class is led my an expert cookie decorator, and is the perfect way to expand your decorating skills for the holiday baking season.
Coffee, tea, and donuts are served while you’re guided through learning how to create the perfect icing, flood your designs, and take them all up a notch with fun designs. You’ll walk away with six beautifully decorated cookies, and the motivation to show off your new skills during the holidays.
All supplies are included with your admission ticket, so all you need to do in show up ready to learn, and have fun!
*It’s good to know that the holiday events at LaBelle sell out fast, and early in the season. As of writing this post in late October, some of the 2023 events are already sold out. And in checking in early October each year after to update this post, that seems to be the case each year. LaBelle does offer a waitlist, however, so definitely join if you want to attend a sold-out event.
Click here to check out the full holiday even schedule at LaBelle!
Best Things To Do During Christmas In New Hampshire
8. Get All Your Shopping Done – Tax-Free!
Many people don’t know that there’s no sales tax in New Hampshire, so this is a great place to do some holiday shopping! It also happens to have some really cool places for shopping, and I often to come to the state for that exact reason.
Portsmouth is especially perfect for holiday shopping, and is home to some fantastic stores where you can find unique and fun gifts. Here are a few places to check out in Portsmouth:
Jane Gee: A fantastic all-natural skincare company boutique that I absolutely love. I’ve tried a lot of their stuff from body creams to bubble baths, and even some of their pet care products, and I love it all. My husband also loves their shave oil.
Portsmouth Soap Company: An adorable shop that’s perfect for stocking stuffers. They make all their own soaps, and offer some really great designs during Christmas! I always stock up here during the holidays.
Sault: A great New England clothing boutique with East Coast designs and high quality apparel. You may have seen their East Coast sweatshirt in a few of my photos on this website if you’ve been scrolling around a bit 😉
Stonewall Kitchen: While it’s a franchise now, it’s also a New England brand founded in Maine, and they have some nice seasonal pantry and kitchen staples for the holiday season that make great hostess gifts.
Littleton is another town that I love to visit in general, but also has a lovely little shopping scene. At Chutters, you’ll find the longest candy counter in the world (yep, it’s a confirmed thing!), so you can stock up on all your holiday candies there. They also have a really cute little book and toy shop, and a great home decor shop called Maison Bohème that always has unique finds. Can’t recommend this town enough when in the White Mountains!
In Jackson, also in the White Mountains, you can find the White Mountain Puzzle Company shop, as well as Ravenwood Curio Shoppe, which has very unique gifts and local art pieces.
This just scratches the surface, of course, but there are plenty of places to find the perfect gift – tax free! – in New Hampshire.
9. Experience A Vintage Christmas In Portsmouth
The Vintage Christmas celebration in Portsmouth is one of the best holiday events in the entire state. In collaboration with the Strawbery Banke Museum, where history comes to life, and The Music Hall, where you can find special holiday performances during the event, you get to enjoy the festivities all month long.
One of the highlights of a Vintage Christmas is most definitely the candlelight stroll. Hundreds of lit candle lanterns guide you along a path through historic houses at Strawbery Banke, as costumed performers take you back in time during the Christmas season.
Also at the museum, Puddle Duck Pond is turned into a lovely ice skating rink, which is the perfect outdoor activity during the holidays! And you’ll definitely want to pop into Pickwick’s at the Banke, which is a cute little shop with all kinds of great holiday finds. The shop is on museum grounds, but open to the public.
Also during a Vintage Christmas, you can enjoy the gingerbread house contest and exhibition, where the entries are displayed in storefronts all over town, which creates the most perfect, whimsical atmosphere for a holiday visit.
10. Take A Magical Sleigh Ride At Nestlenook Farms
You’ve heard me mention Jackson already in this post a few times, but it also just so happens to be home to the magical Nestlenook Farms. This farm is aglow with twinkle lights and a gorgeous pond with Currier & Ives-inspired bridges. But best of all, they’re open for sleigh rides in December!
Settle into the sleigh with your cup of hot cocoa and take an enchanting ride through the property and woods, which feels like something out of a storybook. For something more on the romantic side, you can also book a private sleigh ride with a bottle of champagne.
My husband and I did a sleigh ride at the farm in 2022, and we loved it so much! I wish I had gotten a photo of it, but the only one I got was of me on their beautiful bridge.
During the winter season, ice skating is typically open on the pond, but it’s likely it won’t be open during the month of December, as the pond usually hasn’t had time to properly freeze over. Although, you never know, so keep an eye on their website and Facebook page for ice skating updates in December!
11. Savor Every Bite During The Chocolate Tour In Jackson
Also in Jackson (further proving a stay at the Christmas Farm Inn during the holidays is a good call 😉), you can join the Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour for a sweet way to celebrate the holidays.
During select weekends in November and most weekends in December, you can book a sleigh ride through Jackson that stops at different places along the way where they’ll hand you delicious chocolate treats to enjoy. Tickets for the ride include a bag to hold any uneaten chocolate, too, so you won’t have to worry if you can’t finish it all during your experience.
Spaces on the Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour often sell out quickly, and they even encourage you to book your ride as soon as you make your hotel reservation for your trip (as long as you’re staying at one of the Chocolatier Properties!). Not staying at one of the hotels that participates? No worries. Tickets to the general public open November 1st each year, so mark your calendars.
Each tour lasts about 1 hour, and you won’t ever have to leave the sleigh – all chocolates are delivered right to you.
Curious which hotels participate and allow early booking? Here’s a list below:
🎄 Nestlenook Farms Suite & Nestlenook Farms Victorian Condo (yep, they have accommodations, too!)
🎄 The Snowflake Inn
12. Experience Christmas At The Castle
Castle in the Clouds in Moultonboro is wonderful to visit year-round, but they also do a great job celebrating the holidays, so this is one stop you’ll want to make while visiting the area in December.
Every year for Christmas at the Castle, the historic mansion is decked out in its holiday best, and it’s a treat to walk around and admire all the beautiful decorations. Visitors are also welcome to enjoy the grounds of the property, where the already spectacular views are especially gorgeous under a blanket of freshly fallen snow.
At the Carriage House during the event, you’ll also be able to shop for unique gifts at the Artisan Fair, snack on holiday cookies, sip on hot chocolate, and dine at the Carriage House restaurant. There are also opportunities to have your photo taken with Santa, and very fun crafting tables available to enjoy.
13. Hit The Slopes
You can’t talk about the winter season in New Hampshire, and not mention skiing, of course! While the official winter season doesn’t start until later in December, skiing is usually in full swing starting in mid-November. So for anyone itching to hit the slopes at the very beginning of the season, this is the perfect time to book a holiday getaway.
Here are some of the best ski resorts in New Hampshire to check out:
- Bretton Woods: Often regarded the best in the state, it’s also very close to the Omni Mount Washington Resort.
- Loon Mountain
- Mount Sunapee
- Cannon Mountain
- Wildcat Mountain
14. Hop Aboard A Festive Train Ride
There’s nothing quite like a magical train ride during the holiday season to feel like you’ve stepped inside the Polar Express, and New Hampshire is one of the best states to offer these festive rides.
The Conway Scenic Railroad offers Santa’s Express Train rides, which features an appearance by the big guy himself, of course!
There’s also the Journey To The North Pole train ride that departs right in North Conway at the Scenic Railroad Station. This two-hour event includes a festive train ride with Santa’s elves, a stop at the North Pole to see Santa, and delicious treats along the way.
15. Experience Midnight Merriment In Concord
The first Saturday in December usually brings the very fun Midnight Merriment event in Concord, which runs from 5pm until midnight.
Downtown Concord is alive with holiday cheer during this event, and it’s also filled with festive things to do. You’ll be able to check out live performances, carolers, complimentary hot cocoa and gift wrapping, marshmallow roasting for s’mores, beautiful decorations around town, and special holiday markets featuring arts and crafts for shopping.
Santa will, of course, be making a special appearance, and there’s also a trolley that you can board that brings you to all the shops around town.
16. Visit Santa’s Village Park
Located in Jefferson up by the White Mountains, one of the best ways to celebrate Christmas in New Hampshire with the kids is by taking them to Santa’s Village park. Inside the park, Christmas comes to life, and everything is holiday-themed.
You’ll find most of the park’s rides open during this time (weather permitting), thousands of twinkle lights around the grounds, live performances at different times of the day, and visits with Santa and his trusty reindeer. Kids can also participate in the Elfabet game for a chance win prizes.
Pro Tip: Tickets for Santa’s Village at Christmas can only be purchased online in advance, so you’ll want to plan accordingly.
17. Participate In A Cookie Tour
One of the coolest things to do, in my opinion 😉, during the holidays in New Hampshire, is to sign up for a cookie tour. This could be because I looooove a good Christmas cookie, but the entire experience is sure to put you in the holiday spirit.
There are two really great cookie tours to check out during the Christmas season, with the first being the Currier & Ives Cookie Tour. Businesses around the Monadnock Region of the state offer up delicious, homemade cookies, as well as refreshments, and you’ll be given a map with all the participating locations so you don’t miss a single one.
There’s also a special raffle drawing, and everyone who completes 10 or more stops on the tour is entered into the drawing for a prize. Each visitor is also given recipe cards for each of the cookies, so you’ll be able to recreate the memories every holiday season at home.
Next up is the Inn to Inn Cookie & Candy Tour, which takes place in the White Mountains region. Visitors will tour cozy and beautifully decorated inns that are offering up yummy cookies and candies to sample. You’ll receive a lovely cookbook with recipes of each of the treats on the tour, and a chance to enter a raffle drawing here as well.
The best part is, every inn on this tour creates new recipes each year, so even if you make this a yearly tradition, you’ll want to keep coming back to try all the new recipes 😉
18. Get Tickets To A Holiday Performance
So many holiday shows are synonymous with the season, and one of the best things to do this time of the year is book tickets for a live performance.
The Nutcracker is, of course, one of the most popular. It’s hard to not be transfixed by the music alone, but the dancing, story, and costumes are always such a festive treat. There are performances of The Nutcracker all over the state, so all you have to do is find the one closest to you!
As mentioned earlier in the post, The Music Hall in Portsmouth does special holiday performances as part of Vintage Christmas. In the past, shows like Elf: The Musical have been on the docket, so have this on your radar.
Nashua Center for the Arts also usually puts on a wonderful performance of A Christmas Carol, and The Rex Theater in Manchester usually has a few options for holiday performances this time of the year.
Events vary from year to year, but there’s always something magical happening on stage during the holiday season!
19. See The Famous Stark Bridge Landscape At Night
One of the most beautiful scenes in the state is the Stark Covered Bridge landscape when it’s all lit up for the holidays. Backdropped by the mountains and perfectly situated next to a church, the scene feels like something out of a postcard.
Located in northern New Hampshire, between Jefferson and Dixville Notch State Park, it’s a bit out of the way to see, but if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path during the holidays, it’s definitely something to have on your radar!
The best time to visit is blue hour, just after sunset, because it’ll be dark enough to see the lights, but light enough to see the mountains behind the bridge, too.
Bonus Suggestion: Many of the covered bridges around New Hampshire are decorated with lights during the holidays, so this is also something fun to see during your visit.
20. Pick Up Handmade Gifts At Holiday Markets
Some of the events already mentioned in this post have included special holiday markets, but I wanted to create a section dedicated to this because it’s one of the things that everyone looks forward to during December, right? 😉
One of my favorite little markets in December is the Holiday Shops at the Tuscan Village Shopping Center in Salem. While already a shopping plaza, they turn a section of their outdoor space into a very festive market, with a giant lit Christmas tree at the center. They have wonderful vendors here selling their hand-crafted items, and this is a great place to check out to start your holiday shopping.
Here are a few more holiday markets to have on your radar in New Hampshire:
- The Holly Jolly Craft Fair in Nashua
- Keene Holiday Craft Show
- Somersworth Holiday Craft Fair
21. Walk Through The Festival Of Trees In Wolfesboro
Located along Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfesboro is a charming little town that also just so happens to put on a wonderful Festival of Trees experience during the holidays.
Inside the Wright Museum, you’ll find over 70 uniquely decorated trees to admire, as well as special happenings throughout December including visits with Santa, live entertainment, a craft fair, and even a special preview gala in November.
Proceeds from this event also benefit local charities, so this is one you can attend and feel especially good about!
22. Find The Best Light Displays
All over New Hampshire, you’ll find beautiful displays of festive lights that are sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. But are you looking for the best? Here are a few places you’ll want to have on your itinerary:
LaBelle Winery – I know, I know, I mentioned them already, but their LaBelle Lights event is one you don’t want to miss!
Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Bush Merrimack Brewery – I swear, not all my recommendations will involve alcohol! 😂 But this one is also too good not to mention. Not only are the Christmas lights here uh-mazing, there are also fun things to do like fire pits with s’mores, visits with the Budweiser Clydesdales, a Biergarten with food, and lots, lots more.
Gift of Lights At New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Located in Loudon, this is a 2.5 mile drive through display, and features more than 3.5 million lights, if you can believe it!
The Mousseau and Roy Family Lights Display: Located in Hudson at their private residence, the family is kind enough to put on this amazing show of Christmas lights year after year. Use address 75 Pelham Road! The display is typically on late November through Christmas.
23. Visit The Christmas Loft Store
One of the most famous stores in New Hampshire is the Christmas Loft, which can be found in North Conway. And it’s definitely worth paying a visit, especially during the holiday season.
This store seems endless as you’re walking through, and is filled to the brim with all kinds of holiday decor, ornaments, village sets, wrapping paper, and even their own holiday displays (plus, tons more!). In the center, you’ll walk through a life-sized displays of New England at Christmas, which is so fun to see.
If you’re visiting New Hampshire during the holidays, this is one of the best places to pick up a special ornament to remember the trip by.
24. Attend A Tree Lighting & Christmas Parade
One of the best things to experience during Christmas in New England are all the wonderful tree lightings, and pretty much any town in New Hampshire will have an event showcasing the inaugural lighting of the tree. Portsmouth does an especially fun tree lighting event to kick off their Vintage Christmas festivities.
Additionally, the state has some really great Christmas parades, and some of them coincide with their tree lighting ceremonies. A few festive parades to check out around New Hampshire during the holidays are:
- Littleton Christmas Parade
- Exeter Holiday Parade
- Concord Christmas Parade
- Dover Holiday Parade
- Manchester Holiday Parade
Best Area Of New Hampshire To Stay For A Holiday Getaway
If you read through my post above, then you can probably gather that the White Mountains region, as well as Portsmouth, are two really great places to stay when visiting New Hampshire during the holiday season. Both of these areas offers tons of things to do, gorgeous holiday scenery, and plenty of events to attend.
Weather In New Hampshire During The Holidays
New Hampshire during the month of December is generally snowy and cold – it is often listed as the second snowiest state in the U.S., after all!
Temperatures average about 35°F during the day, and 20°F at night. Keep in mind that weather and temperatures can vary depending on where in the state you are, too. For example, it could be colder up in the northern areas and White Mountains, then southern New Hampshire.
That said, snow isn’t necessarily guaranteed, especially if you’re visiting the southern part of the state. Up in the White Mountains, though, it’s very, very likely you’ll have snow in December.
What To Pack
Generally, you’ll want to make sure you pack a good winter coat or parka, warm winter boots (even better if they’re waterproof snow boots), merino wool socks to keep your feet warm and dry, and accessories like hats, scarves and gloves.
New Hampshire is a very casual state, so you likely won’t need any fancy clothes, unless you’re attending a special dining event or party with a dress code. For general sightseeing and exploring, jeans and sweaters will be just fine – even for going out to dinner.
If you’re planning lots of outdoors activities, you may want to consider snow pants, too, especially if you’re up in the northern regions, like the White Mountains.
As with all my packing and weather guides, I always recommend checking the weather forecast a few days before you leave to see what the weather is predicted to be like. Even in a place like New Hampshire, it can have moments of being unseasonably warm, or unseasonably cold. I was in New Hampshire in December in 2022, and there was no snow yet in the southern region, and it felt a bit on the warm side. You never know in New England!
Best Way To Get Around New Hampshire
The best way to get around New Hampshire is by car, and if you’re visiting from a distance, I highly recommend renting a car at the airport to get around. Public transit for popular winter destinations in the state is just not convenient, unfortunately.
The only time you can get away without a car in New Hampshire is if you’re visiting one city with good public transit. For example, Portsmouth is easy to get around without a car. So, if you’re just viisting for their Vintage Christmas event, you’re good!
Other than that, I always recommend driving around. Even in December with some snow, the roads are usually pretty clear. Just practice caution if there’s been a snowfall, use common sense, and you should be fine.
You may also enjoy:
- Best Christmas Festivals In New England
- New Hampshire In The Winter: Best Things To Do & Places To Go!
- Best Christmas Towns In New England
- Best New England Winter Getaways (Even For Non-Skiers!)
- Where To Stay In The White Mountains: Best Towns & Hotels!
That’s A Wrap On Christmas In New Hampshire
And there you have it, the inside scoop on spending Christmas in New Hampshire! Whether a Vintage Christmas is everything you could hope for, or the wintery White Mountains are more your speed for a holiday getaway, one thing’s for sure – you’re in the right place for an extra magical holiday season.
