Calendar

HOLIDAY EVENTS FOR DECEMBER

Editor’s Choice

December 3 Portsmouth Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting > Head to Market Square for music and a tree lighting, followed by a hometown holiday-themed parade. This event will illuminate your night and ignite your Christmas spirit with a visit from the jolly star himself, Santa. To help others and spread holiday cheer, bring a nonperishable food item to donate to volunteers walking through the parade with shopping carts for the city’s annual food drive. This event is a part of Vintage Christmas. Free. 5 p.m., Downtown Portsmouth. cityofportsmouth.com

December 3-4, 10-11 NH Gingerbread House Festival > You know the NH Home Builders can build houses of wood, wait until you see what they can do with gingerbread. Over 25 handcrafted gingerbread houses will be on display (and given away). There will also be a People’s Choice Award decided by you. In addition to the homes, there is a hot chocolate station and Santa’s Workshop where you can make your own paper gingerbread house to take home. $5-$15. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., NH Home Builders Association, 119 Airport Rd., Concord. (603) 969-7077; nhgingerbread.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.

Wednesdays – Sundays, November 16-January 15 LaBelle Lights at The Links > There’s a festive feel in the air with the magical display of lights in Derry. More than 500,000 twinkling lights light up the night at The Links at Labelle Winery. The outdoor light display is a walking tour along designated paths through the golf course. Sweet and savory snacks, and warm nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at LaBelle Market, and Americus Restaurant offers a heartier fare for a meal before or after your walk. $8-$16. 4:30 to 9 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 14 Rte. 111, Derry. labellewinery.com

November 24-January 1 Gift of Lights > Remember when your parents used to stuff you and your siblings in the van to drive around checking out neighbors’ Christmas lights? This is that drive and then some. More than 400 light displays, 60 holiday scenes and 2 million LED bulbs light up New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Spectators are urged to drive the route (including the tunnel and part of the track’s road course) and revel in the sights around them. $30-$60. 4:30 to 9 p.m. daily, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 1122 NH-106, Loudon. (603) 783-4931; nhms.com

December 1-11 Wolfeboro Festival of Trees > More than 65 exquisitely decorated Christmas trees deck the halls of the Wright Museum for this annual event. Marvel at the colorful conifers (spread across two floors) and enjoy live entertainment from local performing groups such as Expressions Dance Academy. $2-$15. Times vary, Wright Museum of World War II, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro. (603) 948-5504; wolfeborofestivaloftrees.com

Editor’s Choice

December 1-23 “A Christmas Carol” at the Palace Theatre > Watch your favorite Charles Dickens Christmas novel come to life on the stage at the Palace Theatre. Follow the story of Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve, accompanied by lively song and dance, actors from all over the country and a live orchestra. Don’t miss out on a chance to see an old miser forever changed by holiday joy. $25-$46. Times vary, The Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester. (603) 668-5588; palacetheatre.org

December 1-18 4th Annual NH Jingle Bells Winery Tour > Winery Tour participants will have the opportunity to visit seven festive wineries throughout New Hampshire over the course of five weekends ending on December 18th. This is a self-guided tour through New Hampshire wine country. The self-guided traveling tasters will have from November 19th through December 18th to receive a wine (or spirits at winery/distillery locations) tasting at each location accompanied by light hors d’oeuvres (available on weekends only). Along with the tastings, festivities will include a unique holiday ornament from each winery, music and a Holiday Spirit contest. The Holiday Spirit contest will feature the seven wineries and how they best display their holiday cheer. $40-$75. Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., locations vary. (603) 659-2949; Facebook. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.

December 2 Christmas with the Celts > Step dancers, vocalists and a rollicking band combine with Irish instruments, such as the bodhran and uilleann pipes, to create an evening of classic holiday music from both sides of the Atlantic. Tickets start at $39. 7:30 p.m., The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performing Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth. (603) 536-2551; flyingmonkeynh.com

December 3-4 33rd Annual Christmas in Strafford Craft Fair > Local artisans and craftspeople from all around Strafford will be safely opening up their homes and studios this holiday season. There will be over 15 locations open and over 50 crafters, including local homes along with the Bow Lake Grange Hall and Bow Lake Church. Watch out for large “Cardinal” signs with marked stop numbers to help guide you to your destinations. Free. Times and locations vary. (603) 664-5787; christmasinstrafford.com

Editor’s Choice Weekends December 3-18 Candlelight Stroll Under the Stars > The signature event of Portsmouth’s Vintage Christmas celebrations, Strawbery Banke’s holiday classic encourages families to enjoy a bit of “stopfulness” amid the crazy pace of the season. Watch historical reenactors create scenes of Decembers gone by, while walking along pathways illuminated by candlelight. $12.50-$25. Sat. 5 to 9 p.m., Sun. 4 to 8 p.m., Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth. (603) 433-1100; strawberybanke.org

December 1-23 Journey to the North Pole > Journey to the North Pole and Santa’s workshop. Sip on hot chocolate and enjoy treats as you take a scenic train ride through the White Mountains. At the North Pole, you’ll be greeted by Santa’s elves, who will make sure you remember to drop your letter to Santa at his workshop. In addition to Christmas carols, enjoy a reading of the tale “The Night Before Christmas.” $58-$78. Times and locations vary. journeytothenorthpole.org

SAVE THE DATE:

Dec. 3-4 & 10-11 NH Gingerbread House Festival

You know the NH Home Builders can build houses of wood, wait until you see what they can do with GINGERBREAD

More than 25 handcrafted gingerbread houses will be displayed (and given away)! There will be a People’s Choice Award decided by YOU. Enjoy our hot chocolate station and Santa’s Workshop — where you can make your own paper gingerbread house to take home.

Join us December 3 and 4 and December 10 and 11, from 11am to 6pm. Your $5 admission ticket serves as a raffle ticket so you can WIN and TAKE HOME your favorite gingerbread house! Family admission is $15.

NH Home Builders Association • 119 Airport Rd, Concord.

ADVANCED TICKETS AND MORE INFO AT NHGINGERBREAD.COM OR 603.969.7077 December 3-18 Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour > Find enchantment on a magical sleigh ride through the snowy mountains of Northern New Hampshire, plus enjoy delicious chocolate treats from local chocolatiers. The Austrian horse-drawn sleigh makes its way to Jackson Village, halting at various stops for tastes of homemade sweets. $32. Times and locations vary. thewentworth.com

December 3-4, 9-11, 16-18, 21-23 Santa’s Christmas at Charmingfare Farm > Timeless traditions will please the whole family at this annual Christmas extravaganza at Charmingfare Farm. It all starts with a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Christmas Trail, which features 12 charming holiday scenes to decorate the way to the North Pole. Santa will wait for families in the Reindeer Barn where the kids can hand off their Christmas letters and feed the live reindeer. Be sure to visit Mrs. Claus for sugar cookies and hot cocoa, too. Prices and times vary. Charmingfare Farm, 774 High St., Candia. (603) 483-5623; visitthefarm.com

December 10 Holly Jolly Craft Fair > Procrastinators, this one’s for you! The last event of the year from Joyce’s Craft Shows, this fair carries both stocking-friendly small gifts and larger items including quilts, gourmet food and holiday floral arrangements. Sat 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 2 Somerset Plaza, Nashua. (603) 5284014; joycescraftshows.com

December 10 Holiday Pops Concert > The Boston Esplanade Orchestra visits SNHU Arena for their cherished Holiday Pops concert. The magical music will be the highlight of your holiday season by capturing the special winter charms of New England. Listen and delight to their signature “Sleigh Ride,” as well as other holiday classics and new seasonal arrangements, joined by Metropolitan Chorale and an appearance from the Man in Red during the finale. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester. (603) 644-5000; snhuarena.com

December 10-11

25th Annual Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie & Candy

Tour > Nine country lodges open their doors for visitors to taste their best holiday cookies and candies and snag some recipe and décor ideas. Stay at one of the participating inns and you will also receive a keepsake ornament. Prices and locations vary. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., (603) 356-2642; countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com

December 15 The Greg and The Morning Buzz Christmas Ball > Join Greg and the Morning Buzz team as they host an all-star cast of musicians, performers, comedians and special guests. A portion of the proceeds go to Lend a Helping Can, a nonprofit that serves 11 soup kitchens in New Hampshire. $45. 7 p.m., Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St., Concord. ccanh.com

December 16-18 A New England Midwinter Revels Celebration > For the first time since 2019, Revels North will bring The Midwinter Revels, an Upper Valley holiday tradition since 1975, back to the stage of Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon. Guest artists for the show include Alex Cumming and Sharon Groblicki. Prices and times vary. Lebanon Opera House, 51 N. Park St., Lebanon. revelsnorth.org

December 31 New Year’s Eve Partybration > At Santa’s Village, Santa doesn’t disappear when Christmas ends. In fact, he’ll welcome guests to ring in the New Year. Partybration features fireworks, a DJ, rides, food and soft drinks. $55-$62. 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Santa’s Village, 528 Presidential Hwy., Jefferson. santasvillage.com

December 31 New Year’s Eve Fireworks > Enjoy a day on the slopes and then end it with a fireworks show. The mountain will not only have the trails open for skiing and snowboarding, but the Murphy’s will also be playing in the Sled Pub. Ticket prices vary. 4 p.m., Pats Peak, 686 Flanders Rd., Henniker. (603) 428-3245; patspeak.com

December 31 Hampton Beach Fireworks > Summer isn’t the only season when Hampton Beach is set alight with fireworks. Bundle up and hit the boardwalk for the town’s last lightshow of 2022. 8 p.m., Hampton Beach, 115 Ocean Blvd., Hampton. hamptonbeach.org

December 31 First Night Portsmouth > Come participate in this family-friendly citywide New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Portsmouth. There will be fireworks, puppets, music, dancing, face painting and even ice sculptures in front of North Church. Don’t wait, get your First Night button before they are all gone. Prices, locations and times vary. (603) 433-4398; proportsmouth.org

Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Emily Heidt at eheidt@nhmagazine.com or enter your own at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Not all events are guaranteed to be published either online or in the print calendar. Event submissions will be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by a New Hampshire Magazine editor.

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