Come to Maine this holiday season and discover all the fun, festive things there are to see and do. Drive-through holiday lights shows, winter train rides, Christmas villages, shopping, outdoor recreation, and so much more.
The holidays are just around the corner and excitement is building. Maine loves to celebrate the season with events and attractions filling our end of the year calendar.
A plethora of fun holiday opportunities surrounds our MidCoast Maine bed and breakfast. You can easily spend the day exploring up or down the coast with plenty of time to for a relaxing afternoon or evening at the inn.
Better yet, take advantage of our Winter Wonderland in Maine winter lodging special! Enjoy a discounted winter stay, November through March, when you book direct. Learn more and see other lodging specials on our Specials & Packages page.
Drive-Through Holiday Lights
If you like holiday lights, you’ll love Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. This annual holiday lights driving tour is Maine’s biggest. 295 acres illuminated by more than 650,000 twinkling and multicolored holiday lights. So pretty!
Each carload of visitors needs only one ticket, no matter how many are in your vehicle. Tickets are not sold on site and must be purchased in advance.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are located an hour and a half South of Captain Nickels Inn in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Outside of special events like this one, the gardens are open seasonally from May through mid-October.
Learn more and get your tickets at www.mainegardens.org
Holiday Train Rides
The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad offers round-trip train rides and events seasonally, Memorial Day through October. The train is located at 212 Depot Street in Unity, Maine, just over a half hour’s drive from Captain Nickels Inn.
The railroad travels between Unity and Burnham, ME providing one-to-two hour rides, round trip. Passengers take in the passing scenery from the comfort of a restored, closed coach car or out in the open on the observation car, weather permitting.
Come the holiday season, the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad adds a healthy dose of Christmas spirit to their rail excursion offerings. Trips like Breakfast with Santa, Santa’s Sunset Limited, the Santa Express, Pizza with Santa, and a Toys for Tots train.
Visit belfastandmooseheadlakerail.org to learn more and acquire your tickets before they sell out!
Christmas Village
Freeport, ME is home to the L.L. Bean flagship store and campus, offering free outdoor fitness classes, movie nights, concerts, and other events throughout the year.
The company was founded in Freeport and is a well-known retailer of popular outdoor recreation equipment and clothing.
Come winter, their popular Discovery Park is transformed into Northern Lights, a winter wonderland of holiday fun. Ice skating, a life-size snow globe, model train village, holiday light tunnel, hot cocoa, shopping, demonstrations, and so much more!
L.L.Bean Northern Lights runs late November through December 31st. Visit the L.L. Bean website for more information.
We’ve barely scratched the surface of all there is to do and see during Maine’s holiday season. Come celebrate the season with us at Captain Nickels Inn and discover more. We’re keeping the cocoa hot for you!
Updated March 2023