Holiday Lobster Trap Tree – Rockland, Maine
One look at the area event calendar and it becomes very clear: the holidays have officially arrived! The weeks leading up to the holidays are loaded with popular seasonal events up and down Maine’s MidCoast. Rockland’s Festival of Lights, Camden’s Christmas By The Sea, Belfast’s Holiday on the Harbor, and much more!
Maine is known for its picturesque seaside towns and villages but, if you think they’re charming the rest of the year, wait until you see them decked out for the holidays. Old fashioned Christmas celebrations, bolstered by tradition, are a big hit here.
As with most things, though, what’s traditional to us Mainers may be fascinatingly new to you. Things like Santa arriving by boat at a pier or lobster traps stacked and decorated to resemble a Christmas tree. Come celebrate the holidays with us!
Rockland’s Festival of Lights
November in Rockland, Maine marks the annual Festival of Lights. It is a MidCoast Maine tradition.
Come see Santa arriving at the pier by boat, the annual Lobster Trap Tree lighting, excellent holiday shopping, and a fan favorite, the Festival of Lights parade! If you’ve never seen a lighted, nighttime, holiday parade, you’re in for a real treat! Don’t miss out on the hot cocoa or warm apple cider, either.
The Festival of Lights is not Rockland’s only holiday event. They also host a Lighting of the Menorah, the Rockland Hanukkah Party, and the popular Eat, Sip, And Shop event each year in December.
Rockland, ME is just under an hour’s drive south of Captain Nickels Inn, with lots of fun attractions in between. Learn more about this and other events in Rockland, ME on the Rockland Main Street Facebook page.
Camden’s Christmas by the Sea
Christmas by the Sea is Camden’s premiere holiday celebration and 2023 will mark their 37th year as a MidCoast Maine tradition. The event is easily one of the biggest and most popular holiday events in the area.
Christmas by the Sea kicks off the holiday season with multiple days and a host of events and activities. There’s a tree-lighting in Harbor Park, carolers and other holiday music, carriage rides, a craft fair, stores stay open late, a holiday parade, and more. Be sure to visit this quintessential seaside village event during the holiday season; the shopping is unparalleled.
Camden, Maine is just a little over a half hour’s drive south of our Maine bed and breakfast, Captain Nickels Inn. Visit the Christmas By The Sea Facebook page
Waterville Opera House
“The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing laud for all to hear!” The Waterville Opera House will present Elf the Musical during dates in November 2023. No matter what you’ve come to see the historic, 1902 Waterville Opera House is an attraction all by itself. Waterville, Maine is located just under an hour west of Captain Nickels Inn. Visit the Waterville Opera House website for tickets, times, and more information.
Belfast’s Holiday on the Harbor
Don’t miss Santa return to Belfast’s Steamboat Landing Park. The event is typically held each December and includes horse drawn wagon rides, live carolers, fun activities for the kids, hot chocolate, and more. Holiday on the Harbor takes place in the Boathouse or along the Belfast Harborwalk, depending on weather.
Best of all, Holiday on the Harbor takes place in Belfast, ME, one of our very favorite MidCoast Maine towns! Belfast is just ten minutes down the road from Captain Nickels Inn and loaded with fun things to see and do. Just wait until you see it all decorated for the holidays. So beautiful.
As you can see, the holiday season gets off to a bang here in Maine and our Searsport inn is right at the center of it all. Come experience it with us, here at Captain Nickels Inn. We’ll be decorated for the season and are eager to share the holidays with you!
Updated March 2023