Northeast Harbor Christmas Festival

December 5, 2026

Join us for a full day of family activities, holiday shopping at local merchants, delicious food, hot drinks, solo stoves & photo ops up and down Main Street, and a visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus!
Keep checking back for additional details on dining & merchant hours & specials.

Festival sponsored by:

Main Street Variety

8:30 am / 9:00 am: Frosty’s Jolly Jaunt - Fun Run: Hosted by The Neighborhood House. Registration opens at 8:30, Fun Run begins at 9:00. Hot cocoa and donuts to follow. 1 Kimball Lane (end of Main Street)

10:00 am - 12: 30 pm Holiday Card Making: Hosted by by The Northeast Harbor Library. 1 Joy Road

11:00 am - 1:00 pm Christmas Craft for Kids: Hosted by Mount Desert Nursery School. 15 Tracy Street

11:00 am - 4:00 pm Gingerbread House Competition: Hosted by Coastal Maine General Contracting. Entries can be dropped of the day before, voting starts at 11:00 with winners announced at 4:00. 149 Main Street. Register to enter by Monday November 30th with lstanley@coastalmainegc.com.

12:00 pm - 2:30 pm Santa’s Workshop: Sponsored by Bar Harbor Bank & Mount Desert Chamber of Commerce. Bring a canned good or cash donation, kids shop with their own personal “elf.” Donations benefit local food pantries. Located at The Neighborhood House, 1 Kimball Lane

1:00 pm -3:00 pm Open House & Craft for Kids: Hosted by Maine Seacoast Mission. 6 Old Firehouse Lane

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Horse & Wagon Rides: Sponsored by WMH Architects & Wright-Ryan Homes. Horse & wagon from Darthia Farms. Depart from 1 Rockend Road.

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive on Maine Seacoast Mission Sunbeam: At the Northeast Harbor Marina. Watch Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive, sing carols, and kids can join the Clauses for a wagon ride up to the Northeast Pole on Main Street.

3:34 pm - 5:00 pm Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus: Visit & take photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus at the Northeast Pole (Carter’s Real Estate, 116 Main Street)

Additional festival sponsors:

WMH Architects
Wright-Ryan Homes

  • The Kimball Shop: Open 10 am - 4 pm

    Shaw Contemporary Jewelry: open 9 am - 5 pm

    Sawyer’s Specialties NEH: Open 10 am - 5 pm; wine & cheese tastings throughout the day

    Good Design Here: Open 12 pm - 6 pm

    Artemis Gallery: Open 10 am - 5 pm; wine, cheese & sweets

    Swallowfield: Open 10 am - 6 pm; 25% off store-wide

    Tim Murphy Studios: Open 10 am - 6 pm; 20% off storewide

    Main Street Variety: Open 7 am - 6 pm

    Pine Tree Market: Open 8 am - 8 pm

    Harbor Artisans: Open 10 am - 6 pm; free chocolate sand dollars while supplies last

    Isola (Lisa Hall Jewelry): Open 10 am - 6 pm; 15% off storewide + wine & nibbles

    McGrath’s: Open all day; 50% off most items

  • Good Wolf: Open 3 pm - 7pm with pizzas & cocktails

    Quietside Snacks Pop-Up: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm & 4:00 - 6:00 pm

    The Salt Market: Open 10 am - 3 pm with hot cocoa and holiday baked goods

    Milk + Honey: Open 10 am - 7 pm. Daytime menu includes coffee, sweets, egg sandwiches & lunch items. Dinner menu fried chicken + sides!

  • Where can I park? There is plentiful parking at the NEH Marina at the end of Sea Street. Parking is also available at the lot off Firehouse Lane.

    Where are public restrooms? Public restrooms are available at the end of the Visitor Center which is located in the public parking area at the marina.

    Will the festival be cancelled in the event of the bad weather? Unless there is threat of a severe storm the festival will be held regardless of weather.