Bundle up, grab your ugly sweater and enjoy the holiday season the New Hampshire way. Here’s a roundup of our favorite holiday events, including a list of on-stage performances and concerts.

Santa Express Trains
Granite State Scenic Railway in Lincoln
Weekends, November 29 – December 23

All Santa Express Trains excursions are approximately 60 minutes long and aboard the train everyone will meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Additionally, all young children will receive a letter that they can complete for Santa and every young child will receive a gift from Santa on the train. Train rides start and return from Granite State Scenic Railway in Lincoln.

Santa’s Holiday Express
Conway Scenic Railroad in Conway
Weekends, November 29 – December 23

Ho, ho, ho! It’s time to hop aboard and celebrate the Christmas spirit in the White Mountains. Santa’s Holiday Express offers an hour-long seasonal journey down the Conway Branch and is perfect for families with young children. Guests will arrive in Conway and will be greeted by Santa and every child gets a goody bag, including cookies and milk.

LaBelle Lights
LaBelle Winery in Derry
November 12 – January 19

Get into the holiday spirit at LaBelle Lights located at LaBelle Winery and the Links in Derry. Guests of all ages will enjoy a stunning show comprised of themed lighting displays coordinated with music that will bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart. Special themed weeks include: Holiday Card Week is the week of November 12-17, Luau Week is happening November 19-24, Holiday Pajamas Week will be the week of November 26- December 1, Ugly Holiday Sweater week is December 3- December 8, Hidden Elves week is December 10-15, Crazy Holiday Hats week is December 17-22, Frozen Costume week is December 26-29, Flannel Week will be December 31- January 1, 80’s Ski week will be January 7-12 and Winterfest will round out this season’s LaBelle Lights from January 14-19.

Gift of Lights
New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon
November 28 – January 5
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 light 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 soak in the scenes surrounding them. Tickets are $35 per car load and $60 per bus, limousine or RV up to 15 guests.

Wolfeboro Festival of Trees 
Wright Museum of World War II in Wolfeboro
December 5- 15

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.

Midnight Merriment/ 2024 Parade of Lights
Main Street in Concord
December 6, 5 p.m. to midnight

Bundle up, grab your shopping list and make your way to downtown Concord for the Intown Concord’s 31st Annual Midnight Merriment. Attendees are invited to shop until they drop while enjoying the lights and sounds of the holidays and supporting local businesses. There will be s’mores, cocoa, music and more for the kiddos — and Santa will be making an appearance from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This year’s Midnight Merriment will begin with the Parade of Lights, a dazzling procession that will illuminate Main Street with festive cheer and a celebration of all holidays!

Jingle Bell Extravaganza
Children’s Museum of NH in Dover
Sunday, December 8 and Sunday, December 15

Families are invited to enjoy a special holiday event at the Children’s Museum where they can meet Santa for photo opportunity and receive a special gift. Kids can engage in hands-on holiday craft activities and a magical science experiment, all while exploring the museum’s many interactive exhibits. Pajamas and festive attire are welcome.

27th Annual Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie & Candy Tour
Various locations
December 14-15

Nine beautifully decorated country inns will 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. The tour stretches from Jackson to Eaton and no inn is more than fifteen minutes from the next, with many much closer.

Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour
Various locations in Jackson
November 23-24

Find enchantment on a magical sleigh ride through the snowy mountains with delicious chocolate treats from local chocolatiers. The Austrian horse-drawn sleigh winds its way to Jackson Village, halting at various stops for tastes of homemade chocolates.

Candlelight Stroll
Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth
Weekends through December 22

Bundle up and take a delightful trip back in time as you experience holiday traditions from hundreds of years ago. Once again, Strawbery Banke’s stroll will focus on the lights, wreaths, roleplayers and magic adorning the exteriors of the museum’s historic buildings. The museum grounds will be glowing with hundreds of lighted candle lanterns, and house doors and railings are decorated with live greens and dried flowers and herbs collected from the museum gardens.

Catch the Christmas spirit onstage

November 9- December 13
“The Nutcracker” and “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”
Various Location

November 21-24
“The Nutcracker”
The Palace Theatre
Manchester, NH

November 29; shows at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Lost Christmas Eve”
SNHU Arena
Manchester, NH

November 29 – December 29
“A Christmas Carol”
The Palace Theatre
Manchester, NH

November 30- December 1
“The Nutcracker”
Salem High School Seifert Performing Arts Center
Salem, NH

December 5
“A Christmas Carol” starring Gerald Dickens
The Dana Center at St. Anselm College
Manchester, NH

December 5-6
Sympthony NH’s Holiday Brass
The Rex Theatre, Manchester & St. Mary’s and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church, Nashua

December 7 and December 8
Portsmouth School of Ballet presents “The Nutcracker”
Exeter High School Auditorium
Exeter, NH

December 8
New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus
Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for the Arts
Concord, NH

December 8
Capital Jazz Orchestra’s “Holiday Pops”
Capitol Center for the Arts
Concord, NH

December 14
Boston Pops Holiday Concert
SNHU Arena
Manchester, NH

December 7
The Morning Buzz Christmas Ball
Capitol Center for the Arts
Concord, NH

December 28
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Colonial Theatre
Keene, NH