Best Hotel for Christmas by the Sea in Ogunquit, ME
Now that Turkey Day’s in the rearview mirror, we’ve got the festive red carpet of the holiday season unfurled before us—and here in Ogunquit, Maine, that red carpet leads right up to Christmas by the Sea!
The Gorges Grant Hotel, Juniper Hill Inn, or Milestone make unbeatable accommodations for taking in Ogunquit’s very own annual holiday spectacular, celebrating its 31st edition December 8 through 10. Christmas by the Sea is an all-weekend, town wide affair that promises Yuletide-flavored fun for all ages.
We urge you to scan the full schedule of events at the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce website, but let’s pick out just a few of the daily highlights!
Friday
On Friday the 8th, Christmas by the Sea gets going with a bang courtesy of a slew of evening merriment. The Wells High School Select A Cappella group will give a free concert from 7 to 8 PM at Ogunquit Baptist Church, while meantime down in Perkins Cove at 7 PM there’ll be caroling, warm beverages and munchies, and the lighting of a holiday tree.
That won’t be the only tree lighting of the night, no sir: You can join the candlelit walk from Perkins Cove up to Veterans Park for the second one at 8:15 PM, accompanied by more cheering refreshments (including Moon Over Maine cookies). Over at MaineStreet Nightclub, the Community Holiday Party will be rocking and rolling from 8 to 10 PM with free appetizers and a cash bar—and the good times won’t stop at 10 o’clock, given that’s when karaoke gets underway.
Saturday
Saturday sees a jampacked Christmas by the Sea itinerary, launched at 9 AM by a hangout and photo session with Santa Claus himself at the Fire Station; if you show up early, you might see the red-suited, black-booted, white-bearded fellow arrive for the proceedings on a fire engine.
There’ll be boatloads of holiday-shopping opportunities at the Dunaway Center’s Basement Bazaar (9:30 AM to 2:30 PM), the Arts & Crafts Show at the Fire Station (10 AM to 3 PM), and all sorts of sales and open houses at businesses around Ogunquit. More than one wine tasting will ensure a truly festive atmosphere. And then there’s the Christmas Parade (3 to 4 PM) from Perkins Cove to Main Beach, where it’ll come followed up by the Ogunquit Ocean Rescue Polar Plunge (supporting Toys for Tots), a bonfire, and a fireworks display.
And you won’t be lacking for Christmas by the Sea “nightlife” Saturday, either, what with the Ogunquit Baptist Church’s living nativity (6:30 PM) and Seacoast Men of Harmony barbershop concert (7 to 8 PM), not to mention more live holiday music at Maine Street courtesy of Levi Kreis.
Sunday
The last day of Christmas by the Sea promises a pancake breakfast and pajama party at the Fire Station (9 to 11 AM), a free screening of Shop Around the Corner at the Dunaway Center (2 PM), the one-man production A Christmas Carol: A New Musical Tale at Clay Hill Farm (2 PM), and other festivities. If you want another holiday party to attend—and you do, don’t you?—take a jaunt up to nearby Wells that afternoon for its Southern Maine Christmas Parade at 2 PM.
Join us at one of our charming Ogunquit.com hotels for the 31st Annual Christmas by the Sea festival: What a way to get in the seasonal spirit of things!