Hotels near 2017 Christmas Prelude Kennebunkport
This time of year, the seacoast of Southern Maine is festive as festive can be. Here in Ogunquit, we’ve got Christmas by the Sea, turning the whole town into a holiday wonderland for the 31st year in a row this December 8 through 10.
But that’s not the only festive bonanza easily available to our guests here at Ogunquit.com: An easy drive north of our hotels—the Gorges Grant Hotel, the Juniper Hill Inn, or the Milestone—you’ll be able to join the fun up at Kennebunkport’s nationally known Christmas Prelude!
Kennebunkport’s 36th Annual Christmas Prelude
For the 36th consecutive year, Christmas Prelude will be transforming Kennebunkport into a Yuletide dreamland. This year’s version takes place from Thursday, November 30 through Sunday, December 10, so book your Ogunquit.com accommodations today to make sure you don’t miss out on what HGTV has ranked the No. 2 Christmas Town in America!
Some Highlights of Kennebunkport’s 2017 Christmas Prelude
There’s way, way too much going down during the week-plus of Christmas Prelude for us to summarize here: Your best bet is checking out the complete schedule of events to see which happenings you absolutely want to be a part of. But let’s ping through some of the standout goings-on so you can get a flavor for the spirit of the festival.
December 1st sees not one but two tree-lighting ceremonies. The first takes place at 5:30 PM in Dock Square, the Kennebunk High School Chamber Choir caroling the town’s handsome Christmas tree into glowing glory. At 7 PM, meanwhile, Cape Porpoise Square’s one-of-a-kind Lobster Trap Tree—this is the coast of Maine, after all—blazes forth with transfixing radiance.
Speaking of Maine’s favorite crustacean, Santa Claus swings by Christmas Prelude on Sunday the 3rd at 2 PM riding a lobster boat and accompanied to his Community House photo session by Lobster Elves. A week later, his choice of transportation at Cape Porpoise Square will be different: a fire engine.
There’ll be a fireworks display on December 8th in the cove, all sorts of holiday processionals (from the Annual Hat Parade on Saturday the 2nd to the Walk to Bethlehem on Saturday the 9th and the Pooch Parade the next day), candlelit caroling at St. Anthony’s Monastery on December 2nd, oodles of gift markets and fairs throughout, late-night Christmas karaoke—and lots and lots of other events.
Christmas Prelude is almost here, and at Ogunquit.com we’d love to be your holiday-friendly accommodations for the occasion. And don’t forget: Christmas Prelude’s last weekend up in Kennebunkport coincides with Ogunquit’s Christmas by the Sea, so you’ve got the option for an unforgettable Christmastime double-header staying with us at the Gorges Grant Hotel, the Juniper Hill Inn, or the Milestone!