If your ideal holiday season leans more cozy and simple than hectic and overdone, Midcoast Maine is a refreshing change of pace. December here is simple, seasonal, and genuine - with harbor lights instead of traffic, small-town events instead of crowds, and plenty of time spent around the table or by the fire.

A holiday in Midcoast Maine is low-key by design. You still get the lights, the harbor views, and the feeling of the season - without the crowds, traffic, or pressure to “do everything.” It’s the kind of Christmas season where what you remember most are the conversations, the meals, and the feeling of being together. Whether you’re planning for this year or gathering ideas for the future, here are some of our local events and favorite ways to make a Coastal Christmas in Maine a memorable one.

How Maine Does the Holidays

**Camden’s Christmas by the Sea**
Each December, Camden hosts Christmas by the Sea, a charming, small-town festival that feels like stepping inside a holiday book.
Highlights include:
Fabulous parade through downtown
Tree lighting at the harbor
Horse-drawn carriage rides
Visits with Santa
Caroling and community events
Insiders tip: Stop into Downtown Spice and Candy for stocking stuffers and Cashmere Goat for cozy yarn + local crafts.
*Image by: Fora Travel*

**Rockland’s Festival of Lights & Lobster Trap Tree**

In Rockland, the holidays are celebrated with the Festival of Lights and the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree, a towering community-built tree decorated with buoys and colorful lights - a uniquely Maine holiday display, and very photo-worthy! See Santa arrive by boat on November 28th or visit him and the tree anytime between then and the end of the season.
Insider tip: While in Rockland, bundle up and walk the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse - a mile-long granite jetty extending into Penobscot Bay. It’s cold, but unforgettable.
Image by: Main Street Maine

**The Festival of Lights in Boothbay Harbor**

Boothbay Harbor transforms into a warm, twinkling seaside village each December during its Festival of Lights. Waterfront shops are strung with garlands, local bakeries serve holiday treats, and the harbor sparkles after dark.
The centerpiece is Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where a million LED lights illuminate the forest and gardens.
Insider tip: Reserve tickets early — prime weekend evenings sell out fast.
*Image by: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens*

**Wreath-Making & Maine’s Handmade Holiday Traditions**

Holiday décor here is local, natural, and handmade. Balsam wreaths are traditionally made from the woods and fields around us, and you’ll see roadside stands selling fresh, hand-tied wreaths beginning in late November. There are also many wreath-making workshops in the area if you’d like to try your hand in making one yourself!
Look for:
Merryspring Nature Center Wreath Sale (Camden)
Rockport Garden Club Holiday Market (Rockport)
Local Grange craft fairs (listings updated weekly on town FB pages)
What you’ll find:
Hand-knit woolens from Maine sheep farms
Hand-carved toys and ornaments
Herbal salves, soaps, and candles from local foragers
If you like meaningful, thoughtful gifts – these local markets can’t be beat.
Insider tip: Combine a trip out to one of the granges with a coastal drive - it’s simple, scenic, with no crowds. Pull over for views, photos, or a thermos of cocoa.
*Image by: Farnsworth Art Museum*

**Coastal Maine Holiday Foods**

Maine holiday tables tend toward simple, warm, and locally sourced.
Expect:
Lobster stew + fresh rolls
Creamy haddock chowder
Local oysters on the half shell
Homemade pies — apple, wild blueberry, and pecan
Where to pick up ingredients:
Jess’s Market (Rockland)
Graffam Bros. Seafood Market (Rockport)
Glidden Point Oysters (Damariscotta)
For bakery treats:
Atlantic Baking Company (Rockland)
Laugh Loud Smile Big (Camden)
Image By: Glidden Point Oysters

**What a Coastal Christmas Weekend Looks Like**

Small coastal towns do the holidays well - decorations are thoughtful rather than flashy, events are friendly and accessible, and the scenery does most of the work. Here are a few ways to spend a December weekend outside of the holiday festivals:
Camden
Walk around the decorated harbor and browse local shops
Stop for coffee and pastries at The Place
Drive or hike up to Mount Battie for a winter coastline view. You can also see the Mount Battie Star illuminated every night from Thanksgiving until New Years Eve.
Rockland
Visit the Farnsworth Art Museum
Shop local galleries and makers
End with dinner at:
Primo (advance reservations essential)
or In Good Company for relaxed small plates
Thomaston + Friendship
Enjoy neighborhood holiday lights and quiet harbor walks
A simple way to enjoy the season without crowds
*Image by: Maine Hikes*

**Why Coastal Maine at Christmas Feels Different**

Here, the holidays move at the pace of the tides: slow, calm, and intentional.
There’s less bustle and more presence:
Time by the fire
Walks along quiet winter beaches
Cooking together
Board games and star-gazing sky views untouched by city lights
It’s not about spectacle — it’s about connection.

Stay in the Heart of Midcoast Maine at Three Sisters Farm

If you’re thinking about planning a Christmas in Maine, consider Three Sisters Farm in Friendship as your holiday home base. Our historic 1850s farmhouse sits on 11 private acres of meadows and woods, with plenty of space for gathering, cooking, and unwinding together. With two kitchens, multiple cozy living spaces, kid-friendly amenities, and quiet coves and harbor towns just minutes away, it’s the perfect place to enjoy the season at a slower, more meaningful pace.

Spend your days exploring nearby festivals and coastal towns, and your evenings around the farmhouse table, playing board games by the fire, or watching the stars in the crisp winter sky. But wherever you chose to spend the holiday, a Coastal Christmas in Maine just can’t be beat!

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