A guide to spending the holidays in Portland, ME

 A guide to spending the holidays in Portland, ME

by Bre Goode

Hear those sleigh bells ring? Jingling, ring tingle tingling too? Then it must mean the holidays are finally here and we can’t think of a more magical and festive place to celebrate the spirit of the holidays than in Portland, Maine!

…And while Santa puts the finishing touches on his lists, we have rounded up our personal list to spending the holidays in Portland, including shows, events, dining experiences and more! Check it out. 

Visit the Monument Square Tree

No holiday season in Portland is absolute until you visit Portland’s signature Christmas tree. Lighting up Monument Square every year, you can enjoy the beauty of this year’s tree in-person day or night, as well as, virtually through Portland Downtown’s TREECAM. Illuminated against the backdrop of Monument Square and Our Lady of Victories Monument, this year’s blue spruce tree is standing tall at 40 feet and has traveled all the way from Hartley Street in Portland!

The Porthole’s Lobster Trap Tree

Photo: @gannonsales
Photo: @hooklineandsmile

Can’t get enough of the Christmas trees? Head on down to the Old Port and visit Portland Regency and Spa’s iconic lobster trap tree or keep going until you hit Portland’s waterfront where you will spot Luke’s Lobster’s own take along Portland Pier. Getting in on the holiday cheer, The Porthole additionally has a lobster trap tree for holiday enthusiast can check out (Mark your calendars for The Porthole’s annual Let It Glow Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 7th!) Paying homage to the lobsterman and woman roots of Maine, these lobster trap trees are equally as fun in the day as when illuminated at night. 

Shop ‘Til You Drop in the Heart of the Old Port

It is the season of giving after all! The Old Port is known for its local shops and boutiques, and thus makes it the perfect place to cross those names off your Christmas list. All within walking distance from each other, here are few suggestions to push you in the right direction.

For the individual who just can’t get enough of the Pine Tree State or interested in something quirky, head on over to The Maine Souvenir Shop, a locally motivated shop built on the promotion of Maine. Ideal for locally made Maine gifts, treats, art, and clothing. 

If you’re searching for the fashionista in your life, look no further than Bella Funk on Exchange St., which is a boutique that offers women’s clothing and more for the creative lifestyle. 

Photo: @bellafunk

For the cool kid? Mocean Skateboards on Exchange St. offers everything from skateboards to vintage vinyl and apparel featuring art from local artists. For your cannabis-loving friend? Stop on into Jar Cannabis or Fire on Fore for the latest and greatest in the growing world of cannabis.

Designs by CC

Designs By CC | Photo: Artisan Agenda

Shopping for the family? Does dad need a new book? Make a stopover at Sherman’s Bookstore on Exchange Street, while mom might enjoy the one-of-a-kind custom-made jewelry from Designs By CC or D. Cole Jewelers, a family-owned shop specializes in handcrafted platinum, gold, and sterling silver jewelry pieces. A gift for your beloved family pet? Choose from a range of fun and festive toys, treats, leashes, collars, and more from the most adorable mom-and-pop pet shop, Uncommon Paws. 

Photo: Fete Market @ Toad & Co.

Looking to hit your list all at once? Saturday, December 14th, 2024 from 12pm – 5pm, Fete Market is teaming up with Toad & Co., a clothing store creating their own line of eco-friendly clothing for men and women, for the Holiday Fete Market. This indoor market with feature over 30 local makers, illustrators, candles, perfect last minute gifts, and treasures to make your holiday season special!

On Sunday, November 24th, December 1st and 15th, 2024 from 10 AM – 3 PM join Thompson’s Point as they host Maker’s Market for another year. Featuring an extensive list of local artists, makers, farmers, craftspeople, and more, the best part about Maker’s Market (aside from supporting local) is the fabulous mimosas and Bloody Marys available for purchase as you shop. 

Novel, Portland’s first and only book bar and cafe, is celebrating the season of giving with another Boozy Book Fair: Holiday Edition on Friday, December 6th from 5pm – 9pm. Debuting their new downstair event space, ‘The Archive’, Novel will be hosting the event alongside Back Cove Books, Greenhand Books, and Coast City Comics. Chat with local booksellers, buy gifts for loved ones and sip while you shop! Novel will be selling books, gift items, and merchandise.

Plan a Tour at Victoria Mansion

Photo: Victoria Mansion

Christmas at Victoria Mansion (a house museum with original Herter interiors from the 1860s) is a can’t miss event. The result of local and up-and-coming florists, designers, artists, and fellow non-profits organizations coming together to utilize the backdrop of the Mansion’s interior design to create unique decorations that emulate Victorian-era splendor. Now in its fourth decade, Christmas at Victoria Mansion welcomes thousands of visitors each year from the end of November through the beginning of January.

Tours are self-guided and offered Tuesdays through Sundays 10 AM – 4 PM with the last admission at 3 PM. Tickets are now available and it’s recommended that you purchase tickets online in advance here. 

Hop on the Polar Express

All aboard the Polar Express at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum! Drawing over 23,000 passengers in 2023, this rolling history museum has become a holiday tradition for families alike.

The fun begins at Portland’s Ocean Gateway Marine Terminal, where the Conductor will board passengers onto the 9 historic coaches decked out for the holidays. Once aboard, children are handed authentic golden tickets by the Conductor and will see Santa waving to all aboard as he prepares his sleigh for departure. Christmas music will fill the cars as the steam locomotive, powered by beloved Steam Engine #3, thunders to the “North Pole”. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served onboard by the magical chefs. Once at the North Pole, a very special guest boards the train and hands out the first gift of Christmas. 

Coach seating, first-class seating and presidential class tickets are available online. 

Train times run at 1:30 PM, 2:45 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:15 PM, 6:30 PM, AND 7:45 PM on select dates between Sunday, November 17th – Monday, December 23rd.

Enjoy the Magic of Christmas

Now in its 45th year, watch the beloved holiday tradition, the Magic of Christmas, in-person from Friday, December 13th – Sunday, December 22nd at Merrill Auditorium. A family-friendly performance presented by the Portland Symphony Orchestra, this year’s show will be led by Music Director Eckart Preu and will soar to dazzling heights as Cirque de la Symphonie joins! You can celebrate the season with Christmas classics new and old – including the beloved “Sleigh Ride!” and “And We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by purchasing your tickets today online!

View the Portland Parade of Lights Along the Waterfront

Photo: Down East Magazine

The City of Portland invites you to join in on the Christmas Parade of Lights of Portland’s favorite tugboats, lobster boats, and ferry boats! Happening Saturday, December 14th, 2024 at 4:30 pm, the Parade of Lights takes place out on Casco Bay but spectators can take in the lights display at plenty of waterfront spots including the Maine State Pier, Luke’s Lobster Portland Pier, and Bug Light Park in South Portland.

Dine Your Heart Out 

Fra-Gee-Lay Cocktail at Blyth & Burrows

Dine your heart out in this foodie city! During this time of year, local restaurants put on their holiday best and deck their own halls with festive wreaths, garlands, lights, poinsettias, trees, holiday cocktails and specials.

Starting soon, you can head on over to Blyth & Burrows for their own take on a holiday movie classic, A Christmas Story, with their “Fra-Gee-Lay” cocktail made with Roasted Chestnut Bourbon, Creme de Cacao, Cynar, Mole Bitters, Egg…”It must be Italian!”

November 20th, 2024 Update: cocktail is not on the menu yet but will return for the holidays soon!

Photo: ViA VECCHiA Holiday Decor by Elder Farm & Forage

ViA VECCHiA

To dine in the classiest of holiday decor, head to ViA VECCHiA a small plates Italian restaurant in the Old Port. Beautifully draping floral arrangements of poinsettias, roses and more across the dining room, the holiday spirit is only enhanced with ViA VECCHiA’s holiday cocktail menu (available now)

Photo: Holiday Decor at Papi by Elder Farm & Forage

At Papi, the Puerto Rican celebration of Navidad is already in full swing! Their decked-out front door is just the start—step inside for some serious festive vibes and a taste of the season with their famous Coquito. Back by popular demand, this World Famous Sanabria Family recipe features Don Q Cristal, coconut, sweetened milk, and fresh-grated cinnamon—a creamy, dreamy sip of the season.

Photo: Coquito cocktail from Papi

Over in the West Bayside area, Batson River Brewing & Distilling is once again going above and beyond with their “Holiday Camp.” Becoming THE holiday destination (and the perfect place for a holiday selfie or group shot to share on your socials), upon arrival, you are greeted with festive cheer in the form of extravagant Christmas trees, Christmas lights, holiday cocktails, wreaths, presents and more! Up and ready now!

Attend Holiday Shows!

With the holiday spirit high in town, the list of events and holiday shows is quite long! Mark your calendars for the following shows:

For the full list of holiday happenings head to our Events Calendar here!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Age of Principal Investigators at the Time of First R01-Equivalent Remains Level with Recent Years in FY 2023

  Age of Principal Investigators at the Time of First R01-Equivalent Remains Level with Recent Years in FY 2023 by Mike Lauer In 2021, we  reported  that the age at which a researcher is designated on an NIH award for the first time had increased since 1995 and plateaued in the 2010s. We showed that the median age for PhDs first designated on an award remained around 41 in recent years while the median age of MDs and MD-PhDs was 44. There were no appreciable differences between researchers identifying as male or female. Today we are sharing an update on these data for fiscal years (FYs) 2021 – 2023, with the addition of information related to race, ethnicity, and disability status. We have heard concerns about the rising age at which early career researchers are first supported on an NIH award. Some concerns have centered on the ways competitive funding and academic hiring impact  early career scientists pursuing independent research careers . For simplicity in this ...
Read more

NPR - Global wishes for 2024: Pay for family leave. Empower Black men. Respect rural voices

Image
What is your global wish for 2024? Some ideas to get you thinking...  Global wishes for 2024: Pay for family leave. Empower Black men. Respect rural voices by NPR Staff New Year's resolutions, it turns out, probably originate in the Global South. The Babylonians of 4,000 years ago threw  a heck of a party  on (their) New Year and would make promises to the gods to do various righteous actions. Here at Goats and Soda, our New Year's tradition doesn't go back  quite as far  (dating to  ca. 2022 , some scholars say ...), but we are proud of it nonetheless: We ask global health and development leaders around the world to offer up a wish for the coming year. Through their responses, we can see the hope, determination and, sometimes, the frustration of these activists, scientists and thinkers. Here are their global wishes for 2024. My wish: Adopt paid family leave in the U.S. as most of the world already has Enlarge this image C. Gall/IPR/Northwestern University ...
Read more

How You Can Effectively Participate in the Regulatory Process Through Public Comment

 Regulations.gov   How You Can Effectively Participate in the Regulatory Process Through Public Comment  GO TO LINK HERE   When most people think of laws, they think of bills passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. However, many legal requirements come from “regulations” or “rules” that are issued by agencies that work for the President, like the Department of Transportation or the Department of Health and Human Services, instead of Congress.  Regulations, like statutes passed by Congress, are law. Congress passes statutes that give agencies the authority to issue regulations. Regulations can impose binding legal requirements. Regulations can do everything from creating requirements for food manufacturing companies to prevent food-borne illness to outlining certain requirements for going through TSA security screening on your way to board a flight. Regulations can establish significant policies and requirements for individual citizens, state and...
Read more