Nantucket Official Guide | Page 38

Nantucket Noel, November 25, 2016 - January 2, 2017 Featuring Christmas Stroll Weekend, December 2-4, 2016 & Nantucket New Years, December 30, 2016 - January 2, 2017 ©Michael Galvin The Christmas season on our Faraway Island – November 25th to January 1st – is enchanting and magical, a glittering Advent calendar come to life. Behind each window, a wondrous event awaits, beckoning you to gather your family and friends to celebrate the multi-faceted splendor that is Nantucket Noel! Peer into the first portal – November 25th – to glimpse a rollicking apres-Thanksgiving crowd gathered on Main Street at dusk, and hearken to the rousing countdown as over 100 balsam trees magically illuminate and our venerable Town Crier rings in Nantucket Noel with his melodious brass bell. Jubilant carols of the season, led by our own high school chorus, The Accidentals & Naturals, fill the brisk air and all depart with a warm glow that lingers long into the evening. The windows from December 2nd-4th reveal scenes from our quintessentially old-fashioned Christmas Stroll Weekend. “Stroll” – as this beloved event is affectionately dubbed – transforms the island into an awe-inspiring panorama of sight and sound. Scan the harbor for a glimpse of Santa as he arrives via Coast Guard boat at Straight Wharf and boards a vintage automobile – or authentic whaleboat – flanked by throngs of exuberant children and adults. Join the “Jolly Man in Red” as he parades up Main Street in his nautical “sleigh,” bound for the Jared Coffin House where children eagerly await – lists in hand – to chat with “The Head Elf.” At the top of 36 • 2016 Official Guide to Nantucket Main Street, the Magical Talking Tree mystifies and delights children of all ages, engaging all who approach its festively decorated branches. Now in its fifth year, our version of the renowned European-style “Christmas Marketplace” – showcasing the talents of Chamber member businesses and nonprofits – holds court at the corner of Easy and Main Streets from 10AM-3PM. Stroll among the many enticing stands serving up hot beverages, a myriad of foods, crafts and wares while reuniting with friends and neighbors to toast the season and commence your holiday shopping. Test your knowledge of island facts and lore (and vie for great prizes!) by participating in the Stroll Scavenger Hunt. Gather a team of family and friends and meander throughout the Downtown to solve a list of challenging clues! Nantucket New Years, also sponsored by the Chamber, features an array of fun and festal activities island-wide from December 30th through January 2nd. From nature walks, special menus at participating restaurants, ice skating at our state-of-the-art rink, parent-child workshops, comedy brunches – and more – it’s the perfect time to celebrate our unique island-at-sea. A lavish New Year’s Eve themed ball at the Nantucket Hotel is the glittering end-of-season gala, with revelers dressed to the “nines” saluting the “old” and ringing in the “new” in truly memorable fashion. We warmly invite you to join in the special blend of merriment that is Nantucket Noel and Nantucket New Years. And, if you opt for a quieter getaway – sans crowds – December is an ideal month to bask in the serenity of our charming island, far removed from the frenzied pace of summer.