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.