Hang the stockings and walk the snow-covered cobblestone. Just in time for Christmas Stroll, it is truly the most wonderful time of the year on our tiny Atlantic island. Every year in December, Downtown Nantucket kicks off the Yuletide season with the Nantucket Festival of Trees. Snag your ticket to this neighborly event and shake off your Scrooge this year!
For additional recommendations on what to do and see during your visit to the island, be sure to access our exclusive Vacation Guide. Our complimentary guide provides handpicked suggestions guaranteed to simplify your trip planning!
What You Need to Know About the Nantucket Festival of Trees
Pull past the wreath-adorned Brant Point Lighthouse and unload from the Steamship to find a Nantucket winter wonderland. As you gaze onto the delicately decorated tree-lined streets, you can’t help but be brought back to a simpler time.
However, no Nantucket Christmas would be complete without a visit to the Nantucket Festival of Trees. Here’s what you need to know about attending the beloved tradition.
- See It Early at the Preview Party
Be the first to see the twinkle of the trees at the annual Preview Party. The exclusive party is a formal event. It includes an array of holiday cocktails, hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants, and live entertainment. Get an Angel, Guardian Angel, or Archangel ticket and enjoy VIP access to the event plus a commemorative ornament. Come dressed in your best while you mingle among the hundreds of ornately decorated trees.
- Attending the Festival
The Festival of Trees kicks off the weekend of Christmas Stroll and continues throughout the month of December. Doors open to the public after the Preview Party on December 5th. The elegant Christmas trees that adorn the halls of the Whaling Museum are adopted and decorated by local merchants, nonprofit organizations, and local artists. Entry to the exhibit is included with your ticket to the Whaling Museum.
Get your All-Access Holiday Pass and gain admission to the Whaling Museum, Hadwen House, Thomas Macy House, and Greater Light.
- Who Does It Benefit?
Proceeds from the event benefit the Nantucket Historical Association. The NHA has been protecting and restoring the island’s most coveted historical sites for the last 125 years. Be sure to explore all of the traditional, Victorian-Era homes, mills, meeting houses, and more! Thanks to your efforts, sites dating back to the 17th-century still stand strong today.
Hang Your Stocking at Periwinkle Inn
Celebrate the season from the Periwinkle Inn. Book your stay in the Queequeg Room and unwind in the comforts of a cozy queen-sized bed, complete with a hand-tied, fishnet canopy, the room’s original fireplace, Egyptian cotton linens, plush Turkish towels and bathrobes, and a complimentary housemade breakfast each morning of your stay.
Want to learn about all of Nantucket’s best events? We’ve compiled a list of the island’s most exciting events throughout the year. Check them out here. We are so excited to welcome you to the Periwinkle Inn!