Downtown Holiday Festival
Visitors can watch live performances on the City Square Stage, including local choirs and dance showcases. Santa arrives by sleigh to help light the community tree, followed by photo opportunities at The Center for Parenting & Play. Guests can also enjoy sleigh rides, community booths, music, and cookie decorating at Reilly’s Bakery.
What to Expect
Features tree lighting, Santa's arrival, and community sleigh rides.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
Downtown Biddeford
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Heart of Biddeford
Food & Drink
Free cookie decorating is offered at Reilly’s Bakery.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with children
Vibe
Festive and community-focused
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Cookie decorating is free; sleigh rides are free.
- Hours: Festival begins at 5 p.m.; entertainment 5–6:30 p.m.; Santa arrives at 5:45 p.m.; pictures with Santa and sleigh rides 6:30–8 p.m.
- Parking: Street parking is free with posted time limits, and the downtown lots and Pearl Street Garage charge by the hour.
- Accessibility: Drivers with a disability plaque get double the posted street parking time limits.
Tips & Advice
- Head to Reilly's Bakery before the festival opens if your kids want to decorate cookies, since that session wraps up as the stage show begins.
- Read the posted signs before you leave your car, because many downtown streets have two- or four-hour limits and the evening can run long.
- Download the Premium Parking app if you're using a public lot or the Pearl Street Garage, so you can pay for and extend your time from your phone.
- After the tree lighting, walk over to The Center for Parenting & Play on Adams Street for Santa photos, since they aren't taken on the stage.
- Dress warmly for an evening outdoors in December, because the performances, tree lighting and sleigh rides all happen outside.
Special Events & Promotions
- Free cookie decorating at Reilly's Bakery in the afternoon before the festival starts.
- Stage performances by the Academy of Dance's The Nutcracker, Andrea Wollstadt's Intermediate School Choir and Dynasty Dance Center.
- Free sleigh rides and Santa photos follow the tree lighting.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who performs on the City Square Stage?
This year's lineup includes the Academy of Dance's The Nutcracker, Andrea Wollstadt's Intermediate School Choir and Dynasty Dance Center.
How does Santa arrive?
Santa arrives by sleigh and helps light the community tree.
Where can kids get their picture taken with Santa?
Santa photos are at The Center for Parenting & Play, 11 Adams Street, after the tree lighting.
Is there anything for kids to do before the festival starts?
Yes. Kids can decorate cookies for free at Reilly's Bakery in the afternoon, before the festival begins.
Where should I park downtown?
Street parking anywhere in Biddeford is free, but many downtown streets have two- or four-hour limits. The public lots and the Pearl Street Parking Garage charge by the hour, and you pay at the kiosks or through the Premium Parking app.
More Christmas Events Near Biddeford
More Christmas Events near Biddeford
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.