Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude
Visitors can experience holiday traditions including tree lightings, fireworks over the cove, and Santa arriving by lobster boat. The festival features community events such as a creative Hat Parade, a costumed Pooch Parade, and candlelight caroling at the monastery grotto. Guests can also enjoy family street festivals filled with live music, ice carving, and local food vendors.
What to Expect
Kennebunkport holiday festival featuring Santa arriving by lobster boat.
Event Details
Ages
Family-friendly
Organizer
Kennebunkport Business Association
Food & Drink
Food and drink are available at select events, including festival food vendors, lobster rolls, chowder, s’mores, hot cocoa, and other beverages.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and holiday tradition seekers
Vibe
Festive and community-focused
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
High
Location
Know Before You Go
- Parking: Visit the dedicated parking page for the latest information. Respect posted signs and use designated parking areas whenever possible.
- Pets: Leashed dogs in holiday attire can march in the Pooch Parade on Dec 13 after free registration.
Tips & Advice
- Download the Christmas Prelude app, because the full 2026 schedule will be posted there, beyond the signature events listed so far.
- Register for the Hat Parade or Pooch Parade once free registration opens October 15, since registration is required to march in either one.
- Plan around the street closure on Friday, Dec 11, when no vehicles can get in or out between Cooper's Corner and Dock Square during the festival.
- Text PRELUDE to 226787 to get York County emergency safety alerts for the length of the event, and text LEAVE to opt out.
- Leave open drinks behind when you walk the streets, because town ordinance strictly prohibits open consumption of alcohol in public spaces during Prelude.
Special Events & Promotions
- Dec 5: 21st Annual Hat Parade, rain or shine, through Dock Square and over the bridge to Lower Village.
- Dec 6: Santa arrives by lobster boat at the Nonantum Resort, with free photos, crafts and warm drinks.
- Dec 11: Prelude Family Street Festival with carolers, live music, food vendors and ice carving, followed by the 15th Annual Christmas Fireworks over the cove.
- Dec 12: The Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association lights its brand-new lighthouse at Mother's Beach, with a free RideMaine shuttle from Lower Village Marketplace.
- Dec 13: 16th Annual Pooch Parade. Free registration is required, and dogs must be leashed.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join the Hat Parade?
Anyone wearing a holiday hat is welcome, homemade or store-bought. Registration is free but required, and it opens October 15. Gather at the town parking lot behind Alisson's Restaurant before the parade starts.
How do I join the Pooch Parade with my dog?
Registration is free but required, and it opens October 15. Bring your dog in holiday attire to Consolidated School on School Street before the parade starts. Dogs must stay leashed for the whole route.
Where's the best place to watch the fireworks?
Watch from the Mathew Lanigan Bridge in Dock Square, the South Congregational Green in Dock Square, or anywhere near the bridge in Lower Village.
Where can we watch Santa arrive by lobster boat?
Anywhere along the shore works, including the river side of the Mathew Lanigan Bridge (not the basin side). Santa doesn't go under the bridge. He docks at the Nonantum Resort, where families can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, get a free photo, make crafts and have warm drinks.
Where are the public bathrooms?
Ten portable bathrooms were added this year. You'll find them at the Dock Square Municipal Lot, Cape Porpoise Fire Station, North Street Fire Station, Washington Hose Company and Village Marketplace in Lower Village Kennebunk.
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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.