All You Need to Know About Christmas in Edgartown
It’s almost that time of year again—Christmas is right around the corner and with it comes one of our favorite events of the year: Christmas in Edgartown. While spending the holidays on the Vineyard is always a delight, this weekend-long, seasonal festival offers something extra special. From twinkling lights to holiday music to Saint Nick himself, attendants will find endless ways to get into the Christmas spirit. To us, these five holly, jolly events make Christmas in Edgartown the can’t-miss romp of the holiday season.
Christmas Tree Art Display
What would a Christmas celebration be without Christmas trees? Local art groups from across the island decorate the trees, which you will see on display all weekend long. Wander through this veritable forest of Christmas trees with your family (don’t be afraid to borrow some ideas for your tree at home). As with most of the events at Christmas in Edgartown, these trees are decorated with charity in mind—the trees from the festival will be donated to families in need.
Local Arts and Crafts Fair
Bring home Vineyard made products for the holidays this year—it’s easy to find unique gifts at the Local Arts and Crafts Fair. Located in the Chappy Room of the Kelly House (right across the street from the Square!), this fair features local gifts and hand-made items from artisans from around the island. You never know what gems you may find! Bring the whole family and spend the afternoon meeting these craft makers and finding your next favorite Martha’s Vineyard souvenir.
Deal, Deals, Deals at Edgartown’s Best Stores
If you’re looking to shop til you drop, Christmas in Edgartown is the place for you. Many of the stores in downtown Edgartown hold special sales or donate part of their proceeds to charitable organizations. Great stores like Hannah B., Vintage Jewelry, and Backwater Trading Co. offer discounts up to 50% off. If that wasn’t tempting enough, you can warm up with hot apple cider and warm cookies in many of these stores while you shop for the perfect cold weather ensemble.
Lighting of the Lighthouse
During Christmas in Edgartown, our town’s beloved lighthouse gets a holiday makeover. Head out to the shore on Friday night and get ready to countdown to the Annual Lighting of the Lighthouse. Cookies and hot chocolate will be in abundance and holiday music will be ringing out over the water. Just be sure to bundle up! This Christmas in Edgartown event marks the start to our Christmas festivities so put on your Santa hats, stock up on candy canes and come down to the water for this magical occasion.
Christmas in Edgartown Parade
The highlight of the weekend is undoubtedly the annual Christmas in Edgartown Parade. On the Saturday morning of the festival, locals and visitors alike gather along the streets of Edgartown to watch this holiday spectacle (if they’re not in the parade themselves!). Santa hats are passed out through the crowd, and the candy thrown from the parade floats gets everyone in the holiday spirit. You and your children will delight in the teddy bears, alpaca, elves, and angels passing by, not to mention appearances of classic Christmas characters like Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch, and of course, Santa Claus himself.
If you’re thinking of kicking off the holiday season in Martha’s Vineyard with Christmas in Edgartown, imagine spending your evenings cozying up to a warm fire in your room at Vineyard Square, right in the heart of Edgartown. We’ll have something special going on during Christmas in Edgartown, too — keep an eye on Facebook for all the details.
