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Christmas

When it comes to holly and jolly, the North Pole has nothing on this island of ours. On the second weekend of December, the holiday cheer-o-meter goes through the roof for the annual Christmas in Edgartown festival, with elves and snowmen parading down the streets and string lights aglow from Main Street to Edgartown Light. We know how easy it is to get turned around amid all the yuletide excitement — so make the most of it by taking a tip or two from some longtime festival-goers (that would be yours truly, of course).

 

Edgartown Light set aglow during Christmas in Edgartown weekend.
Photo:  Massachusetts Office of Tourism & Travel / Flickr CC BY-ND 2.0.

 

Seasonal Sights To Keep From Slipping By

The weekend sees a lengthy lineup of holiday happenings from caroling to craft fairs, and as tempting as they all seem, you don’t want to schedule too much for yourself. Some of the seasonal sights we’d put in the “must-see” column include the Lighthouse Lighting on Friday night, the ever-exciting (and stupendously savory) Annual Great Chowder Contest, and the Arts & Crafts Festival, a gathering of over 30 island artists — a must if your holiday getaway includes the kiddos.

 

You also don’t want to miss your chance at a horse-drawn carriage ride — take it from us, the main ingredient to real holiday magic is casting a mesmerized gaze upon Edgartown’s light-strewn buildings and pine trees, backdropped by the rhythmic clopping of a stallion.

 

Greatest Angle To See The Lighthouse Light Up

On Martha’s Vineyard, we go way beyond decking the halls to kick off Christmas in Edgartown. Thousands gather to see our favorite seafaring structure, Edgartown Light, illuminate in bright reds and whites for our island version of a tree lighting. If you’re wondering which spot will grant you the greatest view, we recommend coming in from the beach trail right off North Water Street (it’s just a half-mile seaside stroll from our doors, so you can pass on the problematic parking situation). Head there early, around 3:00 p.m., to get a leg-up on the crowds — there’ll be plenty of cookies, hot chocolate, and holiday tunes to keep you warm and entertained.

 

Not feeling like joining the crowd for the up-close lighting experience? View it from a distance atop the Memorial Wharf on the waterfront — it’s a popular perch year-round, made even better when you can witness the lights switch on.

 

How to Feast on Festive Fare

For Christmas in Edgartown, it’s safe to assume that island restaurants will be bringing their A-game in both seasonal flavors and decor — so it’s also safe to assume that there will be some seat-savin’ competition. Always refer to the schedule of events to see if any area eateries are offering festive treats to eat on-the-go. Otherwise, we recommend setting your sights on a place to eat and putting your name on the list early on in the day. That way, you can partake in the festivities without a giant question mark hovering over dinner plans.

 

Hy-Line’s Santa-Approved Special Service

It’s no reindeer-led sleigh ride, but we’d place Hy-Line’s special service for Christmas in Edgartown a close second on the leaderboard of festive holiday transports. This service to Martha’s Vineyard was first rolled out in 2017 — in a rare off-season opportunity, you can cruise directly to Edgartown from Hyannis on any day of Christmas in Edgartown weekend.

 

Embracing The Holiday Spirit At Your Hotel

Before stuffing your stockings, stuff that suitcase full of holiday cheer during Christmas in Edgartown. The big weekend is just the beginning of a holly, jolly season around these parts — stick close to it all by making Vineyard Square your home for the almost-holidays. Not only will you keep close to all the holiday hustle and bustle, you’ll get to embrace the spirit with a crew as festive as you are (we’re a Scrooge-free zone).

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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.

 

Edgartown Lighthouse During Christmas In Edgartown
Photo: Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce

 

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

Christmas in Edgartown At Vineyard Square Hotel & SuitesBring 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.

Where to Find Delicious Breakfast on Martha’s Vineyard
Explore Haunted New England History on Martha’s Vineyard
Visit Local Farms on Martha’s Vineyard
The Best Things to Do in Martha’s Vineyard for Solo Travelers
What to Know about the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival
Plan a Visit to the Martha’s Vineyard Food and Wine Festival
Where to Get the Best Pizza on Martha’s Vineyard Near Edgartown
Explore Memorable Things to Do & See in West Tisbury