Christmas by the Sea

Ogunquit’s annual Christmas by the Sea celebration runs Friday, December 12 – Sunday, December 14. This family-friendly holiday event fills the town with festive lights, music, and activities for all ages.

What is Christmas by the Sea

Christmas by the Sea is Ogunquit’s signature holiday celebration, where local businesses and volunteers come together to create a weekend full of holiday events for families. The entire town is decorated with festive lights and seasonal touches, giving it a cozy, magical glow from Ogunquit Village to Perkins Cove.

Friday Evening Kickoff

The festivities begin Friday at 5:00 PM in
Perkins Cove
, where the Ogunquit Parks & Recreation and Rotary transform the cove into a holiday wonderland.

The harbormaster house in Perkin's Cove

Highlights include:

Free hot chocolate, cookies, and s'mores!
Live holiday music with Beau Dalleo, a very talented local favorite
Kids’ craft stations
A lighted lobster trap tree
Santa and Mrs. Claus appearances
Tree lighting at Rotary Park at 6:45 PM

Afterward, stroll toward Ogunquit Village to enjoy festive treats at local businesses. Back in the Village the tree lighting and caroling at Veteran’s Park starts at 8:15 PM (intersection of Shore Road & Beach Street). If you’ve never joined the caroling, I highly recommend it, even if you don’t sing, the community energy on a cold night is amazing.

Saturday Family Fun

Saturday is full of events especially for kids and families:

Ogunquit Museum of American Art
, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Explore trees decorated by local schools and members of the community, enjoy storytime, snacks, and a visit from Santa. Free parking is available.
Lunch: Enjoy Pizza with Santa at
La Pizzeria
Christmas Parade, 3:00 PM: Starts at Perkins Cove, travels up Shore Road, and ends at Ogunquit Beach via Beach Street. Grab a hot apple cider from Village Food Market and find a spot near the center of Ogunquit Village to enjoy the parade.
Bonfire at Ogunquit Beach, 4:00 PM followed by fireworks at 4:45 PM. The bonfire is a welcome way to warm up on chilly days!

Sunday Wrap-Up

Wrap up the weekend with Santa at the
Beachmere Inn
, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Get your photo taken on the Beachmere Inn's lawn with Santa and a lobster trap tree with panoramic views of the ocean and Ogunquit Beach. One of the highlights of the weekend is Santa at the Beachmere Inn, a perfect spot for a memorable holiday family photo!

The Beachmere Inn

Where to Stay

Hotels fill up quickly during Christmas by the Sea weekend, so book early. We recommend choosing a centrally located hotel, making it easy to walk to most events since parking can be challenging in Ogunquit.

Anchorage by the Sea
: Family-friendly with indoor pool, hot tub, and onsite restaurant. Centrally located within walking distance to Ogunquit Village and Perkins Cove.
Grasshopper Inn
: Modern amenities for couples, just north of Ogunquit Village, walkable to shops and restaurants.
Gorges Grant
: Budget-friendly, family-friendly, indoor pool, onsite breakfast. Located north of Ogunquit Village (walking distance may be a bit long for small children).

Parking

The

Lower Parking Lot

and

Main Beach

are town owned parking lots within walking distance to Ogunquit Village, including most of the festivities, restaurants and shopping. These lots are free of charge in December.

There is a small town owned parking lot inside Perkins Cove that tends to fill up quickly. There is also a larger privately owned (paid) lot, the

Perkins Parking Lot

, just outside Perkins Cove at 324 Shore Road.