10 New Hampshire winter
and holiday events.
Ice Castles, an amusement park built entirely around Santa, and a European-style Christmas market in a ski-town square. We've done several of these ourselves with the girls.
All 10, at a glance.
| Event | Where | Typical timing | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmastime at Santa's Village | Jefferson | Early Nov–late Dec | Paid theme-park admission |
| Concord Christmas Tree Lighting | NH State House Plaza, Concord | Late November | Free |
| Nashua Winter Stroll | Downtown Nashua | Late November | Free; paid tubing add-on |
| Alpine Advent | Waterville Valley | Late Nov–Dec 31 | Free to browse |
| NH Festival of Trees | Settlers Green, North Conway | Late Nov–early Dec | $10 adult, 12 & under free |
| Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting | North Conway village | Early December | Free |
| Vintage Christmas | Downtown Portsmouth | First Saturday of Dec | Free |
| Manchester Holiday Parade | Elm Street, Manchester | First Saturday of Dec | Free |
| Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll | Portsmouth | Three weekends in December | $35 adult, $17 child |
| Ice Castles | North Woodstock | Late Dec–Feb | Paid, timed entry |
Timing reflects each event's usual pattern as of September 2026. Confirm exact dates on each event's own site, especially Ice Castles, whose opening depends on weather.
Our top three, from experience.
Ice Castles is the one we'd send anyone to first: hand-built ice tunnels, slides, and towers, lit at night, and genuinely unlike anything else on this list. Christmastime at Santa's Village is the easiest full-day outing for younger kids, with rides built to their scale. Alpine Advent in Waterville Valley is the free, low-key option: a dozen wooden chalets styled like a European Christmas market, easy to browse before or after a day of skiing.
What families ask us.
Is Ice Castles in New Hampshire good for young kids?
Yes, we've done it with our own girls. Hand-built ice tunnels, slides and towers lit up at night; the main thing to plan around is keeping young kids warm and moving, since it's an outdoor walking attraction in the cold.
What is Christmastime at Santa's Village?
A holiday-themed amusement park in Jefferson, NH with rides, a Reindeer Carousel, and roughly a million lights, running from early November through late December. It's the classic New Hampshire meet-Santa day trip for younger kids.
Are these New Hampshire holiday events free?
Most of the town tree lightings and parades (Portsmouth, Manchester, Concord, Nashua, North Conway) are free. Ice Castles, Santa's Village, and the Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll charge admission.
When does Ice Castles open each year?
Typically late December through February, weather dependent, since it takes weeks of below-freezing temperatures to build. Confirm the current season's opening date on the event's own site before planning around it.