New Hampshire Holiday Events Light Up the Season

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. October 14, 2008

MOVEMBER 16, 2007. New Hampshire celebrates the holidays by turning winter darkness into light. Small towns with names like Bethlehem string lights across Main Street, place electric candles in their windows and turn storefront displays into wonderlands. Perennial traditions, new and old, including an authorized Polar Express experience in the White Mountains and the Annual Vintage Christmas month-long celebration in Portsmouth, make the New Hampshire holidays sparkle.

For full details on holiday events, attractions and special packages, go to Visitnh.gov. Visitors will discover that when it comes to last-minute shopping, there is no place like sales-tax-free New Hampshire for the holidays.

The Lakes Region of New Hampshire is celebrating Yuletide at the Lakes (www.yuletideatthelakes.org) throughout the holiday season, with town Santa parades and tree-lighting in Laconia, Alton and Wolfeboro, a holiday open house at the Loon Center in Moultonboro and a Santa Train on the Hobo Railroad run along the Pemigewasset River. One of the highlights, starting on Thanksgiving Day, November 23 and every weekend through New Year's Eve, the White Mountain Holiday Magic Light Park at the Branch Brook Campground will light up the White Mountain skies. Now in its second year, the Park is created by the Branch Brook Campground, the Waterville Valley Region Chamber of Commerce and other regional organizations to turn winter's darkest days into a lighted winter wonderland with a mile of animated light displays. Visitors will enjoy such traditions as a visit with Santa, a family portrait, a horse drawn sleigh or wagon ride and hot cocoa and a sweet treat near the fire. The park opens on Thursday, November 22, and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night until December 31, from 4:30 to 8:30 pm. Contact: 603-726-7001 or www.holidaymagiclightpark.com

The 2007 Laconia Main Street Holiday Parade takes place Sunday November 25, starting at 1 pm at Wyatt Park on South Main Street. Featuring local characters, businesses, high school bands, police and fire departments along with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the parade ends at the Historic Train Station with Santa magically lighting the Christmas tree in Veterans Square. After the tree lighting the public is welcome to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies at the train station and explore the shops of downtown Laconia, many of them offering holiday promotions. The Santa Fund Train (the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad) departs from the Station at 2, 2:30 and 3 pm. The cost of the tickets is one new unwrapped toy or article of clothing. For tickets contact Greater Laconia-Weirs Beach Chamber of Commerce office, 603-524-5531.

In Portsmouth, museums, theatres, shops and hotels will be celebrating Vintage Christmas with events, special programs and packages throughout the month of December. The City provides a free Holiday Trolley between parking and downtown stops while an atmospheric pathway of lights and decorations connects the key sites. First off, the lighting of the city's Christmas tree in Market Square. That same evening, Strawbery Banke Museum (www.strawberybanke.org), a 10-acre site encompassing 400 years of Seacoast family history, will open the first weekend of a month-long celebration of the 29th Annual Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll. Walkways throughout the grounds are lined with flickering candles in traditional luminaria, while an 18th century bonfire and selections of hot beverages warm visitors. The Stroll extends through three weekends, December 1-2, 8-9 and 15-16, from 4 to 9 pm and offers guided tours of its historical houses in holiday finery during the intervening weeks. At The Music Hall, beneath its recently restored "American Treasure" ceiling, holiday programs include "Scrooge," Ballet of New England's "An 1836 Portsmouth Nutcracker," Holiday Pops concert, Messiah Sing and a new version of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Matchgirl" - "STRIKING 12 with GrooveLily" features the pop-rock trio's score. Contact: 603-436-2400 or www.themusichall.org The Sheraton Portsmouth (www.sheratonportsmouth.com) , Hilton Garden Inn (www.hiltongardeninn.hilton.com) and Wentworth By the Sea Hotel & Spa (www.wentworth.com) offer Vintage Christmas packages.

On December 4th, Wentworth By the Sea Hotel in New Castle hosts the free "Festival of Lights" illuminating the Victorian building with little white lights. Costumed members of the Ballet New England "1836 Portsmouth Nutcracker" cast, Victorian carolers and the Portsmouth High School Clipper Marching Band welcome Santa's arrival by horse-drawn carriage. Complimentary refreshments, gingerbread house and holiday ice sculptures welcome visitors. Contact: 603-422-7322.

In Manchester, the annual "Christmas on Elm Street" parade takes place on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, featuring giant balloons and the traditional tree-lighting that signals the start of the holiday season in the city. Contact: www.ChristmasonElmStreet.org

Christmastime at Santa's Village in Jefferson means thousands of Christmas lights, a Reindeer Carousel and Santa Express train, Elf University, a live reindeer ranch, shows including the 3-D movie "Tinkerdoodle Christmas" and, of course, the opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. The year-round Santa theme park is open on weekends during the holiday season: on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, and Saturdays December 2, 9, 16 from 11 am to 7 pm and on Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm. Tickets are $21 per person; children ages three and younger, free. Contact: 603-586-4445 or www.santasvillage.com

In North Conway, the Polar Express train departs every night in December from the center of North Conway Village headed for the North Pole. The train is full of children and adults, dressed in their pajamas, about to live the experience of the little boy in The Polar Express(c). Hot cocoa is served on the train. A sea of elves greets the Polar Express passengers at "The North Pole." Guests are guided to the Great Hall at the North Pole and one boy is chosen by Santa to receive the "first gift of Christmas." The authorized North Conway production is a benefit for Believe in Books Literacy Foundation and is made possible by hundreds of volunteers, all dressed in appropriate outfits, who make sure everyone believes. The Polar Express has become so popular that tickets are available only by lottery; but foresighted inns in the area include tickets in packages so visitors are not disappointed. The Christmas Farm Inn & Spa in Jackson offers a Polar Express package that includes tickets plus two nights' lodging, a full country breakfast each morning, and candlelight dinner one evening, for two adults and two children. Contact: 603-383-4313 or www.christmasfarminn.com The Bartlett Inn in Bartlett (www.bartlettinn.com) also offers a Polar Express package.

The Conway Scenic Railroad "Santa's Holiday Express" Train runs every weekend from November 23 through December 23rd, departing at 11:30 am from Bartlett and 1:30 pm from Conway. Tickets start at $12.50. Contact: 800-232-5251 or www.conwayscenic.com

Canterbury Shaker Village hosts a unique and popular event on Thanksgiving weekend, the Gingerbread Showcase. Families, children, adults and professionals bring handmade gingerbread houses to the Village's Visitor Education Center where they are judged in various categories. Many houses are then donated to the gingerbread house raffle. Cookie decorating, ornament making, seasonal storytelling and a holiday concert by the Canterbury Shaker Singers are all part of the festivities. The Village also offers gingerbread house decorating workshops in the weeks leading up to the event. Contact: 603-783-9077, ext. 283 or shakers.org

The Monadnock Region hosts the 3rd Annual Currier & Ives Cookie Tour on December 8-9, 2007. A self-guided tour map and recipe booklet provides directions to the various local inns and businesses offering homemade treats, 11 am to 4 pm. Admission fee of $7 benefits the Troy Historical Society and the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce. Inns in the area offer special Cookie Tour packages. Contact: 800- 242-6495.

Jackson Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour on November 24-25, and December 1-2 and 8-9 offers a horse drawn sleigh ride through the village of Jackson, stopping at six of the town's finest restaurants, specialty shops, country stores, B & B's and inns where proprietors greet guests with specially-prepared chocolate wonders. Tickets are $15 per person. Contact:

603-383-9356

The Inn to Inn Christmas Tea, the first weekend of December, warms the hearths of two historic New England inns with holiday spirit. Both the Candlelite Inn and the Colby Hill Inn will be decorated for the holidays with a flare from New England's past; as well as classic touches evoking the season with family tea-time recipes from the days of Dickens and elegant china and crystal. The inns' package includes lodging for two nights and a holiday breakfast and dessert, Christmas Tea for two, a welcome gift, a coupon book to Tanger Outlets-Tilton and recipe cards. Contact: 888-812-5571, www.candleliteinn.com or www.colbyhillinn.com

The Country Inns in the White Mountains will present their 11th Annual Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie and Candy Tour on December 8 and 9, from 11 am to 4 pm each day. The tour stretches from Hart's Location to Tamworth, with seventeen inns participating. Tickets are $25 for the two day tour. Many of the inns include two tickets (a $50 value) in their Cookie Tour Packages that cover a two-night stay and breakfast for two each day. Some have also added dinners and cookie baking classes to their packages. Tour tickets are available in advance by reserving a lodging package from participating inns. Contact: 800-626-5855 or www.countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com

In Keene, Troy, Swanzey and Jaffrey, the Second Annual Currier & Ives Cookie Tour takes place on December 8 from 11 am to 4 pm. Local inns and businesses supply tastes of their homemade treats and visitors receive a small booklet with all the recipes of the sweets offered. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Troy Historical Society and the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce. Contact: Holly LeClair 603-242-6495 [email protected]

Christmas Week At The BALSAMS (December 21-27, 2007) -- Located high in New Hampshire's White Mountains, this 15,000 acre winter resort provides families with a holiday to remember, including a welcome reception with elves, a commemorative BALSAMS ornament, a sleigh ride around the property, gingerbread decorating, ornament making, caroling, dancing, and wine tastings. On Christmas Eve, guests are invited to gather around the fireplace in the John Dix Social Room for a special reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Outdoor winter fun includes broomball, ice skating and snowshoeing. Guests may also enjoy a traditional Christmas brunch where each family will receive a complimentary Balsam Fir sapling to plant in their own yard as a reminder of their special holiday vacation. Rates start at $109 per person, per night, based on double occupancy and include overnight accommodations, full breakfast in The BALSAMS' Dining Room, and all holiday resort activities*. Connecting rooms and family suites are available upon request. Contact: 866-380-6798 or www.thebalsams.com

On December 31, in the final dazzling display of the 2007 holiday season, there are fireworks and First Night celebrations in a number of New Hampshire locations:

Portsmouth and Wolfeboro, New Hampshire celebrate First Nighttm with a variety of music, dance and theatre performances, ice sculptures glittering in holiday light and a fireworks display. Contact ProPortsmouth.org The Children's Museum of Portsmouth presents a Family New Year's Eve Celebration from 10 am to 3 pm at 280 Marcy Street. Admission $6; seniors $5. Free to children under 1 and museum members. Contact: 603-436-3853 or www.Childrens-Museum.org.

Mount Washington Valley's New Year Festival means fireworks over the ski slopes at Bretton Woods and in Laconia, Gunstock Mountain presents "Mountain Magic Eve" with food, fireworks and live entertainment. Gunstock.com

For more suggestions on ways New Hampshire can help light up the holidays for visitors, go to VisitNH.gov