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Christmas with kids in Boothbay
In Boothbay Harbor, Santa arrives by boat. The town's holiday festival began in 1985 as a Scottish Christmas Walk with bagpipers, and today it ends with a lighted boat parade and fireworks over the harbor.
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Gardens Aglow
When: Nov 14 to Jan 2, Thursdays to Sundays plus select dates, 4 to 9 pm
Where: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay
Cost: Adults $20 to $28, children $10 to $18 depending on date; advance tickets required
The story of Christmas in Boothbay
How Boothbay celebrates
Boothbay's Christmas festival started in December 1985 as The Scottish Christmas Walk, a three-day event sponsored by the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce. It had bagpipers, a parade, a craft fair and an open house at the historical society. Santa arrived at the Town Landing aboard a tug, and a 20-foot tree was decorated with red lights, ribbons and large scallop shells. The festival grew into Harbor Lights, which reached its 31st year in 2016 and is now called Boothbay Lights. Today it also includes a Festival of Trees and a lighted boat parade.
Christmas last year in Boothbay
In December 2025, the Boothbay Lights lighted boat parade brought decorated boats around the harbor, with fireworks as the finale. Over at Boothbay Railway Village, the North Pole Express ran on Saturdays and Sundays on December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, with trains leaving every 45 minutes from 10:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Riders wrote a letter to Santa and hand-delivered it. Afterward, families enjoyed a hot cocoa bar, ornament making, a bonfire with s'mores and an elf hunt. A 21-and-over North Pole Nightcap ran on December 13.
Fun facts about Christmas in Boothbay
Boothbay Santa has used some unusual rides. In 1985 he arrived on one of Eliot Winslow's tugs, and in 2019 he came with elves, a moose and lobsters. In 2021 families met a Christmas lobster and posed at the Pot Buoy Tree. The North Pole Express has used a Little Red Caboose, No. 551, built in 1904. The town's Gingerbread Spectacular at the Opera House has been free to enter, and in 2016 children shared their wishes with Santa at the Memorial Library.
Trains and Christmas in Boothbay
Trains are a big part of Christmas in Boothbay. Boothbay Railway Village Museum runs a narrow-gauge steam train around a 35-acre recreated Maine village with a 1912 depot, and its December North Pole Express carries children to deliver letters to Santa. In Alna, five miles from Wiscasset, the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum has volunteers running two-foot gauge steam trains on Saturdays year round, plus themed excursions, with advance tickets strongly recommended.
- Boothbay Railway Village Museum: A 35-acre village with a narrow-gauge steam train, a 1912 depot, and holiday trains in December.
- Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum: Volunteers run two-foot gauge steam trains here, with themed excursions throughout the year.
Traditions today
- Boothbay Lights lighted boat parade: Decorated boats sail around the harbor in the evening, followed by fireworks, as the festival's finale.
- Santa arrives by boat: Santa and Mrs. Claus come into town from the water, then visit the Buoy Tree for photos.
- North Pole Express: Weekend trains at Boothbay Railway Village take children to hand-deliver a letter to Santa.
- Festival of Trees: The Boothbay Region Garden Club shows decorated trees at the Opera House during the festival.
- Gingerbread Spectacular: Gingerbread creations on display at the Opera House, free to visit.
- Holiday Headquarters: After the train, families make ornaments, sip cocoa, toast s'mores and hunt for elves.
A fact for kids
In Boothbay Harbor, Santa comes by boat. Once, he even brought a moose and lobsters along with his elves.
Questions about Christmas in Boothbay
How did Boothbay Harbor's Christmas festival begin?
It began in 1985 as The Scottish Christmas Walk, a three-day event on December 6 to 8 sponsored by the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce. It had bagpipers, a parade, a craft fair at the YMCA and an open house at the historical society. Local shops offered promotions to visitors.
What was the first Boothbay Christmas tree like?
In 1985 the tree was 20 feet tall, donated by Irving and Jane Conley, and decorated with red lights, ribbons and large scallop shells. The Carousel Theatre Singers led caroling at the tree lighting. It started a tradition that has grown into a tree lighting and Festival of Trees.
How did Santa arrive at the first Boothbay festival?
In 1985, Santa arrived at the Town Landing aboard one of Eliot Winslow's tugs. Arriving by boat has been part of the festival ever since. In 2016 he came with a Coast Guard escort, in 2019 with elves, a moose and lobsters, and in 2021 at the Whale Park public landing.
What are Harbor Lights and Boothbay Lights?
They are names for the same festival. It began as the Scottish Christmas Walk in 1985, became Harbor Lights, and is now called Boothbay Lights. The Harbor Lights Festival reached its 31st year in 2016, and Boothbay Lights is the current name for the whole holiday season in the region.
How long has the Boothbay Lights festival been going?
It has been going since the mid-1980s. The first Scottish Christmas Walk was held in December 1985, so the festival is about 40 years old. A 2016 report called that year's Harbor Lights the 31st, so counts differ by a year. Over time it has added a tree lighting, a Festival of Trees and a lighted boat parade.
How does Santa arrive in Boothbay Harbor now?
Santa and Mrs. Claus still arrive by boat. In 2021 they came ashore at the Whale Park public landing at 3 p.m. and walked to the Pot Buoy Tree for photos. In 2019 they brought elves, a moose and lobsters, and in 2016 a Coast Guard escort. Check our Boothbay Christmas events guide on this page for this year's arrival.
What is the Buoy Tree in Boothbay Harbor?
The Buoy Tree is a Christmas tree on Pier 1 in Boothbay Harbor where Santa stops for photos. In 2023 Santa visited the Buoy Tree from 3 to 5:15 p.m., and in 2021 families took photos at the Pot Buoy Tree after Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived by boat and walked over from the landing.
What is the Boothbay Lights lighted boat parade?
It is an evening parade of decorated boats around Boothbay Harbor, followed by fireworks over the water. In 2023 it started at 6:45 p.m. in the inner harbor, and in 2021 it began with a blessing of the fleet. Local captains decorate their boats with lights to close the festival day.
What happened at the Boothbay lighted boat parade last year?
In December 2025, the Boothbay Lights lighted boat parade was described as a beloved tradition, with decorated boats creating a holiday display around the harbor and fireworks as the finale. A Boothbay Register post on December 10, 2025 shared photos and video. Our Boothbay Christmas events guide on this page has this year's schedule.
What is the Festival of Trees in Boothbay Harbor?
It is a display of decorated trees put on by the Boothbay Region Garden Club at the Opera House during the festival weekend. In 2019 the second day of the Festival of Trees ran on the same day as Santa's arrival, the craft show, carriage rides and the lighted boat parade.
What is the Gingerbread Spectacular in Boothbay Harbor?
It is a gingerbread display at the Opera House, 86 Townsend Avenue, with free admission. In 2023 it ran December 15 to 17, with evening hours on Friday and daytime hours on the weekend. Kids can look at creative gingerbread houses and decorations. Our Boothbay Christmas events guide on this page has current dates.
What is the North Pole Express at Boothbay Railway Village?
It is a December train ride at Boothbay Railway Village Museum, where children write a letter to Santa, board the train to the North Pole and hand-deliver it. It runs on weekends before Christmas, and tickets must be bought in advance online. Ticket sales support the museum's operations.
When did the North Pole Express run in 2025?
It ran on Saturdays and Sundays, December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2025. Trains left every 45 minutes between 10:45 a.m. and 4 p.m., and tickets were sold online in advance. The railway also held a 21-and-over North Pole Nightcap on December 13, 2025.
What can kids do at Holiday Headquarters after the train?
After the train ride, families can enjoy a hot cocoa bar, make ornaments, warm up at a bonfire with s'mores and go on an elf hunt with prizes. The Iron Horse Antiques Holiday Market is also open. In 2021 there was a storybook reading and a vintage holiday display too.
What is the Little Red Caboose at Boothbay Railway Village?
The Little Red Caboose, No. 551, was built in 1904, and the North Pole Express has used it as a place for riders to sit, alongside a classic passenger car. The railway's own Little Red Caboose is a fun detail to point out to kids who love trains. The train ride is part of the Holiday Headquarters visit at the village.
How can I explain the North Pole Express to my toddler?
Tell them they will write a letter to Santa, hop on a little train and take it to the North Pole to hand the letter to Santa. Afterward there is cocoa, ornament making and an elf hunt. Bringing a drawing for Santa can make the ride extra fun for little ones.
Where can kids see a giant Christmas tree in Boothbay Harbor?
The festival has a tree lighting on the library lawn and a Buoy Tree on Pier 1 where Santa poses for photos. The first tree in 1985 was 20 feet tall and decorated with scallop shells. For this season's confirmed times, see our Boothbay Christmas events guide on this page.
Is there a Christmas boat parade in Boothbay this year?
Boothbay has held a lighted boat parade for years, and it was a beloved part of the festival in December 2025. It typically takes place on a December evening in the harbor with fireworks afterward. For this season's confirmed date and time, see our Boothbay Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids ride a train near Boothbay at Christmas?
Boothbay Railway Village Museum, at 586 Wiscasset Road, runs its North Pole Express on December weekends. The Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum in Alna, five miles from Wiscasset, runs two-foot gauge steam trains on Saturdays year round plus themed excursions, so check its calendar for holiday rides.
Where can kids meet Santa and Mrs. Claus in Boothbay Harbor?
Families have visited Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, where children shared their Christmas wishes in 2016 and a tree lighting with carols took place on the library lawn. In 2021 their story time was livestreamed from the library. Our Boothbay Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's visits.
Sources
- Harbor Lights Festival 2016, Boothbay Register
- Fall into the holiday season, Boothbay Register
- Boothbay Railway Village December 2025 calendar, Boothbay Railway Village
- North Pole Express THIS WEEKEND at Boothbay Railway Village, Boothbay Register
- Boothbay Lights Lighted Boat Parade 2025, Boothbay Register
- The North Pole Express returns with some new traditions, Wiscasset Newspaper
- Boothbay Lights updates announced, Boothbay Register
- Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive for Harbor Lights, Boothbay Register
- Annual Harbor Lights Festival of Boothbay Harbor, WoodenBoat
- December events calendar, Boothbay Register
- Boothbay Railway Village Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train