Maine has 4 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Gardens Aglow in Boothbay on November 14 to The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! in Portland, which runs through December 30. 1 of them is free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 4 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Maine for 2026, in Portland, Bangor and Boothbay
- First: Gardens Aglow, Boothbay, November 14. Runs latest: Gardens Aglow, Boothbay, through January 2
- Free: Holiday Music with the Mainely Music Chorus and Quartet
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Maine Christmas train rides page.
Maine Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 4 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Portland, Bangor and Boothbay
- Season
- November 14, 2026 to January 2, 2027
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- holiday show and holiday lights
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each Maine Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Gardens Aglow in Boothbay on November 14; the last runs to December 30. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Gardens AglowBoothbay · Nov 14 to Jan 2
- The NutcrackerPortland · Nov 27 to Dec 6
- The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!Portland · Dec 5 to Dec 30
- Holiday Music with the Mainely Music Chorus and QuartetBangor · Dec 17
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Maine? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Portland
2 confirmed events for kids in Portland, soonest first.
Portland: The Nutcracker
Holiday showMaine State Ballet · Portland
- Host
- Maine State Ballet (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, Portland, ME 04101
- When
- Fri November 27 (2 pm), Sat November 28 (2 pm), Sun November 29 (2 pm), Sat December 5 (2 to 7 pm) and Sun December 6 (2 pm), 2026
- Cost
- $23 to $93 reserved seating, $4 off for children 12 and under, plus service fees
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Maine State Ballet presents the beloved tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they travel through the Land of Sweets to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy. Artistic Director Janet Davis stages the production with choreography by George Balanchine and Linda MacArthur Miele, and the Maine State Ballet Orchestra and Choir perform live under conductor Robert Lehmann.
Performances are at Merrill Auditorium in downtown Portland, with matinees at 2 pm on November 27, 28 and 29 and December 5 and 6, plus an evening show at 7 pm on December 5. The show runs about two hours. Reserved seats run $23 to $93 including the Merrill facility fee, with a $4 discount for children 12 and under and for seniors, plus a per ticket service fee. PortTIX is the only authorized box office, by phone at 207-842-0800, online, or in person at 400 Congress Street.
Parent tip: Buy only through PortTIX to avoid marked up resale tickets, and check availability early since some performances may sell out. Plan for a two hour show.
See dates and details from Maine State Ballet (opens in a new tab)Portland: The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!
Holiday showChildren's Museum & Theatre of Maine · Portland
- Host
- Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Maddy's Theatre at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine, 250 Thompson's Point Road, Portland, ME 04102
- When
- Sat December 5, Sat December 12 (11 am) and Sat December 19 (11 am), 2026
- Cost
- $25 per person; babies under 12 months free; members $5 off
- Ages
- Children and families of all abilities
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Maddy's Theatre, the stage inside the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine at Thompson's Point, presents a holiday musical based on the books and characters of Mo Willems. The Unlimited Squirrels deck the halls, Elephant and Piggie arrive ready to celebrate, and the Pigeon has to decide whether to join the festivities or run off to the North Pole in search of the greatest gift ever. Expect songs, puppets, silly stories and audience participation.
The show runs about 75 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are $25 for children and adults, babies under 12 months are free, and members save $5 per ticket. Show your theatre ticket at the front desk for a discount on same day museum admission. ASL interpreted performances are offered on December 12 and December 19 at 11 am, and the theatre has hearing assistance devices and accessible seating. Late seating is permitted.
Parent tip: Pair the show with museum play time using the Stay and Play admission discount. Choose the December 12 or 19 morning shows for ASL interpretation.
See dates and details from Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Bangor
1 confirmed event for kids in Bangor, soonest first.
Bangor: Holiday Music with the Mainely Music Chorus and Quartet
Holiday showFreeBangor Public Library · Bangor
- Host
- Bangor Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bangor Public Library, Norman Minsky Lecture Hall, 145 Harlow Street, Bangor, ME 04401
- When
- Thursday, December 17, 2026, 6:30 to 7:30 pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Families and adults
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Bangor Public Library invites families to an hour of seasonal music in its Norman Minsky Lecture Hall. The Mainely Music Chorus and its quartet, Up Tempo, will perform their blend of a cappella and barbershop holiday selections, for an evening of seasonal favorites and holiday fun.
The library lists the concert for families and adults, and it does not require registration on its calendar. At one hour on a weeknight evening, it is a manageable first concert for young children and an easy way to add some holiday music to a December week in Bangor. The library is on Harlow Street in downtown Bangor, and the concert takes place in its lecture hall rather than the children's room, so families with toddlers may want seats near the door. Families who want to learn more about the group can find the Mainely Music Chorus on Facebook.
Parent tip: No registration is listed. Arrive a few minutes early to settle little ones before the 6:30 pm start.
See dates and details from Bangor Public Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Boothbay
1 confirmed event for kids in Boothbay, soonest first.
Boothbay: Gardens Aglow
Holiday lightsCoastal Maine Botanical Gardens · Boothbay
- Host
- Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay, ME 04537
- When
- Saturday, November 14, 2026 to Saturday, January 2, 2027 (Thursday to Sunday plus select dates; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day), 4 to 9 pm
- Cost
- Adults $20 to $28, children $10 to $18 depending on date; advance tickets required
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Gardens Aglow is the holiday light show at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, about an hour up the coast from Portland. This season's theme, Gathered in Maine, follows glowing scenes of seasonal traditions and nature, from maple tapping and mushroom foraging to pollinators and coastal life. The route is about one mile of lit pathways, and most families spend around two hours. Kids can also hunt for two giant trolls, Roskva and Lilja, in the woods.
Tickets must be bought in advance online or by phone at 207-633-8000 and are not sold at the gate. 2026 child tickets run $10 to $18 and adult tickets $20 to $28, depending on the date tier, and members save 20 percent. The cafe serves warm comfort food and the Snack Shack offers hot cocoa and cookies. Parking is free, and a free shuttle runs from downtown Boothbay Harbor on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Parent tip: Buy timed tickets ahead, since none are sold on site. Dress for a one mile winter walk; snow and ice can make strollers and scooters harder to use later in the season.
See dates and details from Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in New Hampshire, Christmas events for kids in Massachusetts and Christmas events for kids in Rhode Island list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonMaine Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in Maine in 2026?
We confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Maine for 2026 on each host’s own page: Gardens Aglow in Boothbay (November 14), The Nutcracker in Portland (November 27), The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! in Portland (December 5) and Holiday Music with the Mainely Music Chorus and Quartet in Bangor (December 17). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Portland, Maine?
For families in and around Portland, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: The Nutcracker (Nov 27 to 29 at 2 pm; Sat, Dec 5 at 2 and 7 pm; Sun, Dec 6 at 2 pm, $23 to $93 reserved seating, $4 off for children 12 and under, plus service fees); The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! (Dec 5 to Dec 30; ASL performances Dec 12 and 19 at 11 am, $25 per person; babies under 12 months free; members $5 off). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Portland section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Bangor, Maine?
For families in and around Bangor, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Holiday Music with the Mainely Music Chorus and Quartet (Thu, Dec 17, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, free). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Bangor section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Boothbay, Maine?
For families in and around Boothbay, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Gardens Aglow (Nov 14 to Jan 2, Thursdays to Sundays plus select dates, 4 to 9 pm, adults $20 to $28, children $10 to $18 depending on date; advance tickets required). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Boothbay section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Maine?
Yes. 1 of the 4 events here are free: Holiday Music with the Mainely Music Chorus and Quartet in Bangor. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Are there kids' Christmas events in Maine on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes: Gardens Aglow in Boothbay (through January 2) and The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! in Portland (through December 30).
How much is Gardens Aglow in Boothbay?
Adults $20 to $28, children $10 to $18 depending on date; advance tickets required. Gardens Aglow is on Saturday, November 14, 2026 to Saturday, January 2, 2027 (Thursday to Sunday plus select dates; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day), 4 to 9 pm at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is The Nutcracker in Portland?
$23 to $93 reserved seating, $4 off for children 12 and under, plus service fees. The Nutcracker is on Fri November 27 (2 pm), Sat November 28 (2 pm), Sun November 29 (2 pm), Sat December 5 (2 to 7 pm) and Sun December 6 (2 pm), 2026 at Merrill Auditorium. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! in Portland?
$25 per person; babies under 12 months free; members $5 off. The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! is on Sat December 5, Sat December 12 (11 am) and Sat December 19 (11 am), 2026 at Maddy's Theatre at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Holiday Music with the Mainely Music Chorus and Quartet in Bangor?
Free. Holiday Music with the Mainely Music Chorus and Quartet is on Thursday, December 17, 2026, 6:30 to 7:30 pm at Bangor Public Library, Norman Minsky Lecture Hall. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Maine?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Maine Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
