New Hampshire and Maine Seacoast Holiday and Christmas Parades 2023

Christmas and holiday parade season is here, with the first of the parades scheduled for Dover and Newburyport on Sunday, November 26.

Most events are scheduled for Saturday, December 2, and are being held rain or shine.

Portsmouth is adding to their holiday parade with  the "Shop and Stroll" event after the parade. Market Street will be closed after the parade to vehicles until 9 p.m. Stores will remain open late with Christmas carolers and open air entertainment creating a holiday atmosphere.

Parade times and dates are subject to change without notice in this report.

Amesbury

Saturday, December 2 - The Amesbury Holiday Parade steps off at 3:30 p.m. rain, snow or shine with the theme Holiday Lights.

Dover

Sunday, November 26: The annual Dover Holiday Parade steps off at 3 p.m. with the theme “Dover Lights Up the Holidays.”

Durham

Saturday, December 2: Durham's Frost Fest begins at 6 p.m. Saturday on Main Street with a bonfire, s'mores, crafts, activities, ice sculptures, and more.

Exeter

Saturday, December 2 - The parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. from the OSRAM Plant at 131 Portsmouth Avenue, rain/snow or shine and heads to the end of High Street, straight onto Water Street passing the bandstand, and ending at the entrance to Swasey Parkway. This year's theme is "Winter Nights and Magical Lights."

Hampstead

Saturday, December 2 - The Hampstead Colonial Christmas Parade steps off at 1 p.m. Sunday on Main Street in celebration of the town's 275th anniversary.

Hampton

Saturday, December 2 - Hampton's parade with the theme "Surfboards & Snowglobes" steps off at 1 p.m. near the Hampton/North Hampton Town Line, ending at Winnacunnet Road. Several businesses along the route are hosting parade viewing parties.

Kittery

Saturday, December 2 - The Kiwanis Club of the Seacoast's Holiday Parade celebrates "Holiday Songs and Carols" and begins at 3 p.m. The parade ends at John Paul Jones Park with a tree lighting.

Newburyport

Sunday, November 26 - The Newburyport Rotary Club Santa Parade and Tree Lighting starts at 3 p.m. at 36 Merrimac Steet in downtown Newburyport. The parade ends with the annual tree lighting and carols.

Nottingham

Sunday, December 10 - The Holiday Parade and Children's Craft Workshop steps off  Saturday at 10 a.m., beginning and ending at the community center. After the parade, families can build and create holiday crafts for a small fee.

Portsmouth

Saturday, December 2 - The City of Portsmouth's Illuminated Holiday Parade festivities begin Saturday at 5:30 p.m. with the tree lighting ceremony in Market Square, followed by the illuminated holiday parade stepping off at 6 p.m. at Plaza 800 on Islington Street, rain/snow or shine. This year's parade theme is "History Lights Our Way."

A new addition is the "Shop and Stroll" event after the parade with Market Street closed to vehicles until 9 p.m. Stores will remain open late with Christmas carolers and open air entertainment creating a holiday atmosphere.

Rochester

POSTPONED UNTIL MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 6 p.m.  Sunday, December 3 - The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce's Holiday Parade, a Polar Express Christmas, steps off at 3 p.m. at the triangle by the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center.

Rye

Sunday, December 3 - Rye's parade, with the theme "Holidays of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" steps off at 1 p.m. behind Webster at Rye on Washington Road

York

Saturday, December 2 - The Festival of Lights Parade is scheduled to begin Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Let us know about a parade by contacting reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via X (formerly Twitter) @DanAlexanderNH