Nantucket isn’t just for the summer. For islanders, it’s a quaint coastal town to enjoy all of the changing seasons—from daffodils in spring to fresh spruce in winter. Each season also invites a fun celebration to ring in tradition with locals and island visitors alike.
This winter, holiday tradition ensues with the return of the Nantucket Christmas Stroll, “Nantucket Noel.” The tradition began in 1973 as a way to encourage islanders to shop local for the holidays. Year after year, the tradition grew prolifically, gaining so much attention it became an internationally recognized winter event, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the island the first full weekend of every December.
This year, the Nantucket Christmas Stroll, also dubbed “Stroll” for short, returns Friday, December 5, through Sunday, December 7. The first stroll was a 3-hour shopping event late one Friday night in 1973, which proved a major success. Due to the evident popularity, the event expanded into a full-blown trifecta of holiday cheer!
Each day of the Stroll offers boundless holiday fun, local shopping, a Santa’s Village Marketplace, and an evergreen wonderland. Here’s just a snapshot of the fun in store:
- Nantucket Yacht Club Holiday Market
- Whaling Museum Festival of Trees
- Desserts From James Beard-nominated Pastry Chef, Sofia Tejeda
- Deck the Wharf Bash at Straight Wharf Fish
- Book signing with queen of Nantucket, Elin Hilderbrand
- 12th annual Nantucket Nutcracker
- Festive meal at Nantucket Hotel
Find the full schedule of events on the Stroll site. Here are some of the local Nantucket Island retail shops to explore as well:
- Shop 1960s island-inspired pieces at ASHA
- Enjoy sips and sweets plus up to 60% off at DAWN
- Find special stroll engraved Yeti Tumblers at Haul Over
- Get a special gift at vineyard vines with purchases of $250 or more
To stay at the heart of the action, book a night at The Brant, an island abode that’ll deck the halls with tons of festive decor! Make sure to snag a pic (or a ride) on The Nantucket Hotel’s vintage red firetruck.