Celebrate the season to its fullest with these wonderful family-friendly Christmas occasions. Greater Concord, NH has several holiday festivities for you and your loved ones to gather and enjoy each other's company. Extra moments of togetherness is one of the best parts of Christmastime. When all the presents are opened and packaging thrown out, cherished memories are the gifts that keep on giving.
Let us help you discover some great local events! As community members for over twenty years, Grace Capital Church has gotten to know the area quite well. Because we care about families, we've compiled this list to assist you in finding activities that will provide a nice backdrop for building stronger bonds with the special people in your life.
Calling all animal lovers!.. Brookford Farm in Canterbury is hosting Christmas with the Cows! Feed calves and piglets, sing musician-led carols with the cows (aww!!), and pose with the adorable 4-legged songsters while a professional photographer snaps the perfect picture.
In addition to the ever-popular farm hayride and campfire, you can make a gnome home, candles, and decorate wreaths. Visit their farm-to-table food tent to enjoy German wurst , sauerkraut, goulash, and stollen.
Taste samples and shop specialty items to find creative gifts for those on your Christmas list as you stroll through the farm store and German Christmas market stocked with merchandise from local vendors. Before heading home, check out the pre-cut Christmas trees for sale.
Taking place 11am-5pm on Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 30th & Dec. 1st) as well as the following weekend (Dec. 7th & 8th), it is a memorable way to kick off the Christmas season.
Admission ranges from $0-$15 per person, with add-ons according to additional purchases. Find more information at their website for pricing, location, and other event details.
One of the most attended events of the season is Midnight Merriment, taking place Friday, December 6th, from 5:00-11:59pm in quaint downtown Concord, beautifully decked out for Christmas. It is a merry way to support Main Street's businesses as you stroll from shop to shop tasting complimentary sweet treats and enjoying lots of musical performers all along the way.
See the towering Christmas tree and divine nativity scene in front of the State House, make s'mores, enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate, get a picture with Santa, and visit the Eagle Square Atrium to check out handmade gifts by local artisans.
Premiering this year, is the 5:30pm Parade of dazzlingly illuminated floats, beginning at The Hotel Concord and ending at the State House.
Watch this video made by ConcordTV in 2022 to get a feel for the event.
Oh, and if you're hungry for more than confections, there is a plentiful array of downtown restaurants from which you can choose where to dine.
After years of hosting this Free festival, it has become a cherished holiday tradition for families near and far! Join us at Grace Capital Church in Pembroke for our 8th Annual Community Christmas Festival on Saturday, December 14th, from 2-5pm.
Visit the indoor bounce house and carnival games to give your kiddos a fun place to burn their energy. Make keepsake ornaments to decorate your tree for years to come. Feed your sweet tooth at the cookie decorating station. Listen to live music as a variety of singers and local musicians entertain with both familiar Christmas tunes and songs that may be new to you.
Outdoors, hop aboard the horse-drawn wagon ride, listen to the clip clop, and take in the beauty of the magnificant horses as you enjoy this annual family favorite. And, if you get a little chilled, you can warm up by the fire while making s'mores.
Learn more on the website's events page.
Annually, on the first Saturday of December, the Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire honor our veterans by inviting the community to help place wreaths on gravestones at the NH Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. It is a meaningful opportunity to express gratitude to those who have served our country, and support their loved ones. Children can witness patriotism, honor the sacrifice of others, and experience the gift of giving.
As we read in Acts 20:35, "...the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
This year's ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 10:30 am. It is important to arrive early so you can get in line for a wreath before the opening message begins.
To learn more about the event, read the organization's faq page and watch WMUR's report from a previous year.
If you're looking for a fun Christmas event but prefer not to be outdoors, the light show at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is for you! Where else can you drive on a racetrack while oohing and aahing at 80 colorfully illuminated scenes and 520 dazzling light displays, including tunnels where you will be surrounded by over 25,000 lights? Ramp up the experience another notch by tuning into 94.9 WHOM for Christmas music!
After completing the 2.5 mile track, visit the open fire pits where you and your loved ones can enjoy roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores. There will also be a food truck with many fairground favorites.
Running Nov. 28th - Jan. 5th, from 4:30-9pm (with time extended by an additional hour Dec. 19-29), it allows you to choose an ideal time that fits your holiday schedule. Be sure to check their website for bad weather closures.
Cost is $35 per car for a one-time visit or $95 for a season pass. Check out their creative theme nights for a $5 discount.
My favorite garden supply center warmly invites you to join them for their Free kid-friendly Christmas festivities. At Black Forest Nursery in Boscawen, you and your family can make s’mores by the fire while enjoying hot coffee or warm apple cider. Have your camera ready to take pictures with Santa. Other weather-permitting children's activities will be offered, including crafts, letters to Santa, and coloring.
Find the perfect gifts for the garden enthusiasts, yard decorators, indoor plant lovers, and bird-watchers in your life. With their expert advice that keeps me coming back, you will have all the help you need making the best selections.
This charming event will be held on two Saturdays: Nov. 30th & Dec. 7th, from 10am-4pm.
Live performances abound this time of year. The Concord City Auditorium, is hosting the Concord Dance Academy students' performance of "A Holiday Spectacular," about a woman's dream to perform in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Showtimes are 1pm and 6pm on December 7th. Also, check out their website for information on two different ballet school's renditions of "The Nutcracker."
A short drive away is the Majestic Theatre, showing a reunion story, "Sh-Boom! A Christmas Miracle" running Dec. 6-8, and fan-favorite, "A Christmas Story" playing Dec. 13th-15th.
A couple other nearby places with family-friendly shows this Christmas are Capitol Center for the Arts and the Dana Center.
Join us at 4pm or 6pm for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through singing carols and hearing a transformative message of hope. Grace Capital Church is an authentic, Jesus-focused, people-centered congregation who seeks to generously give of our time and resources to help and encourage members of the community relationally, physically, and spiritually. We would love to meet you!
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