Falmouth during the Holiday Season

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the winter months here in Falmouth. Dazzling Christmas lights, bright decorations and holiday cheer turn the Cape into a snowglobe – picturesque, quaint and perfect for your holiday needs. The Cape lights up around the holidays – with many activities ranging for friends of all ages. 

Our guide to a magical holiday on the Cape is here, so be sure to check out our events tab for up-to-date activities held by local businesses and organizations.

Falmouth Holidays by the Sea

Every year, Falmouth will host a plethora of events and activities to help folks get into the holiday spirit. Nothing brings a spring to our step quite like Holidays by the Sea – the perfect start to the holiday season. Many local businesses and classic spots open their doors for festive fun – be sure to check out Nobska Lighthouse, caroling in the Village, and many more activities!

Nobska Lighthouse Holiday Open House (Friday Dec 6, 2024, 5 – 8 pm)

Bring your family and ride the trolley to Nobska Lighthouse! Take your picture with Mrs. Claus as you are serenaded by the Brass Ring Ensemble, or enjoy a tasty treat sponsored by Coffee Obsession while painting Nobska itself inside the Keepers’ House! This is one of the only times you can see the inside of the tower house at night, so we highly recommend you visit – and definitely bring the little ones!

Note: public parking will not be available at Nobska for this event, so the trolley is your only way to access the Lighthouse. The Candle House at 127 Water Street is the Trolley Stop you will want to go to!

Caroling in Woods Hole Village (Friday Dec. 6, 2024, 5:30 pm)

Nothing gets you into the Christmas spirit quite like the sounds of the seasons. Join the Solstice Singers as they spread holiday cheer around Woods Hole Village before hopping on the trolley to Nobska Lighthouse!

Note: this activity is right along the waterfront, so dress warmly in case it is a little breezy!

Seafaring Santa Sails into Falmouth Harbor (Saturday Dec. 7, 2024, 10:30 am)

Patriot Party Boats are helping Seafaring Santa and his sleigh spread holiday cheer at Falmouth Harbor! Join the Falmouth High School Chorus at the BandShell with the little ones for holiday treats and happiness galore.

13th Annual Jingle Jog & ghELF Run (Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 3 – 5 pm)

Rain or shine (or even snow), we know that the running aficionado cannot be stopped! Ghelfi’s, one of the Cape’s longest running businesses, is hosting their annual Jingle Jog 5k – with a Kids’ ghELF Run for all of Santa’s helpers! You can pre-register now or at the event, but be sure to wear your wildest jingle jumpsuits, jumpers, and joggers to get in the holiday spirit! 

Falmouth Village Holiday Stroll (Saturday Dec. 7, 2024 4:30 pm)

Join us for one of our favorite Cape Christmas activities at the Annual Holiday Stroll. Discover unique gifts at charming local shops (some of our personal favorites are Setting the Space, Eight Cousins Books, and the Falmouth Jewelry Shop), dine in our many restaurants, (ranging from Tex-Mex at fan-favorite Añejo Mexican Bistro, Italian – American at La Cucina sul Mare, sushi at Bluefins) be serenaded by the Dickens Carolers, and cheer on runners of all ages during the Jingle Jog 5k and Kids GhELF Run! 

Say hello to Santa at Barbo’s Furniture and parade with him to the Lighting of the Village Green. Sip hot cocoa and eat cookies with classic Holiday Characters on the Library Lawn, groove with Line Dancers on Main Street, listen to the Cranberry Shores Chorus, and capture whimsical wintry memories on the Cape Cod Photo Bus – all perfect activities for this time of year.

Enjoy even more live music, be mesmerized by Turning Pointe Studio dance performances, and don’t forget to get your face painted – turn into the Grinch, a sugar plum fairy, or maybe even Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

We can promise you it will be a truly festive evening, so get into the holiday spirit on Main Street in Falmouth!

Lighting of the Village Green (Saturday Dec. 7, 2024 6:30 pm)

To top off the Falmouth Village Holiday Stroll, watch the Village Green light up into a magical winter wonderland. It is a truly enchanting experience watching all the exhibits and lights come to life, and every year we are sad once the season has ended. Be sure to sing along to holiday carols, visit the tiny Christmas scenes scattered around the Green, and fully immerse yourself in the holiday spirit. This is our favorite activity to do just so.

61st Annual Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade (Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, noon-ish) (the last event of Falmouth Holidays by the Sea)

The largest Christmas parade in all of Southeast New England is back this year and we cannot be more excited! See tons of local businesses, organizations, and groups spread the holiday cheer to the town of Falmouth. Floats, marching bands, choruses – oh my! And even Santa Claus will be there! Don’t miss this event, and also be aware that Dillingham Avenue and Davis Straits all the way to the Village Green will be blocked for the parade – we will see you at noon on December 8th!

Holidays at Highfield

Highfield Hall notoriously puts on fun activities during the festive season – basket-making, gift-wrapping classes, cookie decorating, and so so many more. We recommend you check out their webpage to register and see what events pique your interest!

Heritage Gardens Aglow

Christmas lights are probably one of our favorite aspects of the holiday season. Nothing quite screams warm and cozy like twinkling lights dazzling through trees and windows, and Heritage Gardens provides it in bucket-like quantities. Walk-up tickets are not guaranteed so we recommend buying online beforehand.

There are many more events that we love here in Falmouth, but we can’t fit all of them into one article. We regularly update our Events page on our website, so be sure to check in to see what’s going on in our neck of the woods!