Nantucket Christmas Guide: December 2025
12/02/2025
December on Nantucket offers the perfect mix of crisp air and holiday cheer. The cobblestone streets glow with Christmas trees lovingly decorated by community members. From browsing local shops with a hot chocolate in hand to sledding down Dead Horse Hill, there is no shortage of ways to enjoy the holiday season.
51st Annual Nantucket Christmas Stroll
Falls on the weekend of December 5th to December 7th. This annual tradition opens up restaurants and stores for festive fun! This is the perfect opportunity to shop for all of your Christmas needs. Events include: Santa's arrival, caroling, a marketplace, a magical talking tree, and holiday house tours.
Check the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce website or our Christmas Stroll 2025 blog post for more information
The 12th Annual Nutcracker Show
When: December 7th @2:00pm or @5:00pm
Where: Mary P. Walker Auditorium Nantucket High School, 10 Surfside Rd
What: Nantucket Dance Theater puts on the familiar, yet shorter and family-friendly version of the Nutcracker ballet. Buy tickets on the Nantucket Dance Theater website.
December Delight
When: Saturday, December 13th, 9:00am-3:00pm
Where: Nantucket High School, 10 Surfside Road
What: A fundraiser for the Nantucket High School Class of 2026. Food, raffles, baked goods, photos with Santa, vendors, and more holiday activities! Perfect opportunity for holiday gift shopping.
Nantucket Ice Holiday Show
When: Sunday, December 21st 1:00pm-2:30pm
Where: Nantucket Community Ice Rink, 10 Backus Lane
What: Watch the skaters show off their skills in a holiday performance: festive costumes, group numbers, and soloists. Also, conjoined with the Cocoa & Skate with Santa.
Nantucket Noel Red Ticket Drawing
When: December 24th, @1:00pm
Where: Top of Main Street
What: Collect tickets all month long from the Chamber member businesses (1 ticket for every $25 spent). On Christmas Eve, 5 winners of $1,000 and 1 winner of $5,000 are chosen at random from a bowl of all tickets.
Be sure to keep all of your tickets and write down the numbers! You might be the lucky one! Check the Chamber of Commerce website for more information.
Nantucket Gift Guide
Most shops will reopen for Christmas Stroll, but if you want to get a head start or need last-minute options, here are some favorite local shops available all month long:
Looking for Women’s formal wear/dresses?
Cattivo
Erica Wilson
Salt
The Skinny Dip
Looking for Men’s formal wear?
Murray's Togger Shop
Faherty Nantucket
Looking for a simple crewneck or hoodie with a cute Nantucket logo?
The Boat Basin Shop
Annie and the Tees/3 Girls and a Dog
Have a book-loving friend?
Nantucket's Bookworks
Mitchells Book Corner
Have a loved one with a sweet tooth?
Nantucket Faraway Chocolate
Aunt Leah's Fudge
Looking for a gorgeous piece of Jewelry for your wife/girlfriend?
Jewel in the Sea
Blue Beetle
Have a child in need of some toys?
Barnaby's Toy & Art
Pinwheels
Looking for some home decor?
Nantucket Looms
Birdie by Nina Liddle Design
Looking for a one-stop shop?
Stephanies
Haul Over Nantucket
Island Variety
Looking for athletic wear?
Core Boutique
Nantucket Run Centre
Haul Over
Not sure what your loved one wants? As always, gift cards are a go-to that all recipients will love. Many of these stores, as well as most restaurants, offer gift cards for a perfect, simple present. Happy shopping!