An ugly sweater bar crawl, a Christmas emo night, a holiday parade of lights and a tree lighting. Those are just a few of the many events going on! This is your guide to fun for the weekend!
Friday, December 10th
The Rink Grand Opening | 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Thompson’s Point
Join us for our 7th season down at The Point! The Rink at Thompson’s Point will open again on December 10, 2021, and remain open until March 2022! Enjoy your skating experience with up to 10,000 sq. ft. of ice surface. Enjoy special events and themed nights of ice skating fun, check out our calendar and Facebook page for events coming up. We offer unlimited skating for the day when you purchase an admission ticket. Every two hours we will resurface the ice and clean the facility. The ice surface will be closed for 30 minutes.
Emo Night, Christmas | 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM | Portland House of Music | Tickets
Relive the early to mid 2000’s and head on down to Emo Night for a night filled with throwback jams, awesome drinks, and songs that we all secretly love! Try not to get too sad though! Featuring a full set of Underoath Music.
Holiday Market | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Running With Scissors Art Studio
This event has been a holiday staple for many years and, after a Covid hiatus, is thrilled to be back featuring new and existing members. Participating artists will differ slightly each day, so make a festive weekend of searching for those perfect holiday gifts!
Magic of Christmas | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Merrill Auditorium | Tickets
Watch this beloved holiday tradition (now in its 42nd year!) in-person or online! Magic of Christmas will be led by Music Director Eckart Preu and feature special guests, including Laura Darrell (star of Frozen Live), the Magic of Christmas Chorus, Ray Cornils, and James Kennerley! Celebrate the season with Christmas classics new and old.
DJ J.Hjort | 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM | Citrus
For over 20 years, Portland, ME native, DJ/Producer j.hjort, has been a fixture on the New England club scene. With residencies at 8 Portland clubs over the past two decades, he continues to move dance floors with his brand of Euro-tinged house and techno through both live synth and DJ sets.
The Polar Express | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Portlands Ocean Gateway | Tickets
Come enjoy a fun filled train ride, with singing, dancing, the story of the Polar Express and of course Santa himself. Hot Chocolate will also be available as you arrive back at the station.
Saturday, December 11th
| 5:00 PM – 12:00 PM | Fore Play | Event Page
Join us for the 4th Annual Ugly Sweater Crawl! Get that Goodwill sweater, find those tacky holiday pants, and get ready to jingle bell rock! Be sure to check the event page for the full list of bars.
Ticket Includes:
- Holiday T-shirt & Koozie
- Registration & After Party
- Discounted Drink Specials
- Bar Crawl USA Lanyard
- Crawl Scavenger Hunt Card
- DJ’s spinning holiday tunes
- Christmas Movie Trivia
- Join hundreds of crawlers
Make it to the after party from 11pm-12am and get your crawl shirt.
Parade of Lights | 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM | 72 Commercial Street
Fogg’s Water Taxi invites you to join the parade as we take a cruise around Casco Bay and enjoy the Christmas light displays by Portland’s favorite tugboats, lobster boats, and ferry boats! Get your tickets now, this is very likely to sell out!
Warren Miller’s “Winter Starts Now” | 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM | State Theater | Tickets
Warren Miller is back with our 72nd annual film “Winter Starts Now,” featuring the best snow riding from the mom and pop ski hill down the street to the highest peak on the horizon. Join them for a road trip through the Rocky Mountains, experience classic New England skiing, and hitch a ride up the coast of Alaska.
Colonial Christmas Open House | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 1267 Westbrook st, Portland
Short indoor tours of Tate House kitchen and sitting room featuring simple holiday decorations and descriptions of how the Tate Family may have celebrated. Outdoors, guests can enjoy streaming Colonial music, warming themselves around a fire. Homemade cookies, Wassail, and hot cider will be available.
Neon 90’s Night | 10:00 PM – 1:00 AM | The Yard
The Yard is bringing back your DJ nights. It’s been a while, and they are ready to throw it back with neon 90’s and 2000 hits. Wear your flashy colors and enjoy specialty neon cocktails for $10 and $5 all beers and house wines. Live music earlier in the evening from 6-9 pm
Frosty Freak Out | 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM | Flask Lounge
Warm up your toes, shake your booties and fight off the winter blues with an evening of Hiemal House Heaters and Winter WonderWubz. This event is for all the party people!
Designing Women Fine Art & Craft Holiday Show | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | 150 Ocean Ave
A fantastic gathering of juried, female artisans and crafters will celebrate this joyous time of the year. Support your local community and help the Ocean Ave PTO!
Sarah Jarosz | 7:00 | Portland House of Music | Tickets
With her captivating voice and richly detailed songwriting, Sarah Jarosz has emerged as one of the most compelling musicians of her generation. A four-time Grammy Award-winner at the age of 29, the Texas native started singing as a young girl and became an accomplished multi-instrumentalist by her early teens. This special Sarah Jarosz show is in support of her album Blue Heron Suite that was released in May 2021.
Sunday, December 12th
3rd Annual Deering Center Tree Lighting | 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM | Elsmere BBQ
All kids can put their name in a hat, a few will be chosen to light the tree! Bring a decoration to put on the tree. Adult beverages can be purchased in the patio area. Warm food to eat in or take out after the lighting! Big thanks to Elsmere, for graciously hosting the Tree Lighting again. Not only are they providing the (perfect) spot and electricity, they’re providing free hot cocoa and holiday music!
Dec’ the Walls | 2:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Waterfront Hilton Garden Inn | Tickets
Join the community in decorating a gingerbread house while listening to holiday music and enjoying signature cocktails and appetizers. In addition, enter our raffle for a chance to win some fantastic prizes. Join us for some holiday merriment and support the Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation. Sign up today for an opportunity to be a kid again!
Holiday Bazaar | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Austin Street Brewery
Sip & shop as you make your way around the venue with a drink in hand, the best way to shop! Local makers from all over will be selling their items! Shop local for the holidays!
Paper Snowflake Party | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Rising Tide Brewing Company
Friends and family, come and join the folks at Rising Tide to cut beautiful paper snowflakes to decorate our tasting room. DJ Mosart212 provides the soundtrack for this annual tradition!
Ugly Sweater Brunch Run | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | The Chadwick Bed & Breakfast
It’s the Ugly Holiday Sweater Run! After the run, you will come back to Chadwick for coffee and socializing. The B&B proprietors (Erin & Zack) will have a pre-made breakfast option (sandwiches, muffins, waffles, or similar items) available for purchase after the run.
Cozy Winter Market | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Congress Square Park
There will be all sorts of tasty treats, hot beverages, and locally made gifts for sale — plus fire pits to sit down and snuggle up around. Congress Square is delighted to welcome beloved local jazz musician Kafari back to the Park to serenade everyone as well!
More event listings within Portland, Maine: CLICK HERE