With quaint towns and amazing holiday festivals, Vermont is one of the best New England states to plan a Christmas getaway. It’s also home to some of the most amazing winter resorts, hotels, and inns that make for an especially cozy getaway this time of the year.
If you’re looking for a festive escape this season, you’ve come to the right place because this post is all about the most fun things to do during Christmas in Vermont, including my suggestions on the best events, towns to visit, and places to stay.
With that, let’s start planning your holiday getaway!
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What Is Vermont Like At Christmas?
Truly magical! I almost don’t want to say that because I know that could elevate expectations to an unrealistic level, but I really do feel like I step into a holiday postcard when I visit Vermont during the holidays. Most towns have decorations and twinkle lights, and many do tree lightings and festive events all month long. If you think of a quaint New England town at Christmas, or a Hallmark Christmas movie set, there are lots of places in Vermont that will bring that imagery to life.
Of course, not every inch of Vermont will be picture-perfect during the holiday, but much of it is. And this post will share with you all the best places to go, so stay tuned 😉
As far as weather, snow is likely in December in Vermont, but not always guaranteed, and it will depend on the year. Daytime average temperatures are between 30-35°F, and nighttime average temperatures are between 15-20°F. This will vary based on where in the state you go, as the northern areas tend to be a bit colder than the southern regions.
Vermont is often recorded as the third snowiest state in the U.S., so while it’s likely you’ll have a White Christmas experience, it’s not always the case. I’ve been to Vermont in December without a hint of snow in sight. But most trips, I’ve had snow on the ground, so it really just depends. On average, Vermont sees around 22 inches of snow in December – but again, this can vary based on where in the state you are.
Best Towns For A Perfect Vermont Christmas Getaway
While so many towns across Vermont are wonderful for a holiday visit, I’ve picked my top five suggestions based on their holiday festivities, scenery, plus other things to do like attractions, shopping, and dining. Here are my picks:
1. Woodstock
If I had to pick just one town in Vermont to visit at Christmas, I would say Woodstock – but it’s a very close call because all of the towns I suggest in this section really are worth visiting! That said, Woodstock just offers everything you could want, including that magical, small town postcard scenery, covered bridges, great little shops, fantastic dining options, and one of the best holiday festivals in New England – the Wassail Weekend celebration.
Wassail Weekend in Woodstock is the town’s official holiday festival, and includes carol singing, horse-drawn wagon rides through town, an artisan market, appearances by Santa, a parade, and lots more. Events take place Friday through Sunday, making the entire weekend the perfect time to visit.
Additionally, the entire town is decorated so beautifully for the holidays, and it’s worth visiting Woodstock all month long just to see the decorations. You’ll find garlands, wreaths, and twinkle lights at every turn, and one of the best things to do is grab a warm beverage at Mon Vert Café and just walk around to admire the scenery.
The boutiques in the village also make for wonderful places to do some holiday shopping! With places like F.H. Gillingham & Sons, Vermont Flannel Company, Farmhouse Pottery, Yankee Bookshop, and Woody’s Mercantile (plus lots more!), you’ll probably find something for everyone on your list.
Where To Stay In Woodstock At Christmas:
🎄 Woodstock Inn & Resort – One of the best luxury hotels in New England, and it’s located right in the heart of the village. It’s such a treat to stay here!
🎄 506 On The River Inn – Modern and cozy rooms with a great tavern and seasonal cocktails! A very short drive from the village.
🎄 Jackson House Inn – A cozy B&B that’s walkable to the village’s center, and offers fireplaces in their 1-room suites, which is perfect for a holiday getaway!
2. Stowe
It’s also hard to beat Stowe any time of the year, including during the holiday season, so this is another town I recommend when visiting in December. Known as being home to Vermont’s top ski resort, the charming village is also idyllic during the holidays with twinkle lights and decorations along Main Street, as well as the very fun holiday festival – A Traditional Christmas in Stowe.
The Traditional Christmas celebration is filled with very fun events that are pretty much guaranteed to fill you with cheer. Things like brunch with Santa, a town tree lighting, craft and bake fairs, caroling, gingerbread house making, and tons more, are on the docket every year.
And if you’re looking to combine a Christmasy trip with skiing, Stowe is the perfect place for you. The Stowe Ski Resort typically opens mid-November every year, so you’ll definitely be able to hit the slopes during a December visit.
And much like Woodstock, Stowe is home to some really great shops, and this is another perfect town to pick up some holiday gifts. I especially love Stowe Mercantile, Tangerine & Olive, and Farm Home Marketplace. There’s also an awesome chocolate shop in Stowe, but I’ll get more into that later in the post 😉
Where To Stay In Stowe At Christmas:
🎄 Lodge at Spruce Peak – A ski-in/ski-out resort surrounded by the mountains that’s a true winter wonderland during the holidays!
🎄 Trapp Family Lodge – An Austrian-inspired resort that’s got lots of amenities, and is perfect during the holiday/winter season.
🎄 Green Mountain Inn – A cozy New England-style inn right on Main Street in the village, and walkable to lots of shops and dining.
3. Manchester
Located in the southern region of Vermont, Manchester is another charming town with lots of holiday cheer. It also happens to be home to both independent shops as well as a small outlet shopping village, so this is an excellent place to get some holiday shopping done.
During Merriment in Manchester, the town’s official Christmas celebration, you’ll find all kinds of fun things to do, like an illuminated tractor parade around town, meet and greets with Santa, special holiday concerts and performances, crafting workshops, and more.
In Manchester, you can also hop aboard the Santa Express train, but I’ll be going more into that later in the post.
Where To Stay In Manchester At Christmas:
🎄 Kimpton Taconic – A modern and cozy boutique hotel that’s less than a mile from the village center, and was even selected as one of the top 10 resort hotels in the northeast!
🎄 The Inn At Manchester – A cozy New England-style inn that’s also less than a mile from the heart of the village’s shops and dining.
🎄 Wilburton Inn – Another wonderfully cozy inn that’s a bit further from the heart of the village, but does so many amazing Christmas festivities, that I even included them in their own section later on in the post!
4. Burlington
As the biggest city in Vermont, Burlington is another fantastic Vermont destination for a holiday getaway, and is best for those looking for the most options when it comes to dining and shopping. Packed with character in a more lively atmosphere, Burlington is aglow with twinkle lights during the month of December, and all winter long, too!
One of the best places to check out in the city during the holidays is Church Street Marketplace, which is a pedestrian-only shopping area that spans four blocks, and has over 100 businesses. The trees lining the streets are twinkling with lights, and at the top, you’ll see a gorgeous Christmas tree.
Church Street alone does some fun events, too, including a kid’s train ride, a mailbox to send your letters to Santa, free hot chocolate shopping events, a tree lighting ceremony, and visits with the big guy himself.
You’ll also find all the storefronts beautifully decorated this time of the year, and fun things to do all over the city. I especially love how many holiday markets Burlington has this time of the year. You’ll want to check out the Winter Market at City Hall Hall Park, the Hotel Vermont Holiday market, and the Holiday Smatterings Market Series at Burlington Beer Company.
Lastly, you can also make the short drive to Essex Junction, and experience Winter Lights in the Park, and also the Illuminate Vermont event in South Burlington.
Where To Stay In Burlington At Christmas:
🎄 Hotel Vermont – The perfect place to stay if you want to visit their holiday market, and it’s less than a 10 minute walk to Church Street Marketplace!
🎄 The Lang House on Main Street – A beautiful New England-style B&B that’s about a 10-minute walk from Church Street Marketplace.
5. Middlebury
Middlebury is a lovely little college town in Vermont that celebrates Christmas with Very Merry Middlebury (such a cute festival name, am I right?). And the great thing is, they have events happening through the first half of December, so you have lots of opportunities to enjoy the festivities.
Not only is the town beautifully decorated this time of the year, the first Saturday in December usually brings Santa and Mrs. Claus’ arrival for photos at Triangle Park, as well as wagon rides around town, a hot cocoa hut, and caroling.
Friday nights, experience Midd Night Strolls from 5-8pm, which includes special pop-ups, promotions at all the shops, and a special chocolate bar raffle with awesome prizes to win.
And definitely don’t leave without seeing the lovely Middlebury Falls illuminated for holidays, which makes for the perfect way to end your evening in town.
Where To Stay In Middlebury At Christmas:
🎄 The Middlebury Inn – A cozy inn with a great little tavern that’s also in the center of town.
🎄 Waybury Inn – Exterior shots of this inn were used as the Stratford Inn in the Bob Newhart Show, and many of the cast members would frequently come by to visit! They also offer both fine and casual dining options for a cozy night in.
Fun Things To Do During Christmas In Vermont
Be sure to check the list above all about the best towns to visit because I included tips on some of the most fun events and things to do in that section. But if you’re looking for even more ideas, just keep reading 😉
6. Do Some Holiday Shopping At The Vermont Country Store
While you can find great shopping all over Vermont, one of my favorite places to visit any time of the year is the Vermont Country Store – you know, the one you’ve probably gotten catalogs from in the mail? There are two locations in the state to choose from – Weston and Rockingham, and both are absolutely wonderful.
And of course, they’ll be perfectly decorated and extra festive during the month of December. Inside, you’ll find everything from candies and chocolates, to Vermont’s Darn Tough Socks (which make great stocking stuffers!) and apparel, to body care and toys. It really has everything, plus more stuff you didn’t know you needed 😉
If I had to pick one location to visit at Christmas, I would be hard-pressed to suggest Weston, simply because if you can time your visit with the town’s Christmas in Weston festivities, you’ll be able to enjoy meeting Santa, a tree lighting, special cookies and hot cocoa for sale, and you can also pay a visit to the Village Christmas Shop.
That said, the Rockingham location is also fantastic, and you’ll be able to snap a photo with the adorable Kissing Covered Bridge, which is located right at the shop’s parking lot.
7. Step Back In Time At Hildene Holidays
The Hildene Estate is the Lincoln Family home, where Robert Todd Lincoln, President Lincoln’s eldest son, spent his summers. The entire estate, including the grounds, is such a special place to visit year-round, but it’s especially magical to visit during the holdiays.
The mansion itself is beautifully adorned with decorations that you’d typically see in the early 1900’s, so you’ll get a glimpse into what celebrating Christmas was like during that time. You’ll also be able to shop for unique Christmas gifts at their gift shop, and join in on a special felted ornament workshop.
8. Attend Winter Lights At Shelburne Museum
Typically running from Thanksgiving through early January, Winter Lights at the Shelburne Museum is one of the best events to attend if you’re looking for a memorable night out. Thousands of twinkle lights are strung throughout the grounds, and it’s especially exciting to see the museum’s lighthouse and Steamboat Ticonderoga aglow during the holiday season.
The museum also offers a special Ice Bar night for those 21 and over. Enjoy the glow of the light displays while sipping on drinks from a bar made entirely of ice. There are also snacks and food trucks available to round out your festive evening.
9. Tour The Most Beautifully Decorated Inns
While walking around the charming towns of Vermont, it’s so easy to fall in love with all the beautiful, historic inns you see perfectly decorated for the holidays. You may also think, Wouldn’t it be great to take a peek inside, too? Well my friends, you actually can!
During the Shires Holiday Inn Tour, 18 gorgeous properties open their doors to welcome you inside for a festive tour, delicious treat, and maybe even a warm drink! Hop around to all the properties for the perfect day of inspiring holiday fun that’ll leave you with a new appreciation for New England hospitality.
Pro Tip: This is a ticketed event, and all tickets must be purchased online, as they’re not sold at the properties. Proceeds of the ticket sales for the event also go toward local charities, so you can feel especially good about participating.
10. Pick Up Homemade Chocolates For The Holidays
Vermont is one of my favorite New England states to shop for chocolate, and I mention this a lot throughout this website 😉 But the holidays are an especially perfect time to scout out some of the best chocolate shops to stock up on hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, and most importantly – treats for yourself!
In Burlington, Lake Champlain Chocolates is one that’s such a fun place to visit. While their flagship store is right in Burlington, they do have another location on Church Street Marketplace, and also one in Waterbury Center. However, you can also find their chocolates in shops all over the state, and New England.
I also really love to pop into The Village Chocolate Shoppe in East Arlington (swing by the covered bridge when visiting, too!), Snowflake Chocolates in Jericho, and Middlebury Sweets, which is the state’s largest candy store.
This is just a small sampling of all the great chocolate shops around Vermont, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled while visiting because you’re likely to stumble upon one yourself.
11. Enjoy Christmas At Billings Farm
While I talked about Wassail Weekend in Woodstock, Billings Farm is another fantastic place to celebrate the season in December. Located right in Woodstock less than a mile from the village center, this working, historic farm and homestead showcases Vermont’s rural heritage, and is such a treat to visit. Throughout the year, they host lots of special events to celebrate different seasons in New England, and of course, the holidays are no exception.
During Christmas at the Farm, you’ll be transported to a Victorian Christmas celebration, and also enjoy candle dipping, greeting the farm animals, shopping for holiday gifts at their store (definitely pick up some of their own cheeses for holiday entertaining!), and even the opportunity to hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski the farm’s scenic trails.
So much more is offered during the event, so be sure to check out their website for additional information!
12. Enjoy A Holiday Concert Or Performance
Throughout Vermont, you’ll find all kinds of special holiday concerts, shows, and performances, which is one of the most fun nights out you can have in December.
One that tends to come back each year is the The Vermont Ballet Theater’s Nutcracker performance at the Flynn Theater in Burlington. Lots of other theaters throughout the state, though, have special holiday shows, which can change from year to year, so be sure to be on the lookout!
13. Enjoy The Festive Events In St. Johnsbury
The lovely little town of St. Johnsbury is almost to the New Hampshire border, and most definitely worth checking out during the holidays. Their Sparkles Holiday Weekend typically takes place the second weekend in December, and is filled with all kinds of festive events that spread al kinds of holiday cheer.
During the event, you’ll find holiday and craft marketplaces, hot cocoa and popcorn stations, horse-drawn wagon rides, a holiday sweater competition, holiday card making, free sparklers after dark, special shopping events and promotions at the shops, and so much more.
14. Attend A Tree Lighting Event
Most towns in Vermont will have a beautiful Christmas tree on display, and of course, that comes with a special tree lighting ceremony.
One in particular that’s especially fun to attend is the Statehouse tree lighting in Montpelier, which is the state’s capital. Leading up to the countdown for the tree lighting, there’s also live holiday entertainment.
Some other great tree lightings throughout Vermont can be found in Burlington, Manchester, Bennington, Burke, Stowe, and St. Albans.
15. Celebrate With The Festival Of Trees
Speaking of St. Albans, while they have a wonderful tree light ceremony to attend as mentioned, they also just so happen to put on a spectacular Festival of Trees that’s such a great way to celebrate Christmas in Vermont.
This month-long event features many free festivities to experience, including a holiday PJ story time, free holiday movie screening, live performances, and a free Santa’s Workshop event, which has crafts, games and cookies for kids to enjoy. Lastly, bundle up and head downtown after dark to enjoy all the dazzling trees and decorations, which is a great way to take in the magic of the holidays.
Also during the celebrations, you can get tickets for a super fun holiday paint party, and the very cool Enchanted Holiday Masquerade, which promises “unforgettable evening of magic, art, and music.”
16. Meet Santa, Of Course!
I’ve mentioned the big guy throughout this post already, but of course, there are tons of opportunities to meet Santa in Vermont during the holiday season. Taking breaks from his workshop in the North Pole, he makes his way around the state to ensure all the kids get to tell him what’s on their list this year.
In addition to all the Christmas festivals and events mentioned above, here are some places you can meet Santa this season:
- Breakfast With Santa at the Equinox Resort in Manchester
- Family Day at the Bennington Museum
- Church Street Marketplace in Burlington
- The Holiday Stroll in Rutland
- Christmas in Grafton
17. Participate In A Wreath-Making Workshop
Kristen at Copper & Birch opens her Shelburne, VT studio doors year-round to teach people how to create stunning wreaths that make the perfect addition to their own home décor. And of course, she does a special holiday wreath workshop for a wonderful afternoon of crafting, which is something you’ll want to have on your radar in December.
During the workshop, you’ll be provided with all the materials, as well as expert guidance from Kristen to create a long-lasting wreath out of faux botanicals that you can display in your home for years to come. She also invites you to bring your own wine to enjoy during the workshop, and offers special private events if you have a large group or special occasion to celebrate.
Workshops can be booked online via her website, and proceeds from the holiday workshops go toward the Hope Beneath The Tree organization, so you can give back while also learning a new skill.
18. Hop Aboard The Polar Express
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love The Polar Express books and movies, so of course, hopping aboard a festive train ride during the holidays is one of the most fun ways to celebrate the season.
The Polar Express train in Burlington is a fantastic option, and typically runs the second weekend in December. Everyone is encouraged to wear their jammies for the ride while they enjoy hot chocolate and cookies before arriving at the North Pole. Of course, Santa will be making an appearance, and gives all the kids a special bell from his sleigh.
The Santa Express train in Manchester is also a wonderful option! Santa’s elves invite you aboard where festive refreshments are served. Enjoy a 1-hour ride through the scenic mountains and await an appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Pro Tip: Both trains can sell out quickly, so it’s best to book in advance. I noticed that the Polar Express train out of Burlington was sold out right around Halloween one year, so be sure to mark your calendars!
19. Attend The Candy Cane Hunt In Bristol
Look for candy canes and win prizes! This super fun Candy Cane Hunt in Bristol is a free event that the kids are sure to love. The event kicks off with Santa’s arrival at the town green to encourage everyone to help him find his lost candy canes, which are hidden all over the park.
Prizes are given to the kids who find 10 or more candy canes, and there’s a very special prize awaiting the person who finds the golden candy cane
20. Experience Canine Christmas at The Wilburton Inn
The Wilburton Inn in Manchester is a wonderful dog-friendly hotel – in fact, they were even named one of the top 10 dog-friendly hotels in New England by USA Today! So of course, they do some pretty fun things to celebrate with your pets this holiday season.
Typically held the first weekend in December, the Canine Christmas Slumber Party at the inn is the perfect place to go with your pup. Festivities include an ugly Christmas sweater fashion show, a holiday party with a professional photographer taking family pictures, group strolls through the village, Vermont country breakfasts at the inn, and of course, all the fabulous events around Manchester.
This traditional New England-style inn is also beautifully decorated during the holidays, and you’ll feel right at home during your stay. There are no additional fees to bring your pet, and all breeds are welcome!
21. Get Crafty At An Ornament-Making Workshop
In addition to the wreath-making workshop mentioned earlier in the post, one of the most fun ways to celebrate Christmas in Vermont is by attending a very fun ornament-making workshop! Here’s a few really great ones to check out, so grab a group of friends or your family, put on your favorite holiday sweaters, and make some beautiful ornaments for your tree this year.
- Cermamic Ornament Workshop at The MINT at Rutland’s Makerspace
- Felt Ornament Workshop at Hildene in Manchester
- Glass Ornament Workshop at Fine Arts Vermont in Brattleboro
More Of My Vermont Travel Guides:
- Vermont In The Fall
- Vermont In The Winter
- Vermont In The Spring
- All The Best Things To Do In Vermont
- Things To Do In Woodstock, VT
- Things To Do In Stowe, VT
- Best Places To Stay In Vermont In The Fall
- What Is Vermont Known For? I’ll Tell You!
More posts you may enjoy:
- Best Christmas Towns In New England
- Best Christmas Festivals In New England
- Best New England Winter Getaways (Even For Non-Skiers!)
That’s A Wrap On Celebrating Christmas In Vermont
And there you have it – the inside scoop on all the most fun ways to find your holiday cheer while celebrating Christmas in Vermont. Whether it’s Wassail Weekend in Woodstock, or the twinkle lights on Church Street in Burlington that spoke to you the most, one thing’s for sure – you can’t go wrong with a holiday getaway to Vermont!
