Twinkling Christmas lights along Mahone Bay's Main Street during the Season of Father Christmas
Signature festival

The Season of Father Christmas

For nearly two decades, Mahone Bay has transformed itself into a seaside Christmas village from the last weekend of November through Christmas Eve.

What to do

A month of seaside Christmas

  • Stroll Main Street under twinkling lights and balsam-fir boughs.
  • The Reindeer Fun Run — over 400 people in antlers running a 3 km closed-course route along Main Street after dark.
  • "Christmas at Hogwarts" — a Harry Potter display by Bayview Community School volunteers, with a new Yule Ball addition.
  • Christmas Card Corner — a picture-perfect outdoor scene for your own holiday card.
  • Festive flavours at every café and restaurant.
  • Wish List shopping — fill in a list at any shop and you could win the items on it.
  • The Elf on the Shelf travels through town each night, marking the days until Christmas.
Plan your visit

Book ahead — inns and B&Bs fill early. The Mahone Bay Museum keeps weekend hours through the season.

Behind the festival

Run by Festivals of Mahone Bay, an independent non-profit and a community of volunteers.