(photo by Michael Tsai via Flickr)
If you’re looking for fun holiday and winter activities to celebrate the spirit of the season, the Upper Valley has plenty of upcoming events to get you through the month of December.
On Friday, December 5th, from 4-8pm, there are activities for the whole family throughout downtown Hanover, including free horse-drawn wagon rides, make-your-own crafts, cookie decorating, caroling, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Many of the local businesses are offering extended hours, with discounts and specials, or are featuring a fun treat for you to take home. There are also a number of musical performances at various locations around town. Check out the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Celebrate the Season” calendar of events here for specific times and locations.
A highlight of Friday’s events is Dartmouth’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 5:15pm on the Green in Hanover. This year’s tree is a 35-ft tall Douglas fir adorned with over 1,000 LED lights. The lighting will be accompanied by performances from trumpeter Glenn Griffin and the 40th anniversary Christmas Revels youth and adult choruses. Free cookies and hot chocolate will be available.
Additional events take place on Saturday in Hanover, including a few craft workshops and Dartmouth sporting games (fees apply). Saturday, December 6th also kicks off the first Hanover area Restaurant Week! A number of restaurants will offer affordable pre-fixe menus, with your choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert, from Dec. 6th-14th. This is an excellent opportunity to try a local restaurant that you haven’t been to before, or visit an old favorite and try something new! A list of participating restaurants and their Restaurant Week menus are available here. Can I visit them all?
Beyond this weekend, there are a number of ongoing events throughout the month of December in Hanover and beyond. L.L. Bean in West Lebanon will offer clinics and classes on winter activities from camping to snowshoeing (classes are free or $20, check schedule for details). The Lebanon Opera House is showing “Clara’s Dream: A Nutcracker Story” December 4th-6th, and “Amahl and the Night Visitors” December 18th-20th. The Enfield Shaker Museum has a Festival of Trees on December 12th, 10am-8pm, and a Holiday Cookie Fair on December 14th at 1pm. And if you’re looking for a bit of physical activity to burn off all those cookie calories, Occom Pond in Hanover offers ice skating Tuesday through Friday, weekly (skates can be rented through Dartmouth’s Cross Country Ski Center), and Dartmouth Skiway offers skiing, daily.
There are so many things to do in Hanover and the surrounding Upper Valley in the coming days and weeks! There really is something for everyone. Whether you attend the tree lighting ceremony, sip a hot chocolate with Santa, or dine at a Hanover restaurant during Restaurant Week, I hope whatever you participate in brings you joy this holiday season. Happy Holidays!
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