Things to do in Bath, Maine area in December 2023!

Holiday season comes to Bath, Maine - December Highlights

Bath, Maine - area activities and updates!

You may want to bookmark ⭐ this page and return as I hope to update it with new and timely events throughout the month.

Kennebec Tavern’s lobster trap tree! Kennebec River providing a beautiful backdrop.

NEW! Mockingbird Bookshop will be hosting award winning author Matt Tavares, reading from and signing his latest book, Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas on Saturday, December 16th, from 10:30am-12 noon. And, for the next two weekends, from 5-8pm, Robinhood Free Meetinghouse in Georgetown will be opening “Blitzen’s Yule Bar” for drinks and dinner or snacks in one of the coziest, most special venues on the Midcoast.

Embark Maine Tours (me!) will be offering our regular tours - but with an infusion of Bath holiday history. From December 22nd - December 28th, you can bundle up the visiting family and take our Downtown Tour or our Neighborhood Tour. Check the calendar, contact us for a custom tour date/time, and/or buy a gift card (20% off through 12/24) for a tour next year.

December has a slew of other holiday related activities in the Bath, Maine area… here are some highlights...

Trolley Caroling from the City of Bath begins this Friday, December 1st and continues throughout the month on Fridays and Saturdays, from 430-830pm, no charge, first come first served. Full schedule and more details here. Also from 4-8pm this Friday, 12/1, Maine Street Design Company invites all to a holiday party in their loft space. Learn more and RSVP here.

On Tuesday, December 5th at 6pm, at the YMCA, the Bath Municipal Band is putting on a free Winter Concert. Great chance to check out all the new upgrades and changes to the Y from the last several months as well!

Centre Street Gallery hosts a crowd on Bright Night Bath, 2022.

Main Street Bath’s Bright Night Bath takes place all over downtown Friday, December 8th, from 5-8pm. Music, hot chocolate, stores open late, a Candyland game, characters roaming for photo ops - a great family night out. And it’s all repeating Saturday, December 16th, for Santa’s Day in downtown Bath from 8am-1pm. More details from Main Street Bath here.

Get your photo taken with a festive character on Bright Night Bath, Friday, December 8th.

Restaurants are offering a variety of specials to cheer us. Kennebec Tavern presents “Passport to Flavor” all through the winter - an array of cuisines from around the world, changing weekly, kicking off with BBQ, then Italian. Long Reach Kitchen offers 3-course Prix Fixe Italian feast every Tuesday and Wednesday. Burano’s is offering an extra $20 coupon on every $100 gift card purchased.

West Bath Historical Society is hosting its annual Christmas Service and Carol Sing at the Old West Bath Meeting House on Wednesday, December 13th at 7pm. A chance to get inside and experience this historic building!

Long Reach Kitchen is also hosting Studio Theater of Bath’s “Twisted Christmas” -a holiday themed improv show, best suited for adult audiences with a wicked sense of humor! December 15th and 16th at 8pm. Tickets available here.

Also that weekend, on Saturday, December 16th, you can take part in another beautiful winter tradition at the Patten Free Library. “Starry Night” invites all to explore the grounds lit up by hundreds of luminaries. This year offers a companion ticketed event inside our beautiful library, “A Night at the Patten” - with food, drink, music, art auction, and more. Buy your tickets here.

On Monday, December 18th at 7pm, perhaps the most beloved Bath tradition - “Sing! It’s Christmas” takes place at the Chocolate Church. A free evening of singing along - Santa, too! The Chocolate Church has a slew of other events this month as well - see their full calendar here.

Dinner or brunch at Byrne’s Irish Pub may come with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus! - Photo Courtesy of Byrne’s Irish Pub. ☘️

Bath’s stores are showing off the theme “Gingerbread Downtown” - and a variety of other shines and sparkles. (Vote for your favorite through December 16th!) Keep up to date with Now You’re Cooking’s multiple events with their calendar. Just down Front Street, Over the Moon Boutique is hosting a Girls Night Out on Thursday, December 14th, from 530-730pm - sign up at their store.

Union & Co. is hosting a holiday party at the Grant Building on Friday, December 22nd from 5-7pm. It promises to be a lovely evening in Bath’s newest event (and co-working) space. RSVP here.

On Saturday mornings, from 9 am - 12 noon, the Bath Farmers’ Market will be at their winter location, the Freight Shed, at 27 Commercial Street. Great place for gift shopping and provisioning!

A crowd gathers at noon every New Year’s Eve to ring in the new year, no late night required!

Finally, join the crowd downtown at Front & Center at 11:30am on Sunday, New Year’s Eve to sing and celebrate the once a year 12 noon ringing of City Hall’s Paul Revere Bell! Bath’s Citizen of the Year will do the honors. I recently had a chance to go up on the City Hall roof - stay tuned for a blog post all about it!

Enjoy December in the Bath area! Check back to this page for updates throughout the month.

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