7 best holiday beach festivals in the U.S.

The holidays are exciting no matter where you are, whether you decide to jet off to a ski resort or hole up at home for a few cozy days. But some folks simply cannot feel holly or jolly unless they are within eyesight of surf and sand. If you prefer sticking to the coast even in the dead of December, know that there are plenty of festivals in the U.S. that will help you get in the holiday spirit and spend some quality time on the beach.

From beach bonfires to ice skating rinks next to the Pacific, here are some of the best holiday beach festivals around the country.

A Galveston tradition since 1974, Dickens on the Strand is held the first weekend in December every year, offering three full days of 19th-century fun. The Texas town transforms into Victorian-era London with costume contests, handbell concerts, afternoon tea on historic ships, and the famous bed races, where people dress up in nightgowns and nightcaps and have their teammates push them in a bed down Strand Street. And while most of the festivities take place inland, rest assured knowing you’re never more than 1.5 miles from the coast on this narrow Texas island.

While many coastal cities host boat parades during the holidays, few are quite as epic—or as long-standing—as the one in Newport Beach, CA. Now in its 114th year, the Christmas Boat Parade features a line-up of brightly decorated yachts, boats, and kayaks moving through Newport Harbor. The festivities kick off with a fireworks show on December 14, but you can catch the illuminated boat show every night through December 18.

Hotel del Coronado is known for its family-friendly holiday celebrations throughout the year, and Christmas is certainly no exception. The San Diego landmark transforms into a beachfront winter wonderland every year with its Frosted by the Sea celebration, which lasts for more than six weeks and features a huge roster of events and activities. While the Skating by the Sea ice rink is by far the hotel’s most popular attraction (and for good reason—you don’t often get to skate with views of the Pacific Ocean), you can also enjoy nightly light shows, holiday movies on the beach, s’mores stations in beachside igloos, Victorian tea parties, and more.

About an hour south of Tampa, Bradenton boasts a thriving creative community and charming, 1.5-mile Riverwalk. Get a taste of both during the town’s annual Riverwalk Holiday of the Arts Festival, in which more than 100 artists set up an outdoor gallery along the river and sell original paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, and more. It’s the perfect time to stock up on some last-minute gifts, or to simply enjoy unique artwork in Florida’s delightful warm winter weather.

Held the second weekend in December for the past 36 years, Christmas by the Sea is a town-wide celebration filled with tree lightings, carol singers, craft shows, and a parade ending with fireworks and bonfires on the beach—all in a picture-perfect coastal Maine setting. Even better? Admission is free to every single event, so you can save that cash for lobster rolls.

Kauai is an incredible place to visit in December, thanks to warm weather, peak surfing conditions, and the chance to spot humpback whales during their annual migration. Throw in hundreds of palm trees covered in Christmas lights, and you have yourself the perfect holiday destination. Open every evening from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, Kauai’s Festival of Lights transforms the Historic County Building and surrounding park into a LED-filled wonderland, complete with folk art displays, bedazzled trees, and photo ops with Santa.

From cozy B&Bs to main streets covered in lights, Cape Cod has all the makings of an impossibly charming Christmas getaway. While you can find events all over the peninsula during the month of December, head to the southwestern town of Falmouth to enjoy the annual Holidays by the Sea Weekend. The weekend begins with caroling at a lighthouse, ends with a festive parade, and is filled with plenty of other family-friendly activities in between.