Festive Nights Out: Holiday Shows & Fine Dining in Maine
Every winter in Maine, snow drapes the coastline and forests in quiet wonder, but inside the state’s theaters, the season shines bright. From the sweeping strings of Christmas music to the graceful movements of The Nutcracker ballet, Maine’s performing arts theaters come alive with festive performances and invite audiences to gather, warm up and celebrate the joy of the season. Pair your evening with an elegant pre-show dinner or cozy post-performance drink, and you’ll find that Maine’s winter magic isn’t just outdoors—it’s in the shared hush before the curtain rises, and in the applause that fills the night.
Portland
Holiday Shows
Merrill Auditorium
The Nutcracker featuring Maine State Ballet Orchestra & Choir, Nov. 28–Dec. 7
Magic of Christmas with Portland Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 12–21
A Victorian Nutcracker with Portland Ballet, Dec. 16
Christmas with Kennerley on The Kotzschmar Organ, Dec. 23
Crewe Center for the Arts
Joyous Sounds, Dec. 2
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Christmas at the Cathedral, Dec. 5–7
Portland Conservatory of Music
Choralart Holiday Singalong, Dec. 13
Home for the Holidays: Dimensions in Jazz, Dec. 26–28
Cross Insurance Arena
Disney on Ice, Dec. 19–22
Stevens Square Theater
Fever Presents Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings, Dec. 19
(Nearby) Westbrook Performing Arts Center, Westbrook
A Victorian Nutcracker with Portland Ballet, Dec. 20–21
A Very Nutty Nutcracker with Portland Ballet, Dec. 21
Where to Eat & Drink
Crowned “one of the best food cities in the U.S.” by Travel + Leisure magazine, it’s easy to find incredible places to eat and drink in Portland’s lauded culinary scene. Among the cobblestone streets and 19th-century buildings of the Old Port, settle in at Via Vecchia for handmade pasta and candlelit charm, or savor fresh Maine lobster and seafood at Street and Co., where the day’s catch takes center stage. For something fresh and inventive, Regards and Twelve offer refined menus that spotlight Maine’s local bounty in stunning seasonal dishes. When the final bow is taken, keep the evening going with craft cocktails at Blyth & Burrows, a speakeasy-style favorite tucked inside a historic building, or the intimate Room for Improvement, where inventive drinks and sultry lighting make the perfect post-show nightcap.
Biddeford
Christmas Music
City Theater
A Swinging Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett, Dec. 5–6, 12–14, 19–21
Where to Eat
In Biddeford, Maine’s former mill town turned culinary hotspot, dining feels both creative and deeply rooted in its community. Magnus on Water sets the tone with its cozy atmosphere and farm-to-table, Peruvian-inspired dishes. For more standout spots—from breweries to bakeries—explore our introduction to Biddeford’s food scene.
Bangor
Holly Jolly Laughs
Penobscot Theatre Company
Another Kick in your Dickens: An ImprovAcadia Production, Dec. 4–21
Where to Eat
In Bangor, the “Queen City of the East,” dinner before the show feels like an occasion all its own. Retreat to an elegant dinner at The Tarratine, a restored 1907 mansion decked out in holiday splendor. Nearby, Timber Kitchen & Bar offers a more relaxed but equally memorable experience, with hearty, wood-fired flatbreads and a warm lodge-style atmosphere that captures the spirit of a Maine winter evening.
Boothbay Harbor
Christmas Concerts
The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor
Ryanhood: A Winters’ Evening, Dec. 6
Sons of Serendip Holiday Concert, Dec. 20
Where to Eat & Drink
In Boothbay Harbor, dining feels as timeless as the harbor views themselves, especially during the holidays, when lights twinkle across the waterfront and the scent of the sea lingers in the crisp winter air. At Thistle Inn Restaurant, a historic captain’s home turned cozy fine-dining spot, classic New England fare—think seared scallops, seafood risotto and crab cakes—meets fireside comfort.
Waterville
Holiday Music & Ballet
Waterville Opera House
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Nov. 14–30
The Nutcracker, featuring Bossov Ballet Theatre, Nov. 12–14
Christmas with the Celts, Dec. 15
Where to Eat & Stay
In Waterville, a historic mill town turned art hub, a night out at the theater pairs perfectly with dinner at Front & Main, the city’s standout for modern Maine cuisine. Located inside the Lockwood Hotel, this stylish spot serves creative cocktails and fine wines alongside inventive dishes crafted from local farms and waters.
Damariscotta
Holiday Music
Damariscotta Baptist Church
‘Tis the Season: Music of Christmas, Hanukkah, and the Winter Solstice with the Tapestry Singers, Dec. 13–14
Where to Eat
Tucked along the banks of the Damariscotta River, Damariscotta is a charming Midcoast town that pairs small-town warmth with big culinary talent. At Bred in the Bone, indulgent Italian dishes are created with fresh Maine seafood and ingredients, while River House Maine offers elevated comfort food and waterfront views that make every meal feel like a celebration of the season.