Village Holidays Celebration & Sale
2026 Village Holidays Schedule
4:30 PM | Village Holidays Begins
Join us on the Village Green as the evening's festivities get underway.
5:30 PM | Santa Arrives & Tree Lighting
Gather around as we welcome Santa to Bar Harbor and light the Village Green for the holiday season.
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Crafts & Activities
Head to the MDI YMCA to visit with Santa and enjoy crafts and activities by SFOA, YMCA, and the Jesup.
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Shop the Madness
Check off items from your gift list and score some deals from participating businesses! Additional programming and entertainment will be announced as we get closer to the event.
Village Holidays
Shop the Madness Sale
After the tree is lit, keep the celebration going throughout downtown Bar Harbor with Shop the Madness! Bar Harbor businesses will stay open into the evening with holiday shopping specials, promotions, treats, and festive experiences for Village Holidays.
It's the perfect opportunity to cross a few names off your holiday shopping list, discover something special from a local business, and enjoy downtown Bar Harbor during one of the most festive evenings of the year. Don't forget to explore beyond the shops. Participating restaurants and other businesses throughout town will also be joining the celebration with special offerings for the evening.
Make a Night of It
Village Holidays is about more than the tree lighting. We invite you to spend the evening exploring Bar Harbor. Shop for holiday gifts, grab dinner or a festive drink, enjoy the lights and decorations throughout town, and stop for a holiday photo along the way. Whether Bar Harbor is home or you're visiting for the weekend, we hope you'll join us for an evening celebrating the season and our local community.
Participating Businesses & Specials
Looking for the best places to shop during Shop the Madness? We'll publish the complete list of participating businesses, special offers, extended hours, and holiday experiences here as we get closer to December 4.
Check back this fall for the 2026 Shop the Madness Guide.
Getting Here
Village Holidays and Shop the Madness take place throughout downtown Bar Harbor, with the main Village Holidays festivities centered around the Village Green. Additional information about parking, event locations, accessibility, and the evening's schedule will be added as the event approaches.
Holiday Window Decorating Contest
Downtown Bar Harbor is getting dressed up for the holidays! As part of Village Holidays, local businesses are invited to transform their storefronts with festive lights, decorations, and plenty of holiday spirit for our Holiday Window Decorating Contest.
Participating businesses will be featured as part of Village Holidays, and the community will be invited to explore downtown, check out the displays, and vote for their favorite holiday window.
Want to participate?
Decorate your storefront by December 4th and register your business with the Chamber to be included in the contest and public voting.
Community Voting
Voting will open Friday, December 4th at 5pm and continue through December 11th at 10am. A People’s Choice winner will be announced following the close of voting.
Prizes & Recognition
The winning business will receive a prize along with bragging rights as Bar Harbor’s favorite holiday window of 2026!
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