Candlelight Stroll
This year’s 250th theme, “Welcome, Neighbor,” celebrates the community that has shaped the Puddle Dock neighborhood for generations.
DECEMBER 4–6, 11-13, 18–20, 2026
Arrival times:
Fridays at 6 PM
Saturdays at 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM
Sundays at 2 PM and 3 PM
The event concludes at 8:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 6:30 PM on Sundays.
Stroll occurs in rain, snow, or by starlight
ABOUT STROLL:
Explore 350+ years of seasonal and holiday traditions at Strawbery Banke Museum’s 46th annual Candlelight Stroll.
Wander the Museum grounds under the glow of candle boxes and string lights, visiting furnished historic homes from 1795 through the 1950s, each adorned with greens and dried flowers from the Museum’s heirloom gardens. Inside, costumed roleplayers portray neighborhood families, sharing stories, customs, and seasonal traditions.
Tour exhibit houses highlight Portsmouth’s maritime heritage, traditional trades, and more, offering context to life in the Puddle Dock neighborhood. Outside, carolers, fife-and-drummers, and other musicians fill the air with seasonal melodies, while wandering historical reenactors bring figures from the past to life across the grounds.
Twice each evening, Ice Dance International’s Currier & Ives Vintage Christmas Skaters take the ice for special performances that capture the spirit of the season (weather dependent). Visitors can warm up at the Cider Shed with a cup of cider, then explore the Grove of Sponsored Holiday Trees, where you can vote for your favorite.
PARKING:
This event has no on-site parking.
All guests must park off-site and take the trolley (available Sat & Sun) or walk. A limited amount of handicap-accessible parking is available on a first-come, first served basis.
TICKETS:
Members:
– Adults (18+): $17.50 or free
– Children (ages 3-17): $8.75 or free
– Children (under 3): free, ticket required
Nonmembers:
– Adults (18+): $35.00
– Children (ages 3-17): $17.50
– Children (under 3): free, ticket required
