December in New Bedford is filled with festive lights, camera-ready moments for the whole family, and abundant events and activities that imbue the city with holiday cheer and charm. Set the stage for a happy holiday season with our list of NBFestive events in December.
TAKE HOME JOY
Welcome family and friends into your home for the holidays with a fresh and fragrant one-of-a-kind wreath. The New Bedford Art Museum hosts a wreath-making workshop with renowned designer Georgina Melone. Melone oversaw design for toy-making companies and brands such as Hasbro, My Little Pony, and Play-Doh. Sign up for the class on November 29 from noon to 2 PM.
Transform your home this season with handmade wreaths, centerpieces, garlands, ornaments, special arrangements, and more at the Holiday Greens Market. This event is presented by the Garden Club of Buzzards Bay and hosted at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum on December 6, from 9 AM to 2 PM.
CITY TREE LIGHTINGS
Follow the City of New Bedford Holiday Parade up William Street from the Whaling Museum to Pleasant Street. Gather with family, friends, and neighbors in front of the New Bedford Free Public Library, sip on hot cocoa, and sing along to festive tunes. The city lights the decorated tree atop the steps of the library at 5 PM, igniting holiday cheer.
On Sunday, December 7, join the community for the tree lighting at Clasky Common Park at 5 PM. Explore the trail of classic decorations while the New Bedford High School Marching Band performs.
CHEERFUL TRADITIONS
Discover historic holiday traditions and the cozy charm of the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, fully decorated for the season. Christmas on County takes place on December 11 from 4 to 6 PM. Wear your ugly sweater and bake or taste cookies for the sixth annual Cookie Challenge.
Classic meets contemporary at the New Bedford Art Museum on December 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. The museum welcomes the New Bedford Youth Ballet to perform excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. The Twirl and Whirl series at the museum showcases modern and classical dance, visiting guest choreographers, lectures, and workshops in the gallery setting alongside current exhibitions.
FESTIVE FUN DOWNTOWN
Shop and stroll at two of the city’s most anticipated nights of the year all in one week! AHA New Bedford’s NBFestive (December 11) and Downtown New Bedford Inc.’s Holiday Stroll (December 13) spread joy throughout downtown with outdoor and indoor holiday entertainment and special local shopping experiences all within an easily walkable footprint. Expect pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, wandering carolers, pop-up shopping bonuses, and rides on an antique fire truck with the New Bedford Fire Museum volunteers. Check back for more information as programming is added.
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Pops 2025 on December 14 for two showings: 3:30 to 4:30 PM and 7:30 to 8:30 PM at the New Bedford High School Bronspiegel Auditorium. Presented in partnership with the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center.
New Bedford’s New Year’s Eve festivities are perfect for families and early bedtimes, while also allowing those headed for midnight a way to transition from work to play. City Celebrates New Year’s Eve takes place on December 31 from 5 to 9 PM. Enjoy family-friendly music and dance, LED performers, professional fire performers, a brass band in the lounge of the Harbor Hotel, and fireworks over the harbor at 8 PM.
Check out more events on our NBFestive page.
