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← Experience Tuba Christmas in Maine
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Enjoying Kennebunkport Prelude

POSTED BY
Leah Ingram

Long before there was Small Business Saturday, business owners got together and created Kennebunkport Prelude. The idea was to start a Christmas festival. That was back in 1982. Fast forward to today, and Kennebunkport Prelude is also Kennebunk Prelude as this holiday festival spans both towns.

Photo credit: Leah Ingram.

When is Kennebunkport Prelude

welcome to kennebunkport winter 2018 2
Photo credit: Adobe Photos.

Since the idea of Prelude is to welcome the Christmas and holiday season in general, it’s always some time between Thanksgiving and mid-December. For 2024, Kennebunkport Prelude is December 5-15, 2024.

Last year, part of the Prelude kickoff was Pajama Shopping Day in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. It happens on Small Business Saturday. However, this year Prelude is starting a week later.

Christmas tree lightings at Kennebunkport Prelude

Because this is a holiday event, you can expect a tree lighting. Actually, there are multiple ones. And in 2024 two happen on the same day, just about an hour apart.

The first tree lighting is in Dock Square, in downtown Kennebunkport. Dock Square already has an evergreen tree in the middle of the square, which is the one they light up for Prelude. That tree lighting happens on Friday, December 6 at 5:30 p.m.

The other tree lighting is in Cape Porpoise. There, they build a tree made from lobster traps. Then, they add lights to it. The Cape Porpoise Lobster Trap Tree Lighting is Friday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m.

Christmas tree in Dock Square, Kennbunkport. Photo credit: Leah Ingram.

Then there are additional tree lightings in the Kennebunk Lower Village as well as a second tree lighting in Dock Square one week after the first.

Prelude pooch parade

Feel free to dress your dogs up in ugly Christmas sweaters or other festive holiday attire for the annual Prelude pooch parade on Sunday, December 15 at 11 a.m. In 2024, it will be the 14th annual parading of the pooches and their humans.

The parade begins on School Street in Kennebunkport at 11 a.m. Then, it proceeds to Maine Street and finally onto Ocean Avenue — all in Kennebunkport.

More Kennebunkport Prelude happenings

You can expect lots of other events to pop up during the Prelude period. For example, last year restaurants had special menus and pricing. Bars created signature cocktails for patrons to enjoy. And, there are always arts and crafts activities. We’re constantly updating the calendar of events, which you’ll find at the bottom of this page.

Keep an Eye one the Prelude Facebook Page

This article can help you, overall, with things to do in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Kennebunkport Prelude is a family-friendly activity to get you ready for the holidays. It’s great for families with young children as well as teens. In fact, if you’re world travelers and you’ve enjoyed European Christmas markets for teens, I’m confident they’ll also love checking out the Christmas markets in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport during Prelude. However, if you’re looking to get out of Maine for a family holiday, here are other Christmas vacation spots in the US.

Things To Do in the Kennebunks and Arundel This Week

Here are some events going on in the Kennebunks and Arundel in the next seven days.

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Free and Cheap Things To Do in Southern Maine This Week

Here are FREE and cheap things to do in Southern Maine in the coming week.

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Federal Jacks Kennebunk

8 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
(207) 967-4322

Visit Website Get Directions

Vinegar Hill

53 Old Post Road
Arundel, ME 04046
207-985-5552

Visit Website Get Directions

Seashore Trolley Museum

195 Log Cabin Road
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207-967-2800

Visit Website Get Directions

Louis T. Graves Memorial Library, Kennebunkport

18 Maine Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
(207) 967-2778

Visit Website Get Directions

The Nonantum Resort

95 Ocean Avenue
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207-967-4050

Visit Website Get Directions

The Shops at Morning Walk

2 Morning Walk Lane
Kennebunk, ME 04043

Get Directions

Auntie’s House Bakery

155 Port Rd
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207 204-0338

Visit Website Get Directions

Maine Art Hill

5 Chase Hill Rd
Kennebunk, ME 04043
(207) 967-2803

Visit Website Get Directions

The Creative Soul

2 Christensen Lane
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-227-6166

Visit Website Get Directions

River Tree Arts

35 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-967-9120

Visit Website Get Directions

Rococo Dessert Bar

8 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
(207) 360-0804

Visit Website Get Directions

The Waterhouse Center

51 Main Street
Kennebunk, ME 04043

Visit Website Get Directions

White Barn Inn

37 Beach Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
(833) 242-8847

Visit Website Get Directions

Masonic Lodge Kennebunkport

10 North Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04043

Visit Website Get Directions

White Columns Kennebunkport Historical Society

8 Maine Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207-967-2751

Visit Website Get Directions

The Pilot House

2 Harbor Lane
Kennebunk, ME 04043
https://www.thepilothouseme.com/

Get Directions

Coffee Roasters of the Kennebunks

163 Port Road
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-967-8304

Visit Website Get Directions

Kennebunkport Captains Collection

6 Pleasant Street,
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
(207)967-3141

Visit Website Get Directions

Snug Harbor Farm

87 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
(207) 967-2414

Visit Website Get Directions

The Center

175 Port Road
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-967-8514

Visit Website Get Directions

Mornings in Paris Kennebunk

21 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
(207) 204-0032

Visit Website Get Directions

Dock Square Coffee House

18 Dock Square
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207-967-4422

Visit Website Get Directions

Dock Square Kennebunkport

Dock Square
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Get Directions

Cape Porpoise Square

172 Main Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Get Directions

Alisson’s Restaurant

11 Dock Square
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207-967-4841

Visit Website Get Directions

Atlantic Hall

173 Main Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207-967-5668

Visit Website Get Directions

Church on the Cape

3 Langsford Road
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Visit Website Get Directions

Village Baptist Church

6 Maine Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207-967-3240

Visit Website Get Directions

Consolidated School

25 School Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Visit Website Get Directions

Chez Rosa

Cross Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
(207) 204-0183

Visit Website Get Directions

Via Sophia by the Sea

27 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043

Visit Website Get Directions

Town House School

135 North Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Visit Website Get Directions

Hurlbutt Designs

51 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-967-4110

Visit Website Get Directions

Rosella KPT

1 Chase Hill
Kennebunk, ME 04043
(207) 967-6540

Visit Website Get Directions

Earth at Hidden Pond

354 Goose Rocks Road
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
(207) 967-6550

Visit Website Get Directions

Maine & Vine

45 Ocean Avenue
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207-967-9171

Visit Website Get Directions

KW Contemporary Art

184 Port Road
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-204-0480

Visit Website Get Directions

Kennebunk Outfitters

51 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-204-0499

Visit Website Get Directions

Spa Voyage

21 Western Ave #HI
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-313-9114

Visit Website Get Directions

Lower Village Tree Lighting

Christensen Lane and Route 35
Kennebunk, ME 04043

Get Directions

Franciscan Monastery

28 Beach Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
(207) 967-2011

Visit Website Get Directions

Kennebunkport Conservation Trust

57 Gravelly Brook Road
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Visit Website Get Directions

Kennebunkport Fire Department

32 North Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Visit Website Get Directions

South Congregational Church

2 North Street
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207.967.2793

Visit Website Get Directions

Cape Porpoise Kitchen

1 Mills Road
Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Visit Website Get Directions

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Posted by Leah Ingram on November 17, 2024 | Updated February 25, 2025 Filed Under: Christmas · Prelude

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