While many Nantucket Christmas Stroll activities and shopping options are centered along Main, Center, and Federal streets, there are special events a few steps off the main drag that you won’t want to miss December 5-7.
Santa arrives on Straight Wharf around noontime December 6, so before and after, stop by the GS Hill Gallery at 40 Straight Wharf for gifts of art and gorgeous pearl jewelry. Remember to enter their annual Stroll raffle (tickets available Dec. 5 & 6; drawing is at 4 pm Dec. 6). And while you’re on Straight Wharf, remember to buy your Authentic Boat Basin Shop limited edition Stroll Scarf and other holiday apparel at 33 Straight Wharf.
Thursday, December 4 through Stroll Saturday, jewelry designer Katherine Grover is hosting trunk shows featuring her stunning 24k gold jewelry in the Macy Warehouse, 12 Straight Wharf, from 11 am to 5 pm each day.
As you continue to walk toward Main Street, hang a right onto Easy Street:
you don’t want to miss seeing the iconic Christmas tree in the dory that is bobbing in the harbor. Right across from that perfect selfie spot is Eleish van Breems Home—this lovely shop is hosting their annual Tomte Contest: stop in, enter to win one of these whimsical Swedish guardians, and shop among EVB’s beautiful gifts and home accessories.
Stroll a little further down Easy Street, and you’ll see Barnaby’s to your left. This shop is just the place for parents and grandparents to find unique gifts for littles that inspire creativity! And during Stroll Weekend, Barnaby’s is offering fun holiday classes for kids: register at BarnabysWorld.com
Then head back to Easy Street to the Susan Lister Locke Gallery, across from the waterfront park. Susan hosts special Flash Sales during her sparkling celebration of Stroll Saturday, along with visits from Santa!
Then turn left at Broad Street/Steamboat Wharf and walk toward the Nantucket Whaling Museum Shop, where you’ll discover gifts that are exclusive and very much Nantucket. Then cross to South Beach Street where you can enter the members-only Nantucket Yacht Club—open to the public on December 5 and 6 from 9 am to 4 pm for Sustainable Nantucket’s Farmers & Artisan’s Holiday Market. Here you can explore a variety of handcrafted gifts from local small-makers: art, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, foods, and more.
Everyone wants to be on Main Street for the arrival of Santa just past noon. So either start your stroll off the beaten track on December 6 with a visit to St. Paul’s Church Christmas Market at 16 Fair Street. From 9:30 am to 3 pm, this special market has great shopping, a seated hot lunch from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and a silent auction that features gift items and experiences.
The more than 20 silent auction items include, among other unique experiences, a golf outing with lunch for 3 at Nantucket Golf Club, an afternoon sail of the Nantucket waters on a gorgeous 34′ yawl with refreshments, accommodations for a four-night winter getaway in Vermont, conversation and lunch at Nantucket Yacht Club with renowned island author Nat Philbrick. Also up for bid are traditional Nantucket weave baskets, needlepoint stockings, and an original water-color by MJ Levy Dickson.
An online preview of the silent auction begins Sunday, November 23 at givebutter. com/c/StPaulsStroll25 — it will go live online for bidding Friday, November 28. Online bidding will be on hold beginning 5 pm on December 5 until 5 pm Saturday, December 6, to accommodate in-person bidding during St. Paul’s Christmas Concert Friday evening and their Stroll Market on Saturday. The online silent auction at givebutter.com/c/StPaulsStroll25 will resume at 5 pm on Saturday, December 6, for one last chance to bid. Bidding closes at 12 noon on Sunday, December 7, when the winners will be declared.
In addition, St. Paul’s is raffling a VIVI electric bike starting Friday, November 28. The raffle will end online at givebutter.com/c/StPaulsStroll25 on Sunday, December 7 at 9 am. The winner will be drawn by Father Max during the 9:30 am Eucharist Service at St. Paul’s Church that Sunday.
Money raised from the St. Paul’s Christmas Market, silent auction, and raffle help support this church’s many community outreach programs, including: St. Paul’s Supper Program/Wednesday Suppers—a chef prepared meal delivered to people in need for whatever reason; St. Paul’s Bicycle Lending Library for visiting summer workers; Ready Set Read, an afternoon reading program for Nantucket Public School’s kindergartners; St. Paul’s School Snacks program for children at the Nantucket Community School; Laundry Love to provide laundry assistance to islanders who need a hand with its cost; and St. Paul’s newly launched Nantucket Toy Library at St. Paul’s in the Parish House as a joyful place for children to play, meet other kids, and borrow toys to take home, all at no cost.
Enjoy your off-the-beaten-track Christmas Stroll and happy holidays!
