Christmas Stroll – Nantucket

Okay, there’s summer on Nantucket–paradise, there’s fall on Nantucket–heaven, and then there’s Christmas on Nantucket, specifically Nantucket Christmas Stroll which takes place the first weekend in December.

Now you all know how I feel about fall on Nantucket, and I really love summers too, but there’s something magical about Christmas time on this island. If you haven’t realized it yet, you should really just come on over and experiencing this quaint island for yourself. I don’t think it’s fair to compare the other two seasons to Christmas on Nantucket simply because “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”!!! So I’m just going to bring you through the screen to get a glimpse of what this little island can do during the holidays–it was my fourth Stroll and it just get’s better every year! Enjoy the photos of my Nantucket Stroll below!

Nantucket Christmas Stroll started in the 70s as a way to encourage locals to stay on Nantucket to do their Christmas shopping rather than go off island to the Cape Cod mall. The local shops decided to stay open late on the first Friday of December welcoming customers with mulled wine, cider, and Christmas cookies. Since then it has exploded into a full fledged weekend with tourists coming on island in droves to partake in a Nantucket Christmas Stroll. Revelers wear funky holiday fasteners and roam the town shopping, eating, and drinking. The restaurants are full to the brim with strollers warming up over long lunches all the while in the midst of a town that is gussied up in the most charming evergreen wreaths, garlands, and christmas lights! It’s seriously like Christmas Pinterest blew up all over Nantucket. It looks straight out of a storybook–something this California girl has never experienced before.

Coffee and pastries to start the day! Having a bit of a Holly Golightly moment here ^

A large decorated Christmas tree crowns the top of Main Street.

I just love a local book shop! I always make sure to get at least one Christmas present here.

What would Christmas be without a gingerbread house?

Every year a small Christmas tree is placed in this dingy which provides a popular locale for a photo stop!

Checking out some festive bowties–I’m obsessed with plaid this Christmas!

The chaos that is Nantucket Stroll…^ One bartender I chatted with this weekend called it a “cold figawi weekend”!

I always make sure to stop by Young’s Bike Shop holiday party to hang with some friends and check out their bike tree. So creative! It’s always designed each year by the mechanics here.

“Your Clean Beauty Journey Starts Here”

This is my FAVORITE store on Nantucket, and I always make sure to stop in on Stroll to stock up because it is usually their last weekend until April! The girls that work here are the SWEETEST and they are really educated about their products. Here is my follain spiel:

If you eat healthy, workout, and generally take care of your body you should also be checking the products you use in your skincare and beauty routine–the beauty industry in the US does not strictly regulate the ingredients we use on our skin (our bodies largest organ!) which can be toxic and dangerous. Checkout Follain if you live in Boston, DC, or New York (their first pop-up in NYC just landed in Soho!), and you will learn so much! I love being able to walk into their store knowing anything I purchase is fully vetted by their safety standards. My favorite product is their refillable soaps and glass soap bottles <3 … Hi Ashley and Tara!

After a day of strolling the streets of Nantucket I’m usually ready to curl up with a glass of wine and listen to ALL THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC! If you’re braver than I, you can always venture into town for a merry dinner and lively drinks…everyone is in the holiday spirit! Make sure to make reservations if you do. I love Stroll weekend even if it can get a bit crazy. And after the weekend is over, I still get to enjoy all the quant, quintessential, charming christmas decorations sprinkled through town all December long.

How about you, have you ever been to Nantucket for Christmas or Stroll weekend? Do you love it as much as I do!?!

Many thanks to Lindsay Scouras for photographing our day! She’s an amazing fashionista with a fashion blog over on lindzlook.com which you should definitely take a look at. This girl puts all of us to shame everyday at work with her amazing style!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!