Christmas in Vermont: Manchester Holidays

Christmas in Vermont is about small-town traditions, snow on the Green Mountains and evenings by the fire. In Manchester, the season begins on Sunday, December 6, 2026, with the Tree Lighting at The Equinox on the Lincoln Lawn, and continues through Christmas week with holiday shopping, a historic home dressed for Christmas and the first ski days of the season.

Stay at The Equinox, Vermont’s oldest hotel and a Manchester Village landmark since 1769, and plan a few unhurried December days around the town’s holiday calendar.

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Why Manchester Is a Classic Vermont Christmas Town

Manchester is one of the Christmas towns in Vermont that feel made for December. Manchester Village has white clapboard buildings, marble sidewalks and the historic facade of The Equinox, while Manchester Center a short drive away is full of shops, cafes and holiday windows.

The town is small enough to explore on foot and well placed for Southern Vermont’s ski areas, so a Vermont Christmas vacation here can include a morning on the mountain, an afternoon of shopping and dinner in a building that has hosted travelers for more than 250 years.

Things to Do in Manchester

Holiday Events in Manchester

Manchester’s holiday calendar fills up through December, with events at the resort and around town.

Holiday Event	When	What to Expect
Tree Lighting at The Equinox	Sunday, December 6, 2026	A holiday evening on the Lincoln Lawn with music, seasonal treats and activities, and the lighting of the tree.
Manchester Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade	Early December	Lighted tractors and floats along Main Street in Manchester Center, with Santa, hot cider and cocoa along the route.
An Old-Fashioned Christmas at Hildene	Most of December	The Lincoln family home dressed for Christmas Eve 1912, with fresh greens, carols and a candle-lit tree.
Equinox Wine & Cheese Series	Thursdays, including December 3	New England and other cheeses paired with wine at The Equinox.
Wednesday $20 Burgers & Brews	Wednesdays, 5 to 9 pm	A burger and a draft Equinox Lager for $20 at Marsh Tavern or Falcon Bar.
Floating Sound Bath	Friday, December 18	Water, sound and stillness in the spa pool, held on the third Friday of each month.
Daily Fitness Classes	Daily	Yoga, Pilates and aqua workouts at The Equinox.

View the Equinox Events Calendar

An Old-Fashioned Christmas at Hildene

A visit to Hildene, the Lincoln family home in Manchester, is one of the most distinctive ways to experience Christmas in Vermont. Each December, the house is dressed as it would have looked on Christmas Eve 1912, when Robert and Mary Lincoln spent the holiday there.

Expect fresh greens in every room, fires in the fireplaces, a 10-foot tree trimmed with popcorn, beads and vintage ornaments, and carols played on the home’s Aeolian organ. In 2025, the experience ran from December 4 to 29, with Hildene closed December 23 to 25, so plan your visit for earlier in Christmas week.

Distance from The Equinox: a short drive south on Route 7A
Best for: history lovers, families and multigenerational trips
Tip: Hildene’s Museum Store is open without admission, and is a good stop for Vermont-made gifts

Holiday Shopping in Manchester

Manchester is one of the best places in Southern Vermont to tick off a holiday gift list. Manchester Designer Outlets brings brand-name stores together in Manchester Center, and the Northshire Bookstore is a local favorite for books, cards and stocking stuffers.

Mix in independent boutiques and galleries, then warm up with a drink back at Falcon Bar. For a gift that brings someone to Vermont, Equinox gift cards can go toward a stay, a spa visit or dinner at the resort.

Shop Equinox Gift Cards

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Manchester

Christmas week is the time to slow down. Spend Christmas Eve afternoon at The Spa at The Equinox, with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub, then settle in for dinner at Marsh Tavern, where travelers have gathered since 1769.

On Christmas morning, take a walk through Manchester Village, borrow a resort sled for the hill at Burr & Burton Academy when there is snow, or toast marshmallows with a s’mores kit from the Front Desk. Holiday dining details are shared on the resort’s events calendar as they are confirmed, and reservations are recommended.

For Christmas week, the Three Nights, Three Surprises offer includes 5% off the Best Flexible Rate and three surprises valued at $50 each, for stays of three nights or more between December 1, 2026 and January 3, 2027.

View the Holiday Offer Explore the Spa

The Start of Ski Season

Stratton Mountain village in winter

December also marks the start of ski season in Southern Vermont, which makes a Christmas trip to Manchester a good fit for skiers. For the 2026 to 2027 season, Stratton is projected to open around November 18 and Bromley around November 27, though opening dates always depend on snow and weather.

Bromley is around 10 miles from The Equinox, and guests can purchase lift tickets at the Front Desk. Stratton is about 20 miles away, with a complimentary Equinox shuttle on Saturdays and Sundays. Prefer to stay off the slopes? Go skating at Riley Rink, a few minutes from the resort.

See mountain details and shuttle times on our skiing in Southern Vermont page.

Skiing in Southern Vermont

Plan a Christmas Stay at The Equinox

Choose the setting that suits your holiday. The Main Inn places you at the center of the resort, steps from dining and the spa. The Orvis Inn offers suites with more living space, and the Vacation Rentals give families room to gather, with kitchens and shared space for opening gifts together.

Staying into the New Year? The Winter Dine & Dream offer, for stays from November 27, 2026 through March 31, 2027, includes a $50 food and beverage credit and a 50% reduced resort fee.

Book Your Christmas Stay Winter Dine & Dream Offer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manchester, Vermont a good place to spend Christmas?

Yes. Manchester combines a historic village setting with holiday events, shopping, dining and nearby skiing, so it suits couples, families and multigenerational groups planning a Vermont Christmas vacation.
Is The Equinox open over Christmas?

Yes. The Equinox welcomes guests year-round, including Christmas week, with dining, the spa and resort activities available during the holiday season.
Does it snow in Vermont at Christmas?

Snow is common in Southern Vermont by late December, but it is never guaranteed in the valley around Manchester. Nearby ski areas use snowmaking, so mountain days are usually possible even when town is green.
What other Christmas towns in Vermont are near Manchester?

Dorset is a short drive north, and Weston, home of The Vermont Country Store, is an easy day trip from Manchester. Both pair well with a stay at The Equinox.

Christmas in Vermont: A Guide to the Holiday Season in Manchester