Marblehead's Christmas Walk and Old Town
The Christmas Walk is listed for Dec. 3 to 6. Plus Abbot Hall, Fort Sewall and the bus to Wonderland, with the hours the town posts.
The Marblehead Tourism Alliance lists this year’s Christmas Walk for Thursday, December 3 through Sunday, December 6, with this program:
- Thursday, Dec. 3: evening preview shopping in the Historic District.
- Friday, Dec. 4: the town tree lighting at National Grand Bank.
- Saturday, Dec. 5: Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by lobster boat at State Street Landing, followed by the holiday parade.
- All weekend: an Artisan Market at Abbot Hall, a Gingerbread Festival at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, and shopping along the Historic District, Atlantic Avenue and Pleasant Street.
Last year the Marblehead Current reported the tree lighting starting at 5:30 pm in the National Grand parking lot, Santa landing at 9 am and the parade stepping off on State Street at 11:45 am. Check the Alliance’s page and the Current for this year’s times. Chamber of Commerce vice president Gene Arnould described the walk to the Current as “a party that Marblehead throws for itself each December.”
Abbot Hall
Abbot Hall, at 188 Washington Street, is the town’s civic building. The town’s posted hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8 am to 5 pm, Wednesday 8 am to 6 pm and Friday 8 am to 12:30 pm. The extra weekend touring hours run from Memorial Day weekend to October 19, so in November the building is a weekday visit.
The town’s history page says the original 1684 deed, by which the heirs of the Naumkeag sachem Nanepashemet sold the land that is now Marblehead to the town for sixteen pounds, hangs in the Selectmen’s room at Abbot Hall.
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Fort Sewall
Fort Sewall, at 11 Fort Sewall Lane, guards the mouth of the harbor. The town’s history page tells the 1814 story: the frigate USS Constitution was chased by two British frigates, Marblehead crewmen piloted her into the harbor, and the British turned back when they saw cannons being readied at the fort. The same page says that in 1997 the Constitution sailed to Marblehead again for her 200th birthday, and more than 100,000 people came to watch.
The harbor
The town’s history page describes a fishing port that peaked before the gale of September 19, 1846, which cost the fleet at least eleven vessels and 65 men and boys. Marblehead turned to pleasure sailing afterward, and the harbor has hosted international races. The same page notes that some residents still make their living as fishermen and lobstermen.
Getting there
MBTA bus 441 runs between Marblehead and Wonderland Station via Paradise Road, and bus 442 runs the same route via Humphrey Street. Check the MBTA pages for the 441 and the 442 for times, especially on a busy Christmas Walk weekend.
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Sources
- Marblehead Tourism Alliance: Christmas Walk 2026visitmarbleheadma.com
- Marblehead Current: 54th Christmas Walkmarbleheadcurrent.org
- Town of Marblehead: Our Historymarbleheadma.gov
- Town of Marblehead: About Marbleheadmarbleheadma.gov
- Town of Marblehead: Fort Sewallmarbleheadma.gov
- MBTA: Route 441mbta.com
- MBTA: Route 442mbta.com
Details such as dates, hours and prices come from the sources above and can change. Check with the organizer before you go.
How we report: every date, price and address comes from a linked source.
