Bristol’s Christmas Festival is Back and More Beautiful Than Ever
This year's theme is an al fresco European-style holiday market.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas again. Bristol is staging an intimate European-style holiday market as part of its annual Christmas Festival. The town’s Grand Illumination takes place Dec. 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., including the lighting up of the downtown and tree. The following weekend, on Dec. 10 and 11, visitors can spend Festival Weekend browsing the holiday market that includes handmade European-style huts in front of the Burnside Building at 400 Hope Street. Inspired by fare you would find over in Europe, vendors will sell everything from German pretzels and bratwurst to hot chocolate and mulled wine by Two Gals Cocktails (for the adults). Inside the Burnside Building, there will be crafts projects available for kids as well as visits with Santa. The market continues nearby at the Bristol Maritime Center, where there will be more holiday-themed gifts made by local craftspeople. Visitors can also marvel at an Old-World Santa living demonstration and different carving exhibitions as well as be on the lookout for roaming period-dressed carolers. At night time, the town will be illuminated by thousands of dazzling lights while various restaurants are waiting to welcome visitors with holiday decorations, entertainment and special offers. Establishments such as Linden Place and Unity Park will also be open and ready to add their festive flare to the weekend. Dec. 10, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Dec. 11, noon–6 p.m. 400 Hope St., Bristol, christmasbristolri.com
