There’s something special about celebrating the holiday season on the Cape, as the region takes you back to a simpler time when Christmas was about spending time with friends and family rather than gifts. Cape Cod gives the rare opportunity to get away from it all and spend your Christmas in peace, enjoying the frozen ponds, cranberry bread, and snow-covered dunes for which winters around here are known.

However, it might surprise you to learn that Christmas wasn’t really celebrated on the Cape during its early days. Many of the Puritans who first settled in the region thought of Christmas as an English custom and wished to distance themselves from it as much as possible. The holiday was barely recognized in the 1600s and 1700s, and newspapers from the 1830s and 1840s barely mention Christmas at all.

By 1850, though, newspaper articles written in December started focusing on Christmas and the events leading up to December 25. This trend continued into the 1860s, with festivals and gatherings becoming the norm.

Of course, Christmas remains a big deal on Cape Cod, and the area has some traditions you’ll want to check out. Here’s a look at four things you can do this holiday season to spend your Christmas on the Cape like a local.

1) The Lobster Pot Tree

The Lobster Pot Tree is a holiday tradition in Provincetown dating back to 2004. At that time, artist Julian Popko wanted to design a Christmas tree paying homage to the region’s lobster fishers, so he created a tree made entirely out of lobster traps.

This tree lights up during a special ceremony in late November and stays on throughout the holidays, so make sure you check it out if you book a vacation rental near Provincetown. You’ll find the tree at Lopes Square in the community’s downtown area at the corner of Commercial Street and Standish Street.

2) The Polar Express

You’ve likely read The Polar Express or seen the movie of the same name, but did you know you can ride this train during your Cape Cod vacation? The Polar Express departs from Buzzards Bay Train Station on weekends and select weeknights between late November and December 23, giving you the chance to take your family onboard for a holiday event you won’t soon forget.

The trip takes about an hour and a half as it winds through the Cape and allows your children to relive this famous Christmas story. There will be actors onboard playing various roles, and the journey culminates at the North Pole, where Santa will board the train and meet the kids.

You’ll want to book your tickets on this train early because they always sell out. After all, it’s one of the Cape’s favorite Christmas traditions.

3) A Falmouth Theatre Guild Performance

The Falmouth Theatre Guild always has some special Christmas performances around the holidays, and locals flock to see what they have in store for the season. In 2023, a performance of It’s a Wonderful Life: The Musical will hit the stage, giving you the rare opportunity to see this classic story performed live.

The play will be active every weekend in December until the 17th, so if you head to the Cape before the holidays, you’ll have the chance to check it out. There are evening and matinee performances, as well, making it easier to get there with or without the kids.

4) Holidays at Highfield

The 17th annual Holidays at Highfield is coming to Highfield Hall & Gardens this holiday season, featuring Christmas scenes in every room and an artisan craft market to explore. This popular event must be seen to be believed, as decorators go all out, transforming the building into various scenes from Christmases past.

This year’s theme is Holidays Through the Generations and will feature scenes starting in the 1800s and continuing through the modern day. The event runs until December 10, 2023, so you’ll have to arrive on a Cape a bit early if you’re interested.

Christmas on Cape Cod

Taking a Christmastime vacation to the Cape puts you in an area known for its history, and much of that history is still visible to this day. Wandering the streets at night takes you past Victorian homes and windswept snow drifts, making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to experience the holidays in their past form.

The entire region also moves at a slow pace around the holidays as the crowds have left for the winter, leaving serenity in their wake. If you’re considering a getaway this holiday season, Cape Cod has everything you’re looking for, as these traditions are just the icing on the cake.