Blue Ocean Event Center on Salisbury Beach presents their 7th Annual Sea Festival of Trees, open to the public from Saturday, November 23 through Sunday, December 8. The 15-day holiday wonderland by the sea, presented by Newburyport Bank, is a giant maze of sparkling holiday trees, holiday stage performances, an ice rink, visits with Santa and other fun characters, a giant gingerbread house, Santa’s Treetop Shop, and a Festival Café.
Local individuals, businesses, and organizations generously donated all the six- to ten-foot trees, beautifully decked out in sparkly tinsel and extravagant colors. All the trees will be raffled off to lucky winners, and proceeds benefit Salisbury Beach Partnership and the Fund to Bring Back the Historic Carousel.
On display through mid-January is New England’s largest whimsical confectionary creation. Designed and hand-built by Amesbury resident Jim Shalkoski, this year’s giant gingerbread house features the Abominable Snow Monster of the North and a bevy of bumbles mischievously wreaking havoc on Santa’s magical village. Read more about the gingerbread house and its creation here: Salisbury Baker Stars in Food Network Special.
No hats, gloves, and jackets are required as you take a spin on the Seaside Winter Wonderland Ice Skating Rink. Skate to holiday music with breathtaking views of the ocean on nearly 1,500 square feet of artificial ice. Rental skates are available for $5 per person. The 30 x 45 foot rink is open during festival hours and free with admission.
Donning his big red suit in a big red velvet chair, Santa poses for holiday photos. Visit with Santa and receive a candy cane. Children are also invited to write their wish list on the Festival’s special Santa stationery and mail the letter in the authentic North Pole Express mailbox.
Each beautifully decorated tree will go home with a lucky winner. For only $5, ticket buyers receive 25 chances to enter to win one or more trees—each one valued between $100 and $1,000. Each ticket buyer is invited to place as many raffle tickets as they would like in the tree(s) of their choice. When the Festival closes, one lucky winner will be drawn for each tree.
Check out the festival’s full schedule of events here, including happenings like the Polar Express Pajama Party and Brunch. Or, visit for the daily activities, like a scavenger hunt, Santa’s Treetop Shop, or dinner at Seaglass Restaurant.
Don’t miss Northshore magazine’s tree, offering the lucky winner eight tickets to our Grand Tasting event on March 5 at Blue Ocean.
