Photo: © Robert Dennis / Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce
Imagine the Atlantic on a crisp winter morning. Waves roll toward a nearly empty beach, snow dusts the rocky shoreline, and the usual summer bustle has given way to something wonderfully peaceful.
Welcome to winter in the Kennebunks.
Along Maine’s southern coast, Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, and Arundel take on a different kind of beauty when winter arrives. The pace slows. The crowds thin. And suddenly, it feels as though you have this quintessential corner of coastal Maine almost to yourself.
Embrace the Outdoors
Bundle up and start outside. Walk a quiet stretch of beach with the cold Atlantic air on your face, or head into the woods, where snow-covered trails invite you to explore on snowshoes or cross-country skis. Or lace up your skates at the Waterhouse Center in downtown Kennebunk, where the covered outdoor rink offers winter fun for all ages.
Then comes one of winter’s greatest pleasures: warming up. Step inside a local restaurant for a leisurely lunch or dinner. Find a cozy corner beside a roaring fire, order a cocktail or something warm, and settle in. The Kennebunks’ acclaimed dining scene is just as enticing in winter, but this time of year there’s more opportunity to slow down and savour it.
Choose accommodations near the water as part of your winter escape, where you can wake to views of the Atlantic, spend the day exploring, and return to the warmth of a fireplace as evening settles over the coast.
Celebrate the Season
And while winter here can be wonderfully quiet, there are times when the towns come alive.
In early December, Christmas Prelude transforms Kennebunkport and Lower Village Kennebunk into a holiday celebration filled with twinkling lights, greenery, and traditions that have delighted generations. Celebrating its 45th year in 2026, the 11-day festival includes tree lightings, carolling, fireworks, a street festival, and one particularly Maine arrival: Santa Claus coming to town by lobster boat.
Return in February, and you’ll find the Kennebunks dressed for another occasion. During Paint the Town Red, the communities celebrate romance all month long with special dining offers, shopping, accommodation packages, and experiences—an inviting excuse for a midwinter getaway for two.
Of course, you don’t need a special event to enjoy winter here.
Discover at Your Own Pace
Browse the locally owned shops and galleries of Dock Square and Lower Village, then discover the history around every corner. Grand homes of sea captains and shipbuilders recall the region’s maritime past, while Cape Porpoise remains a working fishing village where generations have made their living from the sea. Take a scenic drive along the coast and past Walker’s Point, the iconic Bush family summer home perched dramatically above the Atlantic.
Walk the beach. Explore the trails. Savour an exceptional meal. Or simply sit beside the fire and enjoy having nowhere you need to be.
Perhaps that’s the real secret of winter in the Kennebunks. This is a place that embraces the season—with snow-covered landscapes, outdoor adventures, warm hospitality, wonderful food, and the ever-present beauty of the Atlantic.
For Canadians who already know that some of the best getaways happen when the temperature drops, the Kennebunks offer something comfortably familiar, yet distinctly Maine.
Come discover our secret season. And let the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce help you plan your winter escape.
Discover the Kennebunks this winter—where the warmth of Maine meets the beauty of the coast.
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The Kennebunks offer a timeless coastal escape, where working fishing villages, world-class restaurants, charming shops and galleries, and luxurious inns meet the rugged beauty of Maine’s shoreline. With plenty of space to explore the outdoors, unwind and reconnect, the Kennebunks invite visitors to experience the best of Maine’s coast.