Things to do with kids in York, ME
Checked · All times are local Eastern Time (York time)
Coming up in York: Nubble Lighthouse Holiday Lights (from Nov 28), Lighting of the Anchorage (Nov 28) and York Festival of Lights Parade (Dec 5). 6 always-open places, led by Nubble Lighthouse at Sohier Park, Long Sands Beach and Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region. Prices and hours come from each official site.
Christmas & holiday events: Santa and lights
Nubble Lighthouse Holiday Lights
- When
- Sat, Nov 28 – Mon, Feb 1
- Schedule
- Nightly
- Hours
- Lit each night; viewing hours aren't listed
- Cost
- No tickets listed; parking in Sohier Park is free
- Age
- All ages
- Setting
- Outdoor
Nubble Light wears its holiday lights every night through the season. See it from Sohier Park, across the water from Nubble Island.
✓ Checked Oct 31, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Lighting of the Anchorage
- When
- Sat, Nov 28
- Hours
- 4:30–7:30pm; Santa from 5pm; lighting and fireworks at 7pm
- Cost
- No admission listed; hot chocolate, s'mores ingredients and ice-bar drinks are for purchase
- Age
- All ages
- Setting
- Outdoor
York Beach's community celebration for the start of the Nubble holiday lights, across from Long Sands Beach: a live DJ, hot chocolate and fire pits, visits with Santa, then the inn's holiday lighting and fireworks. Free kids' face painting runs 1–5pm and free cookie decorating Fri, Nov 27, 3–5pm (call ahead to sign up for both).
✓ Checked Oct 31, 2026 on the organizer's official page
York Festival of Lights Parade
- When
- Sat, Dec 5
- Hours
- Starts promptly at 4:30pm; rain date Dec 6
- Cost
- No tickets listed (street parade)
- Age
- All ages
- Setting
- Outdoor
York's community holiday parade through York Village, with lit floats from local businesses and groups competing for Best Lights, Best Children's Float and Most Magical.
✓ Checked Oct 31, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Always-open family places
Most popular first: zoos, aquariums and museums, then nature spots, parks and libraries. Prices come from each official site; "Not stated" means the site doesn't list one.
Nubble Lighthouse at Sohier Park
- Price
- No admission listed; parking in the park is free
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
Town park on the rocks facing Nubble Light (Cape Neddick Light Station); free parking (about 50 spaces); restrooms and gift shop are seasonal (early May to mid-October)
✓ Price verified Oct 31, 2026 · source
Long Sands Beach
- Price
- See site
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
1.5 miles of sandy beach with tide pools between York Harbor and York Beach; restrooms at the bathhouse May to Columbus Day; kiosk parking $4/hour Apr 15 – Oct 31
✓ Price verified Oct 31, 2026 · source
Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region
- Price
- See site
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Trails open year-round dawn to dusk, with a road to the summit (gate open 7am to sunset Sep–Mar) and a universal-access summit loop; the Learning Lodge opens Sat–Sun noon–4pm from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day
✓ Price verified Oct 31, 2026 · source
Short Sands Beach & Ellis Park
- Price
- See site
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
Small sandy beach in York Beach village with a large sandy playground, basketball courts, gazebo and grassy park; kiosk parking $4/hour Apr 15 – Oct 31
✓ Price verified Oct 31, 2026 · source
York Public Library
- Price
- See site
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
Children's room and programs for birth to 4th grade; open Mon–Thu 10am–7pm, Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 10am–2pm
✓ Price verified Oct 31, 2026 · source
York Harbor Beach & Hartley Mason Park
- Price
- See site
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
Family beach with gentle surf and tide pools next to Hartley Mason Park's benches and shade trees; the Cliff Walk path is closed for storm damage
✓ Price verified Oct 31, 2026 · source
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do with kids in York this weekend?
Nubble Lighthouse at Sohier Park, Long Sands Beach and Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region are open most days, but we don't have a York event listed for this weekend (Oct 31–Nov 1). Next up: Nubble Lighthouse Holiday Lights (Nov 28) and Lighting of the Anchorage (Nov 28).
Where can kids play indoors in York when it's cold or snowy?
York Public Library (See site) is the indoor place we list in York.
When and where can kids see Santa in York?
We list 1 event with Santa in York: Lighting of the Anchorage (Nov 28).
Where can I take my kids to see Christmas lights in York?
We list 3 holiday light events in York: Nubble Lighthouse Holiday Lights (Nov 28 – Feb 1), Lighting of the Anchorage (Nov 28) and York Festival of Lights Parade (Dec 5). Our holiday lights guide for the York area has more nearby.
What is there to do with toddlers in York?
We list 5 places in York that welcome kids under 2, including Nubble Lighthouse at Sohier Park, Long Sands Beach and Short Sands Beach & Ellis Park. See all 5 above. Age ranges for places are our own guidance.
What are the big family attractions in York?
The best-known family attractions we list in York are Nubble Lighthouse at Sohier Park (No admission listed), Long Sands Beach (See site), Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region (See site) and Short Sands Beach & Ellis Park (See site). They're listed first under always-open places.
Our weekend search covers Phoenix Metro & Arizona for now, and more areas are coming soon. This guide is hand-checked the same way.
How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website and shows the date we checked it. Prices marked verified were copied from the venue's official site; others show an estimated price level or "Not stated". A place is called free only when its official site says so. Read how we verify listings · Arizona weekend search.
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