For the past 30 years, the four-hour Winter Stroll has been Nashua’s flagship event to usher in the Holiday Season. Courtesy photo/Downtown Nashua Association

NASHUA – Less than a month after being named the country’s best city to move to, Nashua was recognized as the nation’s sixth most popular Christmas destination by MRI Software.

The results of the MRI study, which are based on data from Eventbrite, showed Nashua with 880 Christmas activities and 27 activities per square mile. This puts the Gate City ahead of Manchester, Worcester, Mass., Warwick, R.I. and Buffalo, N.Y.

For the past 30 years, the four-hour Winter Stroll has been Nashua’s flagship event to usher in the Holiday Season. Drawing a crowd of more than 30,000, the Winter Stroll is recognized as one of the premier holiday events in the state.

Presented by the Downtown Nashua Association, the event transforms Main Street into a magical winter wonderland that lights up downtown. This year’s event began at the Performing Arts Center with a candlelight procession led by Santa Claus, Mayor James Donchess and a special guest. The procession concluded at the new Riverfront Pavilion where the city’s majestic 25-foot Christmas tree was lit.

This year’s Winter Stroll also featured new attractions including a synthetic ice skating rink, a 40-foot, three-lane snow tubing slide and a Little Locomotive trackless train.

Other holiday celebrations throughout the city include the Holly Day Fair, the Olde‒Fashioned Christmas Fair, the Lafayette Club’s Holiday Fair, Santa in the Park, the Holly Jolly Craft Fair as well as the Yule Festival and Artisan’s Fair.

“We deserve to be on this list, the Holiday Stroll is an iconic event that kicks off the Christmas season every year like no other event in New England,” said Alderman-at-Large Benjamin Clemons. “We have a festive downtown, great restaurants, shops, free parking in the garages during the holidays and great Christmas shows.”

Ward 8 Alderman Derek Thibeault also spoke highly of Nashua’s ranking.

“I love that we were ranked sixth, just another honor that Nashua has been bestowed with,” he said. “It says a lot about our city leadership, our businesses and the citizens that make for such a great holiday city.”

Ward 3 Alderwoman Patricia Klee said she attended the recent Santa in the Park event.

“The smiles on the children proves that Nashua does things right,” she said. “There were children who jumped up and down and ran into Santa’s lap to share their Christmas wishes with him, the excitement and joy were palpable.”

Jennifer Bishop, president of the Board of Education, said the holiday season is about “celebrating each other.”

“From our Holiday Stroll, beautifully decorated downtown and new riverfront it’s easy to see why Nashua ranks so high,” she said. “I hope this brings more people to our little spot to experience everything Nashua has to offer.”

Wendy Hunt, president and CEO of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, said the city’s holiday decorations are always dazzling.

“It brings a smile to my face every day when I come down off Concord Street and onto Main Street,” she said. “Shopping and dining are fantastic throughout the Greater Nashua region and that tax-free shopping draws many day visitors from surrounding states. Outdoor winter recreation is also a big draw for both locals and visitors alike.”

Earlier this year, WalletHub ranked Nashua as the fifth best run city in the U.S. In 2022, it was ranked as the safest city in New England and the second safest city in the country.