Every summer, something extraordinary happens on Nantucket. While the island fills with sailboats and salty breezes, a small Massachusetts studio brings Christmas to the coast, and collectors return year after year for it. Vaillancourt's annual Christmas in July Pop-Up at Nantucket Looms is both a tradition and a tribute to Nantucket itself. Now in its nineteenth year, the event has become one of the island's most anticipated summer traditions for Christmas collectors and folk art enthusiasts alike. This July, it marks the premiere of the 2026 Nantucket Santa, O, The Whale.
Vaillancourt Folk Art's 2026 Nantucket Santa: O, The Whale
The nineteenth annual Nantucket Santa is, by any measure, one of the most dramatic figures in the acclaimed Nantucket Santa Series from Vaillancourt Folk Art. The 2026 Nantucket Santa, O, The Whale, depicts Santa riding in a classic dory with his gift sack at his side. A small companion is nestled amongst the toys, and beneath the boat, lifting it gently from the water, is the great white whale, Moby Dick.
The scene balances whimsy and weight in a way that only Vaillancourt seems to pull off: playful, yet deeply rooted in Nantucket history. Inspired by the island's whaling heritage, O, The Whale blends Christmas artistry with maritime storytelling, making it one of the most distinctive limited-edition Christmas collectibles in the series. Subtle touches of glitter catch the light across the rolling waves, giving the hand-painted figure a quiet shimmer that rewards a second look.
Like every Nantucket Santa collectible, this piece is poured into a custom mould, sculpturally interpreted by Judi Vaillancourt, hand-painted in oils, and signed at the Vaillancourt Folk Art studio in Sutton, Massachusetts.
Premier Numbers 1 through 15 are reserved exclusively for the Nantucket Looms Christmas in July event. Collectors seeking the lowest edition numbers, often considered the most desirable among serious Christmas collectors, should plan to arrive early.
The Nantucket Santa Series
The Nantucket Santa Series traces its origins back to the summer of 2008. That year, Vaillancourt participated in a retail show at Bartlett's Farm benefiting Small Friends, an early education school on the island. To complement the event, Judi created a single nautical-themed Santa. No one imagined it would become the foundation of one of the most beloved Christmas collectible series in American folk art.
Eighteen years later, the collection spans more than 24 fine art chalkware figures, along with three Polish glass ornament variations, and the annual summer release has become one of the defining events on the Vaillancourt calendar. Past designs have celebrated Nantucket landmarks and traditions, including Brant Point Lighthouse, 19th-century whaling expeditions rendered with authentic scrimshaw-inspired detail, the U.S. Life-Saving Service, and the decorated dory in Easy Street Boat Basin.
Several past favorites will be on hand at this year's pop-up event, including Nautical Santa Riding Nantucket Whale and Santa Delivering Brant Point on Nantucket Dory, alongside other harder-to-find works from the archive. Luke M. Vaillancourt will be presenting the new design in person, sharing the stories behind the series and spending time with collectors and first-time visitors alike.
The Mind Behind the Masterpieces: Judi Vaillancourt
Judi Vaillancourt is the artist and co-founder of Vaillancourt Folk Art, which she and her husband Gary established in Sutton, Massachusetts in 1984. Over four decades, she has built one of the largest personal collections of vintage confectionery moulds in the world, with more than 3,000 pieces dating from the late nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth. She also developed a process for using them as the foundation of a distinctive art form she calls fine art chalkware.
The process begins with antique confectionery moulds, each poured with liquid chalk, then sculpted and finished entirely by hand using oil paints. Every piece is limited, signed, and rooted in historical research. Judi's background as both an artist and a Christmas historian shapes the work at every stage: the imagery she chooses, the details she sculpts, and the stories embedded in each thoughtful design.
"Pay close attention to each piece," she has said. "There are many small details of significance that might easily be overlooked." The advice reflects her approach to art making. Every figure that she creates rewards close observation, revealing layers of history, symbolism, and craftsmanship that are easy to miss at first glance.
Start New Summer Traditions at the Vaillancourt Christmas in July Pop-Up at Nantucket Looms
At Vaillancourt, they believe that Christmas traditions begin quietly, with a single piece, a visit, or a memory that becomes a part of a family's story. This summer, start a new story on Nantucket with the ones you hold most dear.
- Dates: Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st, 2026
- Admission: Free
- Street Address: Nantucket Looms, 51 Main St, Nantucket, MA 02554
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: Not specified
- Parking: Street parking available
- Website: https://valfa.com/event/christmas-in-july-pop-up-at-nantucket-looms/
Can't make it to Nantucket? Visit the Vaillancourt Retail Gallery in Sutton, Massachusetts or browse their full collection at valfa.com. And check out more of their holiday events in our Boston Christmas City Guides!
Photo Credit: All photos provided by Vaillancourt Folk Art
