Christmas Day 2025 falls on Thursday, Dec. 25, and for anyone still hunting down last-minute groceries, pharmacy items, or a forgotten ingredient, the big reality is this: most major retailers and grocery chains are closed on Christmas Day, and many locations close early on Christmas Eve (Wednesday, Dec. 24).
Below is a practical, updated guide for New Hampshire and Winnipeg, plus a quick national snapshot of the biggest U.S. chains that tend to shape holiday shopping plans.
The big picture for Christmas 2025: Expect early closures on Dec. 24 and widespread shutdowns on Dec. 25
Across North America, Christmas Eve often runs on reduced hours, and Christmas Day is one of the most common full-closure dates of the year. If you’re planning a quick run for produce, butter, batteries, baby formula, or cold medicine, the best strategy is to:
- shop earlier than you think you need to (especially on Dec. 24), and
- assume you’ll be relying on convenience stores and select pharmacies on Dec. 25.
This pattern is echoed in national retail and grocery guidance for Christmas 2025, including major chains that close fully on Dec. 25 and reopen on Dec. 26. AP News
New Hampshire grocery stores on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2025
In New Hampshire, the story is similar: big grocery stores largely shut down Christmas Day, and many are running shortened schedules on Christmas Eve.
Market Basket holiday hours in New Hampshire
Market Basket is a major grocery option across the region—and for Christmas 2025, its posted holiday messaging indicates:
- Christmas Eve (Dec. 24): open until 5 p.m.
- Christmas Day (Dec. 25): closed
That means if Market Basket is your main stop for last-minute essentials, the effective deadline is early evening on Wednesday—not late night. Facebook
Hannaford: early Christmas Eve hours and closed on Christmas Day
Hannaford store pages in New Hampshire show a clear holiday schedule for the week of Christmas:
- Wednesday (Dec. 24): reduced hours (commonly ending at 6 p.m.)
- Thursday (Dec. 25): closed
Because store hours can vary by location (some stores open earlier than others), it’s smart to confirm your specific town’s listing, but the consistent headline is “close early on Dec. 24, closed on Dec. 25.” Hannaford
Shaw’s: reduced Christmas Eve hours, closed on Christmas Day
Shaw’s locations in New Hampshire similarly show:
- Dec. 24: reduced hours
- Dec. 25: closed
Store pages display the “close early, closed on Christmas” pattern that shoppers should plan around. Shaw’s
ALDI in New Hampshire: closes early on Dec. 24 and closed Dec. 25
ALDI’s New Hampshire store pages include explicit holiday notes and modified hours, including:
- Dec. 24: closes at 4 p.m.
- Dec. 25: closed
For shoppers using ALDI for budget staples, the window is shorter than many expect on Christmas Eve. ALDI US
Co-op Food Stores (NH/VT): closed Christmas Day, early close on Christmas Eve
For shoppers in the Upper Valley area and nearby communities, Co-op Food Stores list holiday guidance indicating:
- Closed on Christmas
- Closes at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve
These kinds of community grocery options are excellent for specialty items and local goods—but they, too, largely pause on Christmas Day. The Co-op Food Stores of NH and VT
New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet: closed on Christmas Day
If your holiday hosting list includes a bottle of wine or spirits, note that New Hampshire’s official liquor outlets state they are closed on Christmas. Liquor & Wine Outlets
Are any stores open on Christmas Day in New Hampshire?
In practical terms, Christmas Day shopping is usually limited to convenience and pharmacy-style stops, and even then, hours are often reduced.
National guidance for Christmas Day 2025 indicates:
- Walgreens stores are open on Christmas Day, though pharmacy hours can vary, and 24-hour locations keep operating. AP News
- Many CVS locations operate with modified hours (store-by-store variance is common). AP News
- Some convenience stores (like 7‑Eleven) are typically open. AP News
If you’re in New Hampshire and you absolutely must pick something up on Dec. 25, your best bet is usually:
- a 24-hour or extended-hours pharmacy location,
- a gas station convenience store, or
- a chain convenience store that reliably stays open on holidays.
Because local staffing and franchise policies differ, it’s worth checking the location listing before you drive—especially in smaller towns.
Winnipeg: What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2025
Winnipeg’s holiday schedule affects not just shopping, but also city services and transportation—particularly if you’re planning errands, travel across the city, or holiday activities.
City of Winnipeg holiday hours: civic offices, transit, libraries, and recreation
The City of Winnipeg’s posted holiday schedule includes several key dates and changes:
- Civic offices close at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24
- Closed all day Thursday, Dec. 25 and Friday, Dec. 26, and also Thursday, Jan. 1 City of Winnipeg
Winnipeg Transit runs on a Sunday schedule on:
- Dec. 25
- Dec. 26
- Jan. 1 City of Winnipeg
Winnipeg Public Libraries:
- On Dec. 24, branches are generally open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (with some branch-specific exceptions)
- Libraries are closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 (and Jan. 1) City of Winnipeg
Recycling & garbage collection:
- No recycling/garbage collection on Christmas Day
- Collection shifts one day later for routes on/after the holiday during the affected week(s) City of Winnipeg
Indoor pools and fitness/leisure centres:
- Many facilities close early on Dec. 24 and are closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 City of Winnipeg
If you’re planning outings, swims, workouts, or family activities, that city schedule is the most reliable place to confirm closures.
Manitoba Liquor Marts in Winnipeg: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day hours
For Winnipeg shoppers, Manitoba Liquor Marts publish store-by-store hours. One Winnipeg example (St. Vital Square Liquor Mart) shows:
- Wednesday, Dec. 24: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 25: Closed
- Friday, Dec. 26: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Manitoba Liquor Mart
That structure—close early on Christmas Eve, closed on Christmas Day, reopen Boxing Day with limited hours—is a common holiday pattern.
U.S. national snapshot: Is Walmart open on Christmas Day 2025? What about Target and Costco?
Even if you’re focused on local planning, the big national chains influence expectations—and they’re a common source of “wait, are they open?” confusion on Christmas Day.
Based on Christmas 2025 retail guidance:
Major retailers closed on Christmas Day
Expect closures at:
- Walmart (closed Dec. 25; reopens Dec. 26) AP News
- Target (closed Dec. 25; reopens Dec. 26) AP News
- Costco (closed Dec. 25) AP News
The Associated Press list for 2025 also includes many other retailers and grocers that typically close on Christmas Day (including several home improvement and department store brands). AP News
Stores that may be open on Christmas Day
Common “open (at least some locations)” options include:
- Walgreens (stores open; pharmacy hours vary; 24-hour locations continue) AP News
- CVS (many locations open with modified hours) AP News
- 7‑Eleven (often open; varies by location) AP News
Grocery availability on Christmas Day is often extremely limited, though the AP notes that some grocery banners may have select locations open with adjusted schedules. AP News
Last-minute Christmas Eve shopping: why Dec. 24 timing matters more than usual
If you’re reading this on Dec. 24, the most important takeaway is that many chains don’t just “close a bit early”—they often shut down by late afternoon or early evening.
A broad roundup of Christmas Eve 2025 store hours highlights how quickly the window closes for major retailers (and also points shoppers to delivery and same-day pickup options). Axios
Target, for example, is widely reported as operating 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, then closing on Christmas Day. People
Practical tips for Christmas Day 2025 errands
If you’re trying to avoid a wasted trip:
- Assume grocery chains are closed on Dec. 25 unless you confirm otherwise.
- Check the specific store page (not just Google’s general listing), especially for pharmacies.
- Plan around early Christmas Eve shutdowns—many stores are effectively done by late afternoon on Dec. 24 in both New Hampshire and Winnipeg. City of Winnipeg
- For essentials (medicine, baby supplies, batteries), aim for pharmacies and convenience stores on Christmas Day. AP News
- In Winnipeg, remember transit runs on a Sunday schedule on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26—build extra time into travel plans. City of Winnipeg
If you want, I can also rewrite this into a version tailored for only New Hampshire or only Winnipeg (more local keywords, tighter focus, and a shorter length for Discover), while keeping it news-style and SEO-forward.
