Holiday Markets & Shopping (Ongoing)
SoWa Winter Festival: 10th Anniversary (Through Dec. 28)
Schedule: Tue—Thu 4:00—8:00 PM | Fri 4:00—9:00 PM | Sat 10:00 AM—9:00 PM | Sun 10:00 AM—7:00 PM
Location: SoWa Power Station, 550 Harrison Ave.
125+ local vendors featuring handmade art and holiday gifts, specialty foods and cocktails, live music, Country Nights every Thursday with line dancing and a mechanical bull, special visits from Buddy the Elf and The Grinch on select days, and 15+ food vendors
Admission: $10 | Children 12 and under free | Parking: $10 cash
Closed Mondays, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
Website: sowaboston.com
SoWa Artists Guild Winter Festival (Through Dec. 28)
Location: 450 Harrison Ave.
Continues Fridays—Sundays starting at 11:00 AM
Snowport: Seaport Winter Wonderland (Through Dec. 28)
Location: 100 Seaport Blvd.
Free holiday market with 130+ local vendors, festive food and drinks, Betty the Yeti photo ops, tree market, free curling lanes, and live music
Events Starting December 11
The Anchor Winter Garden Holiday Tree Lighting
Date: Thursday, Dec. 11, 6:00 PM
Location: 1 Shipyard Park, Charlestown
Official kickoff to the Frozen Fire Festival featuring the lighting of 175+ illuminated trees, live holiday performances, make-your-own s'mores, hot chocolate bar, and holiday crafts for all ages
Admission: Free (VIP packages available)
Website: theanchorboston.com
South End Winter Pop-Up Event
Date: Thursday, Dec. 11, 10:00 AM—4:00 PM
Location: South End Library Park, 685 Tremont St.
Write postcards to your future self and enjoy outdoor winter activities
Admission: Free
December 12—14
Frozen Fire Festival
Dates: Friday—Sunday, Dec. 12—14
Location: The Anchor, 1 Shipyard Park, Charlestown
Immersive winter festival featuring cirque-style fire performances, live music, glowing fire installations, heated igloos, holiday market vendors, curling rinks, and a s'mores and hot chocolate garden
Menorah lighting on Sunday, Dec. 14
Admission: Free (VIP igloo packages available)
Website: frozenfirefestival.com
Midwinter Revels 2025: A Scandinavian Story for Christmas
Dates: Dec. 12—28 (matinees and evening shows)
Location: Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge
Based on Matchless by Gregory Maguire (author of Wicked)
Tickets: $20—$105
Website: revels.org
Hanukkah Celebrations (Dec. 14—22, 2025)
Boston Common: 42nd Annual Menorah Lighting
Date: Sunday, Dec. 14, 4:00 PM
Location: Brewer Fountain, Boston Common (near Park St. Station)
22-foot menorah lighting with special guests, live music, holiday treats, and warm beverages
Presented by Chabad of Downtown Boston
BCA Plaza Menorah Lightings: South End
Dates: Dec. 14—22
Location: 539 Tremont St.
Free nightly menorah lightings
Times listed at boston.gov/holidaylights
Faneuil Hall Grand Menorah Lighting
Date: Thursday, Dec. 18, 4:00 PM
Indoor celebration at Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market
Hanukkah at the Museum of Fine Arts
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 5:00—10:00 PM
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave.
Community celebration with art, music, performances, sensory activities, face painting, klezmer music, and community candle lighting
Admission: $5 minimum, pay-what-you-wish
Website: mfa.org
Winter Solstice Concert with Little Groove
Date: Thursday, Dec. 19, 10:30 AM
Location: South End Library, 685 Tremont St.
End-of-year concert celebrating the Winter Solstice
Admission: Free
Seaport Menorah Lighting
Date: Sunday, Dec. 21, 4:30 PM
Location: 60 Seaport Blvd. (near Kings)
9-foot menorah lighting with kosher jelly donuts and chocolate gelt
Back Bay Chorale Holiday Concert
Date: Sunday, Dec. 21
Location: Old South Church, Back Bay
Annual holiday concert with brass, organ, percussion, and audience carol participation
December 16
Boston Tea Party Reenactment
Date: Monday, Dec. 16, 5:00 PM (rain or shine)
Location: Old South Meeting House
100+ volunteer reenactors portray Patriots, followed by a procession to Griffin's Wharf
Admission: $30 (reduced prices for children and seniors)
Ongoing Theater & Performances
Boston Ballet: The Nutcracker (Through Dec. 28)
Location: Citizens Opera House, 539 Washington St.
Tickets: $50—$315
Boston Pops Holiday Pops (Through Dec. 24)
Location: Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave.
Led by Keith Lockhart
Tickets: $65—$285
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Through Dec. 20)
Location: Emerson Colonial Theatre
Cirque du Soleil: 'Twas the Night Before (Through Dec. 28)
Location: Citizens Opera House
Boston's 50th Annual First Night Celebration
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 | 12:00 PM—12:30 AM
Schedule Highlights: 1:00 PM — Waterfront Ice Sculpture Stroll (Boston waterfront); 6:00 PM — First Night Parade (City Hall Plaza to Boston Common); 7:00 PM — Family Fireworks (Boston Common); 8:50—11:30 PM — Live music (City Hall Plaza); 11:30 PM — Countdown and laser show (City Hall Plaza); 12:00 AM — Fireworks over Boston Harbor
Features: Free admission; MBTA free after 8:00 PM; Multiple downtown performance venues
Website: firstnightboston.org
Library Holiday Hours
Christmas Eve (Dec. 24): 9:00 AM—5:00 PM
Christmas Day (Dec. 25): CLOSED
New Year's Eve (Dec. 31): 9:00 AM—5:00 PM