News

South End guide to holiday fun

by Michele D.  Maniscalco
Thursday Dec 1, 2016

The holiday season is upon us and as usual, the South End's myriad shops, businesses and community organizations are ready to help us get the spirit and prepare for our Christmas and holiday celebrations with family and friends. Here is a guide to some upcoming neighborhood festivities, all of which are free and open to the public except as noted.

SoWa Boston's Winter Festival, December 2 through 4 at the Power Station, 540 Harrison Avenue, will satisfy your shopping needs and holiday-cheer desires with over 100 vendors selling locally produced foods, textiles and all manner of gifts. For added convenience, there will be a gift-wrapping station with proceeds going to Hearth, a non-profit located at East Concord and Washington Streets that helps low-income and homeless seniors. For those with a designated driver who want to get their drink on, Wine Riot will host "Winter Wine Land" with free samples under a tent on Thayer Street, and Area Four will dispense winter cocktails. Hours for the festival are 5:00-9:00 PM on Friday, December 2 and 11:00 AM-5:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4.

Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) Plaza at 539 Tremont Street welcomes the Mayor's Enchanted Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 3 from 3:00 PM-5:00 PM. Betsy hall of the Ellis South End Neighborhood Association reports that her group will again be a co-sponsor of the festivities, including music, warm and cold snacks and drinks and children's crafts. The Enchanted Trolley will arrive at the BCA Plaza at 4:15 PM with Mayor Walsh and Santa and his helpers in tow.

The Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association (B/FSNA) annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale, which will take place on Saturday, December 3 from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM in Blackstone Square, has evolved over the years from a chance to buy festive Christmas greenery to a full-fledged holiday event. B/FSNA will sell Christmas trees and stands, wreaths, garland, bows and other suppliesThere will be recorded holiday music, warm refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM to hear Christmas wishes. The proceeds from this year's sale will help fund B/FSNA's and the Friends of Blackstone and Franklin Square's efforts to maintain and beautify the squares and the neighborhood. Those who pre-ordered can pick up their purchases that day and there will be a wide selection of open stock on the day of the sale, with wreaths priced at $25 and trees ranging from three to 10 feet priced at $35-$85. B/FSNA Eric Huang reports that the group is working with St. Stephen's and United South End Settlements to identify families who could use help obtaining a tree and customers who would like to donate one can do so at a price of $50.

On Sunday, December 4, a long-standing and popular South End tradition returns with the 54th Annual Worcester Square Neighborhood Tree Lighting at 4:00 PM. There will be hot and cold food and beverages courtesy of a host of neighborhood businesses, holiday music from the Leah Randazzo Quartet, a visit from Santa on a firetruck, a raffle with enticing prizes including a cash award, gift certificates and experiences from South End and other Boston businesses and attractions and gifts for the children. Raffle tickets, which cost $2 each or six for $10, will be available in advance through WSANA members and at the event, benefit WSANA programming, such as the Worcester Square Summer Concert Series, as well as a donation to a neighborhood charity.


Claremont Neighborhood Association (CNA) is hosting its Annual Holiday Party, a pre-holiday party and benefit on Thursday, December 6 from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at Shun's Kitchen, 520 Columbus Avenue. be free appetizers and a cash bar to set the stage for mixing and mingling and stimulate the spirit of giving. CNA will also be accepting donations of new and gently used items for Cradle to Crayons,

Have fun and take advantage of some special deals during The 8th Annual Holiday Shopping Night on Wednesday Dec 7th from 4:00 PM-9:00 PM. the festive evening sponsored by Washington Gateway Main Street, the South End Business Alliance, GTI Properties and Siena condos at Ink Block includes deals, celebrations and specials at over 30 local shops and special treats at 9 area restaurants. There is free parking at 540 Harrison and free pedi-cabs will be taking customers around from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM. For more information, visit shopthesouthend.com.

IBA (Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción) invites neighbors and friends to its Christmas Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 8 at 5:00 PM at Plaza Betances, 100 West Dedham Street. The festivities will include parrandas, traditional Puerto Rican Christmas songs, and a visit from Santa. Put on your dancing shoes and join the fiesta with the Villa Victoria community! All are welcome.

On December 16, the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts hosts Navidad en la Villa, a special evening of bilingual holiday music with Puerto Rican tenor Christian Figueroa sharing the stage with Colombian conductor Lina Figueroa and the Unitas Ensemble Chamber Orchestra. This is a ticketed event. Tickets cost $20-35 and are available on-line at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navidad-en-la-villa-tickets-27202276742.

Be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus, have a happy and safe holiday season!


While it isn't specifically holiday-themed, ART 100 BOSTON, a two-week exhibit and sale at the Piano Craft Guild Gallery, is an opportunity to select reasonably priced holiday gifts for the art lovers on your list. ART 100 BOSTON, which offers paintings, pottery, sculpture and other media priced at $100 or less by over 30 artists including Paul Goodnight and David Mynott II, opens on Friday, December 2 from 6:00-9:00 PM with a reception featuring refreshments and live music at the gallery, 793 Tremont Street, and runs through December 17.