November 17–January 1
Enchanted Village at Jordan’s Furniture (Avon)
The tradition lives on! Once called the Enchanted Village of St. Nicholas, the holiday display was created in 1958 for Jordan Marsh Downtown Crossing. It has passed through City Hall Plaza (late 90s) and the Hynes Convention Center (2006-2009) and now is at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon, where it has been restored and is on display. The surviving collection includes 59 mechanical figurines and 18 vignettes.
November 19
Annual Lighting of the Trellis at Christopher Columbus Park (Boston | 5 p.m.)
Join Mayor Walsh and the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park for the annual trellis lighting ceremony, complete with Christmas carols, hot chocolate, and more.
November 26
Charles Hotel Tree Lighting (Cambridge | 4–6 p.m.)
Join for the lighting of the Harvard Square holiday trees! Shake Shack will be providing complimentary beverages. At 4 p.m., children can help decorate the trees with ornaments and bow ties from Vineyard Vines. Santa Claus’ jazz band will perform at 5 p.m., and the tree lighting will take place at 5:30 p.m., followed by a visit from Santa! The performances will continue until 6:30 p.m., allowing everyone a chance to visit with Santa.
November 26
Copley Square Tree Lighting (Boston | 5–6 p.m.)
The free event will feature appearances by Santa Claus and Rudolph, along with musical performances by the Boston Children’s Chorus, the Boston Pops Brass Quintet, and Berklee College of Music students Britani Washington and Sam Robbins. Festivities will continue in and around Copley Square on November 27. The Boston Public Library and The Catered Affair will host a Storytime and Candy Cane Tea at the library from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This event is free, but reservations are required by calling (617) 859-2272.
November 27
Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting Spectacular (Boston | 7:30 p.m.)
The official Blink! Tree Lighting takes place on November 27 during the live broadcast on WBZ-TV/CBS Boston at 7:30 p.m. It will feature appearances by Santa Claus, The City of Boston Community Choir, holiday singers, and the official flipping of the switch to illuminate thousands of twinkling lights synchronized to music.
November 28–January 1
Blink! (Boston | 4:30 p.m.)
Blink!, the world-famous light and sound show, will return to deck the halls this holiday season at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Blink! features the signature holiday tree at Marketplace Center joined by other trees and lights throughout the property. This year’s Blink! show features six holiday favorites. Performances run from 4:30–10 pm daily through January 1, 2019.
November 29
First Light Brookline (Brookline | 5–8 p.m.)
First Light started 18 years ago in Brookline’s Washington Square, when several businesses came together to spread holiday cheer by hanging snowflakes in their storefront windows. These glowing flakes illuminated the square, signaling the start of the holiday season. Over the years, First Light has grown into the town’s annual winter festival, showcasing the talents of local artists, musicians, and performers at businesses and other venues throughout Brookline.
November 29
Frog Pond Skating Spectacular and Tree Lighting (Boston | 5–6 p.m.)
Join the Skating Club of Boston at the Boston Common Frog Pond for a free world-class figure skating ice show featuring national and international figure skaters, synchronized skating, and Theatre On Ice teams. Following the show, join Mayor Marty Walsh for the Boston Common tree lighting ceremony.
November 29–December 30
Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” (Boston)
Let Mikko Nissinen’s “The Nutcracker” capture your imagination and transport you to a magical world of brave toy soldiers and dancing candy canes. Follow Clara as she embarks on her journey filled with colorful characters, breathtaking costumes, and majestic scenery. From the captivating dance of the sugar plum fairy to the iconic snow scene, this enchanting holiday classic — set to the beloved music of Tchaikovsky — continues to enthrall audiences of all ages.
December 1–23
Teddy Bear Tea (Boston)
This favorite New England event series includes a festive afternoon tea at the iconic Bristol Restaurant and Bar, accompanied by a reading of a favorite holiday children’s book by a Boston celebrity. Four Seasons Hotel Boston’s furry resident Truffles the Bear makes daily appearances to the delight of families and young guests. Teddy Bear Tea is a special community benefit initiative of Four Seasons Hotel Boston, teaching young guests the spirit of charity. Guests are invited to bring a teddy bear to donate, with Four Seasons gifting all collected bears to local Boston organizations that benefit children in need. Each year, Four Seasons Hotel Boston collects over 5,000 bears for Boston area children, with over 100,000 bears collected to date.
December 6–31
BSO Holiday Pops (Boston)
Join the Boston Pops for special kids’ matinee performances, which include post-concert photos with Santa and special treats. This year’s special performances include Home Alone in concert, with the Wellesley High School Chorus! The not-to-be-missed New Year’s Eve concert with the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra will be hosted this year by Seth MacFarlane!
December 31
First Night Boston (Boston)
For 40 years, Boston’s First Night has been a cherished tradition and a signature event for the city, with artistic performances, the wonders of the season, and the beginning of a new year. Entertainment and specialty attractions will be focused in Copley Square and the Boston Common. Many of the beloved traditions of First Nights past will be retained, including ice sculptures and light displays. In addition, arts and musical performances will take place in numerous inside and outside venues around the heart of the event.
