Christmas in Boston: 2024 Family Events & Activities

The City of Boston’s Christmas tree will be presented as a gift from Nova Scotia. The holiday lights will light up shortly before 8pm when the Mayor is joined onstage by Santa Claus and Rudolph.

6-8pm

Amidst a quarter million lights, enjoy a delightful evening with popular favorites such as s’mores, seasonal drinks, a model train, holiday shopping, and fun photo opportunities for the whole family! A skating rink will debut for the first time in Night Lights’ history to bring joy to the young and young at heart.

The Massachusetts Horticultural Society's Festival of Trees features beautifully-decorated themed holiday trees. Visitors can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win their favorite tree. The Snow Village features trains winding through holiday villages and scenic vignettes, including Christmas in Boston, Fenway Park, and lots of decorated houses and lights.

This annual production returns to the main stage with timeless music, lavish costumes, and spine-tingling special effects. 

What do Wachusett Mountain, Santa, and Saint Bernards have in common? They all love winter! Check out the hot chocolate bar, and enjoy a screening of ‘The Polar Express’ cozied up in the Granite Room. Get a photo with Santa, or the loveable dogs of the New England Saint Bernard Club.

11am-2pm

On “Small Business Saturday,” Capron Park Zoo invites you to peruse local vendors' holiday shops, eat from one of their fabulous Food Trucks, enjoy holiday carols, listen to a speech by the mayor, visit the animals on the grounds, and, of course, witness the lighting of a 60-foot tree on the property.

4-7:30pm

Enter a winter wonderland of tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights spanning Stone Zoo's 26 acres. Take a sparkling stroll through festively decorated Yukon Creek, home to black bears, Canada lynx, reindeer, and more. 

4-9:30pm

Get ready to get your holly jolly on. Celebrate the season with holiday tunes, a celeb appearance by Betty the Yeti, and more.

6-9pm

The blue lights on the trellis will be turned to light up the park through the winter! The lighting celebration includes holiday sing-alongs and a visit from Santa Claus. Enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, and clam chowder. Bundle up and be part of the fun!

5pm

The South Shore Ballet Theatre will bring The Nutcracker to life with its holiday performance that draws in crowds year after year. The show, which will feature young dancers from within the ballet school as well as the community, performs a traditional telling of the story featuring Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the magical world they inhabit.

Come together for a meaningful night promoting peace and harmony at the Candlelit Labyrinth Peace Walk at Armenian Heritage Park on The Greenway. Participants are invited to walk the labyrinth by candlelight, tie a ribbon on the Wishing Tree, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.

4:45-5:45pm

The Boston Ballet's production of The Nutcracker is an annual holiday tradition for many families in the area. This magnificent show will transport you to an imaginary world of dancing snowflakes, toy soldiers, the Mouse King and a magical growing Christmas tree. 

Holiday Pops is the place to be for family fun, your favorite holiday tunes, and a special visit from Santa!

11am

The Mayor's Enchanted Trolley Tour will continue the festive tradition of lighting holiday trees while bringing holiday spirit to children across Boston. The event includes visits with Santa, tree lightings, and more.

For a limited time, enjoy the classic holiday tale in the immersive 4-D Theater! When an epic snowstorm threatens Christmas, can Rudolph rescue his family and friends and help Santa save the holiday?

Celebrate the incredible artistry of residents and businesses as they transform yards, windows, and storefronts with festive lights, whimsical decorations, and dazzling displays of creativity! This year, enjoy Illuminations through self-guided tours or join a fun bike tour led by the Somerville Bike Advisory Committee.

Featuring Santa's grand arrival, merchant open houses, extended shopping hours, delightful sips and savors, caroling, hayrides, live music, and other festive surprises!

4:30-7:30pm

Celebrate the season with conductor Francisco Noya and the Boston Civic Symphony at New England's most family-friendly holiday pops.

4pm

Delight the whole family with a special lunch cruise with St. Nick himself. Everyone will love the holiday music, kid-friendly treats, festive music, decor, and onboard entertainment that brings the magical season to life. 

12-2pm

Come experience the uplifting illumination of hundreds of thousands of lights spanning 10 acres. The shrine also features a creche museum, and families can enjoy hot chocolate, a carousel and more.

5-9pm

Black Nativity is the joyous account of the original story of the Nativity in scripture, verse, music, and dance. Based on the Gospel of St. Luke, combined with the poetry of Langston Hughes, this song-play is filled with moving voices that will lift you and your family to new heights of joy this holiday season.

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with family, friends, and merry music with the Holiday Pops this December. Performing festive favorites from cultural traditions around the world, the Pops will get you in the holiday spirit!

8pm

The Festival of Lights at Edaville Theme Park shines bright with Christmas lights, steam train rides, visits with Santa, amusement rides, attractions and more!

The Friends of the Townsend Public Library Holiday Fair and Festival of Trees will feature children's games, a kids-only shopping area, visits with Santa, cookies by the bag, and crafters!

10am-3pm

Featuring a cast of more than 100 performers and a live orchestra, ChristmasTime includes precision dancers, a living nativity, a visit to the North Pole, a glimpse of Victorian Christmas in Boston, and more than twenty yuletide tunes.

Prepare for a musical journey like no other this winter as Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is set to spread rock vibes throughout its spectacular annual holiday tour including their only Massachusetts stop at the DCU Center in Worcester! 

3pm & 8pm

Join the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra for their sparkling and beloved Holiday Pops concert. Capturing the magic of the Christmas season and the winter charms of New England, the Boston Pops will perform their signature Sleigh Ride, as well as other Holiday classics, and new arrangements of seasonal favorites. Santa Claus will make a guest appearance during the concert’s finale, followed by the traditional Boston Pops Holiday Sing-a-long, to bring this special performance to a close.

2:30pm

Experience the dazzling lighting and scenery by Broadway designers! Featuring live music from The Hanover Theatre Nutcracker Orchestra, this production of The Nutcracker will enchant you with its brilliant dancing and vibrant costumes.

Experience the joy and excitement of the Seacoast’s most popular holiday tradition with Glittering Trees, Seaside Indoor Ice Skating, Santa’s Workshop, Toy Testing Station, Character Visits, and more at Blue Ocean Event Center!

This holiday train is heading due north for a special tribute to the Polar Express. The movie that made us believe all over again is turning twenty, so the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is taking their conductor, their very merry orchestra, and the sensational soundtrack out for a long wintery ride. 

Gardens Aglow is a celebration of lights that has become a treasured holiday tradition. This event features beautiful light displays throughout the gardens, festive seasonal décor, and fun activities for all.

The Trustees of Reservations light up the gardens of Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover, and Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton for the holiday season. Bring the family out for a magical outdoor experience and as the gardens dazzle with thousands of shimmering holiday lights.

Celebrate America’s favorite Christmas tradition with an international all-star cast that blends world-class ballet with whimsical puppets, lavish costumes, and stunning acrobatics!

7pm

Stroll through the recreated Victorian Christmas village for free and watch magical moving figurines amidst the glow of holiday lights. While you’re there, you can take pictures with Santa or buy tickets to any of the fun attractions, including The Tube, LITE (Laser Imagination Theater Experience), Enchanted Ice, Reindeer Games, and the 4D movie experience of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol.

Amanda Banta said:  This is one of my top favorite Christmas traditions. I take my boys there every year and I try to take in as much of the village scenes as they'll allow me time for, then we go visit Santa, who is THE best around. The indoor ice skating is super cool for the kids too!

This classic dance theatrical will showcase winter scenes set in present-day downtown Boston, blending the rhythms of Duke Ellington with the classical music of Tchaikovsky. Anchored by classical ballet, the performances include various dance forms such as tap, hip-hop, flamenco, and jazz.

Featuring dazzling special effects and traditional songs like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman,” “The Boar's Head Carol,” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” this award-winning production was created specifically for North Shore Music Theatre and has been seen by more than one million people since its debut in 1989.