With the temperature dropping and the leaves leaving one thing is clear – the holiday season is officially upon us.
There are many ways to celebrate and enjoy the holiday season in the Greater Boston region, and we want you to experience them all with the ultimate Holiday Bucket List:
Cheer on Your Favorite Boston Sports Team
During the colder months, the TD Garden brings the heat to the city. Cheer on the Boston Bruins as they take the ice or support the Boston Celtics as they take the court. Not a basketball or hockey fan? Don’t worry, because there is a multitude of sporting events in and around the city during the holiday season for everyone to enjoy.
Shop Local at Holiday Market
Boston is filled with stores, shops, and markets to cross everyone off your list this season. Shop local vendors by heading to one of Boston’s iconic pop-up markets or find luxury shopping options at the Prudential Center and Copley Mall.
There is nothing quite like a walk down Boston’s Newbury Street or Charles Street in Beacon Hill when they are lit up and decorated for the holiday season. Complete your holiday shopping list with great steals and deals at Somerville’s Assembly Row and the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, just a short drive from Boston.
Attend a Holiday Performance
There is no shortage of on-stage holiday celebrations during the season in Boston. Gather your friends and family and get tickets to the Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall, the Boston Ballet’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’, or Black Nativity.
Get Out on the Ice
Enjoy a time-honored holiday tradition by ice skating in Boston. During the holiday and winter months, there are several outdoor ice-skating venues offering a range of ways to experience. Grab your skates and give your best attempt at a pirouette, grab your stick and puck and picture yourself in the Boston Bruins starting line, or try something new by taking a lesson. We recommend visiting Frog Pond Skating Rink, a staple in the heart of Boston, surrounded by holiday lights, and some of the best restaurants and holiday shopping.
Get Glowing with Some of Boston’s Best Holiday Lights and Ceremonies
Starting just after Thanksgiving, immerse yourself right into the holiday season by attending one of Boston’s holiday lighting ceremonies. And in Boston, we don’t just light up Christmas trees. Read up on our full list of must-see lighting ceremonies including a playground ship, entire neighborhoods, and more.
Can’t attend a lighting ceremony? Then check out Boston’s Holiday Lights Trail. During the holiday season, exquisite illuminations are scattered throughout the city, creating a trail experience of holiday joy for all.
Drink and Dine at a Holiday Themed Restaurant or Bar
During the most wonderful time of the year, Boston sure does know how to dress up in holiday style. While in town or out with family and friends, have a drink or dine at one of Boston’s holiday-themed bars or restaurants. We recommend Sippin’ Santa at Shore Leave, or the pop-up Hanukkah bar that comes to Boston every year.
Belly Up to a Boston’s Best Hotel Bars
There is nothing better than a classic cocktail at the end of a day of holiday shopping, an outing with family, or a night out with an old friend. Located in some of Boston’s finest hotels, visitors can find the perfect addition to their holiday celebrations. Stop by for an Old Fashioned at Street Bar at the Newbury Hotel, a Boston Sling at the Long Bar and Terrace at Raffles, or a Manhattan at Trifecta at the Four Seasons One Dalton. Looking for a hotel bar cocktail partnered with holiday décor? Then stop by City Bar at the Lenox Hotel for a Vesper, and grab a stool for two at OAK Long bar at the Fairmont Copley Hotel for an Espresso Martini and cookie skillet. And don’t miss out on the upside-down Christmas Tree display at the Liberty Hotel.
Find Some Stillness in a Museum Exhibit
Boston is home to world-renowned art museums and some of the top historic attractions in the city, which is the perfect place to take a break from the holiday chaos. Explore one of the Museum of Fine Art's visiting exhibits or timeless treasures, take a walk through the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and learn more about the woman behind the art collection, or see science and technology come alive at the Museum of Science. There is something for every member of the family or every interest of yours during the holiday season in Boston.
Get Tickets to a Holiday or Non-Holiday Concert
Boston is filled with an iconic inventory of performance and concert venues, and there is no shortage of concerts to choose from during the holidays. Check out headliners at the TD Garden or MGM Music Hall or discover old and new favorites at the House of Blues and Brighton Music Hall. Still trying to stay in the holiday spirit? Then check out the long list of holiday concerts in Boston for the season.
Celebrate the New Year with First Night
Since 1975, Boston’s First Night has been a New Year’s Eve celebration filled with live entertainment, celebrations, and activations throughout the city. Gather your friends, family, and loved ones to check out this year’s schedule to ring in the new year with the city of Boston.
So, whether you are visiting Boston for the first time this season, visiting family for the 100th time, or finding some cheer in your local neighborhood, there is something for everyone to do, experience, and see this holiday season in Boston.