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November 30, 2020

15 Festive Things To Do in Boston At Christmas That Would Cheer Up Even The Christmas Grinch

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Boston is one of the most special places along the East Coast to visit during Christmas. If you’re planning to be in Boston at Christmas time, check out this list of the best things to see and do around the city during the holidays. A Boston Christmas is one of those special things to do in Massachusetts that you should experience.

Table of Contents

  • Things To Do in Boston At Christmas
    • Find Your Favorite Boston Christmas Tree
      • Boston Common Christmas Tree
      • Trees at Faneuil Marketplace and Copley Square
    • Check out the Boston Christmas Lights
      • Boston Holiday Lights Trolley Tour
      • Somerville Illuminations Tour
      • Blink! Christmas Light Show at Faneuil Hall Marketplace
    • Shop the Holiday Christmas Markets
      • SoWa Winter Festival
      • Snowport Winter Village
    • Take in the Boston Christmas Shows
      • Boston Ballet Nutcracker
      • Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity
      • Boston Pops Orchestra
    • More Boston Christmas Events
      • Boston Tea Party Annual Reenactment
      • Santa Speedo Run
      • Ice Skating on Frog Pond
  • Nearby Boston Christmas Activities
    • Enchanted Village in Avon, MA
    • Zoolights Stone Zoo

Things To Do in Boston At Christmas

Find Your Favorite Boston Christmas Tree

Boston is decked out in Christmas trees from the hotels to the stores and outside.

Boston Common Christmas Tree

Boston’s official Christmas tree is lit up each year in the Boston Common and Public Garden. The tree lighting celebration is one of the biggest events of the year. People come to see the trees illuminated and ice skate on Frog Pond.

The Christmas tree in Boston Common

The official Boston Christmas tree is in Boston Common

Trees at Faneuil Marketplace and Copley Square

Faneuil Marketplace and Copley Square are two other places where you can check out Christmas trees in Boston. Each of these squares also participates in the annual tree lighting celebration, but if you miss the actual event, the trees will remain decorated throughout December!

 

Check out the Boston Christmas Lights

Boston Holiday Lights Trolley Tour

If you want to see all the top light displays of the Old Town area of Boston, the trolley tour is the perfect thing to do in Boston at Christmas time. The tour will make several stops along the way, and yummy holiday treats are included!

Old Town Trolley Tour in Boston USA

Take a special Old Town Trolley tour to see the Christmas lights in Boston

Somerville Illuminations Tour

The annual Illuminations Trolley Tour in Somerville is something you won’t want to miss when you’re in Boston during the Christmas season. The spectacular light display can be seen from the comfort of a trolley car while enjoying music, hot chocolate, and cookies.


Boston_120x60

Blink! Christmas Light Show at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

A fun (and free!) light and sound show at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, this performance is an excellent activity for the whole family, featuring favorite holiday songs and cool Christmas light decorations.

Christmas tree at Faneuil Market Place

Don’t miss the Christmas tree at Faneuil Market Place when you are in Boston at Christmas time.

Shop the Holiday Christmas Markets

SoWa Winter Festival

Boston’s biggest winter shopping village, SoWa is the place to go to find cool gifts and amazing handmade artwork. Local vendors will set up their booths selling everything from seasonal craft brews and delicious Christmas pastries to delicate Christmas ornaments.

Snowport Winter Village

Each year, the Seaport of Boston turns into Snowport – a fun and family-friendly shopping area full of crafts, games, food, and more. You’ll be able to find gifts for all your friends and family, plus enjoy the fun entertainment that only happens during Christmas in Boston.

Christmas ornaments at Prudential Center in Boston

Don’t miss the traditional shopping stores such as those at the Prudential Center in Boston.

Take in the Boston Christmas Shows

Boston Ballet Nutcracker

The annual Nutcracker ballet is a show you won’t want to miss when you’re in Boston during Christmas. Relax and enjoy this beloved Christmas classic, performed by world-class dancers in a beautiful holiday venue.

Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity

Experience the masterwork Black Nativity from Boston’s famous Harlem Renaissance writer, Langston Hughes, performed live! This annual show is full of gospel carols and Christmas spirit.

Boston Pops Orchestra

The renowned Boston Pops Orchestra has an annual Christmas concert, a fun holiday show for the whole family. Traditional orchestral music is combined with carol sing-alongs, so people of all ages can enjoy the show.

More Boston Christmas Events

A Christmas Wreath on the Old State House in Boston

Even the stately Old State House in Boston gets into the Christmas spirit

Boston Tea Party Annual Reenactment

December 16th marks the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. Each year, a re-enactment takes place right in Boston Harbor. It’s a fun (and free!) event for people of all ages and is definitely not your run-of-the-mill Christmas celebration.

Santa Speedo Run

This is one Christmas event you can’t find anywhere other than Boston! The Santa Speedo run is an annual race. Just as the name suggests, participants take part wearing only Santa hats and speedos. Sign up to participate, or just come and watch the fun.

Ice Skating on Frog Pond

Located in the Boston Common, Frog Pond is often considered the best outdoor rink in the US! Tickets to skate are cheap, and it’s guaranteed to be fun for people of all ages visiting Boston at Christmas time.

Ice skating on Frog Pond in Boston

Ice skating on Frog Pond is a fun activity in Boston at Christmas

Nearby Boston Christmas Activities

Enchanted Village in Avon, MA

This beloved Boston Christmas display was shown in Jordan Marsh’s downtown store venue during the 1960s and 70s. Lost for a few years when the display closed, it was revived in 1990 in Avon, where you can still see it every year!

Zoolights Stone Zoo

This is a great activity for families traveling to Boston for Christmas. All 26 acres of the zoo are decorated in beautiful Christmas lights, so you can tour the ground to see all the animals as well as a fantastic Christmas show

SPREAD THE WORD! PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE! 

A Pinterest image of the Christmas Tree on Boston Common at night with the text: “How To Spend Christmas in Boston, USA"

Spending Christmas in Boston Massachusetts? Our list of top things to do in Boston makes your Christmas travel destination magical! In Boston things to do include ice skating on Frog Pond, taking a Boston Christmas lights tour and buying that perfect gift at a Christmas market. One unique thing to do in Boston Christmas time is the Boston Tea Party reenactment every December. Boston Christmas decorations bedazzle the city. A Boston winter may even mean you get to spend a White Christmas!

We did not receive compensation of any form, monetary or otherwise, from any of the products, services, hotels  etc mentioned in this article.

This site generates income via partnerships with carefully-curated travel and lifestyle brands and/or purchases made through links to them at no extra cost to you. More information may be found on our Disclosure Policy.

 

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