Boston-area winter happenings to get into the holiday spirit
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Winter Fest at Hood Park. Photo: Courtesy of Liam Devlin/Hood Park
The Boston area is bustling with holiday activities this year.
The intrigue: Beyond the Holiday Pops and the Boston Common tree lighting, the region is seeing more festivals, winter markets and photo ops than ever.
Caveat: This is not a full list. That would take up an entire newsletter, and nobody has time for that (except maybe the Leslie Knopes of the world).
- Here are some of our recommendations.
🎄 Charles Hotel tree lighting
The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square celebrates its 40th annual tree lighting with a book market, hot chocolate and a mail drop for letters to Santa.
- 4-7pm, Saturday.
🎅🏼 Santa's Shed
Assembly Row is launching a Christmas tree farm and a pop-up photo spot called "Santa's Shed" this week, but the real highlight is the assortment of children's crafts, hot cocoa and music popping up on weekends.
- 1-3pm, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21.
🛍️ SoWa Winter Festival
The SoWa Winter Festival returns on Black Friday, featuring more than 100 artists and food vendors through Dec. 28.
- Price: $10; children ages 12 and under are free.
❄️ Frostival
MeetBoston has launched its own winter series, starting with a Saturday night drone show over the Boston Common through Dec. 20.
🕎 Maccabee Bar
The Charles Hotel's Noir Bar celebrates Hanukkah with the return of the Maccabee Bar pop-up Dec. 1 with latkes and sufganiyot.
- 4pm-12am.
🎄 Boston Common tree lighting
City leaders will gather in the common next Thursday to light the tree Nova Scotia has graciously sent us, commemorating 108 years of goodwill with the Canadian province.
- 6-8pm, Dec. 4.
❄️ Winter Fest
Winter Fest returns to Hood Park in Charlestown with a castle, Santa appearances and local craft vendors on weekends.
- Dec. 6-7, Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 19-30 (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).
- Price: $5+.
🎄Seaport tree lighting
The Snowport is already up and running, but the winter market will celebrate lighting Boston's largest Christmas tree next month.
- 7:20pm, Dec. 5 on Seaport Common
❄️ Solstice
Mount Auburn Cemetery's series, "Solstice: Reflections on Winter Light," runs Dec. 5-21 with 300-foot lit artwork.
- Price: $35; $5 for children ages 2-12; free for children under 2.
🎶 "A Charlie Brown Christmas" tribute
Regattabar at The Charles Hotel will host a five-piece ensemble playing a jazz tribute to Vince Guaraldi's holiday classic.
- 4pm, Dec. 14.
- Price: $35; $25 for students
🕎 Seaport menorah lighting
Snowport hosts a lighting ceremony with Chabad of Downtown Boston at 4:30pm, Dec. 21.
🎶 A Nat King Cole Christmas
Another holiday Regattabar show lined up is "A Nat King Cole Christmas" show with Boston cabaret singer Gordon Michaels at 4pm, Dec. 21.
- Price: $35; $25 for students.