Boston Frostival brings drones to the Common
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Drone flake. Photo: Courtesy of Meet Boston
It's not the holidays in Boston until the drones descend on the Common.
- That's what locals might be saying in a generation or two if the city's newest winter event — Frostival — takes off.
Why it matters: It's Boston's first coordinated marketing push to bundle seasonal attractions and drive tourism in colder, slower months during and after the holidays.
State of play: The first-ever Frostival launched last week with illuminated drone shows over Boston Common.
- The season-long initiative runs through February to boost winter tourism and overnight stays.
- It's the brainchild of Meet Boston, the city's tourism organization, in partnership with City Hall.
Hundreds of synchronized LED-lit drones perform holiday-themed aerial displays over the Common, launching from the corner of Boylston and Charles streets.
- Shows run at 6pm and 8pm every Saturday through Dec. 20.
- The first performances attracted large crowds to the Common.
Zoom out: Frostival encompasses both new and established winter events.
- A Ferris wheel is planned for the Rose Kennedy Greenway throughout February.
- An immersive winter lodge installation will be in Copley Square Feb. 6–28.
- A "Femme Fête Wine Festival," spotlighting women-owned wineries, debuts Feb. 28.
- Existing favorites like Snowport, the SoWa Winter Festival and various holiday markets are also under the Frostival banner this year.
The bottom line: Frostival is the latest effort to position the city as a top winter destination and to get Bostonians out and about in the darker months.