Fun is popping up all over Boston this weekend, with fun activities for kids! Photo courtesy of the New England Botanic Garden
America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration and More Things to Do in Boston This Weekend with Kids
Usher in the 2025 Holidays this November with the Trellis Lighting at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park. Photo by Mike Mejia, courtesy of the City of Boston Mayor's Office.
The Best Things To Do in Boston with Kids November 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors
This fall 2025, explore one of Boston's most beloved fall festivals, like the Topsfield Fair. Photo courtesy of the Topsfield Fair
Best Family-Friendly Harvest & Fall Festivals Around Boston 2025
Playing in fall foliage is one of the most beautiful and fun things to do with kids in Boston in the autumn
GUIDE
Boston Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Farms, Festivals, and Family Getaways 2025
There's something for everyone, even teens, at Apex in Marlboro! Photo courtesy of Apex
25 Fun Things To Do in Boston with Teens
From outdoor events to indoor fun, explore the free things to do in Boston with kids! Riverfest at Assembly Row photo courtesy of Federal Realty
100 Free Things To Do in Boston with Kids
From stage shows to magical experiences, book these Boston Christmas events before it's too late! Twas the Night Before photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil
Boston Must Do Christmas Events To Book Now Before They Sell Out
Get active and have fun as a family at the top spots for indoor golf in Boston!
Best Indoor Golf in Boston: Indoor Golfing Fun for Kids and Families
Jump into fun with the top kids indoor playgrounds and play spaces in Boston! Photo courtesy of Boston Playground
Best Kids Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Boston
Big league fun awaits at Boston's top attractions for kids. Photo courtesy of Fenway Park
Top Attractions in Boston: Best Things To See and Do with Kids
Vermont's Mountain Top Resort is as picturesque as a New England family getaway could be. Photo by Gary Hall
This Activity-Packed Resort in Stunning Vermont is an Ideal Family Getaway
Indoors and out and about, there are so many thing to do in Boston with kids before they grow up! Photo courtesy of the Rose Kennedy Greenway website
100 Things To Do in Boston Before Kids Grow Up
Take flight at Story Land in New Hampshire, one of the top New England theme parks for kids and families! Photo courtesy of the park.
Best New England Theme Parks for Kids and Families
Get the kids in the car (and on your shoulders) for the best apple picking near Boston! Photo courtesy of Connors Farm
Apple Picking near Boston in 2025: Best Apple Farms and Apple Festivals for Kids
Teatime meets playtime in Beverly. Photo courtesy of the Children's Piazza
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun for Boston Kids
Photo courtesy of Fire+Ice
15 Boston-Area Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While You Eat (and Relax)
Peek inside a rainforest at Providence's Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Boston Zoos: There's More Than Just the Franklin Park Zoo!
Ride, splash, and have gallons of fun at the best outdoor water parks in New England! Splash Away Bay Water Park photo courtesy of Quassy Amusement Park
Best Outdoor Water Parks in New England for Family Fun
Find plenty of ways to stay cool in Boston with our Beat the Heat List! Frog Pond Spray Pool photo by John Wilcox, for the Mayor's Office of Boston. © All rights reserved.
Beat the Heat: 34 Cool Things To Do with Kids on Hot Days in Boston
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
Explore a new area on a weekend trip with the kids from Boston
GUIDE
Day Trips and Weekend Getaways from Boston Guide
From outdoor events to indoor fun, explore the free things to do in Boston with kids! Riverfest at Assembly Row photo courtesy of Federal Realty
100 Free Things To Do in Boston with Kids
Free, fun activities can be as simple as blowing bubbles on a sunny day
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in Boston with Kids Guide
Hiking is just one of many things to do in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, but it sure delivers great views!
25 Things to Do in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with Kids
10 One-Mile-or-Less Hikes to Take with Your Preschooler Around Boston
Perfect for a day trip from Boston, Cape Ann has miles of beaches, great food, and plenty of family fun. Good Harbor Beach photo by Bex Walton via Flickr 2.0
Things To Do on Cape Ann: Day Trips from Boston to Gloucester and More
Step into family fun in the Merrimack Valley. Photo courtesy of the Salisbury Beach Partnership.
25 Things To Do in the Merrimack Valley with Kids
The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial. Photo courtesy of the National Parks Service
Black-Owned Restaurants, Shops, and Landmarks to Discover in Boston
Who you lookin' at?! The Tropical Forest at Franklin Park Zoo. Photo by Don Crasco/Franklin Park Zoo
Franklin Park Zoo: Top Tips for a Great Visit with Kids
Try a little freeze dancing, robot style! Photo courtesy of Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels
30 Exercise Games and Indoor Activities to Get Kids Moving
Science experiments and STEM activities for kids entrance children with their
GUIDE
Guide to Science Experiments for Kids and Fun STEM Activities
New England sleepaway camps get kids out into nature. Photo courtesy of Night Eagle Wilderness Adventure Camp
New England Sleepaway Camps Where Kids Completely Unplug
No messy, dripping fingers when you eat watermelon on a stick.
15 Amazing Mom Hacks That Make Everything Easier
Photo by Liz Baill
GUIDE
Games & Activities Guide for Kids
GUIDE
Homeschool & Online Learning Resources for Families
A water park, beach activities, and more await at Coconut Bay's all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia.
Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the US, Caribbean, and Mexico for Kids
Nantucket's Daffodil Festival is one of many spring celebrations around Massachusetts.
GUIDE
Spring Break Ideas Guide for Boston Kids and Families

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Boston

Make the season bright with best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Boston! Naumkeag Winterlights photo by Stephanie Zollshan Photography, courtesy of The Trustees of Reservations
Make the season bright with best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Boston! Naumkeag Winterlights photo by Stephanie Zollshan Photography, courtesy of The Trustees of Reservations
11/24/24 - By N Ferreira

The best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Boston are here for 2024! While Boston families may favor different holiday traditions, everyone can rejoice in the magic of holiday lights. And boy, has the magic of Christmas lights returned in style. The Festival of Trees at Elm Bank lights up the trees in Wellesley. Winterlights brightens the skies over Gloucester, Rockport, and Essex. Even the animals are taking part in the festivities at Stone Zoo in Stoneham and the Southwick Zoo in Mendon.

Enjoy this season and the magic of lights with your family at one of these holiday light shows (maybe even bring a cup of cocoa for the road). There are more amazing displays with Spectacular Neighborhood Holiday Lights and Christmas Lights in Boston. For more holiday and Christmas activities, plan ahead with our Holidays and Christmas Activities Guide for Boston Kids.

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

The Stone Zoo's holiday light displays are a Boston treasure. Photo courtesy of the Stone Zoo
The Stone Zoo's holiday light displays are a Boston treasure. Photo courtesy of the Stone Zoo

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows - Around Boston

ZooLights at Stone Zoo

Stoneham
November 15, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Enter a winter wonderland of tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Enjoy a one-way stroll through festively decorated Yukon Creek, home to black bears, bald eagle, Canada lynx, reindeer, and arctic foxes.  READ MORE

Trellis Lighting at Christopher Columbus Park

Boston — FREE
Monday, November 25, 2024
Witness the wonder of the 23rd annual holiday lighting of the signature trellis at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End. The historic waterfront will be transformed into a stunning holiday display when the park’s 260 feet of trellis are illuminated with 50,000 blue lights. READ MORE

17th Annual Festival of Trees at Elm Bank

Wellesley
Thursdays - November 29 - December 29, 2024
Families are invited to the Garden at Elm Bank this holiday season to experience a festive wonderland! The illuminated walking path leads through lighted gardens, a captivating train display, and enchanting historic trees. READ MORE

Lighting of the Ship in Martin’s Park

Boston— FREE
Saturday, November 30, 2024
A special children’s celebration will be held at the Smith Family Waterfront, and the ship will be lit for the third annual holiday in Martin’s Park. Martin’s Park will be transformed into a magical holiday display when the ship, surrounding beach fencing, and pedestrian bridge are illuminated with over 1,500 feet of blue and white tube lights. READ MORE
Christmas Festival of Lights at La Salette. Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
Christmas Festival of Lights at La Salette. Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows - Greater Boston

Edaville Holiday Festival of Lights

Carver
November 8 -December 29, 2024
New England’s most memorable holiday tradition, The Christmas Festival of Lights, brings back the magic this holiday season with horse-drawn carriages, Christmas lights, Santa, ice skating, and live entertainment. READ MORE

Southwick Zoo Winter Wonderland

Mendon
November 21 - December 29, 2024
This year’s Winter Wonderland guests will enjoy two events in one. Winter Wonderland and the Festival of Illumination will feature a ride through an enchanted forest on Santa's train. READ MORE

Christmas Festival of Lights at La Salette

Attleborough — FREE
Daily November 23, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Celebrate La Salette Shrine Light's 72nd year. The lights have been shining brightly each year at Christmastime since 1953. See over 2,000 manger scenes from around the world illuminated by 400,000 lights and more. READ MORE

Winterlights - Naumkeag

Stockbridge, North Andover, and Canton
November 29, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Enjoy a magical outdoor experience and get in the holiday spirit and take a stroll through thousands of shimmering holiday lights. Food and refreshments will also be available. READ MORE

Winter Lights on Cape Ann

Gloucester, Rockport, and Essex— FREE
November 30, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Pack up the car and enjoy the annual Winter Lights Celebration on Cape Ann. Local businesses throughout Gloucester, Rockport, and Essex are getting into the festive spirit by decorating their establishments with twinkling lights and/or creative window displays.  READ MORE

Night Lights: Color Cascade at New England Botanic Garden

Boylston
November 30, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Visitors to the New England Botanic Garden can experience the magic of the season with a breathtaking winter light display, unmatched in the region. This year’s event, Night Lights: Color Cascade, offers a one-of-a-kind winter experience, guiding guests through a dazzling journey of glowing lights in every imaginable color. READ MORE
See the spectacular holiday lights at NightWoods this Christmas. NightWoods photo courtesy of edithwharton.org
See the spectacular holiday lights at NightWoods this Christmas. NightWoods photo courtesy of edithwharton.org

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows Worth the Drive

NightWood

Lenox
November 22, 2024 - January 4, 2025
Enjoy the fifth year of an ethereal winter landscape inspired by The Mount’s unique architecture and history. NightWood combines music, lighting, and theatrical elements to create seven unique scenes that evoke feelings of wonder, mystery, and magic. READ MORE

Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Loudon, NH
November 28, 2024 - January 5, 2025
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is trading in the checkered flags for more than 3.5 million twinkly LED lights for their 11th annual Gift of Lights. Passengers will cruise through 2.5 miles of lights at this drive-thru experience, including the Tunnel of Lights. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: