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Holiday magic means it's time for the best things to do in Boston for December 2024! Taunton Christmas Lights photo by Samina Quareshi for the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
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Concord's Colonial Inn is one of Greater Boston's coziest restaurants open on Christmas 2024. Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
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Things are lighting up with these must-do Christmas events around Boston! Festival of Illumination at the Southwick Zoo. Photo by Heart Lover 1717/ Flickr 2.0
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Fun things to do in Boston with teens include seeing priceless works of art at Boston's museums. Photo courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts
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Holiday Sing-Along with Phil Berman & Sarah Nolan. Photo courtesy of the event.
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Kids are featured guests at the Boston Pops holiday matinees. Photo by Stu Rosner
Kids are featured guests at the Boston Pops holiday matinees. Photo by Stu Rosner
12/4/19 - By Lucie T

The holidays are here and with them a bounty of family activities, each more festive than the last. For free fun, there's Live Nativity and Christmas Celebration on Boston Common, a Christmas party with a German twist at Christkindlmarkt, and Holly-Day on the Harbor with music, face painting, and more. We love this science fair with holiday flair at the Chanukah-themed STEAM Fair (dreidel competition included!). Enjoy the music of the season with the Holiday Pops and the Boston College Band's Christmas Festival, and catch the Mayor's Enchanted Trolley Tour coming to a Boston neighborhood near you.

Better watch out...for new and exciting activities popping up on our events calendar and our Facebook page. Our Boston Holiday Fun Guide will point you to even more special ways to celebrate the season.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

Need more family fun ideas? Check out our full events calendar.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Find deeper meaning in the season at Black Nativity. Photo by Edgar Troncoso
Find deeper meaning in the season at Black Nativity. Photo by Edgar Troncoso

Things to Do All Weekend

Tuck Everlasting: The Musical

Concord
Greater Boston's newest professional theater is proud to present the magical musical adaptation of Natalie Babbitt's classic children tale, Tuck Everlasting, which also inspired a 2002 Disney film. READ MORE

A Christmas Story: The Musical

Boston
Set in 1940s Indiana, a young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder® Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. An infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish.  READ MORE

Langston Hughes' Black Nativity

Boston
Produced by the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Black Nativity is the joyous account of an historic event that occurred 2,000 years ago. READ MORE

Holiday Pops Kids' Matinee

Boston
These special family holiday concerts include a children’s sing-along and post-concert photos with Santa. Kids Matinees are shorter than regular concerts and last about 75 minutes. READ MORE

Mayor's Enchanted Trolley Tour

Boston
For the 28th year, the Mayor's Enchanted Trolley Tour continues the festive tradition of lighting up holiday trees while bringing holiday spirit to children in 16 neighborhoods around the city. READ MORE

The Polar Express 4-D Experience

Boston
THE Polar Express 4-D Experience is based on the inspiring and beloved Caldecott Medal children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. Featured in digital 3-D and brought to life with 4-D multi sensory effects, this is an immersive experience for the whole family to enjoy. READ MORE
Holly-Day on the Harbor features music by Little Groove. Photo by Steve Lipofsky courtesy of Atlantic Wharf
Holly-Day on the Harbor features music by Little Groove. Photo by Steve Lipofsky courtesy of Atlantic Wharf

Things to Do Saturday

Free Live Nativity and Christmas Celebration in the Boston Common

Boston
This free family-friendly Christmas event features a live nativity scene with real animals, shepherds, wise men, and angels. READ MORE

Holly-Day on the Harbor

Boston
This family-friendly holiday celebration features a kid concert by children’s musical group, Little Groove, face painting with Jandy, arts & crafts with FPAC, activities with Save the Harbor Save the Bay, the BSA, Boston Harbor Islands, and more. READ MORE

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Lowell

Lowell
A Charlie Brown Christmas features Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and all the Peanuts gang as they produce their own Christmas pageant and ultimately learn the true meaning of Christmas.  READ MORE

Holidays on the Green

Plymouth
Throughout the day, families can enjoy a Holiday Artisan Market, visits with Santa Claus, the Annual Reindog Parade, fashion trucks, food trucks by Wahlburgers and others, ice sculpting, holiday characters and carolers, and more. READ MORE

Christkindlmarkt at German International School Boston

Boston
The annual Christkindlmarkt is a festive German holiday market that includes Christmas cookies, mulled wine, traditional German food, local vendors, music, dancing, and a visit from Nikolaus. READ MORE
Meet Santa in historic Plymouth. Photo courtesy of Plimoth Plantation
Meet Santa in historic Plymouth. Photo courtesy of Plimoth Plantation

Things To Do Sunday

Chanukah-Themed STEAM Fair

Watertown
Join JCDS, Temple Emunah, and Gore Place for Chanukah-themed, hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math activities to get in the Chanukah spirit.  READ MORE

Boston College Bands: A Christmas Festival

Chestnut Hill
Make musical memories at The BC Bands free, family-friendly performance with music including selections from The Nutcracker, Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride, jazzy Jingle Bells, and perennial holiday favorite Let it Snow. READ MORE

PJ Library Lights Up Chanukah

Belmont
This is an imaginative, illuminated interpretation of Chanukah that features singing, juggling, and hula hoops to create mesmerizing, rhythmic patterns with light while telling the story behind the Festival of Lights.  READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa at Plimoth Plantation

Plymouth
At this festive brunch, children have the opportunity to decorate their own holiday gingerbread man, write a letter to Santa, make food for Santa's reindeer, and and visit with Santa. READ MORE

Caring Santa: The Shops at Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill
Caring Santa provides children with all spectrums of special needs and their families with the opportunity to visit with Santa in a sensory-friendly environment. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: