Winter Vacation Event Mega-Roundup!
Hello friends, I hope you are as excited about the winter break as we are! Our team has been cranking pretty hard so it’s time for a slow down! This winter vacation event mega-roundup has you covered from December 21 to January 5. The list starts with recurring events then breaks things down by day, organized alphabetically by city/town. Have a beautiful, restful holiday and if you want to keep up with what I’m up to over the break, I will continue to post over on Instagram!
Recurring Events
December 21-22: Watch The Muppet Christmas Carol on a big screen (Brookline)
December 21-22: Puppet Showplace Theater stages The Fairy Circus (Brookline)
December 26-29: Connect with incredible wildlife and spend a memorable day exploring winter-themed activities, crafts, and zookeeper encounters during Franklin Park Zoo School Vacation Week (Boston)
December 26-30: Enjoy special Curious About Snow School Vacation Week activities at the Boston Children’s Museum (Boston)
December 26-31: The MFA offers art-making and exploration activities for families and children all week (Boston)
December 29-January 1: Puppet Showplace Theater stages The Amazing Story Machine (Brookline)
Through December 22: Shop local at the Harvard Square Holiday Craft Fair (Cambridge)
Through December 24: Take a free photo with Santa, play games, and make crafts when Santa’s Village takes over Bass Pro Shops (Foxborough)
Through December 29: Catch a performance of the Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker (Boston)
Through December 29: This year’s Christmas Revels focus on An American Celebration of the Winter Solstice (Cambridge)
Through December 29: Stop by the Fatima Shrine’s Annual Festival of Lights, which also includes loads of twinkle lights, candles, and a nativity (Holliston)
Through December 30: Night Lights return to Tower Hill Botanic Garden for a secular celebration of winter, light, and nature (Boylston)
Through December 31: Use clues to find six of Dr. Doolittle’s animal friends at the Harvard Museum of Natural History Animal Talk Scavenger Hunt (Cambridge)
Through December 31: The gardens at Naumkeag, Stevens-Coolidge Place, and the Bradley Estate sparkle with thousands of shimmering lights, plus weekend performances and activities at Winterlights (Canton, Stockbridge, and North Andover)
Through January 1: Enjoy The Enchanted Village as you visit with Santa inside Jordan's Furniture (Avon)
Through January 1: Blink! features thousands of twinkling lights synchronized to music (Boston)
Through January 1: Take in the bright Christmas Festival of Lights at Edaville, an enchanted wonderland with millions of lights, attractions, and holiday train rides (Carver)
Through January 1: Travel around Look Park and its Winter Wonderland Light Display to visit a friendly dragon, admire a castle of light, sing a few carols, and stop by Santa’s Trains (Florence)
Through January 2: Swing by the BSA Gingerbread Design Competition and Exhibition to view a delicious showcase of local landscape and architectural talent; this year’s theme is world monuments (Boston)
Through January 5: The LaSalette Shrine Lights open for the season to brighten the night sky (Attleborough)
Through January 5: The Polar Express™ 4-D Experience returns to the Museum of Science (Boston)
Through January 5: Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature fills the Concord Museum with more than 30 fanciful trees decorated with original ornaments inspired by acclaimed children’s storybooks and contemporary picturebooks (Concord)
Through January 5: Bright Nights at Forest Park offers up three miles of lighting displays, from the traditional “Victorian Village” to childhood favorites like “Seuss Land,” plus visits with Santa, and horse-drawn carriage rides (Springfield)
Through January 4: ZooLights brightens the Stone Zoo once again (Stoneham)
Through January 7: All Aboard! Trains at Science Park features classic winter landscapes with miniature trains, hands-on activities, and special surprises (Boston)
Through January 12: Make the holiday Snowmazing! at the Boston Children’s Museum with music, skating, Museum elves, and special activities (Boston)
Through February 2: Visit Entre les rangs, a twinkling collection of 28,000 handmade white crystalline stems topped with white reflectors and displayed on Seaport Common (Boston)
Weekend of December 21 + 22 Events
Saturday, December 21
Embark on a Winter Adventures Playdate at the MFA (Boston)
Winter Wonderland is a festive indoor amusement park with over 20 rides to benefit families struggling with poverty or homelessness (Boston)
Adults can take a slow, gentle yoga Solstice yoga class, followed by a mindful walk around the trails at Habitat (Belmont)
Take a moonlit stroll through the meadow to look for animal tracks and listen for owls, then warm up with apple cider and create solstice art (Boston)
Say farewell to fall and welcome winter at this Solstice Celebration with a guided loop walk around Fresh Pond and solstice traditions of nature and culture along the way (Cambridge)
The Kendall Square Holiday Ice Show returns with free admission and a full day of festivities (Cambridge)
Gather around the fire to celebrate solstice with drumming, singing, hot cider, and s’mores (Concord)
A magical luminary trail through winter woods, kids’ activities, live music, and a bonfire await at this Winter Solstice Celebration and Forest Luminaria Walk (Easthampton)
Hike the dunes of Crane Wildlife Refuge under the stars before warming up with hot cider, rum, and other refreshments while taking in the solstice night sky inside the Great House on Castle Hill (Ipswich)
Welcome Hanukkah with a performance of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, followed by a latke celebration (Lexington)
Enjoy cocoa, dessert, hay bale seating around the campfire, stories of animals transitioning into winter, and a solstice hayride guided by lanterns under the stars (Marshfield)
Join a special Solstice Story Time featuring Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter (Martha’s Vineyard)
This Solstice Illumination Night features campfires, s’mores, stories, and fire dancing (Milton)
Rock out at Matt Heaton’s Holiday Hootenanny (Natick)
Learn about the history and importance of winter solstice, sip cocoa, and usher out the shortest day of the year with a short hike and sunset solstice ritual at Harold Parker State Park (North Andover)
Support local artists and crafters at the Salem Holiday Market (Salem)
Create tin can lanterns, take a guided candlelit walk, hear passages from “The Shortest Day,” and enjoy cocoa, hot cider, cookies, and s’mores to welcome winter under the stars (Southborough)
Sunday, December 22
The Annual Menorah Lighting on the Boston Common includes a live music ensemble, warm beverages, and Chanukah treats (Boston)
Head to the Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at the Burlington Mall for arts & crafts, latkes and sufganiyot, music, a public menorah lighting of a 9 foot tall menorah, and a magic show (Burlington)
Celebrate Chanukah with ice skating, donut decorating, special appearance by Judah the Macabee, Chanukah treats, and crafts (Cambridge)
It’s music, stories, candles, and ritual at this Winter Solstice Celebration (Danvers)
Learn to use binoculars, identify different bird species, and create seed and fruit art for the birds to eat at this Winter Backyard Birding and Crafts program (Mattapan)
Have a Holiday Sing-a-Long with Santa and Master Vic (Maynard)
Matt Heaton brings his Holiday Hootenanny to The Burren (Somerville)
week of December 23 - 27 Events
Monday, December 23
Build cup towers to explore engineering principles (Acton)
Attend a Menorah lighting ceremony and safety presentation, then collect chocolate gelt as it rains down from the tops of fire trucks at this annual Chocolate Gelt Drop (Arlington)
Light the Menorah and partake in crafts, refreshments, and entertainment at CambridgeSide (Cambridge)
Make Snowman Snow Globes (North Easton)
Attend this Cookie Decorating Holiday Party with sprinkles, frosting, and everything sweet (Norwood)
Tuesday, December 24
Chanukah on Ice offers up a fun afternoon event with ice skating, lunch, latkes, sufganiyot, Chanukah crafts, and face painting (Arlington)
Use laser-cut designs to practice weaving and embroidery skills and create Laser Cut String Art (Boston)
Dress to Express with costume play and music (Boston)
Make Felt Birds and Popsicle Stick Stars (Jamaica Plain)
Head to a Chanukah Family Dinner (Needham)
It’s dreidels, Uno, Connect Four, and much more at this Chanukah Game Night (Natick)
Explore Tide Pools and Wracklines through hands-on exploration and discovery (Norwell)
Wednesday, December 25
Drum up some spirit at this Chanukah Drum Circle, enjoy latkes, fill and decorate your own Chanukah doughnut, and participate in the lighting of a large, outdoor menorah (Brookline)
It’s Donut Making and Chanukah Fun (Needham)
Attend this Chanukah Party for singing, latkes and doughnuts, music, and potluck snacks (Somerville)
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
Thursday, December 26
Play with weight and balance (Acton)
Sew Hand Warmers with a sewing machine (Boston)
This free Chanukkah Celebration at the Seaport includes kindling a giant Menorah, live music, Chanukkah treats, and more (Boston)
Watch a marionette performance of Peter and the Wolf (Boston)
Create Holiday Picture Frames and Ornaments or play with a Mega Mix of Manipulatives (North Easton)
Friday, December 27
Participate in community art with the Giant Scarf Collaborative by embroidering a giant scarf using big plastic needles, yarn, and warm colors (Boston)
Design a Candy Cane Maze at this drop-in engineering workshop (Boston)
Attend a Drop In Breastfeeding and Caregiver Support Group (Boston)
Bring a book to donate to hospitalized kids, make a bookmark to accompany it, and attend this PJ Library Chanukah Mitzvah Meetup & Story Time for games, songs, stories, and treats (Natick)
Enjoy a bit of Clay Play (North Easton)
Weekend of December 28 + 29 Events
Saturday, December 28
Gather around the lights of the Chanukiah and the Havdalah candle as the sun sets to explore the spiritual practices of Chanukah, followed by Chinese food and good conversation, at this Spiritual Practice Lab and Riverway Chanukah Havdalah (Boston)
Kids can learn the mechanics, tasks, and skills involved in making the USS Constitution a successful warship (Charlestown)
Try on all six New England Patriots Super Bowl championship rings (Foxboro)
Tanglewood Marionettes perform Cinderella (Newton)
Take a Guided Snowshoe Walk with a naturalist teacher (Mattapan)
Sunday, December 29
Celebrate the last night of Chanukah with a Teen and Adult Dinner Party and Candle Lighting (Brookline)
Join Boston Baroque for an annual free Community Concert at The Strand Theatre that features selections from New Year’s Celebrations (Dorchester)
Spend the morning birding, sipping cocoa and eating treats by the fire, and exploring Drumlin Farm (Lincoln)
Think, build, create, and problem solve in this MakerSpace Fun Creative Bonanza (North Easton)
The Northshore Mall hosts a Hanukkah Celebration and Menorah Lighting (Peabody)
Head to the Hip Hop Nutcracker (Worcester)
Week of December 30 - January 3 Events
Monday, December 30
Explore Everyday Engineering with Balls and Ramps (Acton)
Investigate Ice Age Animals like Woolly Mammoths, Woolly Rhinos, and more, go on a hike to explore evidence of the ice age on local trails, then make a craft to take home (Attleboro)
Make Paper Snowflakes and listen to Winter Music (Boston)
Tuesday, December 31
Make party hats and noisemakers for Bessie’s Noon Year’s Eve Party then stay to enjoy the pajama dance party (Acton)
Spend the day enjoying First Night 2020 music and performances across the city, then enjoy evening fireworks on the Common followed by a pyrotechnics show on Copley Square at midnight (Boston)
Don’t miss the New Year’s Eve on the Waterfront Ice Sculpture Stroll (Boston)
Attend this Happy NOON Year! Celebration to make crazy hats and watch a “crystal” ball drop (Boston)
It’s time for the Boston Common Frog Pond New Year’s Eve Skating Spectacular and Mugar Family Fireworks (Boston)
Enjoy family-friendly indoor and outdoor New Year’s Eve Labyrinth Walks, make holiday mandalas, and enjoy refreshments (Franklin)
Attend a festive New Year’s Eve Party packed with face painting, glitter tattoos, magic shows, cookie decorating, glow in the dark dance party, fortune telling, hat making, and confetti blasters (North Easton)
Join in the reindeer fun with a zookeeper chat, festive crafts, reindeer parade, more than 40 life-size animal ice sculptures, and more at Zoo Year’s Eve (Stoneham)
This Jammin’ with You New Year’s Eve Party includes a performance by Josh & the Jamtones, Davey the Clown, a “midnight” balloon drop, and more (Wellesley)
Wednesday, January 1
Get outside for a First Day Hike at Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary (Attleboro)
Have Fun with Fiber Arts (Boston)
Take a First Day Hike at World’s End (Hingham)
Spend First Day in the Dunes hiking, followed by hot cider around a small beach fire at sunset (Ipswich)
First Day offerings at the Mosesian Center for the Arts include art and theatre activities, live performances, and more (Watertown)
Look for animal tracks and other signs of wildlife on this Hike into the New Year for Families followed by cocoa and coffee (Worcester)
Thursday, January 2
Engage in Icy Explorations (Acton)
Use shadow puppets to explore light and shadow (Boston)
Learn why Most Bacteria, Like Most People, Are Good (Lexington)
Learn about Snowy Owls with stories, games, crafts, and nature exploration (Milton)
Friday, January 3
First Friday Nights are free at the Discovery Museum (Acton)
Enjoy a Family Yoga class (Boston)
Learn all about Chipmunks through STEAM activities, stories, and outdoor exploration (Sharon)
Weekend of January 4-5 Events
Saturday, January 4
Learn to make popovers (Acton)
Take a Truffle Making Workshop with Taza Chocolate (Boston)
Don’t just listen to stories, be a part of them at this Interactive Storytime (Burlington)
Welcome 2020 with sledding and cocoa at Danehy Park (Cambridge)
Kick off the new year in style with a delicious breakfast in the Verrill Farm heated greenhouse (Verrill)
Decorate crowns, read a book about Three Kings Day, listen to live music, learn a traditional song, and receive at free book at The Three Kings Day Parranda and Celebration (Jamaica Plain)
Sunday, January 5
Learn Winter Survival with Primitim (Acton)
Try this Family Paper-Making Workshop (Boston)
Take an Acting Workshop for KIDS (Boston)
Enjoy a bit of Weekly Chess Practice (Groton)
Get Cozy at the Library with a craft project and cocoa (Somerville)
Participate in an all ages pizza class (Sudbury)