Snow has yet to fall in Boston, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get into the holiday spirit! Keep warm and celebrate the start of winter with a few of these festive events and activities. Please note that many of these programs require tickets. 

Home for the Holidays – Activities for Children

Boston Children’s Museum

Looking for festive fun for little ones? The Boston Children’s Museum is offering a STEAM Family Workshop where children 6+ can build and program a LEGO robot that can push “snow” away. For children under 3, the museum is also offering a Snow Dough program where young visitors can play with homemade snow dough. Both programs are being offered several times this month, check the Boston Children’s Museum Calendar for all available dates. BCM is also hosting a Happy Noon Year on December 31st with all the fun of a New Year’s celebration (minus staying up until midnight)!

Plimoth Patuxet

Plimoth Patuxet is offering family-friendly holiday activities this month. During the workshop, Hearth Cooking for the Holidays, young culinary fans will enjoy learning how to cook 17th-century winter meals using historic tools, techniques, ingredients, and recipes! Breakfast with Santa is a great opportunity for younger children to meet the jolly man himself and engage in festive crafts. For those who don’t celebrate with Santa, Plimoth Patuxet is holding a Children’s Lantern Making and Story Hour.

Concord Museum

Have a young reader in the family? Nurture their love of literature at the Concord Museum’s 28th Annual Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature.

Boston Museum of Fine Arts

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is holding an event which might be interesting to budding movie buffs! Join the MFA for a screening of the stop motion animation classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) in celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary.

Bright Lights, Big City – Light Displays in and Around Boston

If you’re anything like my family, holiday light gazing is a must! Luckily there are plenty of options for dazzling displays in the Boston area. For those near Boston proper, ZooLights at Stone Zoo is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the animal kingdom in a festive atmosphere. Southwick Zoo’s Winter Wonderland offers lights, shows, and meet and greets for those wanting a wild holiday. History buffs and botanical enthusiasts will enjoy Winterlights at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens.

Historic Holidays – Celebrate While Learning About History & Culture

Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about the history and culture buffs among our readers!

Boston Museum of Fine Arts

The MFA will be hosting a lively Hanukkah celebration on December 7th which includes an exploration of the museum’s new gallery for Judaica.

Peabody Essex Museum

Fans of Salem will be delighted to know that festivities aren’t limited to Halloween! The Peabody Essex Museum will be hosting a Winter Solstice Celebration which includes Yoga, candle making, live music, and a Winter Solstice ritual.

Old Sturbridge Village

Visitors can experience the fascinating history of Christmas celebrations during Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village. OSV will be offering demonstrations of classic Christmas projects, stories, live music, sweet treats, horse-drawn carriage rides, festive decorations, and a Christmas Tree Trail. 

Andover Historical Society

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party with the Andover Historical Society! Tea Sommelier, Allyson Irish, will give a fun and informative talk about the history of tea, the importance of tea in relation to the birth of American independence, and some of the historical tea houses in Andover. The program will also include a “revolutionary” tea tasting.

The Gibson House

The Gibson House’s Annual Holiday Open House offers a wonderful opportunity to experience a 19th century Christmas. Refreshments will be served, and the event is open and FREE to the public (looking at you students)!