Christmas In Boston

Boston's history, snowy weather, and abundance of Christmas lights makes it a beautiful place to be over the holidays. Treat yourself to a fine meal in one of the city's many restaurants and take a walk afterwards under trees aglow with white lights.

Boston Hotels: See special offers.

Be prepared for Boston's weather with warm clothing and appropriate footwear. There are plenty of attractions, museums and historic sights to see while you're in the city.

Things to Do

Faneuil Hall Christmas Tree

The Faneuil Hall Christmas Tree is located at Marketplace Center, adjacent to Paneuil Hall Marketplace. This is one of the largest Christmas Trees in New England, plus there's a light display sychronized to music by the Holiday Pops. The "Blink!" light display can be enjoyed daily from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., December 3 to January 1. While you're there, check out the shopping and dining in Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Boston Common Christmas Tree

The Boston Common tree is Boston's official Christmas tree. The tree displayed at Boston Common is annual gift from Nova Scotia for assistance Boston provided following a deadly Halifax explosion in December of 1917.

In addition to the main tree, there are other trees lighted throughout Boston Common. You'll also find the Frog Pond Skating rink here on Boston Common, and there's a Skating Spectacular exhibition on tree-lighting night.

Commonwealth Avenue

In Back Bay, starting at Public Gardens. Commonwealth Avenue Mall is a parkway with a wide grassy mall in the center, lined with trees and statuary. For the holidays, the trees along Commonwealth Avenue Mall are lit with white lights.

Ice Skating

The Boston Common Frog Pond turns into a skating rink in the winter time. There are public skating hours daily beginning in late November.

Boston Christmas Festival

An annual event showcasing America's finest craft artists. Held at the Seaport World Trade Center.

The 2019 show dates are November 8 - 10. More Information.

Holiday Shows

Boston Ballet Presents The Nutcracker

Enjoy the Boston Ballet's presentation of The Nutcrakcer. The 2019 performance dates are November 29 - December 29 at the Boston Opera House.

Holiday Pops

You may have seen some of these concerts on television, or heard the recordings. The Holiday Pops concerts in Symphony Hall are wonderful entertainment. You'll enjoy beutifully performed holiday music - and you can participate in the traditional sing-along.

The 2019 Holiday Pops performance dates are December 4 through December 31. If you're taking the family, consider attending one of the special kids matinee performances. More Information.

Handel's Messiah

The Handel + Hayden Society will hold their annual Messiah performances November 29 & 30 and December 1, 2019 at Symphony Hall.

Boston Tuba Christmas

The annual Boston Tuba Christmas concert is held at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. This free concert is a holiday tradition and features Christmas music performed by around 150 tuba and euphonium players. The 2019 concert date is November 30th.

Irving Berlin's White Christmas

Irving Berlin's White Christmas is playing at the Boch Center's Wang Theatre December 17 - 29. More information.

Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol

The world premiere of Dolly Parton's new Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol musical is being staged this holiday season at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theater. This Smoky Mountains take on the Dicken's classic features original music by Dolly Parton. More information.

Urban Nutcracker

The Urban Nutcracker mixes hip-hop and ballet, Tchaikovsky and Duke Ellington for a reimagined take on the classic ballet. Boch Center, Shubert Theatre, December 19 - 28, 2019. More information.

Hotels

Taj Boston -  Formerly the Ritz-Carlton Boston. A historic hotel located right on Boston Common, overlooking Public Gardens. Within walking distance of restaurants and shops.

Hyatt Regency Boston -  Good location close to Boston Common.

Hotel Commonwealth - One of the most recommended hotels in Boston. There's a T station next door for easy transportation.

Hotels near Boston Common - Be in the center of it all with a location close to Boston Common.

Hotels near Symphony Hall - Close to the Boston Pops performances.

See More Boston Hotels - A full listing of Boston hotels. To find the hotel closest to a particular site, venue or attraction, go to the Boston hotels page and scroll down until you see the "Landmarks and Attactions" list in the left margin. Select from the list and see the closest hotels listed and mapped.