TUESDAY
27
OCTOBER
Christmas in Boston with Kids
Boston's Christmas calendar is mostly set. Snowport runs November 6 to December 27 in the Seaport; the Common's tree lighting is Thursday, December 3; Boston Ballet's Nutcracker plays November 27 to December 31. The Frog Pond rink has posted nothing for 2026–27.
Season: Late Nov–Jan 1 · Updated October 21, 2026 · refreshed weekly
- Boston Ballet's Nutcracker: November 27 – December 31, 2026 at the Citizens Opera House, about two hours
- First Night Boston: New Year's Eve, entirely free — “No purchase is required”
- Snowport: 100 Seaport Blvd, open daily November 6 – December 27, 2026
- Tree lighting: Boston Common, Thursday, December 3, 2026, 6–8pm — free
- Frog Pond skating: Mid-November to mid-March, and no 2026–27 rates are posted
Snowport: the Seaport holiday market
The Snowport Holiday Market runs daily from November 6 to December 27 on the Seaport waterfront. Weekday hours get longer from December 7.
Snowport Holiday Market — Seaport, BostonVisit official site →
A waterfront market of 125+ makers, with food stalls, cocktail bars and a crafting corner.
Dates
- Daily, November 6 – December 27, 2026
- Monday–Thursday 3–8pm; Friday 11am–9pm; Saturday 10am–9pm; Sunday 10am–8pm
- From December 7, Monday–Thursday opens at 11am
- Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; closes at 6pm on Christmas Eve
Know before you go
- Mohegan Music Mondays bring live music at 5pm on November Mondays
Who it's for
Families who want an evening out on the waterfront
Skip if
Your weekday is a school day — the market doesn't open until 3pm Monday to Thursday before December 7
The Nutcracker, and which performance to book
Boston Ballet's Nutcracker is the one thing in this guide you can book now. It runs about two hours including one intermission, which is the number that decides whether a four-year-old makes it.
Boston Ballet's Nutcracker — Downtown BostonVisit official site →
Mikko Nissinen's production, with the Boston Ballet Orchestra in the pit and 83 Boston Ballet School students on stage.
Dates
- November 27 – December 31, 2026
- Sensory-friendly performance: Friday, December 4 at 1:30pm
Tickets
Boston Ballet is the only official seller of Nutcracker tickets — buy at bostonballet.org rather than from a resale listing.
Know before you go
- The sensory-friendly performance is cut to 1 hour 20 minutes, with house lights partly up, no strobes and loud stage noise restricted
- No minimum age is published, but the company warns of loud music and flashing light
- The theater is kept warm for the dancers, so dress in layers
Who it's for
Four and up, if two hours in a seat is realistic
Skip if
Sound and light are a problem and the sensory-friendly date has gone
The free half: the tree lighting and First Night
Boston's best Christmas costs nothing. The tree on the Common and First Night on New Year's Eve are the two to build the season around.
Boston Common tree lighting — Boston CommonVisit official site →
The city tree is an annual gift from Nova Scotia, sent in thanks for Boston's relief effort after the 1917 Halifax Harbour explosion.
Dates
- Lighting Thursday, December 3, 2026, 6–8pm, beside the Visitor Information Center at 139 Tremont Street
- The tree arrives under police escort Tuesday, November 24, around 11am
Tickets
Free
Know before you go
- The 2026 lighting is the 55th year of Nova Scotia's gift
Who it's for
Any age, dressed for a night on the Common
First Night Boston — Downtown BostonVisit official site →
A free citywide New Year's Eve: ice sculptures, a parade, live music, family activities and two fireworks shows.
Dates
- December 31, 2026
- No 2026 schedule posted yet
Tickets
“Entirely free and open to all. No purchase is required”
Know before you go
- The parade runs from City Hall Plaza to Boston Common
- Two fireworks shows rather than one — take a six-year-old to the early one and be home before the second
- The ice sculptures are the fixture people come back for
Who it's for
Young children, thanks to that early fireworks show
Skip if
You need a timed plan now — there is no 2026 schedule yet
Skating on the Frog Pond, and what it costs
The Frog Pond season runs mid-November to mid-March. No opening date, hours or rates are posted for 2026–27.
- The Skating Club of Boston runs the rink with Boston Parks and Recreation, year-round
- Kendall Square's outdoor rink and the Charles Hotel's have posted no 2026–27 season either
- Watch bostonfrogpond.com for the opening date
- Plans that cannot fall through: the Boston Public Library at Copley, Boston Public Market and the Museum of Science
Upcoming holiday events in Boston
7 upcoming Christmas & holiday events in Boston and nearby, refreshed daily.
City Ballet of Boston presents modern Boston‑themed excerpts of The Urban Nutcracker, followed by a story reading and dance‑move lesson, for ages 12 and under.
WEDNESDAY
4
NOVEMBER
Make a pretty vase from a plastic bottle using yarn at the MakerSpace in Waltham Public Library, ages 5 and up.
FRIDAY
6
NOVEMBER
Ms. Madison leads a Nutcracker story time at the Adams Street Community Room, Dorchester, for all ages.
SATURDAY
14
NOVEMBER
Holiday Faire at Crawford Memorial UMC — Two floors of handmade crafts, vintage jewelry, Christmas décor, baked goods, cookie bar, snack bar, plus White Elephant books, toys, housewares.
SATURDAY
21
NOVEMBER
Holiday market at Park-9 Dog Bar offers local vendors, mulled wine, seasonal cocktails, festive treats, and pup‑friendly shopping for all ages.
MONDAY
23
NOVEMBER
Trellis lighting at Christopher Columbus Park features 260 feet of illuminated trellis, musical performances, Santa and Rudolph, eggnog, hot chocolate, cookies, and clam chowder.
TUESDAY
24
NOVEMBER
A holiday tree arrives at Boston Common, marking the 55th donation and celebrating 109 years of Boston‑Halifax friendship.
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FAQ
When does Snowport open in 2026?
November 6, and it runs daily to December 27, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It is at 100 Seaport Boulevard on the waterfront, with 125-plus makers.
How much is skating on the Frog Pond?
No 2026–27 rate is posted, and the rink has not opened for the season. Its operators publish nothing beyond a mid-November to mid-March window. Check bostonfrogpond.com before you go out of your way.
Which Nutcracker performance suits a young child?
The sensory-friendly one on Friday, December 4 at 1:30pm: cut to 1 hour 20 minutes, house lights partly up, no strobes, and audience noise allowed. The full production runs about two hours with one intermission.
Is there a Christmas plan that cannot fall through?
Yes. The Boston Public Library at Copley, Boston Public Market and the Museum of Science are open through the season and depend on no announcement. First Night on New Year's Eve is free and needs no ticket.