Boston Area Holiday Events
Holiday EventsNovember 1-December 31, 2006 Boston is alight with the spirit of the holidays! Experience it with your family! Check out the list of Holiday Events. Mmmm...food conjures up the holidays too! Discover what's delectable in Boston. Capture Christmas memories at every turn by stepping into the wonderland of Boston's sparkling season. Enjoy the cities with music and lights and all things bright, a memorable Boston holiday season awaits you.Perkins School For The Blind Holiday Concerts Thursday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 16 Every December since 1913, students at Perkins School for the Blind have entertained holiday crowds with music. This year is no exception. Students present a holiday choral and hand bell concert on Thursday evening, December 13, at 7:30pm and again at 3:00pm on Sunday afternoon, December 16. The rafters will surely ring in Dwight Hall within the school’s historic Howe Building as students perform seasonal music of various cultures in an array of styles. A jazzed-up medley of old-fashioned English carols will spice up seasonal favorites like “Sleigh Ride” and beautiful harmonies on “Silent Night. Perkins music director Arnie Harris has written a new tune to the Yiddish Chanukah “Dreydl” song. The program also draws on holiday music in Swahili, Spanish, Polish, and Latin, plus Appalachian and African-American gospel songs. Perkins students will also perform at the Bank of America Holiday Bazaar, Tues., Dec. 18th at noon in the lobby of 100 Federal St., Boston Dwight Hall, Howe Building, Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street Watertown, MA 02472 http://www.perkins.org *Check the website for show information Phone: (617) 972-7478 Zoolights Nov. 22 through Dec. 30 (except Christmas) 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. A beloved holiday family tradition returns to Stone Zoo when ZooLights opens on Thanksgiving. This winter wonderland attracts thousands of visitors each year who get into the holiday spirit by strolling along tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Upon entering the Zoo, guests will visit Yukon Creek, which not only features dazzling holiday lights but is also home to bald eagles, porcupine, lynx, a gray fox and a pair of reindeer. Children will want to make sure they visit with Santa, who awaits their arrival in Santa's Castle. Jolly Old St. Nick will be available for photos through Dec. 23. After visiting with Santa, enter a magical holiday world filled with fairy tale characters and dancing plush animals. Admission:$4 per person, children under 2 free Stone Zoo, 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA 02180. http://www.stonezoo.org *Check the website for exact ticket prices, dates, times and show information Phone: 617-541-LION (5466).Back Bay Ringers Family Concert Dates: Saturday, Dec. 1, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. A family concert with the Back Bay Ringers featuring beloved carols, holiday sing-alongs, and a hands-on handbell exploration will be held at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church 207 Washington St. Wellesley, at 2 p.m. and a Holiday Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. and will include a celebration of carols with the Back Bay Ringers featuring music from the newest Christmas CD and the premier of Back Bay Carillon, Back Bay Ringers' newest handbell ensemble. Free will offering accepted. The 7:30 p.m. performance will be at Maple Street Congregational Church 90 Maple Street Danvers, Mass. Family concert at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church 207 Washington St. Wellesley, and Holiday Concert at Maple Street Congregational Church 90 Maple Street Danvers, Mass. http://www.backbayringers.org Phone: 617 688-5768Temple Sinai Sisterhood Craft & Gift Fair Sunday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jewelry, handbags, doll clothes, plush toys, sweaters and more! Admission: Free Temple Sinai, 25 Canton St., Sharon, Mass. http://www.temple-sinai.com Call for information Phone: 781-784-6081The Nutcracker Ballet Nov 29 - Dec 29 A performance of 'The Nutcracker' which tells the story of two children, Clara and Fritz, who are given a present from their uncle on Christmas Eve. A dream sequence follows filled with sugar fairies and mice and puppets. Price: $30-$150/person Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston, MA http://www.bostonballet.org *Check the website for exact ticket prices, dates, times and show information Phone: (617) 695-6955Miracle On 34th Street Nov. 29 - Dec. 23 Stoneham Theatre invites audiences to experience this holiday classic for the whole family. This favorite puts the spirit of Christmas on trial. When the real Kris Kringle gets a job playing Santa at Macy’s department store, he sets out to teach one little girl that yes, there really is a Santa Claus, and ends up restoring a whole city’s belief in the magic of the Christmas Season. Brought to life onstage, this hilarious and charming tale is a holiday gift to the kid in all of us. Time: Varies; Price: $32/person Stoneham Theater 395 Main St Stoneham, MA http://www.stonehamtheater.org Phone: (781) 279-2200Boston Common Holiday Tree Lighting Nov. 29, 6 p.m. Boston Common The Boston Common holiday display has been a unique Boston tradition for the City since 1940. The annual event now includes the lighting of Boston’s official Christmas tree and trees throughout Boston Common, The Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Thousands of people of all ages enjoy Boston’s holiday stage show including entertainment such as national and local performers, carolers, Santa and more. The lighting will take place when Mayor Thomas M. Menino flips the switch to light the Common, The Public Garden bridge, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall during a holiday sing-along. Sponsored by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Province of Nova Scotia, WCVB-TV Channel 5, Magic 106.7 FM and more. For additional information, please call (617) 635-4505. Admission: Free Boston Common http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/events_announcements.asp Phone: (617) 635-4505. Edaville Christmas Festival of Lights Dates: Nov. 9-11, Nov. 16-18, Nov. 23-30, Dec. 1-31. (Closed Christmas) and Jan. 1, 2008. The family fun park takes on a magical feeling as the beautiful colors of the holidays reflect spectacularly off the frozen cranberry bogs and ponds. The festival is unique because of the train ride. This New England holiday tradition includes a 2-mile trip on an authentic narrow-gauge railroad in heated passenger cars, past countless shimmering lights and dozens of frozen cranberry bogs. Carver, Mass., just off I-495 on Route 58 http://www.edaville.com. Tickets: $16 per adults. Phone: 877-EDAVILLE Irving Berlin's "White Christmas Nov. 23 to Dec. 23 Price: $22 to $150/person Brimming with such Berlin hits as “Blue Skies”, “How Deep is the Ocean?”, and of course the unforgettable title song, Irving Berlin's White Christmas tells the story of two showbiz buddies putting on a show in a magical Vermont inn, and finding their perfect mates in the bargain. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas promises to be a merry and bright theatrical experience for the whole family. The Wang Theatre 270 Tremont Street http://www.citicenter.org Telecharge.com 800-447-7400 Frog Pond, Boston Common Opens Nov. 15, 5:30 p.m. Mayor Thomas M. Menino hosts the official opening of the Boston Common Frog Pond 2007/2008 season with demonstrations by precision skating teams, pairs, and champion figure skaters. The Frog Pond features concessions, skate rentals, rest rooms, and a warming area. Please call (617) 635-2121 for advance sales of 20 people or more and special school programs or (617) 635- 2120 for further information on the Frog Pond or go to: http://www.bostoncommonfrogpond.org . Frog Pond, Boston Common http://www.bostoncommonfrogpond.org Christmas Revels: Celebration of Winter Solstice Dec. 14, 16, 20 and 27 Price: $23.50 This year’s celebratory Christmas Revels explores music, dance and stories of the Balkans. Over 80 performers grace the stage in the song and spectacle that has been a New England tradition for nearly four decades! Appropriate for ages 10 and older. Approximate running time: 2 hours and 10 minutes. Sanders Theater, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Black Nativity Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, and 14-16. The cherished song-play by Langston Hughes, the best-known and most celebrated poet of the Harlem Renaissance, will open in Boston on Dec. 1, 2006 for 12 performances. Produced by the National Center for Afro-American Artists, the NCAAA's production is the longest running performance of Hughes' play in the world. Tickets for "Black Nativity" are available at $41, $32.50 and $25, and may be purchased through NextTicketing at (617) 423-6000 or online at www.BlackNativity.org. A Renaissance Christmas, Newbury Dec. 9, 8 p.m. Price: $16 This rich program of rare Christmas music from the church and country-sides of Europe includes works by Dufay, Josquin, Byrd and other masters from France, Spain, Italy, England and Germany. First Parish Church, Newbury, Mass., 20 High Road, Newbury, Mass. http://www.firstchurchnewbury Chorus pro Musica Holiday Concert Dec. 21, 8 p.m. Price: $10 This seasonal festival celebrates the holidays with brass, carols and festive music featuring special guests the New England Conservatory of Music's Children's Chorus. Old South Church 645 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 http://www.oldsouth.org Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village Dec. 7-16, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Experience the candlelit Village at Christmastime on these special Friday and Saturday evenings! Explore the history of holiday traditions: How did fruitcake and roasted chestnuts become associated with Christmas, are there plums in plum pudding, and what's the history behind the Yule log? You'll learn about these traditions and many others, sample foods long associated with the holiday, and feel the Spirit of the Season by candlelight as you stroll the festively decorated houses and shops around the lantern-lit Common. Admission: $12, children under 3 free. Purchase tickets on-line at www.osv.orgHoliday Pops Dec. 10- Dec. 31 Take part in one of Boston's most beloved traditions -- a Holiday Pops concert at historic Symphony Hall. Bring your family and friends for a matinee or evening concert and enjoy the glorious New England holiday season. Visit the website for ticket prices times and tour dates. Price: $26-$118/person Symphony Hall Boston, MA http://www.bso.org Phone: (617) 266-1200Handel's Messiah Dec. 14, 15 Handel's Messiah, a Grammy-nominated and internationally acclaimed performance. Conductor Martin Pearlman with the Boston Baroque orchestra and chorus. Featuring Sari Gruber, soprano; Phyllis Pancella, mezzo-soprano; Keith Jameson, tenor; Stephen Powell, bass. Time: 7:30pm; Price: $25-$72/person New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall 30 Gainsborough Street Boston, MA http://www.Bostonbaroque.org Phone: (617) 484-9200A Dancer's Christmas Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 pm and Dec. 9 and 16 at 3 p.m. This evening of dance is choreographed by the internationally acclaimed dancing priest, Father Robert VerEecke, S.J. Time: Varies; 12/16 Children's performance $15. Reg. Price: $30/person, $20 children and seniors. Robsham Theatre Arts Center 28 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill, MA http://www.blde.org Phone: (617) 552-4002Harvard Square Holiday Craft Fairs Dec. 1, 2, 7-9 and Dec. 14-23. Saturdays 10-7 p.m., Sundays, 12-6 p.m. Weekdays: 12-7:30 p.m. First Parish Unitarian Church. Corner of Mass. Ave and Church Street. The fair includes a changing mix of New England craftspeople and world traveling importers featuring many wonderful gift items.Brewster For The Holidays: A Sea of Light Nov. 30-Dec. 2 A true Cape Cod Holiday Celebration recreated from years past. Sponsored by local businesses, Brewster opens its doors and lights up the town for this three-day event. Locals and visitors alike will enjoy the many town wide festivities. The Cape Cod holiday celebration includes concerts, a chowder fest, unique shopping, and a final event at the Ocean Edge Resort with face painting, holiday wrapping, cookie decorating, caroling, and refreshments. Please join us in this festive event http://www.brewsterfestivals.org New Years Holiday Events First Night: Boston's New Year's Eve Celebration of the Arts December 31, 2007 First Night New Year's Eve activities take place from 1 pm to midnight at more than 40 indoor and outdoor venues throughout downtown Boston. With the purchase of a First Night Button, revelers gain admission to performances featuring the very best in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film and more. Buttons can be purchased at Shaw's and Star Markets and other locations in advance. Children under 4 are free. Museums, theaters, churches and performance centers open their doors to First Night Button holders throughout the entire day. Popular attractions include the Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center featuring interactive activities for all ages, gigantic ice sculptures on Copley Square and the Boston Common, and a Mardi Gras-style Grand Procession that sweeps through the streets of Boston. http://www.firstnight.org New Years Holiday Events First Night: Boston's 2008 First Night Fireworks December 31, 2007 Midnight countdown at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common. All First Night outdoor events are free, though supported by sales of the First Night button, which is the ticket for admission to all indoor events. Buttons are just $15 (children under 4 are free) and will be available beginning Nov. 24 at Boston-area Shaw’s and Star Markets, Store 24, L’il Peach, Tedeschi’s, Au Bon Pain and dozens of other locations. For a complete list, see www.firstnight.org after Nov. 16. Buttons can be ordered online now from www.firstnight.org. Information about all scheduled performances and exhibits at First Night Boston 2007 will be available at www.firstnight.org on November 16. http://www.firstnight.org The Passion of the Scrooge Holiday Concert Saturday, Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m. The free-spirited Firebird Ensemble celebrates the holidays with its dramatic presentation of the Passion of the Scrooge, an entertaining musical setting of Charles Dickens' classic novel "A Christmas Carol." Becoming an annual festive tradition for Bostonians, the vibrant and amusing concert brings Dickens' characters to life in a suspenseful and exciting journey from past to future. The Passion of the Scrooge captures the spirit of the season while introducing classical music and a classic novel to audiences of all ages. Admission: $20 adults, $10 students/seniors. Free for children under 6. Family discounts available. Faneuil Hall Square 4 South Market Street, Boston. Take Green Line to Govt. Center http://www.firebirdensemble.com Phone: 617-480-5112Holiday Fair at First Unitarian Society, Newton Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This decades-old event has a reputation for warm, joyous holiday atmosphere including Attic Treasures, jewelry, magical gingerbread houses, games and toys, live carol singing, famous silent auction; books, videos and CDs, church-made baked goods and candies; choose your own wreath table and gift-quality jams and jellies. Admission: Free. First Unitarian Society in Newton 1326 Washington St., West Newton, MA http://www.fusn.org Phone: 617-527-3203 Schecter Students Sing For Hanukkah Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, 4:30 p.m. Students at Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston's Shir Chai honors choir (grades 4-8) will be performing in Nurses Hall at the State House as part of the Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony with Gov. Deval Patrick. The choir of 78 children will sing holiday songs and songs of peace. On Sunday, Dec. 9, at Downtown Crossing in Boston, the Schecter Sababa choir (grades 6-7) and Nafshi Choir (grades 4-5) will perform for a Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony with Mayor Thomas Menino at 4:30 p.m. Contact: TAna Goldberg, 617-964-7765, ext. 1360 |
| ||||||||
 |
| |||||||
