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Holiday Lights and Family Fun

Listings Of Holiday Events Around The Boston Area

Astors' Beechwood Mansion -- Victorian Christmas Living History Tours
Waltzing, merriment and holiday warmth abound in the Beechwood Mansion re-creation of Christmas 1891.
DATE: Nov. 7, 2003 -- Dec. 19, 2003

Back Bay Holiday Market
The Shops at Prudential Center is proud to be the home of the 2003 Back Bay Holiday Market! Designed in the tradition of the Northern European Christkindlesmarkt, familiar in cities from New York to Munich, the Back Bay Holiday Market creates an elegant holiday atmosphere destined to become a new Boston tradition. Rows of neat red and white booths form a festive Holiday village inviting visitors to browse, shop and enjoy the displays, entertainment, and people-watching.
DATE: Nov.14, 2003 - Dec.24, 2003

Newport Mansions -- Christmas at the Newport Mansions
Experience the magic of Christmas at the Newport Mansions, when the opulent summer cottages of the Gilded Age are transformed into a winter wonderland. Throughout the holiday season, these magnificent Gilded Age villas are filled with thousands of poinsettia plants, spectacular evergreens, trees, wreaths and fresh flowers. Dining tables set with period silver and china, and mannequins dressed in authentic costumes complete the setting, against a backdrop of inspirational and historic architecture.
DATE: 11/15/2003 - 01/04/2004

Heritage Museums & Gardens (formerly Heritage Plantation)
"Spectacle of Lights"
Brandano Displays of Pompano Beach, Florida is doing the animation and high impact display. The Cape is really special during the Christmas Season. From the Dan'l Webster Inn, to the quaint shops, the Cape Cod Symphony Christmas Pops and Caroling outdoors in the square in front of the First Church of Christ in Sandwich. Call 508.888.3300
DATE: Through January 4th.

Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge Who other than Christopher Durang could weave together a wacky new holiday tale with Bob Cratchit & Jacob Marley at its center, with George Bailey & Clarence from It's a Wonderful Life, and Tess and Monica from Touched By an Angle thrown in for good measure? Add to it an inept Ghost, Teguila toting Gladys Cratchit and insufferable Scrooge and we get an outrageous send-up of the Dicken's classic.
DATE: Nov. 21, 2003 - Dec. 20, 2003

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Mrs. Gardner's Holiday Table
This winter, be transported back to the gilded age of Boston with a festive Holiday Table display in the Museum's Dutch Room. An evocation of a holiday dinner party hosted by Isabella Stewart Gardener on December 23, 1904, the Holiday table overlooks the Museum's flowering courtyard abloom with flowers and greenery.
DATE: Nov. 26, 2003 - Jan. 11, 2004

Stone Zoo - ZooLights
Wander through Snowy Owl Creek and view bald eagles, artic foxes and reindeer illuminated by thousands of sparkling lights. Santa Castle with fairy tale characters and dancing plush animals, and enjoy the Ferris Wheel and carousal.
DATE: Nov. 27, 2003 - Dec. 30,2003

LaSalette Shrine's Festival of Lights, Attleboro
LaSalette Shrine's Festival Lights Celebrates over 50 years together!
DATE: Nov. 27, 2003 - Jan. 4, 2004

Back Bay on Display : Holiday 2003 Boston
You're invited to kickoff the first annual holiday display competition with Honorary Chairman, Mayor Thomas M. Menino on Saturday, November 29th at 11AM. Businesses will decorate their windows, store fronts and lobbies in friendly competition to make Back Bay your destination for holiday shopping and good cheer.
DATE: Nov. 29, 2003 - Jan. 1, 2004

Cambridge - Sparklefest
Enjoy four weekends of Holiday festivities in Harvard Square - highlighted by the Holiday Tree Lighting at The Charles Hotel, Santa sailing down the Charles River , and the Harvard Square Holiday stroll. Each weekend features holiday fairs, crafts festivals, book readings, special events in restaurants and shops, and free events for children throughout the Square. Join Santa as he sails across the Charles, bringing with him a boatload of good cheer and lots of happy children. Then ride with Santa on the Holly Jolly Trolley through Harvard Square and have a group photo to be taken at the end. That's also where you'll find Harvard Square celebrating the start of the shopping season with a Holiday Stroll. The stores stay open till midnight and offer in-store entertainment, treats and best of all discounts!
DATE: Nov. 29, 2003 - Dec. 7, 2003

Handel & Haydn Society - Handel's Messiah
Handel & Haydn Society Chorus and Period Orchestra ushers in the holiday season with their 150th annual performances of Handel's Messiah in the splendor of Boston's Symphony Hall.
DATE: Nov. 30, 2003 - Dec. 7, 2003

Boston Park Rangers - Holiday Lights & Historic Sites Walking Tour
Grab your hat and mittens and head for the Boston Common Visitor Information Center. See the Common in a whole new light as you take a twilight tour on a tree-lit path. You'll learn about the history of the Boston Common while enjoying the festive holiday spirit!
DATE: Dec. 1, 2003 - Dec. 31, /2003

New England Aquarium - Simons Imax Theatre - Santa vs The Snowman
Santa Versus the Snowman centers on a lonely Snowman who is jealous of all the attention Santa gets during Christmas time. Call 617-973-5200
DATE: Through January 10th.

Boston Common - Menorah Lighting
The Menorah Lighting on Boston Common, marking the Jewish Holiday of Hanukah, is now a Boston tradition. Join the gathering as the menorah is lit each evening. Call 617-635-4447 for times.
DATE: Dec. 19 through the 26.

Revels - Christmas Revels A Celebration of the Winter Solstice
A holiday tradition for more than 3 decades, The Christmas Revels Celebrates the Winter Solstice. Revels returns to Sanders Theatre for 18 performances of traditional music, songs and folk rituals--this year from Scotland and it surrounding islands.
Call 617-496-2222
DATE: Dec. 12 through 30.

Stone Zoo - ZooLights
Spend an evening at the Stone Zoo -- illuminated by thousands of sparkling lights. Visit Santa's Castle with fairy tale characters and dancing plush animals, and enjoy the rides and live animals. Stone Zoo in Stoneham, call 781-438-5100.
DATE: Through Dec. 30.