Boston–Cambridge–Newton · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Boston
48 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Boston, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 12 are free.
Don’t miss
- Nov27FriNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 31
Boston Ballet: Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker
Citizens Opera House
Paid
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 20
José Mateo Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker
The Strand Theatre
Paid
- Nov28SatTree lightings
Sat, Nov 28 · 5:00 PM
2026 Lighting of the Ship at Martin's Park
Martin's Park (Smith Family Waterfront)
Free
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov21SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Nov 21 · 10:30 AM
Commonwealth Ballet Nutcracker Preview — Lincoln Public Library
Lincoln Public Library
All ages
- Nov23MonTree lightings
Mon, Nov 23 · 5:00 PM
2026 Trellis Lighting at Christopher Columbus Park
Christopher Columbus Park
Free
- Nov24TueChristmas
Tue, Nov 24 · 11:00 AM
2026 Boston's Official Holiday Tree Arrival
Boston Common
Free
- Nov27FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Nov 27 · 1:00 PM
Commonwealth Ballet's The Nutcracker (35th season) at Regis College
Eleanor Welch Casey Theater, Regis College
PaidAll ages
- Nov27FriLight displays
Fri, Nov 27 · 4:00 PM
Edaville's Winter Wonderland Train & Lights Festival
Edaville
From $36All ages
- Nov27FriSanta visits
Fri, Nov 27 · 4:30 PM
Visit with Santa at ZooLights, Stone Zoo
Stone Zoo (Animal Discovery Center)
With admission
- Nov28SatParades
Sat, Nov 28 · 2:00 PM
Brockton Holiday Parade and Celebration 2026
Brockton (parade route and celebration location not published)
- Nov28SatTree lightings
Sat, Nov 28 · 5:00 PM
2026 Lighting of the Ship at Martin's Park
Martin's Park (Smith Family Waterfront)
Free
- Nov30MonTree lightings
Mon, Nov 30 · 5:00 PM
2026 Copley Square Tree Lighting
Copley Square
Free
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec2WedSanta visits
Wed, Dec 2 · 3:30 PM
Hot Chocolate with the Reindeer at Stone Zoo
Stone Zoo
From $70All ages
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM
Boston Common Tree Lighting
Boston Common (adjacent to the Visitor Information Center)
Free
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM
Boston Common Tree Lighting 2026
Boston Common (next to the Visitor Information Center)
Free
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 8:00 PM
2026 Lighting of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall
Commonwealth Avenue Mall
Free
- Dec4FriCrafts and cookies
Fri, Dec 4 · 10:00 AM
Gingerbread Baby at Drumlin Farm
Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
From $20Ages 2–6
- Dec4FriCrafts and cookies
Fri, Dec 4 · 4:45 PM
After Hours: Gingerbread Competition (grades 5-12)
Salem Public Library
- Dec4FriLight displays
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:30 PM
Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke Museum
Strawbery Banke Museum
From $16All ages
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:30 AM
2026 Holiday Pops Sensory Friendly Concert (Boston Pops)
Symphony Hall
Paid
- Dec5SatHanukkah
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:30 AM
Chanukah Through the Senses: An LGBTQ+ Family Celebration
Watertown Free Public Library
Free
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:30 AM
Commonwealth Ballet Nutcracker Reading & Dance — Maynard Public Library
Maynard Public Library
All ages
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:30 AM
Nutcracker Storytime with Commonwealth Ballet — Sherborn Library
Sherborn Library
All ages
- Dec5SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:30 AM
The Gingerbread Man by WonderSpark Puppets
Puppet Showplace Theater
From $18.50All ages
- Dec5SatParades
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Experience Hampton Christmas Parade 2026 (Hampton, NH)
Route 1, Hampton, NH
Free
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM
Powisset Holiday Pig Wagon Lighting
Powisset Farm
Free
- Dec5SatLight displays
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
2026 Illuminated Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting (Portsmouth, NH)
Market Square and Islington Street, Downtown Portsmouth
Free
- Dec6SunHanukkah
Sun, Dec 6 · 10:00 AM
Hanukkah at the MFA
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
With admission
- Dec6SunNutcracker and shows
Sun, Dec 6 · 11:00 AM
2026 Holiday Pops Kids' Matinee (Boston Pops)
Symphony Hall
Paid
- Dec8TueChristmas
Tue, Dec 8 · 10:00 AM
Tots in the Kitchen: Holiday Helpers at Powisset Farm
Powisset Farm
From $55
- Dec10ThuNutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 10 · 10:30 AM
The Urban Nutcracker with City Ballet of Boston — Shaw-Roxbury Library
Boston Public Library, Shaw-Roxbury Branch
Ages 3–8
- Dec11FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 11 · 4:00 PM
The Troll that Stole Hanukkah by WonderSpark Puppets at Puppet Showplace Theater
Puppet Showplace Theater
PaidAll ages
- Dec11FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 11 · 7:00 PM
Midwinter Revels 2026: An American Celebration of the Solstice
Sanders Theatre, Memorial Hall, Harvard University
From $22All ages
- Dec12SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Happenings: Kiddos Handmade Gifts at Powisset Farm
Powisset Farm
Free
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:30 AM
Commonwealth Ballet Nutcracker Preview — Weston Public Library
Weston Public Library
All ages
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:30 AM
Nutcracker Reading with Commonwealth Ballet — Sargent Memorial Library (Boxborough)
Sargent Memorial Library
All ages
- Dec12SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 12 · 12:00 PM
Gingerbread House Decorating (three sessions)
Wellesley Free Library, Main Library (Wakelin Room)
Ages 4–14
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM
Urban Nutcracker 2026 at the Shubert Theatre
Boch Center Shubert Theatre
Paid
- Dec13SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 13 · 9:00 AM
Jingle Bell Extravaganza at the Children's Museum of New Hampshire
Children's Museum of New Hampshire
From $25
- Dec14MonNutcracker and shows
Mon, Dec 14 · 10:30 AM
The Urban Nutcracker with City Ballet of Boston — Brighton Library
Boston Public Library, Brighton Branch
Ages 3–8
- Dec18FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 18 · 4:00 PM
The Holiday Sing-Along! by Sarah Nolen & Phil Berman at Puppet Showplace Theater
Puppet Showplace Theater
From $18.50All ages
- Dec18FriLight displays
Fri, Dec 18 · 4:30 PM
Winter Solstice Family Lantern Celebration
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
From $28Ages 4–12
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec19SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 19 · 9:30 AM
Gingerbread Man Crafts — Hyde Park Library
Boston Public Library, Hyde Park Branch
- Dec20SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 20 · 2:00 PM
Winter Solstice Walk through Whitney and Thayer Woods
Weir River Farm / Whitney and Thayer Woods
From $15All ages
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 9:00 AM
Family New Year's Eve Celebration at the Children's Museum of New Hampshire
Children's Museum of New Hampshire
From $15
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:30 AM
New Year's Eve Noon Celebration (Hyde Park Branch)
Boston Public Library, Hyde Park Branch
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:30 AM
Noon Year's Eve Party
Medford Public Library
All ages
- Dec31ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 31 · 3:30 PM
Crafternoon: New Year's Eve Edition — Chinatown Library
Boston Public Library, Chinatown Branch
Up to 18
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Nov27FriNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 31
Boston Ballet: Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker
Citizens Opera House
Paid
- Dec3ThuNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 23
A Christmas Carol at North Shore Music Theatre
North Shore Music Theatre
From $50Ages 4+
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 20
José Mateo Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker
The Strand Theatre
Paid
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For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Boston?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Boston listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 48 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.