‘Tis the season of giving!
And in the spirit of the season, we wanted to gift you with what we know how to do best — Unveiling the coolest things to do in Boston! December and the holidays are certainly looking a bit different this year, but there’s still plenty of merry and bright things to do about town. So without further ado here are twentyone wonderful things to do in Boston this December!
1-4. Bask in the beauty of the city’s holiday lights
Although this year, holiday celebrations in Boston may be looking a bit different than usual, there’s still plenty of dazzling holiday lights display to catch in and around the city! So put on a warm hat, grab your mask and head on out to bask in the cheerful spirit of the season.
- Or head on out to Foxborough, to check out Gillette Stadium’s magical new drive-thru!
- Journey up to Boothbay, ME, to catch Gardens Aglow one of the world’s most spectacular holiday light shows!
- Zoo Lights is also returning to Stone Park Zoo!
5-6.Go on a mystery picnic through the city
These self-guided picnics are perfect for a day full of adventure and amazing food. Start off by getting your basket and make your way through Downtown Boston, Back Bay, Concord or Portland Maine (you can select the area of your choice after purchase) as you solve clues and riddles to pick up your picnic food bit by bit. Each clue will get you closer to the final stunning secret destination where you’ll get to enjoy all the picnic bites and gourmet goodies you picked up along the way. The tours usually take 3-4 hours and are the perfect covid-friendly experience to get lost in!
- Mystery Picnic Date: Self-Guided Foodie Adventure
- Mystery Picnic with Friends: Self-Guided Foodie Adventure
7. Pop into a holiday pop-up
The pandemic may have canceled a lot of our favorite activities but at least we still got holiday pop-ups like Maccabee Bar. The bright blue pop-up bar will be making a landing in Sommerville at Bow Market’s Variety Bar next month. It’s going to be biblical!
8. Catch the Boston Common’s Tree Lighting Ceremony
The 79th Annual Boston Common Tree Lighting Ceremony will be taking place on Thursday, December 3. However, it will be taking place without an audience. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, all other Boston tree lighting ceremonies have been canceled, but you can still check out the trees in Copley Square and Macy’s which will be shining bright all season long!
9. Head on over to Snowport for a festive outing.
This winter, Snowport features a wonderland of safe socially-distant activities including Winter Wonder Walks through the neighborhood all decked out for the holidays along with Betty the Yeti, the village’s mascot, vintage gondola cabins serving up major gram goals, a tree market selling everything you can dream of for the perfect Christmas tree, an outdoor game arena and more!
10. Cut down your own Christmas Tree.
There’s nothing quite like a freshly-cut Christmas tree and the scent of pine to help make things a bit easier after a rough year. The National Christmas Tree Association has issued new guidelines to keep Christmas tree hunting safe during the pandemic. We’ve mapped out a few places where you can find your perfect Christmas tree and even cut it down yourself for an awesome holiday-themed outing!
11-12. Cozy up in an igloo!
Lookout Rooftop has brought back its popular igloos just in time for the winter season! The cozy enclaves overlooking the Boston Harbor will be available for wining and dining starting on November 11 and will offer tons of mouthwatering cocktail options including boozy hot chocolate!
- If you can’t book your spot at Lookout, Seaport’s Woods Hill at Pier 4 has also installed igloos for you to enjoy an upscale dinner by the water this winter season!
13. Dine in a cute little greenhouse.
We already got our first taste of the snow season a couple of weeks ago and it looks like winter may be coming in hot — we mean cold — this year. So what to do when it comes to going safely out for dinner? Well, Cambridge restaurant Tallula may just have the answer to all your winter dining prayers: Tiny-greenhouse dining.
14. Re-watch your favorite holiday classics.
Last month it was announced that the Charlie Brown holiday specials would not be airing on network TV this year. Apple TV+ had just signed a deal with the Peanuts brand and production companies, giving it exclusive streaming rights for Peanuts classics, including It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
15. Support local businesses.
Big corporations will, most likely, survive the pandemic without the help of our shopping, so why not help out small businesses in your local small businesses instead, especially the black-owned ones, which are the demographic hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic?
16. Indulge yourself with the best waffles in Massachusetts.
Do you love sweets a waffle lot? We don’t blame you, there’s nothing quite like a sweet pick-me-up, especially when it comes in the shape of crispy-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside, mouthwatering waffles. And we just found the best ones in the whole of the state of Massachusetts, right here in Cambridge!
17. Reward yourself with a hearty bowl of ramen.
You’ve made it to the last month of quite a tumultuous year! Why not treat yourself to a hearty, delicious bowl of Ramen? There’s nothing quite like a bowl of hot ramen to warm you up on a cold winter’s day. If you’re looking to slurp down on a steamy bowl of noodles in a flavorful broth we know a few places you may want to check out. From creamy pork tonkotsu to 48-hour chicken broth all served with noodles cooked to perfection, here are some of our favorite spots to grab ramen in The Hub. And the best part? They’re all open for delivery!
18. Hit the slopes.
Living in Boston means having access to tons of amazing skiing areas that are right on our doorstep. Some of these are next to incredibly cute towns perfect for making a weekend trip out of it. Oh, and don’t forget your camera because these skiing areas are totally picture perfect!
19. Go ice skating!
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, some of Boston’s popular ice rinks like the Snowport rink and the Frogpond one won’t be returning this winter. But don’t despair! If ice skating is part of your traditional winter bucket list, we’ve found three Boston rinks that are still opening for public skating just in time for the holiday season.
20. Book your visit to a stunning fairytale land of ice.
Calling all winter lovers! Immerse yourself in a winter wonderland of fairytale ice castles this January. New Hampshire’s popular ice castles are making a comeback after the holidays albeit with a few changes to make this magical experience COVID-friendly.
21. Journey to a calm, glowing concert at this upcoming piano performance.
This December, the popular Fever Originals Candlelight series is bringing you an elegant classical music concert that you can experience right from the comfort of home!
On Saturday, December 19 you’ll be whisked away to a magical concert by über-talented pianist Franck Laurent-Grandpré, who will be playing a curated selection of beloved classical numbers via livestream. Trained at the Conservatories of Geneva, Lyon and then Paris, Franck is one of the most talented pianists of his generation. Performing in many renowned festivals, competitions and galas across Europe, Franck is known for his unique improvisational freestyle.