Twenty Places To Go and Things To Do To Make Special Holiday Memories

By Maria Olia

New England is a wonderful place to celebrate the winter holidays for families. From seasonal performances, light displays, and treats galore; there are so many activities to choose from! It was hard to pick the best holiday events, but to help you get in the spirit of the season; here are twenty of our favorites.

BOSTON

The Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker

The Opera House, Boston

617-695-6955

November 28 - December 28

Ticket prices vary

The charming tale of a young girl’s magical Christmas gift, the Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is an enduring holiday classic and a delight for all ages. The Boston Ballet’s production always features dazzlingly beautiful dancing, elaborate sets, colorful costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s incredible score.

39th Annual Christmas Revels Holiday Celebration

Sanders Theater, Cambridge

617-972-8300

December 11-13, 17-21, 23 & 26-27

There’ll be holiday carols and peace rounds for all to sing, lively morris dancing, a seriously funny mummers play, Susan Cooper’s classic poem, The Shortest Day, and Revels’ signature piece, Lord of the Dance, which is guaranteed to have you singing – and dancing - through the aisles!

OrigiNation's Annual Kwanzaa Concert

Roxbury Community College

1234 Columbus Ave., Boston

617-541-1875

Friday, December 18 at 7 p.m., Saturday December 19 at 3 p.m.

$12 in advance, $15 at the door

A celebration of the African-American holiday Kwanzaa through dance, music and the spoken word. The performance features youth from OrigiNation's professional dance division.

Holiday Cupcake Tea

The Ritz Carlton, Boston Common

10 Avery St., Boston

617-574-7101

November 28-January 2; Saturdays 1 to 3 p.m.

$22 adults, $18 children ages 12 and under

Kids are not only welcome for afternoon tea at the Ritz Carlton; they have their own version. The holiday adult tea features tea and five petite cupcakes in flavors of the season- chocolate peppermint, eggnog, gingerbread spice and more. The kids can choose tea, hot chocolate or milk and get to decorate their three cupcakes with their favorite

toppings- crushed Oreos, toasted coconut or M& M’s. Elegant fun!

Everyone Loves Latkes Party

Harvard Square, Massachusetts Ave. and Brattle Street, Cambridge

617-491-3434

Sunday, December 13, 2 to 4 p.m.

Free

Head into Cambridge for a fun Hanukkah party in the middle of Harvard Square. The latkes are donated by several area restaurants and there will be holiday music and storytelling for the kids too.

Boston Holiday Pops

Symphony Hall, Boston

617-266-1492

December 9 - 27

Ticket prices vary

If attending a Boston Holiday Pops concert doesn’t put you in a ho, ho, ho mood, nothing will! This season, there are 35 Boston Holiday Pops concerts scheduled, including six special kid’s matinees. Santa makes a special appearance after the kid’s matinee performances so dress the kids in their holiday best to take that photo.

Black Nativity at the Tremont Temple

88 Tremont St., Boston

617-585-6366

December 4- 20

Ticket prices vary

This year marks the 40th anniversary production of the Black Nativity at the Tremont Temple. African -American poet Langston Hughes’ song/ play celebrates the story of the Nativity in music, dance and verse.

Boston’s Official Christmas Tree and Menorah Lightings Boston Common

617-635-4505

December 3, 6 to 8 p.m. Christmas Tree lighting December 11-18, sundown (call for exact times) Menorah lighting Free

Herald the holiday season with light- lots of lights. The Boston Common is the setting for both Boston’s official Christmas Tree and Chanukah Menorah. Musical performances accompany each celebration. Afterwards, stroll through the Common and view the 80 beautifully lit trees.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

The New Repertory Theatre

321 Arsenal St., Watertown

617-923-8487

December 6- 27

Ticket prices vary

Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, “A Christmas Carol” is a holiday classic, and a tradition in its 5th year at the New Rep. This production features a pre-show caroling concert, period Victorian costumes and nifty special effects including ghosts that fly through the air. Early curtain times and easy parking accommodates families.

NORTH

Zoolights at the Stone Zoo

149 Pond St., Stoneham

617-989-2000

Thanksgiving night, November 26-December 30 (except December 25) 5 to 9 p.m.

$4 per person, under age two free.

Every year thousands of twinkling lights transform the Stone Zoo into a

magical wonderland to delight both young and old. Stroll along the

illuminated paths and to Yukon Creek and say hi to real reindeer! Visit

Santa’s Castle for a photo with St. Nick.

Ben Rudnick & Friends Holiday Extravaganza

The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington

781-646-4849

December 12, 10:30 a.m.

$8 kids and seniors, $10 adults

Folk, world and a little rock and roll. Ben Rudnick & Friends play Christmas and Chanukah music for the playground set that even hipster

parents can love.

Holiday Children’s Party

Castle Hill at the Crane Estate

290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich

978-356-4351

December 16 & 17 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

$18 Members per child, $22 non-member per child, accompanying adults free

A historic estate, Castle Hill is dressed in the finest greenery for the season and is a magical setting for a children’s holiday party. There will be performances, crafts, cider and fresh-baked cookies. Bring a camera; Santa is planning to visit too!

Winter Solstice Lantern Walk

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield

978-887-9264

Saturday, December 19, 4 to 6 p.m.

$7 adult members, $9 non-member adult; $6 children, $7 non-member child

Meet in the barn to make your own lanterns and listen to stories and folklore surrounding the Winter Solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year. Bring your lanterns on a staff -led family walk along the trail. Afterwards, warm up at the solstice bonfire and have hot cider and hot chocolate. Don’t forget to dress for the weather!

Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

Smolak Farms

315 Bradford St., North Andover

978-687-4029

This year, start a new holiday tradition and cut your own Christmas tree. Smolak Farms is just a 45 –minute drive from Boston and offers Fraser, Douglas, and Balsam varieties to choose and cut right from the fields. They offer pre-cut trees too. You can spend an afternoon here- Santa comes by on weekends for photos, kids can visit the animals in the

barn, and there are festive treats and decorations for sale in the well-stocked farm stand.

WEST

The Gerwick Puppets presents Midwinter Magic

The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick

508-647-0097

Sunday, December 13, 2 p.m.

$9 adults, $6 children

Take a break from the holiday madness. Midwinter Magic is a gentle story of a young boy and young girl’s wintery dream. The story incorporates 30 puppets and a classical music score and will captivate and entertain kids ages 5-12.

The Concord Museum

200 Lexington Rd., Concord

978-369-9763

December 4 -January 3

$15 adults, $10 seniors, $6 children ages 4-8; includes museum admission

In the spirit of the holidays and Concord’s rich literary history, the Concord Museum holds its 14th annual Family Trees Celebration. Inspired by children’s storybooks-both all-time favorites and soon–to-be classics, more than 30 whimsically and uniquely decorated trees fill the galleries. Among the storybooks picked this year are “Olivia Forms a Band,” “Ish,” “Frog and Toad Together” and “If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.”

Worcester Ecotarium: A Polar Bear’s Journey

222 Harrington Way, Worcester

508-929-2700

December 12 & 13; and 19 & 20; 12:30, 1:30, & 2:30 p.m.

each day

$5 members, $6 non-members, plus museum admission.

Listen to Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express and then head over to the Ecotarium’s Explorer Express train for a ride. After your journey, warm up with hot cocoa and cookies. This is said to be one of Kenda’s – the Ecotarium’s Polar Bear- favorite events!

Holiday Nature Crafts Open House

Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary

414 Massasoit Rd., Worcester

508-753-6087

Saturday December 12, 1 to 4 p.m.

$ 4 member adult/$5 non-member adult; $3 member child/$4 non-member child

Drop-in and make your own Christmas ornaments from all -natural materials. Check out the Nature Center’s decorated Christmas tree for inspiration. Materials and assistance are provided. There will be holiday treats and music too!

The Twelve Nights of Christmas: Christmas By Candlelight at Old

Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge

800-733-1830

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings December 3-6, December

10-13, and December 17-20; 4 to 9:30 p.m.

$14 adults and children, children under age 3 are free.

By candlelight, lamplight, and firelight Old Sturbridge Village is an especially enchanted place at Christmas. Ride in a horse drawn wagon or sleigh (snow permitting!), sip warm cider and listen to holiday stories and festive carols. Bring your camera, both Father Christmas and Santa Claus will be on hand!

Bright Nights

Forest Park, Springfield

413-733-3800

November 25-December 6, Wednesday-Sundays

December 9-January 2, Daily

Sunday-Thursday 5 to 9 p.m., Friday, Saturday, and holidays 5 to 11 p.m.

$15 per vehicle Monday-Thursday, $18 Friday-Sunday and holidays

Road trip! A family holiday outing to Bright Nights in Springfield will have your kids squeal with delight. Drive through Forest Park, transformed into a glittering wonderland and tune your radio to the Bright Nights frequency to hear the musical simulcast. There are nearly 600,000 lights and more than twenty- Illuminated themes including a

Victorian Village, Jurassic World, Toyland and in honor of native son Theodore Geisel -Seuss Land.

SOUTH

Festival of Lights 2009 at La Salette Shrine

947 Park St.; Attleboro

508-222-5410

November 26-January 1

Daily 5 to 9 p.m.

Free, donations accepted.

More than 400,000 lights sparkle and gleam over 10 acres. You won’t find Santa and Rudolph, but you will see displays that feature the Nativity, snowflakes, stars, and lots and lots of angles. Christmas Trolley rides around the grounds are available Friday-Sunday for $3

Kid’s Holiday Shop & Gingerbread Fun at the Children’s Museum in Easton

9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton

508-230-3789

December 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday December 6, Noon to 5 p.m.

p.m.; Gingerbread Fun hours 1 to 4 p.m. both days.

Event is free with Museum Admission. Museum Admission is discounted for

this weekend and is $3 per person.

The Museum’s Kid’s Holiday Shop is a favorite! Volunteers will help the kids pick and wrap the perfect holiday gifts for Mom, Dad, the grands and sibs. Your kid’s allowance money will go far- all items are $2 or less. Be sure to check out “Gingerbread Fun” this weekend too. Kids can listen to the story of “The Gingerbread Man”, make a gingerbread craft, and decorate gingerbread cookies.

Edaville Christmas Festival of Lights

7 Eda Ave., Carver

508-866-8190

November 13-15, 20-22, 27-January 3, closed Christmas Day

Weekdays 4 to 9 p.m., weekends 2 to 9 p.m.

$18 per person, under age two free

All aboard! Edaville’s heated train takes visitors on a 20- minute ride through the forest to view one of the area’s largest and most extravagant displays of holiday lights. Afterwards, kids can visit the indoor playhouse with a maze and ball pit. Amusement rides include an antique carousel, Ferris wheel, flying elephants and more. There is a fireworks display every Friday evening in December too.