Want to know where to see the most spectacular Christmas lights in Boston? Our festive Christmas tree lighting ceremonies are the place to start.
Boston's holiday lighting ceremonies begin in late November and continue into early December. By the time the last lights go on, the city sparkles with glowing lights.
Typically, the most festive ceremonies feature entertainment, appearances by Santa, fun activities for kids, and perhaps refreshments and singing traditional and popular holiday songs.
They feel like community parties where everyone shares the magical moment when thousands of beautiful sparkling lights suddenly erase the winter darkness.
By the time the last tree lighting event takes place, holiday lights glow across the city, covering not only the largest Christmas trees but also hundreds of other trees in Boston Common, the Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Copley Square, Prudential Center, the North End, Downtown Crossing, and along the Seaport waterfront.
Once the trees are lit, strolling around the city at night to see the sparkling displays and other holiday decorations becomes a favorite winter evening activity. Save time in your schedule to do this!
Article Contents:
- Where to see Boston's 8 biggest Christmas tree lighting ceremonies: Schedule & locations
- More holiday lights in Boston
- Best Boston neighborhoods for seeing lavish holiday decorations
More suggestions about things to do & see in Boston in December
Top Photo: Lighted Christmas Tree from Nova Scotia on Boston Common, (c) Boston Discovery Guide®
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Boston's Biggest & Most Festive Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies
These are Boston's most elaborate holiday lighting celebrations and parties, with lots of family-friendly activities in addition to the main event.
All of these events offer free admission.
Annual Lighting of the Columbus Park Trellis - 2024
The Mayor turns on the 50,000 glowing blue and white energy-saving LED lights along the 260 foot trellis and 14 nearby trees on Monday, November 25, 5 pm in Columbus Park (110 Atlantic Ave), transforming the waterfront park into a magical light garden through the holiday season.
The family-friendly ceremony this year will also include include a visit from Santa, music, entertainment, and refreshments including hot chocolate, clam chowder, and cookies, plus the opportunity to join in singing classic holiday hits before the lighting ceremony.
The iconic blue trellis lights stay on until the middle of April, making this one of Boston's most romantic spots for proposals, wedding photos, and romantic strolls.
More to do nearby: Don't miss this chance to have dinner in the North End. You'll find most restaurants located along Salem and Hanover Streets.
Faneuil Marketplace Christmas Tree - 2024
Lights on the large Christmas tree at Faneuil Hall Marketplace will be turned on by Santa during a lighting ceremony at from 3pm - 7pm on Tuesday, November 26. Lights go on at 6pm.
Look for the tree at the market's west end between the historical Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market building this year.
Special performers this year include Commonwealth Shakespeare Co.'s ‘A Christmas Carol’ Act, Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses Youth Chorale, North End Music and Performing Arts' Music Ensemble of Students, and the Urban Nutcracker's Hip-Hop Holiday Dance.
To sweeten your evening even more, Ben & Jerry's will hand out ice cream samples and Ned Devine's will provide hot chocolate.
More to do nearby: Get all your holiday shopping done and enjoy the holiday performers at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
Relax at one of the historic taverns along nearby Union Street. Walk over to nearby Columbus Park and see the spectacular lighted trellis.
Boston Common Holiday Tree Lighting 2024
Thursday, December 5, from 6pm-8pm
This exciting event takes place next to the Visitors Information Center on Tremont St and stars the special tree sent as a gift from Nova Scotia. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu along with representatives from the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Province of Nova Scotia will be joined by Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Photo ops, give-aways, and refereshments will be provided by local companies (while supplies last).
Lights on the tree - about 7,000 of them - go on at about 7:55 pm, immediately followed by lights on 80+ other trees throughout the Common, the Public Garden, and Commonwealth Ave Mall.
When the weather is reasonably good, around 25,000 spectators turn out for this festive event.
As soon as the Mayor turns on the lights, Boston's magical holiday season officially begins!
Macy's Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Windows Unveiled
Wednesday, November 11 - Macy's (450 Washington Street) lights up Boston's Downtown Crossing this year before Thanksgiving when the festive evergreen trees on the Summer Street side of the store turn on and the store's famous holiday window displays are unveiled.
There's no word yet about and opening show the traditional appearance of Santa and his Elves or entertainment, but stay tuned!
More to do: Shop at Macy's, of course! Explore all the new shops around Downtown Crossing, and then head to one of the many nearby Theatre District restaurants for dinner or take in a show such as Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker.
Check out current Theatre District shows
Massachusetts State House Tree Lighting
A giant Christmas tree in the Rotunda lights up in the annual tree lighting event ceremony at 5pm on Tuesday, November 21, followed by an open house and visit from Santa in Doric Hall. (Date, time, details to be confirmed) This marks the official kick-off of the holiday season in Massachusetts.
More to do: Before the ceremony, explore the special treasures in the State House. After the tree is lit, walk across Beacon Street to Boston Common, rent skates, and take a twirl around the Frog Pond ice rink.
More about where to ice skate in Boston
Copley Square Tree Lighting
Monday, November 27, 5pm-6pm - Wreaths with red bows decorate Copley Square, and the Old South Church bell tolls when the lights on the Copley Square tree go on - look for appearances by Santa and Rudolph, plus live music by local groups including the Boston Children's Chorus and the Boston Pops Esplanade Brass Ensemble. After the ceremony, head over to the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel to enjoy cookies and photos with Santa.
More to do: Get a head start on your holiday shopping - check out the national-brand stores along Boylston Street or explore boutiques and galleries on nearby Newbury Street.
Boston's Public Garden Tree Lighting
Thursday, December 5, at about 8 pm.
Right after the brilliantly colored lights on the special Christmas Tree on Boston Common and other trees throughout the Common go on, so do the white holiday lights covering the bridge over the Lagoon and many of the Public Garden's formally-sheared evergreens, giving an ethereal snowball effect across the entire park.
Don't miss the experience of walking through the Garden in the evening after the lights transform it into an enchanting wonderland.
Commonwealth Avenue Mall
Thursday, December 5, at about 8 pm.
Thousands of sparkling gold lights transform this tree-filled parkway into an enchanting forest. The lights go on immediately after the Boston Common Tree Lighting ceremony.
The lights turn the many trees along Comm Ave Mall into an enchanted forest!
Light Up Seaport 2024
Friday, December 6, 5pm - 9pm - Gather on Seaport Common (85 Northern Ave) for live music, treats from nearby restaurants, and various give-aways, and then see the Christmas tree lighting take place at 7:30.
Stop by Snowport for the biggest ever holiday market, plus enjoy all the lighted trees throughout the neighborhood when Seaport turns into a dazzling Winter Wonderland.
Annual Tree Lighting at the USS Constitution
Friday, December 6, 3:30pm - Join the USS Constitution crew in the Navy Shipyard in Charlestown for the USS Constitution's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, and enjoy holiday music, free hot chocolate and cookies, and a visit by Santa and his merry Elves. (to be confirmed)
You can begin boarding the ship at 3:45pm, and can observe evening colors at sundown with the crew as the ship fires her saluting battery at 4:12pm.
More about visiting the USS Constitution
Tree Celebration in the North End
Friday, December 1, 6pm - 9pm (to be confirmed) - Celebrate the season at the North End's lighted Christmas tree at the corner of Hanover and North Streets, meet Santa, and enjoy hot chocolate and caroling. Local North End students will be having their annual bake sale (all proceeds benefit the school), so it's a great opportunity to stock up on holiday treats.
The North End's Holiday stroll takes place on this same evening - so stop by and enjoy that too!
More Fun Ways to See Boston
Need a Boston Hotel or Apartment during the Holidays?
If you're planning to visit Boston in November or December to see a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, go holiday shopping, or just enjoy the festive decorations and good cheer filling the city at this time of the year, use this hotel map to find a great place to stay.
Just enter your dates to see what's available:
Booking.comMore about how to save on Boston hotels
More Holiday Tree Lighting Events
Martin's Park Ship Lighting in Seaport 2024
Over 1,500 blue and white energy-efficient holiday lights will be turned on to illuminate the large wooden play ship in the Seaport neighborhood's beloved Martin's Park (64 Sleeper Street) across from the Boston Children's museum on November 30 at 4-6pm.
Santa will arrive by boat at Harborwalk and then goes to the park to switch on the lights for this special children's celebration on the Fort Point section of Harborwalk. The à cappella group Ball In The House will sing a selection of holiday classics, Seaport's Betty the Yeti will make a special appearance, and hot chocolate will be served.
Martin's Park honors the memory of 8-year-old Martin W. Richard, the youngest victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings.
More information: Event website
31 Nights of Lights 2024
From December 1 through New Year's Eve on December 31, Prudential Tower displays lights of a different color each night to bring awareness to 28 local non-profit organizations and three holidays. Lights turn on each evening at 5pm.
It's one of Boston's special holiday traditions!
Want to know which organization or holiday each night's colors represent? You can find this year's list here.
Best Neighborhoods for Seeing Holiday Decorations in Boston
Want to see beautiful holiday decorations, lovely evergreen wreaths on doors, and creative displays of Christmas lights, glowing candles, and perhaps even an animated reindeer or two?
Stroll around these historic neighborhoods in central Boston, and don't be surprised if you happen to see (or hear) groups of carolers along the way:
Beacon Hill - Start on Charles Street (pop into Beacon Hill Books & Cafe at #71 for hot chocolate and a snack), and then explore any or all of the side streets. If you're hungry, 75 Chestnut (at, literally, 75 Chestnut Street) usually has plenty of cheery holiday decorations as well as very good food. More about Beacon Hill
Back Bay - You're likely to spot gorgeous decorations on the Victorian mansions along Commonwealth Ave and Marlborough Street - but don't skip the dazzling store windows on Newbury and Boylston Streets. And of course you'll never go hungry (or thirsty) in Back Bay, one of Boston's epicenters of appealing bistros, cafes, restaurants, and bars.
The South End - Anywhere in this neighborhood of gorgeous restored brownstones is a good bet - so wander around enjoying the sights, and then treat yourself to dinner and holiday cheer at one of the many top restaurants and bistros.
Seaport - Start your neighborhood exploration on Seaport Ave and enjoy all the sparking lights on all the neighborhood trees.
Downtown Crossing - Stroll along (mostly) pedestrian-only Washington Street to enjoy the overhead holiday lights, decorated store windows, and the brilliant Christmas tree at Macy's overlooking Summer Street.
Enjoy a hot beverage and delicious pastry at George Howell in the Godfrey Hotel.
Faneuil Marketplace, with its large Christmas tree, is about a 6-minute walk away.
Planning Ahead for the Holiday Season?
The schedule for Boston's Christmas tree lighting ceremonies doesn't usually get finalized until around mid-October each year.
If you want to plan ahead to attend one or more of these ceremonies before the final schedule is available, here's a tip: ceremonies usually take place on the same day of the week from one year to the next, so you can use the previous year's date to guess the date for the next year with reasonable accuracy. We add the current year to the listings as date confirmations roll in.
However ... keep in mind, there are no guarantees, even once dates are set.
So please note: Dates and times for tree lighting ceremonies are always subject to change and last-minute cancellations, particularly if we get hit by extreme weather (ie, nor'easters, blizzards, etc.). And on rare occasions, technical difficulties occur. Please verify dates and times close to the events.
More to Do in Boston in December
More Articles about Christmas in Boston
Need a Boston Hotel or Apartment?
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