Things to Do in Boston in December
Photo: Sondoua (CC BY-SA 3.0)
December in Boston is lights, markets and big holiday shows. Snowport in the Seaport and the SoWa Christmas Market run all month. The Boston Common tree lighting and Holiday Pops opening night at Symphony Hall are both December 3, and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall lights up the same night.
Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker plays the Citizens Opera House all month, the Boston Early Music Festival brings the Tallis Scholars (Dec. 4) and a Christmas mass by Charpentier (Dec. 13) to Cambridge, and the month ends with New Year’s Eve.
Venues post their calendars a few weeks out, so the second half of the month fills in as it gets closer. More on the holiday events page.
Highlights
Snowport Holiday Market
Snowport · Free
SoWa Christmas Market
SoWa Power Station · $10
Boston Ballet: The Nutcracker
Citizens Opera House
Boston Common Tree Lighting
Boston Common (by the Visitor Information Center)
Holiday Holiday Pops 2026: Opening Night
Symphony Hall
Lighting of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall
Commonwealth Avenue Mall · Free
Boston Early Music Festival: The Tallis Scholars
St. Paul Church
Boston Early Music Festival: Ensemble Correspondances
First Church in Cambridge, Congregational
Live Music Pigeons Playing Ping Pong: NYE 2026 (21+)
Brighton Music Hall · 21+
Comedy New Year’s Eve: Best in Boston Showcase
Laugh Boston · From $33 plus fees · 16+
+1 more dateEvery date
Friday November 6
Friday November 20
Friday November 27
Thursday December 3
Sunday December 13
Wednesday December 30
Times, prices and age rules are checked against each venue or organizer’s own page; the check date is on every listing. Plans change, so confirm with the venue before you go.
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