While the winters in Boston may be cold, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself outside and busy during the season! I’ve outlined some of the most unique and fun things to do in Boston in December, which encompasses indoor activities, holiday related activities only available that month, and a few excursions outside of the city.
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Festive Things To Do in Boston in December
Go Ice Skating
Something that comes first to mind for many for things to do in Boston in December is to go ice skating. There are plenty of rinks sprinkled throughout the city. One of my favorites is the outdoor Frog Pond rink centrally located in the Boston Common. Steriti Rink in the North End is an excellent indoor rink that is free to use if you bring your own skates, as well!
Snowport
Located in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood, Snowport is an outdoor holiday market that runs through November 7th to December 28th. With over 125 local vendors serving food, gifts, apparel, and activities like curling and arts and crafts, it’s a fun and festive family-friendly activity. One of my favorite stands is the hot chocolate at The Fat Cactus. There are all sorts of unique hot chocolate flavor combinations including those with cannolis, peanut butter, and more!
SoWa Winter Festival
Another popular holiday market worth checking out is the SoWa Winter Festival, located in Boston’s South End neighborhood. This one is open from November 28th to December 28th and is indoors (heated and out of the cold!), with a beautiful array of thousands of fairy lights hanging from the ceilings. Admission tickets are $10 and you can find 125+ vendors of art, food, drinks, and more inside.
Attend a holiday tour
In the month of December, there are a number of seasonal holiday tours around Boston. One of the popular ones transforms the Boston’s Trolley Tours into the Old Town Trolley Holiday Sights and Festive Nights Tours, where you can learn how the city celebrates the holiday season! Other tours include the Historic Holiday Tour on the Freedom Trail, and the Beacon Hill Holiday House Tour.
Holiday Bar
On the topic of holiday bars, make sure to visit one of the many pop ups that happen around the city. The picturesque Holly Jolly Bar is one of them, with floor-to-ceiling decorations and festive drinks.
Further Reading: 25 Fun Things To Do in Boston For Young Adults
See all the Decorations for the Holidays
One of my favorite seasonal activities to do when the holidays are near is to pop into the nicest Boston hotels and see what decorations and activations they have going on! Many hotels with well-decorated lobbies include the Liberty Hotel (with their upside down trees), Fairmont Copley Plaza, and the Lenox. It’s the perfect opportunity to get some cute holiday pictures – just be mindful of the hotel guests there!
Other areas to see and take pictures are the exterior of the homes in Beacon Hill and some of the storefronts on Newbury Street.
Attend a Tree Lighting Ceremony
To get into the festive season, attend one of the tree lighting ceremonies across Boston. The Boston Common tree lighting ceremony this year will be held on December 4th from 6-8PM. You can also find celebrations for the Christmas trees in Columbus Park and Faneuil Hall tree in late November.
See the Nutcracker or Other Ballet
A unique activity that you can only experience around the holidays is to see the Nutcracker hosted by the Boston Ballet at the Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston’s Theater District. The show takes you through the story of Christmas eve through talented dance and music. This year, it runs from November 28th to December 28th.
Further Reading: 27+ Fun and Unique Date Ideas in Boston
Indoor Things To Do in Boston in December
Warm up with Hot Pot
It’s no secret that Boston gets VERY cold in the winter months. Like many others, I tend to find myself craving warm and comforting soups when the temps get low. Boston has plenty of hot pot restaurants, but some of the best include the all-you-can-eat hotpot options at Happy Lamb and Blue Sakura. For incredible quality, try Liuyushou Hotpot in Chinatown and Qiao Lin Hotpot in Allston.
Check out a Museum
Museums are one of the best things to do in Boston in winter, as the city has plenty of options that you can get lost in for hours! Must-see museums for art lovers are the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Museum of Science and Harvard Museum of Natural History are two other popular museums. For more of a fun, playful museum experience, there’s the Museum of Ice Cream or the Museum of Illusions! These are just a few – there are so many others around the city.
Further Reading: One Day in Boston: The Ultimate Travel Guide & Itinerary
Listen to a Symphony
Seeing a Boston Symphony Show is a fun cultural option for things to do in Boston in December. Throughout the month, the Holiday Pops plays at the Symphony Hall near Northeastern. You’ll be able to hear holiday classics including Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride, and the 12 Days of Christmas. I went to my first symphony recently and it was so fun dressing up and seeing how large and talented these orchestra teams are!
Enjoy a Satisfying Hot Chocolate
The colder months always have me reaching for a hot chocolate, and luckily there are plenty of excellent places for it around the city. L.A Burdick is known to have one of the best, with locations in Harvard Square, Back Bay, and more. The hot chocolate is extremely decadent, concentrated, and the interior of each location is beautifully decorated, warm, and inviting. They also sell regular chocolates – the chocolate that are shaped like mice and penguins are the cutest.
Read up at the Boston Public Library
Funnily enough, I’m writing this from the library right now. Visiting the Boston Public Library is one of my favorite activities in the city all year round, and is especially a great free option for a third space in the winter. The reading room at Bates Hall is a beautiful, low lit room where many (including myself) come to get work done, read, or study.
Further Reading: 39 Totally Free Things To Do in Boston Right Now
Check out a Boston Rooftop
This sounds counterintuitive since summer is considered rooftop season, but many Boston rooftops have heating and indoor space in the winter. The Rooftop at the Envoy in Seaport transforms their outdoor rooftop space each December with heated igloos, and the Stratus Winter Oasis rooftop at ViewBoston has the city’s tallest holiday bar.
See a Sports Game at TD Garden
Cheer on your favorite teams at the TD Garden located at Boston’s North Station. Catch either a basketball game to see the Boston Celtics, or a hockey game to see the Boston Bruins. The TD Garden schedule includes all further ticketing information you may need. Bostonians are very serious about their sports, and the atmosphere is fun and electric every time!
Further Reading: 27+ Fun Things To Do at Night in Boston
Rock Climb
Rock climbing is easily one of my favorite things to do in Boston in December. I’ve started to really get into bouldering and it’s easily become one of my favorite indoor activities in the city! There are plenty of rock climbing facilities scattered across Boston, including Central Rock Gym, Rockspot, and Boston Bouldering Project further out in Somerville. Many of them have long hours, are open to all skill levels. Also, Rockspot sometimes has late night specials for cheaper rates past 9PM. Note: Bouldering is rock climbing without the ropes, and with less height. I’ve found it difficult, but also rewarding!
Indoor Pickleball
As pickleball has become wildly popular across the world, plenty of indoor courts have popped up across Boston. I’ve recently started to get into it and absolutely love how friendly they are towards all skill levels. A popular facility is PickleBOS, with 21 well-maintained pickleball courts in South Boston and Charlestown. Other options include PKL Boston, Bosse Pickle in Natick, and the Boston Pickle Club with seven indoor courts in Hyde Park.
Further Reading: 25+ Best Indoor Activities in Boston
Eat at a Food Hall
There are SO many up-and-coming food courts and food halls across Boston that are perfect for large groups or if you just want variety. Timeout Market in Fenway is an excellent option that spans over 27,000 square feet with 15+ kitchens, and 2 bars. In the winter they also have an outdoor skating rink and other activities. Also popular is Hub Hall, conveniently located under the TD Garden, and High Street Place Food Hall in the middle of the financial district.
See a Concert
For my favorite music artists, I’m always game to brave the cold and see them live. Popular music venues around the city include Roadrunner in Brighton, the Paradise Rock Club in Allston, and TD Garden at North Station for larger artists.
Laugh at a Comedy Club
Next on the list for things to do in Boston in December is to see a comedy show! There are a variety of comedy clubs across Boston that span across different genres. For instance, Improv Asylum has fun improv shows that heavily include the audience. Or, watch some stand-up comedy at Laugh Boston. Whatever you choose, it’s a fantastic way to spend a few hours in the city.
See a Movie at the Alamo Drafthouse
Luckily, there are plenty of movie theaters across Boston from the biggest releases at AMC Theaters to indie movies at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline. The Alamo Drafthouse in Seaport is relatively new and is quite the unique movie-watching experience. Food, drinks, and cocktails are brought right to your seat with a full waitstaff, and there are reclining seats that make for the ultimate movie-watching experience!
Outdoor Things To Do in Boston in December
Walk the Boston Common & Public Garden
On days where it isn’t too cold, I love getting out in nature at either the Boston Common, the reservoir, or the Charles River Esplanade. Some of the parks around the city have festive lights, or seasonal activations.
Ski or Snowboard Outside the City
While skiing and snowboarding technically cannot be found within Boston, it’s a fun winter activity just outside. Just an hour away is Wachusett Mountain, with 27 trails, 8 lifts, and a summit that goes above 2000+ feet. They offer lift tickets, lessons, and gear rental, making it accessible for all skill levels. Other popular ski resorts include the Blue Hills Ski Area (the closest to Boston), Jiminy Peak, and the Butternut Ski Area. Many resorts offer season passes for fun all season long!
Further Reading: 21+ Best Day Trips from Boston
Sledding
Sledding is one of the more low-key option for snow activities. The Boston Common is known to be the most accessible and festive spot to sled, but there are also excellent sledding hills at the Corey Hill Outlook park in Brookline, Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, and the Sugar Bowl in Jamaica Plain.
Check out the Snow Castles
Last on the things to do in Boston in December guide is to see the snow castles. Again, this is technically not in Boston, but just a short drive away from the city you can see the Ice Castles in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. Made with over a million icicles, the snow castle installation has towers, tunnels, slides, and even lights that change color at night. Ticket sales for the attraction open on December 2nd, and is totally worth the drive from the city!
Wrapping Up: 31 Best Things To Do in Boston in December
That concludes my full local’s guide to the best things to do in Boston in December and things to do in Boston in winter in general! Make sure to also check out my other Boston articles
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