Boston Event Calendar - December 2011

Nutcracker, Christmas Trees, Pops, Rockettes, More!

All kinds of exciting things to do pack the Boston Event Calendar for December 2011.

If you're visiting Boston in December, you'll find lots of special holiday events: the Christmas tree light ceremony on Boston Common, The Nutcracker, Black Nativity, Boston Pops, Rockettes, and other special shows, and festive lights everywhere as the city embraces the coming of winter.  

Holiday shoppers fill the sidewalks and stores, and music is in the air.  You'll see Christmas trees everywhere.  On New Year's Eve, up to half a million people join the First Night celebrations across the downtown neighborhoods - easily the biggest event in the Boston December event calendar.

If you're visiting Boston from elsewhere this December, be sure to bring a warm jacket, scarf, hat, and gloves.  Boots can be a big plus.

Plan to spend time walking around, enjoying all the sights of the city decked out in the holiday spirit.  Check out all the special Christmas in Boston events and activities.

Finally, if you're planning a visit to Boston over New Year's Eve, be sure to make your hotel reservations early to avoid disappointment.  Look for special New Years Eve packages.

Quick Links: 

• Boston events calendars:  November   l   January 

Add an event to the Boston Event Calendar for December 2011

 

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremonies in Boston - 2011

Holiday tree lighting ceremonies in several central locations signal the "official" start of the holiday season in Boston.  These festive occasions are fun to attend and the lights are spectacular!

Here are several of the best Holiday Lightening Ceremonies to check out during 2011:

- Boston Common Holiday Lighting - Thursday, December 1, 6pm- Mayor Menino hosts this exciting event near the Visitors Information Center on Tremont St, starring the special tree sent as a gift from Nova Scotia and 80+ other lighted trees throughout the Common and Boston Garden - catch an ice skating show at Frog Pond on your way.
- Commonwealth Avenue Mall - Thursday, December 1, immediately after Boston Common Holiday Lighting - also presided over by Mayor Menino
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace - Check November calendar for date

More about where to see special holiday decorations in Boston, plus a photo gallery

 

Holiday Events - Look for Half-Price Tickets

Don't miss these half-price tickets to top Boston Christmas and holiday events:

- Family Holiday Pops - Boston Civic Orchestra
- The Nutcracker
- Vienna Boys Choir
- Handel's Messiah - Boston Baroque at Jordan Hall; Handel and Haydn Society at Symphony Hall
- A Christmas Carol on stage
- A Christmas Celtic Sojourn with Brian O'Donovan
- The Comedy Club at Cheers presents top stand-ups

Get Half-Price Tickets to Boston Christmas and Holiday Events

 

Tree-Lighting Ice Skating Show

When:  December 1, 5pm
Where:   Frog Pond, Boston Common
Parking:   Closest is Boston Common Garage
Cost:  Free

Stop by the ice rink at Frog Pond on your way to Boston's Holiday Tree lighting ceremony to enjoy a free ice show of holiday performances by local and national figure skate champions as well as some of Frog Pond Skating Academy's most talented skaters, including synchronized skating teams.

 

First Night 2011

When:  December 31
Where: Back Bay, Downtown, South Boston Waterfront, Fenway, Boston's West End
More information:  First Night Boston
Stay:  New Year's Eve Hotel Packages and Specials

Over 1 million people typically turn out for Boston's gala celebration to welcome the coming New Year.  This day-long, alcohol-free event features ice sculptures, fireworks, crafts, performances, entertainers, and a grand parade filled with costumed entertainers.

In case you're shuddering at the thought of so many people in one place, don't worry - events are spread out over a number of centrally-located Boston neighborhoods.  

When the weather cooperates, stroll around outdoors to view the amazing ice sculptures - if it doesn't, enjoy the many indoor performances.

 

Boston Bruins Schedule for December 2011

Home game location:  TD Garden
Nearest T stop: North Station
Parking:  Boston garages near North Station / TD Garden
Stay: Hotels near TD Garden
Celebrate:  Best Boston bars near TD Garden
Show your love:  Dress like a Bruin (or do your holiday shopping the easy way!)

Boston Bruins Home Game Schedule at TD Garden for December

Day	Date	Time	Opponents
Saturday	12/2	7:00 pm	Maple Leafs
Thursday	12/7	7:00 pm	Panthers
Tuesday	12/9	7:00 pm	Kings
Monday	12/11	7:00 pm	Canadiens
Friday	12/18	7:00 pm	Panthers

Find great tickets to see the Bruins play

Return to Top - Boston Event Calendar December

 

The Nutcracker Ballet at the Opera House

When:  December 1 - December 31, matinees and evening performances almost daily (except for Sundays)
Where: Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston Theatre District
Ticket options: 
- Boston Ballet website
- Goldstar for half-price tickets close to performance dates
- TicketLiquidator and Ace Ticket for best seat choices on last-minute tickets
Closest T station: Green Line/Boylston

Attending a performance of The Nutcracker tops the list of the most popular attractions on the Boston Event Calendar for December, and for good reason - there's nothing more magical than watching Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and all the other dancers twirl around the stage as Tchaikovsky's music soar, and then walking out of Boston's gorgeous Opera House afterwards and seeing snowflakes softly falling. 

Nutcracker performances continue through New Year's Eve, with weekends and the period right around Christmas being the most challenging in terms of getting tickets.  See Boston Event Calendar - November for full details. 

 

New Year's Eve Special Packages at Boston Hotels

Special New Year's Eve Boston hotel packages give you elegant accommodations to enjoy when the night's festivities end, plus a tantalizing array of complimentary amenities and meals.  Some even let you add on extra nights at discounted rates.

What's on offer?  Look for specials like the "New Year's Eve Rest and Recovery" package at the Langham including a "Recovery Brunch" at Cafe Fleuri on New Year's Day.  Other hotels offer complimentary First Night buttons, special dinners, even gala parties.

Each special package is unique - so check out each one to see which you like best!  And remember, you can also book at the regular rates, usually at their lowest levels during winter months.  Check out New Year's Eve hotel specials in Boston

 

Boston Concerts during December 2011

Dec 1, 2, 3 - Jonathan Biss @ Boston Symphony Orchestra

Dec 2, 3 - Allman Brothers Band @ Orpheum Theatre
Dec 2- John Brown's Body @ Paradise Rock Club
Dec 3 - Mitch Fatel @ Wilbur Theatre
Dec 4 - Vienna Boys Choir @ Jordan Hall
Dec 4 - Jim Brickman: A Christmas Celebration @ Wilbur Theatre
Dec 6 - Tori Amos @ Orpheum Theatre
Dec 7-24 - Holiday Pops - Boston Pops @ Symphony Hall
Dec 10 - John Waters Christmas Show @ Berklee Performance Center
Dec 13 - Dir En Grey @ Paradise Rock Club
Dec 16 - Pink Martini @ Berklee Performance Center
Dec 16-29 - Christmas Revels @ Sanders Theatre, Cambridge
Dec 27 - Clutch @ House of Blues
Dec 28 - Wu Tang Clan @ Wilbur Theatre
Dec 28-30 - The Mighty Bosstones @ House of Blues

Buy tickets from:
-  Ace Tickets
-  Ticket Liquidators

Photo copyright Marcus Nolf, Creative Commons license

 

237th Boston Tea Party Reenactment - 2011

When:  Sunday, December 11, 5:30pm
Where:   Old South Meeting House
Closest T station: Red and Orange Line/Downtown Crossing; Orange and Blue LIne/State
Parking:   Difficult in this immediate area due to 1-way streets plus on-going construction.  I'd use the Boston Common Garage and walk over - maybe an 8-10 minute walk, or check out some of the closer Boston garages near Government Center
Cost:  $8 through 10/31; $9 starting 11/1 - children under 6 free, if they sit in your lap for the whole event; get tickets in advance
More information and tickets:  800-838-3006; website

Celebrate the 237th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party by joining a reenactment of a meeting at Old South Meeting House that protested a tax and sparked a revolution.  Old South’s Tea Party Players portray Patriots such as Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock as they recreate the events of Dec. 16, 1773, when more than 5,000 colonists gathered here to voice concerns on a moonlit night - and then headed down to Boston Harbor.

You'll be asked to choose sides – Patriot or Loyalist – and support or protest the tax.  Witness how the fiery debate that evening in 1773 decided the fate of over 46 tons of tea and set into motion events leading to the Revolutionary War.

Best for school age children and above.

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North End Holiday Stroll

When:  Friday, December 2, 7pm-11pm
Where:   North End
Closest T station: Orange Line/Haymarket
Parking:   Don't even think about street-side parking!  Try Boston garages near Government Center

Participating North End boutiques, galleries, and studios offer warm hospitality and 1-night-only discounts during their Buon Natale Holiday Stroll.  

Fairmont Battery Wharf, luxury North End hotel, is offering a special North End Holiday Stroll Package including a complimentary room upgrade, dinner for 2 at Aragosta Bar and Bistro, 50% off your room rate for the following night if you decide to stay for an extra day, early check in, late check out, and a North End map for your shopping pleasure.  Offered now through December 30, 2011.

 

2011 Holiday Pops from Boston Pops 

When:  December 7 - 24, 2011; 37 matinee and evening performances before and after Christmas
Where: Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue (intersection of Mass Ave and Huntington Ave), Fenway, Boston
Closest T station: Green Line/Symphony
Cost:  $27 - $125, + $5.50 fee
Tickets and more information:  website

Conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops present the beloved annual Holiday Pops concerts during the mornings, afternoons, and evenings before and after Christmas featuring traditional holiday favorites. 

Seven special kids matinees include a family sing-along, photo opportunities with Santa after the performance, and a special kids menu for those seated at tables.

Get in the mood by listening to A Christmas Festival by the Boston Pops, which includes many favorites such as Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, and more.

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Compare Boston discount passes for savings on Fenway Park tours, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Aquarium, Museum of Science, Boston Harbor cruises, and many more top attractions, cruises, museums, and tours.

 

Boston Baroque performs Handel's Messiah

When:  December 9 and 10, 7:30
Where: Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory, 30 Gainsborough Street, Fenway neighborhood
Closest T station: Green Line E/Symphony
Tickets:  $27 - $68
More information and tickets:  Boston Baroque's website;  check Goldstar for possible half-price tickets

Photo courtesy Boston Baroque

Musical Director Martin Pearlman's Grammy-nominated production of Handel's Messiah with soprano Amanda Forsythe, counter-tenor Matthew White, tenor Keith Jameson, and bass-baritone Kevin Deas is a spell-binding experience. 

Adding to the experience are Boston Baroque's period instruments, plus the splendor of Jordan Hall's perfect acoustics.  Attending a performance of Messiah is a Boston Christmas tradition for many people, and this production is simply one of the very best. 

Can't attend?  Listen to this recording made several years ago of Boston Baroque performing Handel's Messiah.

 

Black Nativity at Roxbury Community College - 2011

When:  8pm on December 8, 9, 10, 2011, and also at 3:30pm on Saturday, December 10
Where:   Media Arts Center at Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave, Roxbury Crossing
Closest T station: Orange Line/Roxbury Crossing
Tickets:  $20 - $42, with group discounts available
More information and tickets:  Black Nativity's website; 800-514-3849; also check Goldstar in case half-price tickets become available

Photo courtesy Black Nativity

Another beloved Boston Christmas tradition is Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes' gospel song-play, Black Nativity.  Hughes' retelling of the original Nativity story comes to life in this marvelous production combining words with music and dance, including traditional Christmas favorites sung in Gospel style. 

Presented by the National Center of Afro-American Artists (find more information about NCAAA at Boston Museums) and Roxbury Community College, this renowned holiday show features a large cast of professional and talented amateur dancers, singers, musicians, and actors, along with children and community dignataries, and has enchanted Bostonians and visitors from all over the world since 1970, making it the longest-running Black Nativity production in the world. 

From the moment when the actors walk on stage singing "Go Tell it on the Mountain" to the final scene, you'll be captivated and enthralled.

11/7/11 update:  Based on the number of searches for information about this event that Boston Discovery Guide has had during the past week, you'll need to move fast to get tickets, especially with only 4 performances this year.

Return to Top - Boston Event Calendar December

Other Boston Christmas events

 

Holiday Pops from the Waltham Symphony Orchestra

When:  Sunday, December 4, 3pm
Where:   Kennedy Middle School Auditorium, 655 Lexington Street, Waltham
Parking:   Free, on-site
Tickets:  $25 adults, $20 seniors/students, $18 group (10+) rate
More information:  781-642-1050; Waltham Symphony Orchestra website 

Holiday favorites include Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker , "Christmas Festival" by Leroy Anderson, and more with Musical Director Patrick Botti conducting. 

Saxophonist Melanie Howell-Brooks makes a guest appearance to perform "Les Santons de Provence" by Paule-Maurice with the Orchestra.

You can also hear recordings of Leroy Anderson's holiday music on the Boston Pops' Joy to the World.

Photo courtesy Waltham Symphony Orchestra

 

Celtics at the Garden

Where:  TD Garden
Stay: Hotels near TD Garden
Park: Garages near TD Garden
Celebrate: Nightlife near Celtics Games

Tickets for Boston Celtics Games

Some are saying this may be the last season for the Celtics' "Big Three" - Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce.  Say it's not so . . . but just in case, be sure to see them work their magic on the court this year!

Day	Date	Time	Opponents	Tickets
Thursday	12/1	8:00 pm	Miami Heat	Tickets
Sunday	12/11	6:00 pm	Atlanta Hawks	Tickets
Friday	12/16	7:30 pm	New Jersey Nets	Tickets
Sunday	12/18	1:00 pm	Philadelphia 76ers	Tickets
Thursday	12/22	8:00 pm	New York Knicks	Tickets
Friday	12/30	7:30 pm	Detroit Pistons	Tickets

Return to Top - Boston Event Calendar December

 

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

When:  December 2 - 28
Where:   Wang Theatre/Citi Performing Arts Center, 270 Tremont Street, Boston's Theatre District
Closest T station: Green Line/Park
Buy tickets from:  http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/nationaltour/

Photo courtesy of Ralph and Jenny

The world-famous Radio City Rockettes return to Boston to present their Christmas Spectacular, a fabulous holiday show including dancing teddy bears, flying reindeer, Santa and his elves, and of course, the high-kicking Rockettes.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular performed in Boston last year to rave reviews - so get your 2011 tickets early!

Return to Top - Boston Event Calendar December

 

Christmas Celtic Sojourn

When:  December 16 at 8pm, December 17 at 3pm and 8pm, December 18 at 1pm and 5pm
Where: Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont Street, Theatre District, Downtown Boston
Closest T station: Green Line/Boylston
More information:  Cutler Majestic website; (617) 824-8000

Enjoy Christmas Celtic music and dance featuring Ruth Moody, Hanneke Cassel with Halali, Seamus Egan of Solas, Len Graham, Simon Chrisman with his hammer dulcimer, and the Uillean Pipes.  Kevin Doyle returns as Dance Director.

Brian O'Donovan, host of classical music radio station WGBH's Celtic Sojourn program presents this popular event, now in its 9th year.  In addition to the Boston performances, Christmas Celtic Sojourn also offers shows Massachusetts in Worcester and Northampton, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Providence, Rhode Island.

 

New England Patriots Schedule for December 2011

New England Patriots Home Game Schedule at Gillette Stadium for December

When:  Home games on October 9 and October 16
Where: Gillette Stadium
Tickets:  Check for best prices, seats, discounts
Getting there: How to get to Gillette Stadium from Boston
Stay:  Hotels near Gillette Stadium

Week	Day	Date	Time	Opponents	Stadium	Tickets
13	Monday	12/4	8:20 pm	Indianapolis Colts	Gillette	Tickets
14	Sunday	12/11	1:00 pm	Washington Redskins	FedEx Field	Tickets
15	Sunday	12/18	4:15 pm	Denver Broncos	Sports Authority Field	Tickets
16	Sunday	12/24	1:00 pm	Miami Dolphins	Gillette	Tickets

Return to Top - Boston Event Calendar December

 

Christmas Revels at Harvard's Sanders Theatre

We have not posted 2011 information about this event yet.  Information below is for 2010

When:  December 17 - 29, 2010 - matinees and evening shows
Where: Sanders Theatre in Memorial Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Closest T station: Red Line/Harvard Square
Tickets:  Revels website 

Since 1971, the Christmas Revels Boston have used music and dance to explore winter solstice traditions from different cultural perspectives.

2010 marks the Christmas Revels 40th anniversary.  Over 100 singers, troubadours, dancers, ladies, knights, fools and masquers will bring to life England's past as they celebrate the winter solstice with carols, rounds, dances, and performances.  The performance is set in medieval manor Haddon Hall in England, scene of their own first performance. 

Want to get a preview of the Revels? Listen to samples of The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice, Sing We Now of Christmas, and Wassail! Wassail! Early American Christmas Music.

 

Need more ideas about what to do in Boston in December?  Check out my recommendations for best things to do in Boston in December.

 

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