Best Things to Do in Boston in December

Top 10 Boston activities for December

Are you looking for fun things to do in Boston in December? 

December days are short and sometimes cold - but festive lights sparkle all over the city, and winter activities fill the air with excitement.

If you're planning what to do in Boston in December, consider these 10 fun activities that make the most of sparkling winter days, excitement-packed evenings, and if we're lucky, even a snowfall or two.

Photo courtesy of Icelight

10 fun things to do in Boston in December

1.  Watch the lights go on

Join hundreds of other spectators as Boston's mayor flips during the annual holiday lighting ceremony on Boston Common, setting the city's magnificent Christmas tree (a gift from the citizens of Nova Scotia) and 80+ other trees ablaze with sparkling lights. 

The tree-lighting ceremony usually occurs at the beginning of the month.  Check the Boston Event Calendar for December for details.

2. Frolic in the snow!

If you're lucky enough to be here during or after a December snowfall, spend some time walking around enjoying the sparkle of sunshine on the snow during the day, and the glitter of holiday lights reflecting on the snow at night.

Remember to bring your camera!  Best places for photos?  Just about anywhere!  My favorites include the suspension bridge over the lagoon in the Public Garden, anywhere along the Boston Esplanade, and Boston's South End, where the lines and angles of the Victorian architecture contrast wonderfully with the fluffy snow.

3.  Twirl around the ice

If you want to feel like you're bringing a Currier & Ives print to life, head to Frog Pond at Boston Common in late afternoon, rent some ice skates, and twirl around the ice skating rink.   The holiday lights covering the surrounding trees sparkle overhead, and in the background you'll see even more lights gleaming in the stately mansions of Beacon Hill.  A "life is perfect!" feeling will sweep over you.

Details for ice skating in Boston

4.  Shop, shop, shop!

Photo courtesy of Das Nili, Creative Commons License

Without a doubt, shopping is one of the top things to do in Boston in December! 

Stores sparkle with holiday lights and everyone is in a festive spirit.  Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market (check out the gorgeous Christmas tree!), Prudential Center, and Newbury Street look especially spectacular, but you'll also find wonderful boutiques everywhere - the North End, the South End, Beacon Hill, Harvard Square in Cambridge.

To combine efficiency with fun, check out my tips for 1-stop (well, almost), holiday shopping in Boston.

5.  Reward yourself

After all that shopping (or ice skating), you need to reward yourself!  Enjoying a meal in one of the many wonderful Boston restaurants tops my list of perfect things to do in Boston in December - or for that matter, any time. 

To avoid calorie overload during the holiday season, try one of the fabulous Boston seafood restaurants.  Head to the North End (beautiful with all the holiday lights) for a meal in Neptune Oyster or Daily Catch.  Don't forget that you'll also find fresh, perfectly prepared seafood on the menus of most other North End restaurants.  For a splurge, try Mamma Maria or Sensing (Battery Wharf Hotel). 

6.  Make a Snowman (or Snowwoman . . . Snowperson?)

One of most fun things to do in Boston in December with kids (or for that matter, grown-ups) is to make a snowman!  Head to Boston Common or the Rose Kennedy Greenway, where you'll find open expanses with plenty of snow.  Be creative!  Remember, lots of people will enjoy your creation before the sun melts it away.

7.  Enjoy holiday music

On any given night, you'll have your choice of musical performances and concerts in Boston.  December bring splendid productions of Handel's Messiah by various groups, as well as lots of other special performances. Check the Boston Event Calendar for December to get a taste of what's on offer. 

Or walk around Beacon Hill in the evening, and you may hear Christmas carolers singing in the narrow lanes as they visit their neighbors' houses.

8.  Have some foul-weather plans

December weather can be unpredictable  - and occasionally rather nasty.   When a gale wind blows and sleet slices through the air sideways, you'll want a warm, entertaining refuge.  This is the perfect time to go to the movies (check out Boston's newest film reperatory venue at the Charles Street Playhouse), the theater, a comedy club, or a museum. 

9.  Cheer your favorite team!

Both the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics play lots of home games in December at TD Garden, while the New England Patriots continue their home games at Gillette Stadium.   Boston sports top the best things to do in Boston in December list for many sports fans.  Check schedules and get tickets conveniently through Ticketmaster.

10.  Celebrate the year - and welcome the New Year - at First Night

Bring the year to a spectacular close and celebrate the New Year at First Night, Boston's day-long, all-night extravaganza New Year Eve event.  Entertainers, food, performances, fireworks, the Grand Procession - First Night has it all!   First Night originated in Boston, and Boston's celebration is still the best!  The million or so Boston residents and visitors who participate will tell you it's their favorite thing to do in Boston in December!

Check the Boston Event Calendar for December for details - and put First Night on your calendar now!