Huge List of Family Friendly Boston Events: November 25-December 11

F.A.T. Chain Reaction @ MIT

Friday, November 25 1pm-4pm

MIT Rockwell Cage Gymnasium, 120 Vassar St., Cambridge, 02139

617-253-5927

All Ages

$15/day of, $12.50/in advance, $5/kids 5-17, students, seniors, MIT ID-holders, Free/Kids under 5

The infamous Friday after Thanksgiving Chain Reaction event at MIT has been described as similar to watching a giant domino demonstration. Witness, along with thousands of spectators, participating teams, as they work to link the mini chain reactions they have created together to form one big one. More Info or Get Tickets.

Sing-a-Long Mary Poppins

Friday, November 25-Sunday, November 27

Times Vary

The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington

781-646-4249

All Ages

$10-$15

The Regent Theatre presents Sing-a-Long Mary Poppins, an interactive movie watching experience featuring on screen lyrics to sing along with, bags of props to play along with, and an on stage parade featuring audience members in costume. More Info and Tickets

Family Art Cart @ the MFA

Saturday & Sunday, November 26 & 27 10am-4pm

Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston

617-267-9300

Ages 4 and Up

Free with museum admission

The Family Art Cart at the Museum of Fine Arts is a table filled with numerous fun and educational activities for kids, such as puzzles, books, art cards, sketchbooks, and other regularly updated interactive activities. The Art Cart will be available in the Shapiro Family Courtyard on Saturdays and Sundays through June from 10am-4pm. Art Cart activities are intended for kids ages 4 and over to do in the galleries with the help of an adult.

Copley Square Holiday Tree Lighting Fest

Tuesday, November 29 5pm-6pm

Copley Square, Boston

617-635-4505

All Ages

Free

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and the Friends of Copley Square present the Copley Square Tree Lighting event, featuring a tree lighting ceremony accompanied by a bell tolling from the Old South Church. Other festivities will include live entertainment by the United States Air Force Brass Band Quintet and Boston Children’s Chorus, and holiday caroling. Following the tree lighting, a family reception with light refreshments will take place at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.

Frog Pond Ice Rink Grand Opening

Thursday, December 1 @ 5:30pm

Boston Common

617-635-2197

All ages

Free

The Boston Common Frog Pond ice skating rink will open for the 2011/2012 season with skating show, followed by free admission to the rink for all. Kennedy Elsey from Mix 104.1 will emcee the skating show, which will star 2011 U.S. bronze medalist Ross Miner, 2011 U.S. Pairs 5th place winners and 2009 Junior World Bronze medalists Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, 2011 New England Regional Intermediate Silver medalist Isabelle Dost, and 2011 New England Regional Intermediate Champion Bennett Gotlieb. The event will also include free samples and giveaways and special guest appearances by mascot Frog Pond Freddie and Sony Pictures “Arthur Christmas”.

70th Annual Boston Common Tree Lighting Ceremony

Thursday, December 1 @ 7pm

Boston Common

617-635-4505

All Ages

Free

The annual lighting of the City of Boston’s official Christmas Tree will take place in the Boston Common and will be broadcasted live on WCVB Channel 5 TV with hosts, Anthony Everett and JC Monahan. The event will also feature special guest appearances by New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre, American Idol finalist Siobhan Magnus, the Radio City Rockettes, Rockapella, the Boston Ballet, the Boston Children’s Choir, MAGIC 106.7’s Nancy Quill and Mike Addams, and saxophonist Grace Kelly.

E.T. on the Big Screen

Saturday, December 3 @ 10:30am

Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, 02446

617-734-2500

Ages 3 to 10

$7/Adults, $5/Kids

The Coolidge Corner Theatre and Magic Beans toy store co-present a special screening of E.T.- The Extra-Terrestrial, as part of the Coolidge Kids Shows program series. Get Tickets

Cultural Survival Bazaar

Saturday, December 3 @ 10am

Harvard University Laboratory @ Harvard Northwest Bldg, 52 Oxford St., Cambridge 02339

617-441-5400

Free

The Cultural Survival Bazaar shopping marketplace and festival features hundreds of arts and crafts items from indigenous artists and fair trade companies, live music performances, Native American storytelling, cultural presentations, craft making demonstrations, short films and more. If you are driving, you can park for free at the Oxford Street Garage, 52 Oxford Street.

Winter Glow Fest

Sunday, December 4 2pm-5pm

Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford, 02155

781-395-0402

All ages

$10 per family suggested donation

Springstep’s Winter Glow Festival invites people of all ages to celebrate the magic and beauty of light, with a variety of activities centered on glow sticks, flashlights, projectors and other props that will light up the evening. There will also dance and music workshops, performances, crafts, warm drinks, food and more.

Albertine Press & Taza Chocolate Open House

Sunday, December 4 Noon-4pm

561 Windsor Street, Somerville 02143

617-666-7395

All Ages

Free

Taza Chocolate and Albertine Press at 561 Windsor Street in Somerville will open their doors to the public for a holiday celebration featuring chocolate factory tours, chocolate tastings, antique letterpress demonstrations, and more family friendly activities. Free parking is available as well.

Free Documentary Movie: Freedom Riders

Sunday, December 4 2pm-4pm

Cambridge Public Library Main Branch, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, 02138

857-258-0197

All Ages

Free

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Riders of 1961, the City of Cambridge and Citizens of the World will host a series of events throughout December. The December 10th event will feature a screening of the Emmy Award winning documentary, Freedom Riders, directed by Stanley Nelson at the Main Branch of the Cambridge Public Library. Register to attend this free event.

Comicazi Con & Bad *ss Bazaar

Sunday, December 4 10am-4pm

Dilboy VFW Hall, 371 Summer St., Davis Square, Somerville

617-666-2664

$4

The 4th Annual Comicazi Con & Bad *ss Bazaar is a combination craft fair and comic book show and will feature a marketplace of comics, toys, jewelry and other handmade arts and crafts items.

Holiday Concert at Longy School of Music

Sunday, December 4 @ 2pm

Longy Scool of Music, Pickman Concert Hall, 27 Garden St., Cambridge 02138

617-876-0956

All Ages

The Longy School of Music presents Winter Wonderland, a holiday concert for the public, featuring tales, and carols that the audience is encouraged to sing along to. The spotlight of the program will be a storytelling of the Velveteen Rabbit by Marjery Williams, which will be accompanied by Beethoven’s Romance in F.

Goodnight Moon and the Runaway Bunny

Sunday, December 4 1pm & 3pm

Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, 333 Nahanton St., Newton, 02459

617-965-5226

Ages 2+

$9-$12

The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia presents a series of stage adaptations of “rabbit tales” from Goodnight Moon and the Runaway Bunny using puppetry, narration, glow-in-the-dark visual effects and music. Get Tickets

Bazaar Bizarre

Sunday, December 4th Noon-6pm

Boston Center for the Arts, Cyclorama, 539 Tremont St., Boston 02116

617-426-5001

$1

The Bazaar Bizarre Boston holiday shopping event will feature a marketplace of arts, crafts, and other unique gift items from over 100 independent artists, designers and craftspeople from New England and beyond. Food and beverages from local vendors will also be available for purchase.

Black Nativity Performance

Thurs and Friday, Dec 8 & 9 @ 8pm

Saturday, Dec 10 3:30pm & 8pm

Roxbury Community College 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury

800-514-3849

All Ages

$20-$42

The National Center of Afro-American Artists presents Black Nativity, a performance that uses scripture, verse, music, dance and the poetry of Langston Hughes to tell the original story of the Nativity, basded on the gospel of St. Luke. The show will take place at the Mainstage Theater at the Media Arts Center of Roxbury Community College. Buy Tickets

Craftboston Holiday Show

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9 & 10 10am-7pm

Sunday, Dec. 11 11am-5pm

Boston Center of the Arts Cyclorama, 539 Tremont St., Boston 02116

617-266-1810

All Ages

$12-$15

The Society of Arts and Crafts presents Craftboston Holiday, a showcase and marketplace of one of a kind and limited-edition art and craft items in a variety of mediums by 90 remarkable craft artists. There will be baskets, ceramics, decorative fiber, art-to-wear, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper and wood.

SoWa Holiday Market

Saturday, December 10 @ 11am

Cathedral High School, 74 Union Park St., Boston 02118

800-403-8305

$5/adults, Free/Kids under 12

The SoWa Open Market presents the 8th Annual SoWa Holiday Market, which will showcase work from over 80 New England based juried artists and designers. Gift items in a variety of mediums will be available for purchase, including handbags, jewelry, pottery, letterpress stationary, silk-screened t-shirts, baby clothes and more.

Free Festivities @ the ICA

Saturday, December 10 10am-5pm

Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave., Boston 02210

617-478-3100

All Ages

Free

In honor of the museum’s 75th Anniversary, the Institute of Contemporary Art will open their doors to the public for a full day of activities and free admission for all on December 10th. The family friendly program includes live music performances, animated films, a tap dance performance, art making activities, and more. See Schedule

Family Concert w/ Fox and Branch

Saturday, December 10 10:30am-11:15am

Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge, 02138

617-492-7679

All Ages

$5-$10

Club Passim presents a live family folk music concert with Fox and Branch, award-winning children’s folk music duo. Buy Tickets

Free Family Art Workshop

Saturday, December 10 @ 2pm

Boston Center for the Arts, Mills Gallery, 551 Tremont St., Boston, 02116

617-426-1119

Free

This Families Connect workshop at the BCA Mills Gallery will explore the experience of sensing emotions through music and visual art and will also feature a live violinist. There will be a hands-on instrument making activity as well. Registration is recommended, as space is limited; contact Cynthia Woo at [email protected] or 617-426-1119.

Cultural Survival Bazaar

Saturday & Sunday, December 10 & 11 @ 10am

Harvard University CGIS-1730 Cambridge St., Cambridge 02138

617-441-5400

Free

The Cultural Survival Bazaar shopping marketplace and festival features hundreds of arts and crafts items from indigenous artists and fair trade companies, live music performances, Native American storytelling, cultural presentations, craft making demonstrations, short films and more. If you are driving, you can park for free at the Broadway Garage, 7 Felton Street.

Holly Fair in Harvard Square

Saturday, December 10 10am-5:30pm

Sunday, December 11 Noon-5pm

Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Brattle House, 42 Brattle St., Cambridge 02138

617-547-6789 x1

All Ages

Free

The annual Holly Fair is presented by the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and will offer a wide selection of gifts by local artisans and craftspeople. See List of Vendors. The fair is free to attend; money raised from vendor rental fees will support the CCAE Scholarship Fund.

Children’s Book Fair

Sunday, December 11 @ 9am

Trinity Church (Undercroft), 206 Clarendon St., Boston, 02116

617-536-0944 x243

All Ages

Free

The Trinity Church of Boston presents the Winter Children’s Book Fair, which will feature story time, holiday-themed craft activities, and a wide selection of both new and classic children’s books available for purchase.

Boston Tea Party Annual Reenactment

Sunday, December 11 @ 5pm

Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston 02108

617-482-6439

All Ages

$9

The Old South Meeting House and the Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum present a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party in honor of its 238th anniversary. This event will feature a theatrical retelling of the original 1773 tea party, a town meeting where the audience members can debate the colonial tea tax as a Patriot or Loyalist, and special guest appearances by historical characters such as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. Please note that space is limited for this event and it is expected to sell out. Reserve your tickets online here or by calling (800) 838-3006.

Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys

Sunday, December 11 @ 10:30am

Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, 02446

617-734-2500

Ages 3 to 10

$9.75/adults, $7.75/kids

Vanessa Trien, Boston-based singer-songwriter and children’s performer will be at the Coolidge Corner Theatre with her band, the Jumping Monkeys, for a live performance, as part of the Coolidge Kids Shows program series. Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys are well known for their two award-winning children’s CDs, Carnival Day and Hot Air Balloon. Get Tickets


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