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