This post highlights the best things to do in Boston in December, including free, family-friendly, and nighttime things to do, all updated for 2022.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN DECEMBER
This section covers our top ten list for Boston in December. When appropriate, we’ve noted activities that are free, family-friendly or fun after dark.
For even more ideas on popular tourist attractions, check out our posts on our popular posts:
Some of the items listed in this post are included for free with the purchase of a Boston tourist discount pass.
Be sure to also check out our Holiday Events in Boston post!
1. See a Musical
There are going to be several great musicals and theatrical performances to see in Boston this December.
You can find all of the theatrical performances in Boston here.
If you're looking for a holiday performance, in Beverly there will be a production of A Christmas Carol at the North Shore Music Theatre.
This takes place on December 17th.
There will also be a City Ballet production of the Urban Nutcracker, now in it's 20th year in Boston. Performances take place December 17th - 23rd at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre.
Expect to see many different kinds of dance and a storyline that involves the city of Boston itself.
Also, the Six the Musical will be at the Emerson Colonial Theatre throughout the month of December.
NOTE: If you’re looking for other festive shows to attend, consider a Christmas concert!
2. Go to a Concert
Throughout the year, Boston attracts some of the biggest musicians in the world.
December will be no different, as there will be dozens of notable artists performing in Beantown this month.
You can find all the concerts in Boston here.
If you’re looking for a concert to see, consider one of the following options:
- Patti LaBelle | December 2nd
- Allman Family Revival | December 3rd
- Nikki Lane | December 4th
- The Temptations/Four Tops | December 11th
- Bonny Light Horseman | December 13th
- Deadmau5 | December 16th
- The Lemonheads | December 17th, 18th
One of the best know boy's choirs in the world, the Vienna Boys Choir, will be appearing at Plymouth Memorial Hall on December 02.
Again, you can find all the concerts in Boston here.
3. Attend a Sporting Event
Sports fans will have plenty of great games to see in Boston during the month of December.
You can find all the sporting events in Boston here.
If you're a basketball fan, the Boston Celtics have a number of games in December, all at TD Garden.
In Foxbourough, about an hour sourth of Boston, you can catch a few games with the New England Patriots in December.
If hockey is more your jam, the Boston Bruins play throughout the month, also at TD Garden.
For college basketball fans, Boston College has a few games in December in Chestnut Hill.
You can find all the sporting events in Boston here.
4. Go on a Walking Tour
We offer a variety of pay-what-you-want walking tours throughout Boston with something for everyone!
Best of all, many of these tours will take you by popular locations which will be lit up for the holiday season, making each outing a little more festive.
If you’re looking for a walking tour that will include some lighting displays in addition to historical information about the city, consider one of the following:
If you don’t have time for a walking tour, we also offer a number of GPS enabled audio-guided tours that are available for you at your convenience!
5. Take a Holiday Cruise
Many popular cruise lines will be offering holiday outings in Boston harbor throughout the month of December.
Whether you want to sit back and relax while taking in the views or enjoy singing Christmas carols with others, this is an excellent holiday activity.
If you’d rather take a more traditional sightseeing or dinner cruise, make sure to read our post covering Boston boat tours.
6. Harvard Square Holiday Fair
Shop for holiday gifts or souvenirs to take homemade by dozens of local vendors.
Now nearing it's 35 year mark, the Harvard Square Holiday Fair takes place in the month of December and will feature the crafts made by numerous New England artists and designers.
The dates for the 2022 fare are:
- December 9th - 11th
- December 16-18th
Best of all, admission to the fair is free!
Don’t forget that we offer tours of both Cambridge and Harvard!
7. Take the Kids to Disney on Ice
If you’re looking for a fun activity the kids will enjoy, consider taking them to Disney on Ice: Find Your Hero this December.
This show will feature many of kid's favorite characters including Mickey, Rapunzel, Ariel, Belle, and Moana, amongst many others.
- December 22nd - 31st
- Location: Agganis Arena
- Tickets: $38-$47
- Purchase tickets or learn more here.
TIP: After the show, take your family ice skating at the Frog Pond in Boston Commons!
Alternatively, you can find more things to do with your children in our family-friendly section.
8. UNCONFIRMED for BOSTON: Go to the Jingle Bell Run
Grab your running (or walking!) shoes and register for a timed 5k, untimed 1k, or kids fun-run on December 10th at the Jingle Bell Run.
All registration proceeds will go to the Arthritis Foundation. You can donate to the cause at any time, even if you don’t plan to participate in the event.
It’s worth noting that it won’t cost a dime to come and cheer on everyone in the race!
Many people will be dressing up in festive attire for the Jingle Bell Run, so you’re likely to spot some familiar characters like Santa and his elves.
This event will be taking place at Boston Commons at 9 am.
If you want to get outside of the city for a run, there will be a Worcester run (December 11th) and a Haverhill run (December 11th) as well.
For more fun activities that won’t cost anything to enjoy, check our free things to do section.
NOTE: the date of the Boston race has not yet been officially confirmed for 2022. Please keep checking the website for updates.
9. Celebrate New Year’s Eve
Boston will ring in 2022 with a variety of events including multiple fireworks shows.
Enjoy the family-focused fireworks display at 7 pm or stay up until midnight and watch the fireworks go off in Copley Square.
In years past, the New Year’s Eve celebration in Boston has been absolutely epic, which a variety of puppet shows, musical performances, comedic improv, festive ice skating events and more.
If you want to know what to expect this year, make sure to keep an eye on the schedule at First Night Boston.
Don’t forget to check which restaurants are offering special menus and discounts for the New Year’s celebration!
For more fun activities after the sun goes down, check our things to do at night section.
10. Save Money With a Tourist Pass
If you’re planning to enjoy a lot of different activities while you’re in Boston this December, a tourist pass can save you a lot of money on popular attractions.
One of the easiest options is a build-your-own-pass, which allows you to save 20% off 2 or more tickets.
Another nice thing about these passes is that they make it easier to save a few bucks on attractions that are already pretty cheap.
For instance, a flex pass allows you to pay one flat price for a set number of attractions (3, 4, or 5), which means you’ll ultimately be paying a certain amount for each ticket.
If one of the locations you want to visit is already $10 or less, why would you use a flex pass (over $25 per ticket) for that?
Flex passes are much more useful for expensive activities, and you can save a lot of cash using them for those services.
There are also all-inclusive passes which include admission to dozens of popular attractions over the course of a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days).
Here are a few of the most notable tours and tickets included with Boston tourist passes:
- Hop-on-Hop-off Trolley Tour
- Six Flags New England
- New England Aquarium
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Boston Harbor Cruise
- Museum of Science
- Skywalk Observatory
- Fenway Park Tour
- Franklin Park Zoo
- LEGOLAND
- And more!
Some of these services also include skip-the-line entry at certain locations, making it easy to save both time and money.
Depending on how you use these passes, you could save anywhere from 20% - 50% or more. For additional details, please read our post about Boston tourist passes .
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN DECEMBER
This December, Boston will be loaded with evening activities that are sure to please.
In addition to the events listed below, don’t forget to check out our master post on things to do at night in Boston post for even more night time ideas!
Have a Pint at the Cheers Bar!
Originally named Bull and Finch, this bar in the Back Bay was the inspiration for the famous 1980s comedy, Cheers!
Stop in to have a bite or a pint of beer at the bar or shop the gift shop which features an assortment of paraphernalia for fans.
For more details about this activity, please read our post about visiting the original Cheers bar in Boston.
See the Boston Common Tree Lighting Ceremony
On December 2nd, Boston Common will celebrate the upcoming holiday season with a massive and beautiful Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
There will also be a figure skating ice show at the nearby Frog Pond with competitive skaters performing a variety of interesting tricks and moves.
Visitors can expect there to be plenty of festive music, entertainment, and refreshments available.
For more details, please read our post covering Christmas in Boston.
Attend a Comedy Show
It seems like there are always at least a few good comedians performing in Boston each month, and that won't be changing for December.
Here are some stand-up comedy shows to see this month:
- Joe Pera | two shows on December 2nd
- Mark Normand | two shows on December 3rd
- Ali Siddiq | December 15th - 17th
- Chris Fleming | December 17th
If you're okay going further afield, two big names are appearing in Worcester in December.
- Sebastian Maniscalco | December 3rd
- Chelsea Handler | December 3rd
FREE THINGS TO DO IN DECEMBER
Boston offers a variety of free events throughout the month of December.
For even more ideas, make sure to read our post covering free things to do in Boston.
Follow Boston's Holiday Lights Trail
Boston is gorgeous in the winter, and the city comes alive with lights in celebration of the holidays,
A fun thing to do is the follow the holiday Lights Trail, from Copley Square to Commonwealth Avenue and on to Public Garden, Downtown Crossing, and on.
For details about each stop, visit here.
Go to a Holiday Market
Even if you can’t find the gift you’re looking for at the Harvard Square Holiday Fair, there’s no need to worry – there will be several holiday markets popping up all over the city!
There are also popular shopping malls such as Prudential Center which have several different shops to choose from, making it easier to find gifts that your loved ones will enjoy.
Although the idea is to spend money on gifts, you can always come and just enjoy the decorations at these holiday markets for free!
For more details, make sure to read our post about Christmas in Boston.
Visit a Free Museum
In addition to all the festive fun that you can do in Boston this month, there are also several museums that you can enjoy without paying a dime.
Here are a few of the best locations to visit for free in Boston:
- Commonwealth Museum
- McMullen Museum of Art
- Massachusetts Historical Society
- Boston Fire Museum
For even more places you can visit without worrying about your finances, check our post about free museums in Boston.
For more general activity ideas, make sure to read our post covering free things to do in Boston.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN DECEMBER
December brings a variety of family-friendly events to Beantown!
You can find even more great ideas on our post covering what to do with kids in Boston.
UNCONFIRMED: Attend a Boston Tea Party Reenactment
Experience a dramatic reenactment of the single most important event that led to the American Revolution.
Living history actors will come together at the Old South Meeting House to tell the story of the Boston Tea Party that occurred on December 16th, 1773.
As you may have guessed, this activity will be taking place on December 16th, and it’s actually a free event!
Visit the New England Aquarium
Enjoy a day under the sea! Well, kind of.
Welcoming visitors for over 50 years, the New England Aquarium is one of the premier tourist attractions in Boston.
See penguins, seals, dozens of different fish and meet the aquarium's most famous resident, Myrtle the Green Sea Turtle!
- Tickets: $34/Adults | $25/Kids | $32/Seniors
- Availability: Open daily from 9 am - 6 pm
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
If you’re budget-conscious, it’s worth noting that they actually offer one exhibit of harbor seals for free right outside the ticket booth.
You can also save 50% or more on tickets simply by using a Boston tourist pass.
UNCONFIRMED: Blink! At Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Fun and free for everyone, Blink! Will light up Faneuil Hall Marketplace with the biggest Christmas trees in the northeast, live holiday music, and thousands of lights.
There will be festive nightly shows starting at 4:30 pm every night in December, and you can expect Santa Claus to show up for a few events!
You can find more information about this activity in our post about holiday events in Boston.
In addition to the events listed below, don’t forget to check out our master post on things to do at night in Boston post for even more night time ideas!
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