This post covers the best things to do in Boston in November.
We include evening, free, as well as family-friendly activities, and all is updated for 2022.
- Top 10
- Free Things to Do
- Things to Do at Night
- Family-Friendly Activities
- Things to Do in Boston (any time of year)
- How's the Weather
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN NOVEMBER
This section highlights our top ten things to do in Boston in November. When possible, we’ve noted what is free and family-friendly.
If you’re looking for even more fun things to do in Boston, make sure to check our posts:
It’s also worth noting that you can save money on some of the most entertaining attractions in and around the city with a Boston tourist pass.
1. Take a Walking Tour
We offer a variety of pay-what-you-want walking tours throughout the historic city of Boston to give you an intimate, up-close and personal experience with the best information and entertaining stories!
The following tours are currently available:
- Freedom Trail Tour
- Beacon Hill Crime Tour
- Harvard and Cambridge Tour
- North End and Little Italy Tour
- Kennedy and Irish Boston Tour
- Battle of Bunker Hill Tour
2. Go to a Concert
The Boston area tends to attract some of the biggest musical performers in the world, and there will be no shortage of great concerts to attend in November.
If you’re looking for a great performance, consider one of the following options:
- Squirrel Nut Zippers | November 3rd
- Richard Marx | November 6th
- Paul Anka | November 6th
- Marcus Mumford | November 8th
- Arcade Fire/Beck | November 8th, 9th
- Ani DiFranco | November 9th
- Trey Anastasio/Goose | November 11th
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band | November 12th
- Yung Gravy | November 16th
- Little Feat | November 19th
- Bruce Hornsby | November 20th
- Dinosaur Jr. | November 26th
Find all the concerts in Boston here.
Many of these concerts will start after dark, so it’s safe to say this is a good nighttime activity. For more fun in the evening, read our things to do at night section.
3. Attend a Sporting Event
Boston is home to several notable teams, and at least three of them will be playing games at home during the month of November.
The New England Patriots will have three games this month, but only one of them will be at Gillette Stadium.
With the NBA season just starting up, the Boston Celtics will have nearly half a dozen games to see in November at the TD Garden.
The NHL starts their season at around the same time, so there will also be several great Boston Bruins games to attend this month.
Find all the sporting events in Boston here.
4. See a Hit Musical
This city may not be the home of Broadway, but they still have several great theaters which host some of the best musicals in the world.
There will be several great shows to see during the month of November.
In November you can find Six The Musical at Emerson Colonial Theatre. The show runs from November 9th - 20th, 2022.
If you're willing to go further afield, Providence MA has two productions of interest:
- Kinky Boots | November 5th
- Les Miserables | November 15th - 20th
Find all the theatre productions in Boston here.
5. See a Christmas Tree Lighting
Numerous public Christmas trees will be ceremoniously lit throughout the last week in November in Boston, ringing in the holiday season!
Here’s a list of these free and family-friendly events in 2022:
- Macy’s Downtown Crossing | November 23rd
- Copley Square | November 21st
- Massachusetts State House | November 28th
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace | November 29th
Many of these trees can be seen on our Freedom Trail walking tour throughout the holiday season, and there will be several additional lights displays popping up throughout the city at this time.
If you’re looking for more free activities you can enjoy, please read our section covering free things to do in Boston this November.
6. Go Ice Skating
Few things welcome winter and the holiday season like a jaunt around an outdoor ice skating rink!
Boston has a few to offer throughout the winter, and many of them will be open in November.
One of the most popular skating rinks in the city can be found at the Frog Pond in Boston Common. Every year, the pond is turned into an ice rink where visitors can skate around.
If you’re looking for some of the other locations in this city where you can enjoy this activity, make sure to read our post about ice skating in Boston.
Needless to say, this is a pretty popular family activity. For more great family-friendly events, check our things to do with kids section.
7. See Live Stand-up Comedy
Boston tends to attract a lot of well-known and famous comedians throughout the year, and this November will be no different.
Nate Bargatze will be one of the most notable performers appearing in November, and tickets are expected to go quickly.
He's scheduled to do stand-up at Wilbur Theatre on November 5th and 6th.
The following comedians are also scheduled to perform in or around Boston in November 2022:
- David Cross | November 6th
- Sarah Millican | November 10th
- Brian Regan | November 4th, 5th
- Tom Segura | November 17th, 18th, 19th
- Heather McDonald | November 17th
For even more great stand-up, check this list of comedy performances taking place in Boston this month.
8. Grab a Bite at Boston Magazine’s Taste
Foodies will love this event that celebrates the top 50 restaurants in Boston and other local culinary establishments.
Enjoy an evening of food, wine, beer, crafted cocktails, live entertainment and more at Boston's Magazine's Taste Dinner Series!
In years past, this event has included a variety of different foods from over 30 of the most talented chefs in the city.
A portion of ticket sales goes to the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Check the Boston Magazine Taste website for more details.
NOTE: Even if you can’t make it to this event, you may want to think about taking a Boston food tour to learn more about the greatest places to grab a bite in Beantown.
9. Watch the Turkey Trot
Just before Thanksgiving, this annual race is held not only to celebrate the holiday, but also to encourage visitors to give to the local food bank.
While the event isn’t free to enter, it won’t cost a dime to come and cheer on the runners as they compete for various awards and prizes.
The Turkey Trot will be taking place on November 19th by the Charles River at Artesani Park. The race will begin at 8 am and all events will be finished by 10:30 am.
This is an excellent and affordable activity that you can enjoy with the family.
If you’re looking for other fun events that won’t set you back, check our free things to do section.
10. Use a Tourist Pass to Save Money
No matter what you’re planning to do in Boston this November, chances are that you’ll be able to save a lot of money on popular activities by using a tourist attraction discount pass.
While an all-inclusive pass provides admission to dozens of attractions over a set number of days, there are also passes which allow you to pay one flat price for the specific services you plan to use.
There are also build your own pass options which are very easy to use, as you just have to get 2 tickets in order to save 20% on both activities!
Here are some of the most notable attractions included with these tourist passes:
- Hop-on-Hop-off Trolley Tour
- New England Aquarium
- Six Flags New England
- Skywalk Observatory
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Museum of Science
- Boston Bike Rental
- Fenway Park Tour
- Boston Duck Tour
- Franklin Park Zoo
- LEGOLAND
- And more!
Depending on which pass you choose and how you use it, you could save anywhere from 20% - 50% off general admission prices.
You’ll also enjoy skip-the-line privileges at certain locations included with each service.
For more details, make sure to read our post covering Boston tourist attraction discount passes.
Boston Book Fair
Over 3 days in November is the annual Boston Interantional Antiquartian Book Fair, now in it's 44th year.
Book lovers, book dealers, and book collectors come together at Haynes Convention Center to share their love of all things books.
Events take place November 11th - 13th. For more information, visit the fair website
FREE THINGS TO DO IN NOVEMBER
If you plan accordingly, there are a lot of fun activities that are totally free to attend in Boston.
This section will cover several things to do that won’t cost a dime.
Some of the items we’ve mentioned in previous sections like attending a Christmas Tree Lighting and going to the Turkey Trot also cost nothing for admission.
For even more great, affordable ideas, make sure to read our post covering free things to do in Boston .
Visit a Free Museum
There are several great museums in Boston that don’t cost a thing to enter.
Some of them offer free entry throughout the year, but others only offer free days every month or so.
Here are a few of the more popular locations you can visit without paying for admission:
- U.S.S. Constitution Museum
- Bunker Hill Museum
- Waterworks Museum
- Commonwealth Museum
- Boston Fire Museum
- Massachusetts Historical Society
For more details and additional locations that don’t cost a thing, please read our post covering free museums in Boston.
For even more great, affordable ideas, make sure to read our post covering free things to do in Boston.
Attend the Veteran's Day Parade
Boston's Veteran's Day Parade takes place on November 5th, 2022.
Marchings bands, veterans, activie military folks and more march down Boylston, from the Boston Public Library to City Hall Plaza.
The parade lasts from noon until 3:00 pm.
For more information, visit the Veterans Services parade page.
Peruse the Tufts Art Sale
Tufts University's School of the Museum of Fine Arts is celebrating the 40th anniversary of it's annual art sale.
You don't have to buy anything to view and appreciate the art on display.
Of course, if you'd like to make a purchase, the funds raised go to support students of the art school.
This year's event takes place November 4th - 6th.
For more information, visit the SMFA Tufts website.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN NOVEMBER
Boston is a lively city in the evening and offers all kinds of activities and events for night owls.
This section will feature a few of the best things to do after dark during the month of November.
Our previous sections covered some of the better nighttime activities such as Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies, concerts, musicals, and sporting events.
In addition to what’s listed in this section, make sure to check out the section on nighttime activities in our master post on things to do in Boston.
Take a Ghosts and Gravestones Bus Tour
If you’re looking for a more spooky experience in Beantown, perhaps a haunted bus tour is in order.
Hear about Boston’s dark side on this 90-minute ghost bus tour with numerous costumed guides.
The tour departs from Old Town Trolley stop #1, at the end of the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel at 200 Atlantic Avenue.
For more information, visit the Ghosts and Gravestone Trolley of the Doomed website.
Take A Beacon Hill Crime Tour
Our guides offer a Beacon Hill Crime Tour a few times a week.
Beacon Hill is thought to be one of the loveliest neighborhoods in the city, yet it has a dark history. In the early 60s the Boston Strangler terrorized folks who lived there.
To hear more about the history of related events, and to visit crime scene locations, sign up for our tour.
In addition to what’s listed in this section of the page, make sure to check out the section on nighttime activities in our master post on things to do in Boston.
Enjoy the View at Top of the Hub
While the food at this popular restaurant may not be free, the view won’t cost you a dime.
At 52 floors above the Back Bay, Top of the Hub is one of the most popular dining establishments in the city thanks to both the quality of their meals and the incredible views of Boston.
Even though you have to make reservations for a table, you are free to visit the lounge whenever you like and there is no fee for admission.
As such, you don’t necessarily have to pay anything to see the view for yourself.
NOTE: Looking for a good view of the city? Consider visiting one of the more popular Boston observation decks for a different perspective of the skyline.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN NOVEMBER
Beantown has lots of activities to offer that are fun for the whole family, and we’ll be covering a few of the better November events in this section.
Don’t forget to check our other sections for ideas like going ice skating, attending a sporting event, seeing the Christmas lighting displays and more are welcome to people of all ages.
For additional ideas, consider reading our post covering things to do with kids in Boston .
Go on a Tour of Fenway Park
While baseball isn’t in season in November, you can still tour the home stadium of the 2018 World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox!
Fenway Park is the oldest baseball stadium in America and offers daily tours that are fun for the whole family.
Whether you want a quick outing or something a bit more detailed, there are a variety of different tours available at this historic ballpark.
It’s worth noting that the public Fenway Park tour is included with some Boston tourist passes , which is a great way to save money on this activity.
Visit the New England Aquarium
Spot all kinds of marine life with a visit to the New England Aquarium! Enjoy hundreds of species of fish, fur seals, penguins, lobsta’hs, sea turtles, and more.
The museum also offers numerous family-friendly interactive exhibits for kids to enjoy and they are open every day in November except Thanksgiving.
If you’re looking to save money on this activity, keep in mind that admission to the aquarium is actually included with several Boston tourist passes.
Take a Holiday Cruise
Join Boston Sailing with a 1.5-hour holiday boat cruise around the harbor!
Choose from the family-friendly "Cocoa and Carols Cruise", enjoy a whiskey and holiday ballads with an "Irish Christmas Carol", or tap your feet to the beat with a "Holiday Jazz Cruise".
Tickets range from $35/$44 for children to $53/$70 for adults.
Don’t worry – these boats are well heated during the winter, and each of these outings offers several opportunities to keep warm.
TIP: For even more boat cruise ideas, check out our boat tours post!
