SOUTH END
- Christmas is in the air at Worcester Square. The WSANA has scheduled its Tree Lighting for Dec. 3, 4-6 p.m. in Worcester Square with a special visit from Santa Claus on a fire truck. Fundraising tickets are now available from WSANA members. It is the only fundraising even for WSANA of the year, and it promises to be a fun time once again
- The Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association will have its annual Christmas Tree and Wreath sale on Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Music and refreshments provided, with a visit by Santa Claus too. Pre-order at www.blackstonefranklin.org. All proceeds support the Neighborhood Association and the Friends group.
- The Union Park Neighborhood Association is having their holiday party Friday, December 1, 6-8p.m. at the Benjamin Franklin Institute.
- Old Dover Neighborhood Association Holiday Gathering will take place Dec. 12 from 5:30 – 7:30p.m. at Bar Mezzana. Members are invited to join the neighborhood association for a festive gathering. There will be a collection for Toys for Tots. Not yet a member? Join online at www.olddover.org/memberships.html before, or at the door.
- SoWa Winter Festival will take place on Dec. 2 and 3 at the Power Station.
- The Mayor’s Tree Lighting will take place Dec. 2 and starts at 3 p.m. at the Boston Center for the Arts. It will feature kids activities, music and performances. The Mayor’s trolley tour will stop by to light the tree for the holiday season.
- Chester Square Area Neighborhood Association and Friends of Chester Square Park will be holding Holiday Tea & Cookie Exchange on December 10, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the South End Historical Society at 532 Massachusetts Ave. Bring a dozen or two homemade or purchased cookies, meet and greet neighbors over tea and sweets, and take home a variety in a festive bag. Please label ingredients for the cookies you bring. Crafts for kids too!
- Join the Friends of Hayes Park for Caroling in the Park, Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3:00p.m. Hot cider and Treats for all. Please bring canned or non-perishable goods for the South End food pantry run by Action for Boston Community Development.
- Red Dog Pet Resort & Spa is inviting pets and their parents to come and get their photos taken with Santa on Thursday, Dec. 14 from 5-7p.m. Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s helpers will be on hand to help wrangle the four-legged fur babies. The proceeds from the $5 digital photo will help our friends at Last Hope K9 Rescue. Ho-ho-hope you can come to 274 Southampton St., Boston on Dec. 14.
BACK BAY
- The Boston Common Tree Lighting will take place on Nov. 30 from 6 – 8p.m. with the Mayor, Santa and Chorus.
- Commonwealth Avenue Mall Lighting will take place Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. at 1 Commonwealth Ave. Trees along the Mall will be lit after a festive gathering with the Taj Hotel Boston, friends, and neighbors.
- Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay (NABB) will be holding the annual Christmas Tree Sale Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday Dec. 3 from 9 – 5 p.m. at the Clarendon Street Playground. Fresh cut Balsam Fir trees from Maine and local delivery will be available. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Clarendon Street Playground and NABB.
- The Copley Square Menorah Lighting will take place Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first night of Hanukah, from 5:30 – 6:30p.m. Join the Chabad of Boston for their annual menorah lighting. It will run through December 20.
- MET Back Bay, located at 279 Dartmouth Street will be holding its annual “Storybook Christmas” on Sunday, Dec. 17 from 3 – 5p.m. Kids of all ages are invited to escape the brisk winter weather and get cozy at the MET Winter Wonderland where they can warm up with a cup of hot cocoa, nosh on mile & cookies, and enjoy a variety of winter crafts, including cookie decorating. Santa Claus will make a special appearance to take photos with all of the boys and girls on his “nice” list. After taking pictures, Santa will give a special fireside reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ at 3:30p.m. Reservations are recommended and can be made at metstorybookxmas.eventbrite.com.
FENWAY
- West Fenway Christmas Tree Lighting will take place Wednesday, December 6 at 6:30p.m. outside Kelleher Rose Garden in the Back Bay Fens, across from 77 Park Drive. The event is sponsored by Mayor’s Office of Special Events, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Fenway Civic Association, Department of Public Works, Area D-4 police and the Boston Fire Department.
- An inspirational Christmas message and carol sing will take place at The Mary Baker Eddy Library on Monday, Dec. 11 from 7 – 8:30p.m. Back Bay, South End, and Fenway neighbors are warmly invited to an inspiring talk, “Christmas – the healing power of divine Love,” and Christmas carol sing. Located at 210 Massachusetts Ave., the event is free and so is parking in the Christian Science Plaza garage.
BAY VILLAGE
- Holiday Decorating – Saturday, Dec. 2 at 8:00 a.m. We will be decorating the neighborhood lamp posts with holiday wreaths and the holiday tree with décor. This long-standing tradition is a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. Please help us decorate by meeting at the Church Street garden at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. Volunteers are needed. Please bring your ladder if you have one and coffee and doughnuts will be provided!
- Tree Lighting, Caroling, and Holiday Party – Sunday, December 3 at 6 p.m. The Bay Village Neighborhood Association (BVNA) will light the holiday tree in the Church Street garden at 6 p.m. on Sunday. This event will be followed by caroling down Melrose and Isabella Streets to the holiday party at Precinct. We hope to see many neighborhood children there. Bring your holiday spirit! This event is free to all BVNA members and will include wonderful refreshments from Precinct and a cash bar. To join the BVNA please go to www.bayvillage.net/join. BVNA holiday party is for paying members only.
KENMORE
- Cambridge Youth Dance Program (CYDP) and Producing Director Deborah Mason Dudley present a contemporary dance with a holiday twist, WHAT THE DICKENS!, for six performances December14-17, 2017 at Boston University Dance Theater, 915 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Tickets are $35. For more information and tickets visit, cydp.org.
HOLIDAY EVENTS AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
- Santa in the City! – November 17 through December 24. Santa arrives at Prudential Center on Friday, Nov. 17. Capture the magic of the holiday season and bring the kids for a special photo with Santa in his Winter Wonderland located in Belvidere Arcade. A variety of photo packages are available. Santa’s hours: Mon-Fri 11-6p.m., Sat. 10-7p.m., Sun. 11-6p.m.
- 31 Nights of Light 2017 – from Dec. 1 through 31. Prudential Center will shine a light on Boston nonprofit organizations this holiday season. Each night of December, the top of Prudential Tower is lit a different color support of that night’s partner. 31 Nights of Light was created to help community organizations gain key visibility during the holiday season. Participating groups will “flip the switch” each night, with a host of musical performances and speakers each night.
- Gifts + Glam 2017 on Dec. 7 from 5 – 8 p.m. Gifts + Glam will feature exclusive shopping discounts, styling tips, mini-makeovers, snacks, cocktails, and holiday fun! Visit the check-in table by Club Monaco to pick up your event program.
- Charity Gift Wrap from Nov. 24 through Dec. 24. Enjoy free gift wrapping by local organizations this holiday season. The gift wrapping station is sponsored by Barnes & Noble and will be located at the Prudential Center Concierge Desk across from Club Monaco. All donations for this free service benefit the local organizations.
- Cultural Survival Gift Bazaar Dec. 15 – Dec. 17. The Cultural Survival Bazaar is a cultural festival that provides indigenous artists, cooperatives, and their representatives from around the world the chance to sell their work directly to the American public. On Dec. 15-17 artists, cooperatives, and their representatives will setup in Belvidere and Huntington Arcades to sell traditional crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry, carpets, and accessories.