Weekend Family Holiday Activities Near Boston This November
November goes fast here in Milton and Boston. One weekend you’re raking leaves, and the next there’s a parade in Plymouth and holiday lights going up all over the region. If you want to get out of the house with the kids on weekends and enjoy this holiday season to the fullest, we’ve put together a guide with family holiday activities within an easy drive of Milton.
Snowport Opens in the Seaport
Snowport turns the Seaport into a winter village every year, with an outdoor holiday market and food stalls. It also offers iceless curling lanes you can reserve through the Seaport Insider app. Kids love it, and you don’t need to know anything about curling to have fun. Check the site for this year’s opening date and hours.
Blue Hills Trailside Museum
You don’t have to go far for this one. The Blue Hills Trailside Museum runs family programs there all through the fall and winter. Little ones can join nature story times, while older kids can sign up for guided hikes. Programs fill up, so be sure to book ahead.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums
Plimoth Patuxet in Plymouth stays open daily through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Kids can explore the Historic Patuxet Homesite, walk through the 17th-Century English Village, and climb aboard Mayflower II. If you’d like to make a holiday meal of it, the museum also hosts Thanksgiving dinners that need tickets in advance.
America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade
Plymouth’s Thanksgiving Parade is only about 45 minutes from Milton. The floats tell the story of American history in order, from the first Thanksgiving forward, and this year’s parade celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary. There are also waterfront activities, including a Children’s Pavilion.
ZooLights at Stone Zoo
ZooLights at Stone Zoo in Stoneham runs from November 20 through January 3, from 4 to 9:30 p.m. It’s closed on Thanksgiving. This year Yukon Creek becomes a candy-themed winter wonderland with a festive model train.
Buy tickets online, since prices change by date and buying early saves money. Kids under two get in free, and parking is free too. Starting Friday, November 27, Santa visits on weekends for $5 per person.
Night Lights at New England Botanic Garden
Night Lights at New England Botanic Garden in Boylston is worth the drive. Last year it was voted the best botanical garden light display in the country by USA Today readers. This year’s theme is “Fantastical Forest,” with half a million lights.
Opening night is November 21, with a Diwali Lights celebration featuring Indian food and cultural performances. Night Lights runs daily from 4 to 10 p.m. through January 3rd.
SoWa Winter Festival
When it’s too cold or rainy to be outside, head to the SoWa Winter Festival in Boston’s South End. It’s an indoor holiday market in the historic SoWa Power Station, packed with local makers and food vendors. Last year, kids 12 and under got in free. It’s a good spot to let kids pick out a small gift for someone with their own money.
Bonus: Watch the Boston Common Tree Arrive
This one isn’t on a weekend, but it’s a fun stop during Thanksgiving week. On Tuesday, November 24, around 11 a.m., Boston’s official holiday tree arrives on Boston Common by police escort. Nova Scotia has sent Boston a tree every year since 1971 as a thank-you for the help Boston sent after the 1917 Halifax explosion. It’s a real piece of history your kids can see in person.
Let the Kids Help Plan
Hand some of the planning over to your kids. Older kids can look up hours and ticket prices, and younger ones can help pick which weekend to go. We hope your November weekends are ones to remember!