Plan your festive season in Cambridge with ease! Our guide has all the best holiday events and activities. For those born and raised in Cambridge and those just arrived, our guide illuminates the city's festive offerings.
One event to look forward to is the enchanting Boston Common Tree Lighting, where the city gathers to celebrate the season with stunning lights and lively performances. Unique to the holiday season, the Boston Pops Holiday Pops showcases a delightful mix of classical and contemporary holiday music in a festive setting. And the Harvard Square Holiday Fair is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring local artisans and a vibrant atmosphere. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Cambridge
- Boston Pops Holiday Pops (Boston)
- Boston Common Tree Lighting (Boston)
- Harvard Square Holiday Fair
- Downtown Boston Holiday Market (Boston)
- Boston Women’s Holiday Market (Boston)
- Christmas in Harvard Square
- Urban Nutcracker (Boston)
- Commonwealth Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Weston)
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Boston)
- Snowport: Boston Seaport’s Holiday Wonderland (Boston)
See these and even more events listed below!
Cambridge Holiday Light Displays
Boston Common Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Traditional tree lighting with Nova Scotia's donated tree.
Description:
The Boston Common Tree Lighting Ceremony features a 7,000-light Christmas tree, live music, and appearances by Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The event includes a sampling village with photo-ops, giveaways, and refreshments.
Where: Boston | More Info: Boston Common Tree Lighting
Zoolights at Stone Zoo
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Zoolights at Stone Zoo features a one-way stroll through the zoo, illuminated by twinkling lights, showcasing black bears, bald eagles, Canada lynx, arctic foxes, and reindeer.
Where: Stoneham | More Info: Zoolights at Stone Zoo
Winter Lights at Naumkeag
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light display on historic grounds.
Description:
Naumkeag transforms into a spectacular holiday display with hundreds of thousands of shimmering, artfully designed LED lights, creating a visually stunning experience amidst its 48-acre grounds.
Where: Stockbridge | More Info: Winter Lights at Naumkeag
Cambridge Holiday Markets and Shopping
Harvard Square Holiday Fair
What to Expect:
Juried marketplace with local and international vendors.
Description:
The Harvard Square Holiday Fair is a juried event featuring a diverse mix of New England craftspeople and world-traveling importers. It offers a wide selection of original and affordable gifts, including prints, pottery, jewelry, and more. The fair provides a unique shopping experience where buyers can connect with the artisans behind the products.
Where: Cambridge | More Info: Harvard Square Holiday Fair
Boston Women’s Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Supporting local women entrepreneurs with diverse handmade goods.
Description:
Boston Women’s Holiday Market at The Speedway features over 30 women-owned small businesses selling unique gifts and seasonal items, with festive activities and food options.
Where: Boston | More Info: Boston Women’s Holiday Market
Downtown Boston Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Unique holiday activities and pop-ups featuring women-owned businesses.
Description:
The Boston Women's Holiday Market at The Speedway offers a festive day with over 30 women-owned small businesses, delicious food and drinks, and special holiday activities and pop-ups. Enjoy unique holiday activities and discover diverse gifts and goodies from talented women-founded small businesses.
Where: Boston | More Info: Downtown Boston Holiday Market
Snowport: Boston Seaport’s Holiday Wonderland
What to Expect:
European-style holiday market with local artisans and festive food.
Description:
Boston Seaport transforms into Snowport during the holiday season, featuring over 60 local businesses selling unique gifts and wares. The market includes a festive menu from Tuscan Kitchen and Breezy Hill Orchard, enchanting holiday decor, and a custom cocktail bar. Additionally, curling is available on Seaport Common, and mythical creature Betty the Yeti makes appearances.
Where: Boston | More Info: Snowport: Boston Seaport’s Holiday Wonderland
Cambridge Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Boston Pops Holiday Pops
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday music performed by the renowned Boston Pops orchestra.
Description:
The Boston Pops Holiday Pops concert features classic holiday music, including "Jingle Bells," "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and "Sleigh Ride," with a special visit from Santa Claus.
Where: Boston | More Info: Boston Pops Holiday Pops
Christmas in Harvard Square
What to Expect:
Traditional Christmas music performed by a renowned choir.
Description:
The Boys and Schola of Saint Paul's Choir present a festive concert of seasonal Christmas music featuring the boy choristers of Saint Paul's Choir School, the Back Bay Brass ensemble, and the majestic Saint Paul's pipe organ.
Where: Cambridge | More Info: Christmas in Harvard Square
Urban Nutcracker
What to Expect:
Fusion of classical ballet with diverse dance forms in a Boston setting.
Description:
Anthony Williams' Urban Nutcracker is a modern Boston-centric holiday classic that blends the rhythms of Duke Ellington with the classical music of Tchaikovsky. Anchored by classical ballet, the performances also include a broad range of dance forms such as tap, hip hop, flamenco, and jazz, showcasing winter scenes set in present-day downtown Boston.
Where: Boston | More Info: Urban Nutcracker
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
What to Expect:
Celebrates individuality through a timeless holiday story.
Description:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical brings beloved characters from the classic TV special to life on stage. This heartwarming show teaches that what makes you different can be what makes you special, featuring iconic songs, dazzling costumes, and nostalgic set designs.
Where: Boston | More Info: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Commonwealth Ballet’s The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Commonwealth Ballet presents The Nutcracker, a fully staged production featuring accomplished dancers and guest artists in a family-friendly holiday classic accompanied by Tchaikovsky's beloved score. The performance lasts approximately 2 hours, including one intermission, and is recommended for ages 4 and older. Group discounts are available.
Where: Weston | More Info: Commonwealth Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Cambridge Other Holiday Activities
Caroling with the Mayor
What to Expect:
Caroling with the Mayor in Downtown Gardner.
Description:
Join the Mayor for a joyful caroling session in front of City Hall, adding to the festive atmosphere of Downtown Gardner.
Where: Gardner | More Info: Caroling with the Mayor
Jordan’s Enchanted Village
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday scenes with animated figures and an indoor slide.
Description:
Jordan’s Enchanted Village is a holiday tradition featuring a beautifully decorated wooden structure with 28 fully decorated holiday scenes and 250 animated figures. Visitors can enjoy a thrilling ride on The Tube, an indoor slide, and take part in various activities like Reindeer Games and LITE, the Laser Imagination Theater Experience. The event also includes a visit with Santa and the opportunity to purchase original Jordan’s Blueberry Muffins.
Where: Avon | More Info: Jordan’s Enchanted Village
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Somerville (1 miles)
- Boston (3 miles)
- Medford (3 miles)
- Brookline (3 miles)
- Everett (4 miles)
- Arlington (4 miles)
- Chelsea (4 miles)
- Watertown (4 miles)
- Belmont (4 miles)
- Malden (4 miles)
- South Boston (4 miles)
- Jamaica Plain (5 miles)
- Revere (5 miles)
- Winchester (6 miles)
- Newton (6 miles)
- Melrose (6 miles)
- Waltham (7 miles)
- Stoneham (7 miles)
- Woburn (8 miles)
- Lexington (8 miles)
- Saugus (8 miles)
- Milton (9 miles)
- Needham (9 miles)
- Wakefield (9 miles)
- Dedham (10 miles)
- Quincy (10 miles)
- Burlington (10 miles)
- Reading (10 miles)
- Wellesley (11 miles)
- South Peabody (12 miles)
- Wilmington (12 miles)
- Braintree (13 miles)
- Norwood (13 miles)
- Weymouth (14 miles)
- Peabody (14 miles)
- Natick (14 miles)
- Salem (15 miles)
- Randolph (15 miles)
- Canton (15 miles)
- Billerica (15 miles)
- Danvers (16 miles)
- Beverly (17 miles)
- Framingham (17 miles)
- Stoughton (17 miles)
- Tewksbury (18 miles)
- Framingham Center (18 miles)
- Beverly Cove (18 miles)
- Acton (18 miles)
- Chelmsford (20 miles)
- Brockton (21 miles)
- Lowell (21 miles)
- Westford (22 miles)
- North Andover (22 miles)
- Dracut (23 miles)
- Marlborough (23 miles)
- Easton (24 miles)
- Mansfield (24 miles)
- Methuen (25 miles)
- Franklin (25 miles)
- Milford (27 miles)
- Haverhill (28 miles)
- Gloucester (28 miles)
- Salem (29 miles)
- Attleboro (31 miles)
- Shrewsbury (31 miles)
- Nashua (33 miles)
- Cumberland (33 miles)
- Taunton (33 miles)
- Woonsocket (33 miles)
- Middleborough (35 miles)
- Leominster (35 miles)
- Lincoln (36 miles)
- Worcester (36 miles)
- Derry (37 miles)
- Pawtucket (37 miles)
- Derry Village (37 miles)
- Fitchburg (38 miles)
- Smithfield (39 miles)
- Merrimack (39 miles)
- North Providence (41 miles)
- East Providence (41 miles)
- Providence (41 miles)
- Johnston (43 miles)
- Cranston (45 miles)
- Bedford (45 miles)