Celebrate together in Medford! Our guide has all the community events to make your holiday season special. From Medford residents to wandering spirits, this guide ensures you catch every moment of seasonal magic.
Popular events during the holiday season include the enchanting **Night Lights at New England Botanic Garden**, where dazzling displays illuminate the winter night. Another wonderful highlight is the **Merrimack Valley Celebration of Lights**, featuring a spectacular array of interactive light displays that brings the community together. And the **Stone Zoo ZooLights** is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering magical holiday-themed animal encounters under a canopy of twinkling lights. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Medford
- Night Lights at New England Botanic Garden (Boylston)
- Merrimack Valley Celebration of Lights (Methuen)
- Stone Zoo ZooLights (Stoneham)
- 30th Annual Festival of Trees (Methuen)
- Lancaster Celebration of Lights (Lancaster)
- Southwick's Zoo Winter Wonderland (Mendon)
- Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village (Sturbridge)
- La Salette Shrine Christmas Festival (Attleboro)
- 2nd Annual Holiday Lights at the Park (Phillipston)
- The Nutcracker (Weston)
See these and even more events listed below!
Medford Holiday Light Displays
Night Lights at New England Botanic Garden
What to Expect:
Immersive winter light display with radiant, glowing lights.
Description:
Night Lights at New England Botanic Garden features a breathtaking winter light display with over a quarter million lights, colorful landscapes, and immersive experiences.
Where: Boylston | More Info: Night Lights at New England Botanic Garden
Merrimack Valley Celebration of Lights
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and sound show with over 1 million LED lights.
Description:
At the Merrimack Valley Celebration of Lights, drive through a dazzling display of over 1 million LED lights, featuring the longest tunnel of lights in New England. Enjoy a synchronized light and sound experience along a one-mile roadway at Mann Orchards Riverside Farm in Methuen, MA.
Where: Methuen | More Info: Merrimack Valley Celebration of Lights
Stone Zoo ZooLights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Stone Zoo ZooLights is a holiday event featuring thousands of twinkling lights and festively decorated paths, including Yukon Creek, home to black bears, Canada lynx, and reindeer.
Where: Stoneham | More Info: Stone Zoo ZooLights
Lancaster Celebration of Lights
What to Expect:
Over 1 mile of roadway transformed into a glittering LED light display.
Description:
Drive through a spectacular display of over 1 million LED lights featuring a 90-foot Christmas tree and a 300-foot multi-colored tunnel at the Lancaster Fairgrounds.
Where: Lancaster | More Info: Lancaster Celebration of Lights
Southwick's Zoo Winter Wonderland
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with extensive light displays and animal exhibits.
Description:
Southwick's Zoo Winter Wonderland features over 4 million illuminated lights and dazzling displays, including enchanting polar bear and singing penguin exhibits. Guests can enjoy live music, special Keeper Talks, and participate in a Holiday Scavenger Hunt.
Where: Mendon | More Info: Southwick's Zoo Winter Wonderland
La Salette Shrine Christmas Festival
What to Expect:
Diverse cultural interpretations of the nativity story through over 2,000 nativity scenes.
Description:
The La Salette Shrine Christmas Festival features over 400,000 lights illuminating the 10-acre shrine, celebrating the spiritual essence of the holidays with a diverse array of cultural interpretations of the nativity story. The festival includes the International Creche Museum, Christmas concerts, and opportunities to meet Santa, all while maintaining a darkened atmosphere to best showcase the lights.
Where: Attleboro | More Info: La Salette Shrine Christmas Festival
Medford Holiday Markets and Shopping
Harvard Square Holiday Fair
What to Expect:
Juried marketplace with local and international craftspeople.
Description:
The Harvard Square Holiday Fair is a juried event featuring a diverse array of local and international craftspeople selling unique gifts, including handmade pottery, jewelry, and artwork. The fair offers a high-energy marketplace with a great soundtrack, providing a connection to the artisans and their creations.
Where: Cambridge | More Info: Harvard Square Holiday Fair
SoWa Winter Festival
What to Expect:
Unique holiday shopping experience with live music and specialty foods.
Description:
The SoWa Winter Festival is a premier holiday event in Boston featuring over 100 local vendors, handmade art, holiday gifts, specialty foods, and live music.
Where: Boston | More Info: SoWa Winter Festival
Boston Public Market's Holiday CrEATor Market
What to Expect:
Local artisans selling unique holiday gifts.
Description:
The Boston Public Market's Holiday CrEATor Market invites local artisans to sell their wares alongside year-round farmers, fishers, and food entrepreneurs. This event offers a diverse array of local goods, perfect for holiday shopping.
Where: Boston | More Info: Boston Public Market's Holiday CrEATor Market
Small Mart Holiday Market at Deep Cuts
What to Expect:
Unique, small-batch goods from local artisans.
Description:
The Small Mart Holiday Market at Deep Cuts features a curated selection of local artisans and vendors offering unique, small-batch goods. This marketplace is designed to empower local businesses and provide a thoughtful shopping experience.
Where: Medford | More Info: Small Mart Holiday Market at Deep Cuts
East Longmeadow Holiday Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Local artisans showcase handmade crafts.
Description:
The East Longmeadow Holiday Craft Fair is an event where local artisans showcase their handmade crafts, offering a variety of unique and personalized items for the holiday season.
Where: East Longmeadow | More Info: East Longmeadow Holiday Craft Fair
Medford Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
The Nutcracker is a fully staged production featuring accomplished dancers from Commonwealth Ballet and guest artists, performing through Clara's holiday dream with the beloved Tchaikovsky score. This holiday classic is suitable for all ages and includes a special sensory-friendly performance.
Where: Weston | More Info: The Nutcracker
Medford Holiday Giving Opportunities
2nd Annual Holiday Lights at the Park
What to Expect:
Honoring loved ones with memorial lights.
Description:
The Annual Memorial Lights Drive is a heartfelt event where individuals can honor loved ones by purchasing memorial lights. Donations are accepted from November 1 to December 31, with those received by December 15 included in local media announcements. Each $10 donation purchases one light, aiming to sell 1,225 lights by December 15th.
Where: Phillipston | More Info: 2nd Annual Holiday Lights at the Park
Medford Other Holiday Activities
30th Annual Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Unique holiday event with a variety of festive activities.
Description:
The 30th Annual Festival of Trees features over 300 beautifully decorated trees, mini-trees, and wreaths, along with a $5,000 cash raffle, online auction, holiday gift shop, children's scavenger hunt, and a visit with Santa.
Where: Methuen | More Info: 30th Annual Festival of Trees
Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village
What to Expect:
Historic holiday festivities with live demonstrations and decorated settings.
Description:
Celebrate Christmas traditions at Old Sturbridge Village with demonstrations of classic projects, a decorated Village, and live music.
Where: Sturbridge | More Info: Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Malden (2 miles)
- Somerville (2 miles)
- Arlington (3 miles)
- Everett (3 miles)
- Winchester (3 miles)
- Cambridge (3 miles)
- Melrose (3 miles)
- Belmont (4 miles)
- Chelsea (4 miles)
- Stoneham (4 miles)
- Boston (5 miles)
- Woburn (5 miles)
- Revere (5 miles)
- Watertown (5 miles)
- Saugus (6 miles)
- Brookline (6 miles)
- Wakefield (6 miles)
- Lexington (6 miles)
- South Boston (7 miles)
- Waltham (7 miles)
- Reading (7 miles)
- Burlington (8 miles)
- Jamaica Plain (8 miles)
- Newton (8 miles)
- Wilmington (9 miles)
- South Peabody (10 miles)
- Needham (11 miles)
- Peabody (12 miles)
- Milton (12 miles)
- Dedham (13 miles)
- Quincy (13 miles)
- Wellesley (13 miles)
- Billerica (13 miles)
- Salem (13 miles)
- Danvers (14 miles)
- Tewksbury (15 miles)
- Beverly (15 miles)
- Natick (16 miles)
- Braintree (16 miles)
- Beverly Cove (16 miles)
- Weymouth (16 miles)
- Norwood (16 miles)
- Acton (17 miles)
- Randolph (18 miles)
- Canton (18 miles)
- Chelmsford (18 miles)
- Lowell (18 miles)
- Framingham (19 miles)
- Framingham Center (19 miles)
- North Andover (19 miles)
- Dracut (20 miles)
- Westford (20 miles)
- Stoughton (20 miles)
- Methuen (22 miles)
- Marlborough (23 miles)
- Brockton (24 miles)
- Haverhill (25 miles)
- Salem (26 miles)
- Gloucester (26 miles)
- Mansfield (27 miles)
- Easton (27 miles)
- Franklin (28 miles)
- Milford (28 miles)
- Nashua (30 miles)
- Shrewsbury (32 miles)
- Derry (34 miles)
- Attleboro (34 miles)
- Leominster (34 miles)
- Derry Village (34 miles)
- Cumberland (35 miles)
- Woonsocket (36 miles)
- Taunton (36 miles)
- Merrimack (37 miles)
- Worcester (37 miles)
- Fitchburg (37 miles)
- Middleborough (38 miles)
- Lincoln (38 miles)
- Pawtucket (40 miles)
- Smithfield (41 miles)
- Bedford (42 miles)
- North Providence (43 miles)
- Manchester (44 miles)
- East Providence (44 miles)
- Providence (44 miles)