Here's our annual Guide to Christmas Attractions and Things to Do in Massachusetts & Beyond, including illuminations, festivals of trees, holiday strolls and more. Be sure to book your tickets early ~ many destinations have limited capacity and are booking timed tickets, so spots will sell out quickly.
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North of Boston
Merrimack Valley Celebration of Lights, Methuen MA https://www.fiestashows.com/fs/merrimack-valley-light-show/
A delightful drive-thru holiday-themed light show! Over 1 million holiday lights, a spectacular 50’ Christmas Tree, dancing reindeer and more on the 1-mile driving path, perfectly synchronized to holiday tunes on your car radio. Open November 24 to December 30 Thursday to Sunday and December 24 and 25. Purchase a ticket online for a specific date at 5 PM or 7 PM.
Stone Zoo ZooLights, Stoneham MA https://www.zoonewengland.org/engage/zoolights/
The Stone Zoo is decorated with holiday light displays for the season. See the animals and enjoy beautiful lantern displays while you follow a one-way path through the Zoo. Open November 17 to January 7 from 4-9:30 PM (closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day).
WinterLights at the Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover MA https://thetrustees.org/program/winterlights-massachusetts/
Follow a one-way walking path through lighted decorated gardens. Concessions may be purchased on-site. Masks are required for visitors age 2 and up. From November 24 to January 6 from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, Wednesdays through Sundays (closed December 24 & 25). Tickets are for a timed entry and sell out quickly.
Holiday Stroll & Parade of Trees at the Stevens-Coolidge Place, North Andover MA https://thetrustees.org/program/holiday-stroll-parade-of-trees/
Information on a 2023 event is not available yet. However, this annual event hasn't returned since 2020.
Castle Hill Illuminated: The Longest Night, Ipswich MA https://thetrustees.org/content/castle-hill-illuminate/
Information on a 2023 event is not available yet. This annual event did not occur in 2022.
North Shore Holiday Light Show, Haverhill MA http://northshorelightshow.com/
Stay warm in your car and listen to music on your car radio that's synced to the holiday-themed light displays. The mile-plus route includes dozens of lighted holiday displays. Open evenings from 5-9 PM* Thursdays to Sundays from November 16 to December 10, then daily from December 17 to 31. *Most Saturdays and Sundays what hours extended to 10 or 11 PM, check calendar for details.
30th Annual Festival of Trees, Methuen MA https://www.methuenfestivaloftrees.com/
Enjoy over 200 decorated trees, a Holiday Gift Shop, and a visit with Santa. Open weekdays from 5-9 PM and weekends from 9 AM to 9 PM from November 18 to December 2. Tickets are for timed entry. You can even visit the Festival online.
Metro-West Boston
WinterLights at the Bradley Estate in Canton MA https://thetrustees.org/program/winterlights-massachusetts/
Follow a one-way walking path through lighted decorated gardens. Concessions may be purchased on-site. Note that tickets are timed and visit is limited to 1 hour. From November 22 to January 7 from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, Wednesdays through Sundays. Tickets are for a timed entry and sell out quickly.
Festival of Trees at Elm Bank, Wellesley MA https://masshort.org/festival-of-trees/
Enjoy the gardens at Elm Bank, visit the Snow Village with model trains, and see over 70 beautifully decorated holiday trees. Timed tickets are available for Wednesdays and Thursdays 4-8 PM and Fridays to Sundays 10 AM to 8 PM from November 24 to December 30. Ticket sales open November 2.
Central & Western MA
Santa Social at Krochmal Farms, Tewksbury MA https://www.krochmalfarms.com/kmf/santa-social/
Take an enchanted horse-drawn ride to Santa’s secret world at Krochmal Farm’s North Pole where decorations and holiday lights abound. Your child won't just have the opportunity to sit on the Big Guy’s lap, but to have an actual conversation with him. Enjoy hot chocolate and make s’mores with Santa and his friends!
Bright Nights at Forest Park, Springfield MA http://brightnights.org/
More than 675,000 lights light up Forest Park in Springfield. This spectacular display is open from November 22 to January 1 from 5 PM until 9 PM on Sundays through Thursdays and until 10 PM on weekends and holidays. Visit the website for detailed information, tickets and coupons.
Night Lights at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston MA https://nebg.org/nightlights/
Night Lights is open daily from 4 to 10 PM from November 24 to December 31. Enjoy thousands of lights in Tower Hill’s 15 acres of gardens and woodlands. Fire pits are available for warming up and enjoying a s’more or hot beverage. Timed entry tickets may be purchased online; tickets sell out very quickly.
WinterLights at Naumkeag in Stockbridge MA https://thetrustees.org/program/winterlights/
Follow a one-way walking path through lighted decorated gardens. Concessions may be purchased on-site. Note that tickets are timed and visit is limited to 1 hour. Masks are required for visitors age 2 and up. From November 24 to January 6 from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, Wednesdays through Sundays. Tickets are for a timed entry and sell out quickly.
Magic of Lights, Foxborough MA https://magicoflights.com/events/foxborough/
Drive through magical holiday light displays at Gillette Stadium. Date have yet to be announced. Purchase a ticket in advance for your preferred day; you may enter at any time on that day.
Southwick's Zoo Winter Wonderland and The Festival of Illumination, Mendon MA http://southwickszoo.com/winter-wonderland/
Drive through the Winter Wonderland Frozen Forest to view spectacular holiday lights! Stroll through Santa's Village to enjoy games, a petting zoo, entertainment, and a distanced meet and greet with Santa. Take a train ride through the Magical Holiday Forest where you may spot a fallow deer or the Grinch himself! Enjoy live entertainment including acrobat shows at the Cirque de Lumination tent. Refreshments available for purchase. Open November 15 to December 31, Wednesdays to Sundays, from 5:30 PM to 10 PM. Purchase timed tickets in advance online.
Lancaster Celebration of Lights, Lancaster MA https://lancasterlightshow.com/
Over a mile of road features over a million LED lights, including a 90" Christmas tree! Enjoy music on your radio during the drive. Open November 24 to December 30 from 5-9 PM Mondays to Thursdays and from 5-9 PM Fridays to Sundays. Purchase a ticket online for a specific date and two-hour time window.
18th Annual Festival of Trees, Leominster MA
Open weekdays 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturdays 11 AM to 3 PM and Sundays 12 to 3 PM from November 20 to December 17.
Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge MA https://www.osv.org/event/christmas-by-candlelight-2022/
Explore the beautifully decorated Village, watch a nightly lighting ceremony, stroll through the Christmas Tree Trail and Christmas Wish Bridge, watch demonstrations of classic Christmas projects, visit with Santa, taste samples of sweet treats, enjoy live music and storytelling, and so much more. Open Friday - Sunday November 24 - December 30 from 2 - 8 PM.
Southern MA
La Salette Shrine, Attleboro MA https://lasaletteattleboroshrine.org/christmas-festival
Admission is free (but donations welcome) at this holiday light display, which runs 5 PM to 9 PM daily from November 23 to January 1. Over 400,000 lights create a delightful display. There is also a Creche Museum, food court, carousel and other attractions (fees apply). All visitors must wear masks and must maintain social distance, both indoors and outdoors.
Marshfield Holiday Light Show, Marshfield MA http://marshfieldlightshow.com/
Information has not been announced for 2023! Holiday-themed displays along a 1-mile route, synced to holiday music on your radio! Open evenings from 5-9:30 PM Thursdays to Sundays from November 19 to December 11, then daily from December 15 to 30. Purchase a ticket in advance and use it any day that the Holiday Light Show is open.
Enchanted Village, Avon MA https://www.jordans.com/content/attractions/enchanted-village
The Enchanted Village originally was displayed at Boston’s Jordan Marsh department store (not related to Jordan Furniture) starting in the 1960s. The village is composed of a variety of holiday scenes with animated figures, created by a Bavarian toy maker in 1958. The Enchanted Village is free to visit, additional fun is offered for an additional charge - reindeer games, tubing, Lite Laser Show, Polar Express 4D show and more.
Christmas Festival of Lights at Edaville Family Theme Park, Carver MA https://edaville.com/plan-your-visit/
Enjoy amusement park rides and, after dusk, take the train to see the Christmas Festival of Lights. (Note that Thomas Land will not be open.) The park is open Thursdays to Sundays from November 9 through December 31 (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). Purchase timed entry tickets online in advance (choose your entry time; once you’re in the park, you can stay until 9 PM).
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Gift of Lights, Loudon NH https://www.nhms.com/events/gift-of-lights/
See more than 3.5 million lights at the Gift of Lights! This drive-through light display runs 4:30-9 PM Sundays to Thursdays and 4:30-10 PM Fridays and Saturdays from November 23 to December 31. Participate in a theme night (Decorate Your Car, Christmas Sweaters, etc) and receive an admission discount at the gate, although we'd strongly recommend purchasing your ticket online in advance to ensure admission. Ticket purchase is for a specific day but is not timed.
Strawbery Banke's Annual Candlelight Stroll, Portsmouth NH http://www.strawberybanke.org/events/candlelight-stroll.cfm
Stroll by Strawbery Banke's historic homes to see outdoor holiday decorations in different eras, including Victorian, World War II and more. Enjoy carolers, holiday crafts, and simple celebrations. Saturday and Sunday evenings only from December 2 to 17. All tickets must be reserved online in advance and entries are timed. Note that there is no on-site parking (see public garage options on event page). Ticket sales begin November 2.
Santa's Village, Jefferson NH https://www.santasvillage.com/
Santa's Village will be open in 2023! Enjoy rides, shows and all kinds of Christmas fun. Open weekends only from November 11 to December 17 (closed 11/12). Purchase tickets online in advance.
Looking for more holiday fun? Check out:
- Holiday Events and Santa Sightings in Greater Lowell
- Holiday Crafts, Tips & Recipes from Lowell Macaroni Kid
- Polar Express & Holiday Train Ride Guide for MA, NH & Beyond
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