Boston’s First Night 2019, Family Events

New Year’s Eve is almost upon us. With a sleet and rain storm on tap for the next two days, I’m crossing my fingers that the weather will be good enough and safe enough for a little celebrating Tuesday.

Boston’s First Night has been through a lot of changes over the years, and isn’t nearly as big as it used to be, but it still has a good number of events for families. All events are now FREE! You just have to pay attention to which events require tickets so you can go early to get some.

This year I hope our family can check out:

The Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association’s Arts & Crafts and Cultural Performances running 1pm to 4pm in the McKim Exhibition Hall at the Boston Public Library at Copley Square.
One of Improv Boston’s performances on the other side of the BPL at 1:15, 2:30 and 3:45. These are free but ticketed performances. Go early to get tickets!
My kids might not be thrilled at this one, but I’m really looking forward to The King of Instruments organ performance at Old South Church at 3pm. Have you ever heard an E.M. Skinner organ? They are WONDERS and make such beautiful music. It’s so powerful, you experience the music with your whole body, not just your ears! And they can make all kinds of sounds, including trumpet and flute sounds. It’s like an orchestra packed into one enormous music machine. The program says they’ll have music for the whole family, so hopefully the kids will enjoy it too.

Some other lovely events in the early afternoon for families are the Puppet Showplace Theater performances in the Copley Mall, and interactive drumming sessions and ballroom dance instruction both at the BPL. Click here for the full schedule of events.

There’s a several hour break between those family events and the next events we might attend.

The Skating Spectacular on Frog Pond starts at 5:30pm. But the People’s Procession from Copley Square to the Common starts at 6pm. So we’ll have to choose between them. Finally, the Family Fireworks light up over Boston Common at 7pm. I love heading home at 7:30pm on New Year’s Eve. I definitely feel like we celebrated AND get to leave before the city gets crazy with New Year’s revelers.

Because of that few hours break between activities and fireworks, I’m not sure what we’ll do. As a BBHSer, I love the free holiday festivities, but I don’t want to spend a lot on food in a more expensive Boston neighborhood. I’ll have to research where we might go before we head down to Copley Square on Wednesday. If you have any tips for cheap eats within a reasonable walking distance of Copley Square and Boston Common, please share them in the comments below!

MFA December Vacation Week Activities 2019

One of our favorite activities at an MFA vacation week was a weather-vane project, where my “avant-garde” 4-year-old made a dog weather vane with a spiraled, yellow pipe-cleaner attached to show the dog peeing 😂😍🎨 The museum educators facilitating the activity were wonderfully supportive of him and even suggested art styles his creation would fit right into. The child has a sense of humor!

Another time we made Polynesian stick charts after looking at a Navigation Chart from Micronesia. This was right around the time the Disney movie “Moana” was big, and my kids really enjoyed an activity relevant to something they loved.

Now, I know as homeschoolers we don’t usually like to go places during school vacation weeks, there are just so. many. people. But I do make an exception for the MFA’s vacation week activities because the quality of the activities is very good and very kid-friendly. The activities are also more low-key and free-form compared to Artful Adventures. Giving my kids a positive experience with art, history and museums is something I highly value, and can usually accomplish at the MFA!

This year’s December Vacation Week Activities are focused on the solstice and light, and runs Thursday, December 26 to Tuesday, December 31, 2019.

Cover image for “Ancient Nubia Now” special exhibit
Source: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

From 10am to 4pm everyday, you can visit these activities:

Reflected Light – Features a Persian mosaic with mirror pieces and a mosaic making activity.
Light from Above – This activity invites kids to look for the rainbow in a painting called Blue Niagara and to see if they can find rainbows in other paintings. The connected art activity is to make your own picture with colored pencils focused on water and light.
Light of the Sun – After visiting the Ancient Nubia Now exhibit to see how the Nubians used gold to represent sunlight, kids can make their own jewelry.
Infinite Light – Kids can look at a bronze Altarpiece with Amitabha and Attendants, and then make their own mixed-media sculpture as they “imagine a special place filled with endless light.”

On Monday December 30, 2019 at 11 am only, you can visit this activity:

Riley the Museum Dog Book Signing and Scent Training Demonstration – Meet the MFA’s canine volunteer who helps sniff out bugs hiding in the museum that could damage art works. There will be a demonstration of his skills and a book signing.

The MFA full-price admission isn’t cheap, but you can get passes for $10 admission for 2 people at most area libraries. Children 17 and under are free whenever school is not in session. An EBT card will get you $3 admission per person.

Have you gone to any of the MFA’s vacation week activities in the past? What did you think of your experience? Leave a reply below 🙂

Free Holiday Fun this Weekend – 12/7/19 to 12/8/19

Double posting today! After writing about Saturday’s Tree Lighting on the USS Constitution, I realized a post about weekend holiday events would be useful and fun too!

Old South Meeting House – Holiday Open House – 12/7

We took a tour of the Freedom Trail for the first time this fall and had a lot of fun. But we decided to skip the sites with admissions fees, both to keep costs down and to try to finish the trail in a reasonable amount of time 😉

Well, this weekend we might head over to Old South Meeting House for their FREE Holiday Open House!! It looks like a really fun and interesting program, PLUS we can get another stamp for our National Parks Passport.

Details: Saturday, December 7, 2019, 10am-4pm, Free Admission, 310 Washington St, Boston, MA.

Brandeis Ballet Club’s Full Length Nutcracker – T accessible, 12/7 & 12/8

Seeing the Nutcracker is a wonderful holiday tradition for some. But tickets to most productions can be expensive. Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Boston Ballet’s production? The Brandeis Ballet Club is putting on their 4th annual, full-length Nutcracker! They’ve put a modern twist on the classic ballet.

There is free admission for students and non-students alike!

Details: Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 12:30 pm and Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 5 pm. Free and open to the public. Shapiro Campus Center (SCC) Theatre, Brandeis University, 415 South St, Waltham, MA.

T-Accessible! 0.3 mile walk from the Brandeis/Roberts stop on the Fitchburg commuter rail line. 0.7 mile walk from Bus #70 stop at Tavern Rd and Weston St.

Live Nativity on Boston Common – 12/7

If you hit up the Old South Meeting House on Saturday, you could continue your holiday festivities in the evening with a Live Nativity on Boston Common, featuring live animals and readings in English and Spanish! This event is put on by Renewal Church Boston in Back Bay. It’s free, but they are collecting gently used winter accessories such as scarves, hats and gloves to distribute to the needy.

Details: Saturday, December 7, 2019, 5pm to 8pm, Boston Common Parade Ground near Frog Pond. Spanish reading at 7 pm.

Candlelight Labyrinth Walk – 12/8

Looking for something more contemplative? I’m intrigued by this event held by the Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway in Boston. The simple description reads:

Candlelit Labyrinth Walk: In Peace & Harmony. Meet & Greet. Celebrate Walk the Candlelit Labyrinth. Tie a Ribbon with Your Wish on the Wishing Tree. Enjoy Hot Chocolate & Luscious Cookies. RSVP appreciated

Details: Sunday, December 8, 2019, 4:30pm to 5:30pm, Free, Armenian Heritage Park, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, Boston, MA

Holiday Concert by the Harvard Wind Ensemble – 12/8

My son’s saxophone teacher is performing with the Harvard Wind Ensemble this weekend in a free Holiday Concert. We can’t wait to see them perform!

Details: Sunday, December 8, 2019, 8pm, Lowell Hall, 17 Kirkland St, Cambridge, MA.

Know of any other great and free holiday events this weekend or anytime later this month? Please share them in the comments below! Thanks!!!

Free Christmas Fun at the USS Constitution 12/7/19

This Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 3:45 pm to 6 pm, the USS Constitution is hosting a lovely Christmas Tree Lighting. The event includes “holiday music, free hot chocolate and cookies, an appearance by Santa Claus and his elves, and remarks from USS Constitution’s Commanding Officer.”

I bet opportunities for beautiful holiday photos will be abundant!

The public may begin boarding the ship at 3:45 pm, the tree lighting will be at 4:30 pm, guests may then tour the ship until 6 pm.

Please note that all adults must show appropriate ID and all bags are subject to search before going onto the ship. Click here to read more about visiting the USS Constitution, ID requirements, what to expect when going through security screening, directions and parking.