Looking for a holiday family outing that will get everyone in the mood?
Luckily, Massachusetts has plenty of festive attractions, perfect for a day trip. From adventures at the ice skating rink to holiday shopping in a charming Christmas village, the state offers countless ways to bring holiday cheer to everyone in the family.
Whether you’re coming from in or out of state, here are seven holiday attractions worth a day trip in Massachusetts.
Visit Snowport in town
The Snowport Holiday Market is open from November 8 to December 29 in the Boston Seaport district.
Head to Boston’s Seaport neighborhood for an outdoor winter festival with food, cocktail bars, games, live music and a holiday market – all surrounded by glittering Christmas lights. Until December 29, Snowport is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 PM to 9:00 PM. General admission is free, but visitors can choose to skip the line on weekends using the Seaport Insider mobile app.
More: Snowport Holiday Market reopens in Boston. How to skip the line with a timed entry ticket
Magic of Light at Patriot Place
Twinkling lights are reflected from cars driving through a tunnel of light during the Magic of Lights drive-through experience at Gilette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, through January 2, 2025.
Those who want to stay in the car can head to Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, for the drive-thru Magic of Lights show. The route of this light show winds through Patriot Place, an open-air shopping center next to the stadium.
With more than two million sparkling lights, dozens of displays and creative digital animations, this year’s light show will be the brightest and longest Foxborough has ever seen. In addition to driving through the signature, 60-meter-long enchanting light tunnel, participants drive past designs such as Christmas Barbie, Reindeer Road and the Bigfoot Monster Truck. Weekday tickets cost $25 per car, while weekend tickets cost $35 in November or $40 in December.
Candle making at Yankee Candle Village
It’s always Christmas at Yankee Candle Village, a unique shopping experience in South Deerfield. The Christmas wonderland has themed rooms such as the Bavarian Village, Nutcracker Castle and Santa’s Toy Shop, some with indoor snowfall. After exploring, visitors can create the perfect gift with a custom candle and pick up a sweet treat from the fudge shop or candy store. The candle shop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the store and the Christmas displays is free, but activities and products do cost money.
Adventure at the Edaville Family Theme Park
Paul Dugis of Wareham enjoys Edaville’s Christmas Festival of Lights with daughter Elizabeth Dugis on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at the Edaville Family Theme Park in Carver.
For those seeking adventure, head to Carver’s Edaville Family Theme Park, a cranberry and railroad themed park that transforms into a winter wonderland during the holidays. As one of New England’s oldest Christmas traditions, the park’s Festival of Lights features not only an incredible light show, but also local craft and food vendors, Santa Claus appearances, steam train rides, and vintage carnival rides.
Admission tickets range from $12.95 to $45.95 depending on the number of attractions included. The park’s light show is open Thursday through Sunday through December 31, as well as December 23 through 24 and December 30 through 31. Opening hours are Friday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday to Sunday from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM and weekdays from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Christmas Lights Near Me in MA: Where can you see Christmas lights in 2024?
See Boston Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Do you want to see a show? Watch Boston Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker,” a classic holiday ballet featuring dancing sugar plum fairies and snowflakes. The prestigious ballet company performs with 350 intricate costumes, more than 80 students from the Boston Ballet School and live accompaniment by the Boston Ballet Orchestra. Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker production runs November 29 through December at the Citizens Opera House. 29 on Tuesday-Sunday, with show times at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets start at $25 and go up to $350.
Experience Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village
The Christmas by Candlelight event at Old Sturbridge Village includes a trail of 85 trees.
This Christmas celebration at the Old Sturbridge Village museum explores the history of Christmas festivities with historical exhibits and unique gifts made by artisan craftsmen. Christmas music from the 1800s will fill the air as visitors sample festive treats, take photos with Santa and walk along the glowing Christmas Tree Trail.
Christmas by Candlelight is open every Friday to Sunday in December from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, as well as on December 23 and 30. Online tickets cost $36 for adults or $18 for children, and in-person tickets cost $40-45 for adults or $20 for children.
More: Christmas by Candlelight in Old Sturbridge Village is now open. What you need to know before you go
Skating at Frog Pond
Ice skating on Frog Pond in the Boston Common. Boston is known for its central role in American history, world-class educational institutions, cultural facilities and championship sports franchises.
Try your luck on the ice at The Boston Common Frog Pond, an outdoor skating rink surrounded by the lights of Christmas trees and city buildings. Ice skating is open during the winter season from 10am to 9pm on Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday, from 10am to 10pm on Friday to Saturday and from 10am to 3.45pm on Monday. Admission to the rink costs $10 for people taller than 58 inches, and skate rentals cost $15 for adults or $10 for children.
Visit the enchanted village
The Enchanted Village at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
Located at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon, the Enchanted Village is a Boston tradition featuring 250 animated figures from the 1950s in 28 different holiday scenes. Over the years, the village has grown to include an indoor ice skating rink, a tube slide, a reindeer arcade game, a laser show and much more. Entry to the Enchanted Village is free, although some additional activities cost money. The village is open daily through January 1, 2025, with hours Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 8 of the Best Christmas Day Trips in MA That Would Cheer up a Grinch
