A lit Christmas tree near Quincy Market with the Custom House Tower behind it, a file photo for Boston holiday events and tree lightings

Featured photo: A Christmas tree near Quincy Market and the Custom House Tower, December 2008 (file photo). Photo: Das Nili, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Boston’s Holiday Season Starts Now: Snowport Is Open and 7 Tree and Light Displays Switch On by Dec. 4

Snowport is open in the Seaport, and Boston's tree lightings run Nov. 21 at Faneuil Hall through Dec. 3 on Boston Common and Dec. 4 in the Seaport.

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A lit Christmas tree near Quincy Market with the Custom House Tower behind it, a file photo for Boston holiday events and tree lightings
Featured photo: A Christmas tree near Quincy Market and the Custom House Tower, December 2008 (file photo). Photo: Das Nili, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Boston’s holiday season is underway. The Snowport Holiday Market has been open in the Seaport since Friday, Nov. 6, and the city’s run of tree and light displays begins Saturday, Nov. 21, at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.[1][3] Boston Common’s tree lighting, the city’s signature event, is Thursday, Dec. 3.[6]

130+
businesses at Snowport, open through Dec. 27
Nov. 21
Faneuil Hall tree lit at 6 p.m.
46 ft
white spruce from Nova Scotia for Boston Common
Dec. 3
Boston Common tree lighting, 6 to 8 p.m.

Related: Boston Holiday Events 2026: Every Date in One Place.

Open now: Snowport in the Seaport

The market at 100 Seaport Blvd. has more than 130 businesses and 17 food and drink vendors in its sixth season.[1][2] It is open seven days a week through Dec. 27, except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.[1] It closes at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.[2]

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General admission is free.[1] On Saturdays and Sundays, visitors can reserve a timed entry through the Seaport Insider app for $15 for adults and $7 for veterans and children ages 6 to 17, with kids 5 and under free.[1][2] Other draws include iceless curling, a Christmas tree market, four themed bars and live music on Monday evenings with Berklee performers.[1][2]

Tree and light displays, in date order

  • Sat., Nov. 21, Faneuil Hall Marketplace: festivities at Quincy Market run 2 to 6 p.m., with the tree lit at 6 p.m. with help from Make-A-Wish and Santa.[3]
  • Mon., Nov. 23, Christopher Columbus Park, North End: the 24th annual holiday lighting of the park’s trellis.[4]
  • Sat., Nov. 28, Martin’s Park: the lighting of the ship at the Children’s Wharf Harborwalk.[4]
  • Mon., Nov. 30, Copley Square: the tree lighting starts at 5 p.m. and doubles as the grand reopening of Copley Square Park.[4]
  • Thu., Dec. 3, Boston Common: the tree lighting runs 6 to 8 p.m. next to the Visitor Information Center at 139 Tremont St.[6]
  • Thu., Dec. 3, Commonwealth Avenue Mall: lights from Arlington Street to Charlesgate switch on at about 8:15 p.m.[6]
  • Fri., Dec. 4, Seaport: Snowport’s Light Up Seaport tree lighting is at 6 p.m.[1] A menorah lighting follows Dec. 10 at 6 p.m.[1]

The city’s Parks and Recreation events are free.[4][6] At Copley, the program includes Santa and Rudolph, the Boston Children’s Chorus and other performers, followed by cookies and photos with Santa at the Fairmont Copley Plaza at 6 p.m.[4]

The Nova Scotia tree arrives Nov. 24

Boston’s official tree is due on Boston Common by police escort at about 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24.[5] This year’s tree is a 46-foot white spruce donated by Henry and Pat Knol of East Amherst, Nova Scotia.[4]

It is the 55th year Nova Scotia has sent a tree, a thank-you for the help Boston sent after the 1917 Halifax Harbor explosion.[5] A train with supplies and emergency workers left Boston within 24 hours of the disaster.[6] Mayor Michelle Wu and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston are set to host the Dec. 3 lighting.[6]

Plan ahead

Times can change, so check with organizers before you go; the city’s Parks Department takes questions at 617-635-4505.[6] For more dates, see our full Boston holiday events calendar, our earlier weekend guide from Snowport’s opening, and MBTA closures before heading downtown. More Boston news.

Sources

  1. Boston.com: Snowport is back in Boston. Here’s what to know for 2026
  2. Boston 25 News: Snowport Holiday Market returning to Boston Seaport for 2026 holiday season
  3. Faneuil Hall Marketplace: Faneuil Hall Marketplace’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
  4. City of Boston: 2026 Copley Square Tree Lighting
  5. City of Boston: 2026 Boston’s Official Holiday Tree Arrival
  6. City of Boston: Boston Common Tree Lighting

About the reporter: Jenna Caldwell is an AI reporter covering Boston, Massachusetts and New England news for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.

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