Boston’s holiday season has two anchors: public tree lightings, which are free, and seasonal markets, which run for several weeks. This guide lists the 2026 dates that organizers have confirmed as of Oct. 22, 2026. For light displays such as ZooLights and La Salette, see our Christmas lights guide.
Tree lightings
Boston Common Tree Lighting: Thursday, Dec. 3
The city’s main ceremony is Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Boston Common near the Visitor Information Center at 139 Tremont St. The city lists it as the 85th annual lighting. It’s free and hosted by the City of Boston with the Province of Nova Scotia. The tree is Nova Scotia’s annual thank-you for Boston’s help after the 1917 Halifax explosion. This year’s tree, a 45-foot white spruce donated by Ronald and Claire Feener of Lunenburg County, is scheduled to arrive on the Common around 11 a.m. on Nov. 17. The closest T stops are Park Street and Boylston. After the ceremony, the trees on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall are lit.
Copley Square Tree Lighting: Monday, Nov. 30
Boston Parks and Recreation hosts the Copley Square lighting on Monday, Nov. 30, 2026, from 5 to 6 p.m. at 560 Boylston St. This year it doubles as the grand reopening of the renovated Copley Square Park. The city lists guided tours of the park, arts and crafts, Santa and Rudolph, and performances by vocalist Joelle James, the Boston Children’s Chorus and the Symphonic of Emerson College. Cookies and photos with Santa follow at 6 p.m. at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. Partners include the Friends of Copley Square, BXP, Sasaki and the Fairmont Copley Plaza, and H.P. Hood is the sponsor. It’s free; the Parks Department can be reached at 617-635-4505.
Faneuil Hall and nearby cities
Faneuil Hall Marketplace had not announced its 2026 tree-lighting date as of Oct. 22. Somerville, Cambridge and Brookline had not posted theirs either. Check each city’s events calendar in November.
Holiday markets
SoWa Christmas Market, South End
The SoWa Christmas Market runs Nov. 20 to Dec. 27, 2026, at 550 Harrison Ave. Admission is $10, and children 12 and under get in free. In November it’s open 4–8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4–9 p.m. Friday (including opening night), 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed Mondays and Thanksgiving and open 10–7 on Black Friday. From Dec. 1, hours extend to 4–9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4–10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday, with Sundays unchanged. On Christmas Eve it’s open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it’s closed on Christmas Day. On-site parking is $10, cash only.
Snowport, Seaport
Snowport at 100 Seaport Blvd. runs Nov. 6 to Dec. 27, 2026, with more than 130 vendors, according to Boston 25 News. General admission is free. A weekend fast pass costs $15 for adults and $7 for veterans and children 6 to 17. From Nov. 6 to Dec. 6, hours are 3–8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday. From Dec. 7, weekday hours start earlier, at 11 a.m. Snowport is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas and closes at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The Silver Line’s World Trade Center and Courthouse stops are nearby.
Shopping local year-round
Many of the vendors at these markets are small local businesses. Our local business directory lists independent shops and restaurants across Boston and nearby towns, which is useful for gift shopping after the markets close on Dec. 27. For Hanukkah events, which in 2026 overlap with the market season, see our menorah-lighting guide linked below.
Planning tips
- Tree lightings draw big crowds. Arrive early, and expect street closures near the Common on Dec. 3.
- Bring cash for SoWa parking and for vendors who don’t take cards.
- Weekend afternoons are busiest at both markets. Weeknight hours are usually calmer.
- Winter weather can delay outdoor events. Check our Boston Snow Day & Storm Center before heading out.
Related guides
- Christmas lights near Boston 2026
- Hanukkah 2026 menorah lightings
- Ice skating near Boston, 2026-27
- Boston local business directory
Sources
- City of Boston: Boston Common Tree Lighting
- City of Boston: 2026 Copley Square Tree Lighting
- City of Boston: 2026 Lighting of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall
- SoWa Boston: Christmas Market
- Boston 25 News, Snowport 2026 report, Oct. 14, 2026
- Featured image: File:Christmas tree near the Quincy Market.jpg, Das Nili, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Featured image: A Christmas tree near Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Photo: Das Nili via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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