With all the merrymaking and the cheer that surrounds Christmas and then New Year, it is a wonderful time to visit Boston. The city hosts a multitude of fun events for people of all ages including parties, fireworks shows, concerts, cruises, comedy and theatre shows, and more. New Year in Boston is a blast and there is no dearth of fun activities to engage in during this time of the year in the city.
Here are 15 fun things you can do around New Year’s in Boston:
15 Delightful Things To Do For New Year in Boston
1. Witness the Colourful Boston Harbor Fireworks
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Head on over to Christopher Columbus Park to catch the fireworks over Boston Harbor, launched from between Fan Pier and Long Wharf. The annual event, a Boston New Year tradition, is organised by the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park and requires no admission fee. The beautiful sight is visible from any spot at the Park which overlooks the Harbor and it is a great way to ring in the New Year with friends and family.
Address: Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110, United States Timings: 12:00 midnight
2. Set Sail on the Northern Lights Yacht
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If you want to escape the busy city on New Year’s Eve, hop aboard the Northern Lights yacht which provides a gorgeous view of the city skyline while offering luxurious service. The beautifully decorated interiors are heated and you are served some delicious hors d’œuvres and the bar is fully stocked with a variety of drinks available only on purchase. The music, ideal for dancing, creates a romantic ambience. The cruise is open to people above the age of 21 and costs USD 95 per person.
Address: 60 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, United States Duration: 2 hours
3. Partake in the First Night Boston Celebrations
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Absolutely free of cost, First Night Boston is an annual family-friendly New Year’s event organised in Copley Square. It features some holiday-themed music which presents the perfect opportunity to dance. The ice sculptures light up in the afternoon and add to the beauty of the event, while there are live processions heading to Boston Commons for the fireworks. There are live performances till late at night and you get to countdown to the next year with everyone else. The Frog Pond Skating Spectacular is another popular tradition at the festival.
Address: Copley Square, Boston, MA 02116, United States Timings: 12:00 noon onwards
4. Catch the Follies for Boston Event
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Lasting about an hour with no intermission, Follies for Boston is a music and dance festival organised at the Boston Center for the Arts. It features Boston dancers and well-known jazz musicians who act out various historical events that took place in the city. You get to watch musical renditions of The Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre and the Stamp Act, amongst others. The event runs from 31st December to the beginning of January and tickets cost USD 49.
Address: 539 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116, United States Timings: 2:00 pm onwards
5. Discover Some of the Fun Waterfront Attractions
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The Waterfront neighbourhood becomes a winter wonderland and is known for its numerous ice sculptures set up around New Year’s, spread out across North End, Downtown Waterfront, Charlestown End, and Seaport/ South Boston Waterfront. Not only is the annual Ice Sculpture Stroll extremely popular when it comes to New Year in Boston, some other fun activities include the Wharf District Harborwalk Tour and the Harbor Map Tour at the Boston Harbor Hotel.
Sculpture locations: Harbor Towers, LL Bean, Atlantic Wharf, Charlestown Navy Yard, Envoy Hotel
6. Watch the Fireworks Go off over Boston Common
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An annual event that began in 1999, the Boston’s Family Fireworks display over Boston Common is organised by the Mugar Foundation with the City of Boston. The spectacle is a Boston New Year classic which is free of cost. It lasts about 12-15 minutes and is suitable for children and adults alike, since it doesn’t require waiting till midnight. It takes place at the Ball Field on the Common and provides you a wonderful view of the fireworks going off against the bright city skyline.
Address: 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111, United States Timings: 7:00 pm onwards
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Head over to the Barcelona Wine Bar in the South End if you wish to celebrate the upcoming year only with family and close friends. Get there in the afternoon, order some tasty dishes from the special NYE menu like their famous tapas, and some drinks. They have live music playing in the background, and as if you stay till midnight, keep your cava glasses ready to toast the New Year. You need to make a reservation prior to coming.
Address: 525 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116, United States Timings: 2:00 pm onwards
8. Party into the New Year at Rochambeau
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Located at the Hynes Convention Center, Rochambeau, overlooking Boylston Street, hosts a New Year’s Eve party which is open to people above the age of 21. Admission is USD 50 and you get to enjoy some mouth-watering hors d’œuvres, drinks and have access to a dessert bar stocked with scrumptious treats! There is a live DJ on site and once it is midnight, you can toast the New Year in Boston with some champagne.
Address: 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02115, United States Timings: 9:00 pm onwards
9. Visit Bow Market on New Year’s Eve
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On 31st December, make your way over to Bow Market to experience a fun New Year’s Eve party. Admission is USD 55 and based on tickets which you must book in advance. The event features live DJ, so be ready to dance, some tasty New Year’s Eve-only bites, and of course, drinks (the first round is free). There are some fun pop-up surprises throughout the night and as it gets closer to midnight, there is a ball drop, and you must get ready with your champagne glasses for a market-wide toast.
Address: 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, MA 02143, United States Timings: 8:00 pm onwards
10. Eat All You Can at Eataly
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Looking for a mouth-watering New Year’s Eve meal? Get your tickets and go to Eataly at the Prudential Center for their multi-course dinner under the stars at Terra. The chef prepares dishes with seasonal ingredients like housemade sausage, coal-roasted winter vegetables, wood-fired meats and more, and you can enjoy some sparkling wine with your meal. Not only do you get to sit next to a wood-fired grill, you can also order one of their New Year’s Eve boxes if you aren’t looking to leave the house.
Address: Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199, United States Timings: 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
11. Celebrate the New Year at Publico Southie
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One of the best ways to begin the New Year in Boston in style is to dine at Publico Southie. Admission begins at USD 35, and the event is no short of being lavish since the main room is beautifully decorated and the outdoor patio is set up under a heated retractable roof. The night comprises live DJ, party favours, a number of tasty appetisers and of course, cocktails. There is also a champagne toast at midnight. You need to reserve a table in advance since it gets quite busy on the 31st.
Address: 11 Dorchester St, Boston, MA 02127, United States Timings: 9:00 pm onwards
12. Head on over to the Mendon Christmas Drive-in
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Previously known as the Mendon Twin Drive-In, the Mendon Christmas Drive-In offers complete holiday entertainment from December till the beginning of January. It costs USD 30 per auto and this ticket admits 6 people. You can enjoy both individual shows as well as doubles features, such as the Christmas Carol SingalongLaser Light Show, he Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas Show or even Frozen. There are food joints on site so you can have corn dogs, mac and cheese bites, hot dogs, lemonade, ice cream and other snacks as you watch the show.
Address: 35 Milford St, Mendon, MA 01756, United States Timings: 7:00 pm onwards
13. Be Mesmerised by the Zoolights Wonderland at the Stone Zoo
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ZooLights at the Stone Zoo is the perfect way to celebrate the New Year in Boston with children. It is organised by National Grid each year and is no less than a wonderland. The entire zoo is lit up with bright twinkling lights, and as you walk around the 26-acre space, you can take in all the brightness, and also catch a glimpse of black bears, bald eagles, arctic foxes, reindeers and more. Yukon Creek is also beautifully decorated. Another attraction at the zoo is the lantern display spanning the entire area. You need to book your tickets in advance and arrive in accordance with your designated time slot.
Address: 149 Pond St, Stoneham, MA 02180, United States Timings: 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm
14. Watch “A Christmas Carol” at Downtown Crossing
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“A Christmas Carol” by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is a very popular show organised in Boston around New Year’s, one that has had to be modified to fit the current situation. A must-watch, you can head over to Downtown Crossing where they project the Company’s version of the Charles Dickens classic on repurposed storefronts. It plays on a continuous loop each night and is available for viewing till the end of January.
Timings: 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm Duration: 40 minutes
15. Sit at Home and Enjoy Some Delicious Take-out
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If you don’t plan on leaving the house for New Year’s Eve celebrations, you can still have a good time inside with some delicious food. There are a number of restaurants and bars which deliver food or offer the option of getting take-out. When it comes to drinks, consider ordering spicy cocktails, margaritas, or simply champagne and for food, some pasta, dimsums, sushi, chicken and more. Don’t forget to get some dessert like sugar cookies, cake, brownies, or ice cream. Places like Eataly not only have a special NYE menu but also offer NYE boxes for take-out.
Restaurants and bars: Alcove, Committee, Chickadee, Burro’s Bar, Loco’s etc.
If you are booking a trip to Boston, make sure it is around New Year’s since it is an extremely cheerful time of the year, with all the festivities. There is much more to do than the above-mentioned 15 activities, and you will undoubtedly have a wonderful time spending the New Year in Boston.
