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10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest happenings in and around Boston.
Welcome to BosTen, your weekly guide to the coolest events and best things to do in Boston this weekend. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter here. Have an idea about what we should cover? Leave us a comment on this article or in the BosTen Facebook group, or email us at [email protected].
Gaze in awe at ‘The Immersive Nutcracker‘
Lighthouse Immersive has brought a different “Nutcracker” experience to Boston this holiday season with “The Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle.” This production comes from the same organizers as “Immersive Frida,” “Immersive Klimt,” and “Immersive Monet & the Impressionists.” The show, in Boston through December 31, features over 500,000 cubic feet of floor-to-ceiling projections of animated characters alongside footage of professional ballet dancers, starring Denis Rodkin and Eleonora Sevenard and set to Tchikovsky’s iconic score. — Natalie Gale
Flip out with Cirque du Soleil’s holiday show
Bringing the holiday spirit to the city with its Boston debut at the Boch Center Wang Theatre, “‘Twas the Night Before…” might be Cirque du Soleil’s first ever Christmas show, but it still has all its signature acrobatics, breath-taking feats, and spectacular music. The theatrical performance (the 49th original Cirque du Soleil production, for those who are counting) tells the story of Isabella, a curious girl jaded by the craze surrounding Christmas, who is whisked away to an upside-down, inside-out world of the poem where she meets colorful characters of this timeless classic. The show wraps up its Boston run this weekend, with the final show on Sunday. — Cheryl Fenton
See a long-running musical version of “A Christmas Carol”
The North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly has been mounting the original musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” for more than three decades, so they’ve certainly got experience at putting on an exceptional retelling of the Dickensian tale. So does lead actor David Coffee, who has portrayed Scrooge for 28 of the 31 years. If you can’t make it this weekend, you can still catch Ebenezer and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future through December 24. — Kevin Slane
Finish up shopping at the SoWa Winter Festival
This weekend marks your final chance to visit dozens of artists, artisans, and specialty vendors as they sell their wares under one roof at the SoWa Winter Festival alongside live music, food trucks, and featured cocktails from guest bartenders. The SoWa Power Station is the festival’s hub, with vendor tents and refreshments on the first floor and live music and cocktails on the second. Vendors at this year’s festival will sell goods like handcrafted leather products, woven baskets, natural cosmetics, jewelry, candles, and specialty food items like hot sauce and honey. — Natalie Gale
Stroll and shop at Harvard Square Holiday Fair
Since 1986, the Harvard Square Holiday Fair has brought dozens of vendors to the square from New England and beyond, selling a range of eclectic wares perfect for holiday gifts. The juried holiday fair is free to attend and features purveyors selling items like prints, pottery, photography, candles, t-shirts, jewelry, books, knitwear, cosmetics, wooden utensils, vintage items, jams and jellies, and much more. If you can’t make it this weekend, a second weekend of the fair runs Dec. 16-18. — Natalie Gale
Support local vendors at Boston Women’s Market
The Boston Women’s Market will visit two Boston-area venues this holiday season, taking over The Station on Friday and Time Out Market on Saturday. Dozens of vendors will showcase their products, which include FaithEndures by Dev, Mel’s Knits and Crochet, And Soaps, and Lady Jane Maker. All attendees at both locations will be entered to win a door prize giveaway items valued at over $1,000. — Ria Goveas
Sip specialty cocktails at Maccabee Bar
Maccabee Bar, Boston’s original — and only — Hanukkah-themed pop-up bar returns this holiday season for an extended stay at two locations: Backbar in Somerville and Noir Bar in Cambridge. Founding bartender Naomi Levy is creating new cocktails for the occasion, and will also bring back some favorites such as the Latke Sour, a shaken libation of apple brandy, potato, lemon, egg white, and bitters. Both locations will offer a menu of special Maccabee Bar food, including latkes and doughnuts by Lionheart Confections. — Jacqueline Cain
Dress your best for the Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
Get out your ugliest holiday sweater for the seventh annual Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl, which will travel between at least seven different area bars: Hong Kong, Wild Rover, Sissy K’s, Greatest Bar, Sullivan’s Tap, The Tam, and Beacon Hill Pub. Tickets includes food specials, holiday themed drinks, DJs and entertainment, and, of course, an ugly sweater contest. (December 10; more info here) — Ria Goveas
Be dazzled by ZooLights
Zoo New England’s Stone Zoo has fully embraced the holiday spirit with ZooLights, a festive display of thousands of glowing lights spread across the zoo’s 26 acres open from 4-9:30 p.m. Lights line the paths to Yukon Creek, where the reindeer and arctic foxes will be surrounded by holiday decor. You’ll also find several large-scale animal lantern displays around the zoo, adding to the ambiance. Tickets are limited, so be sure to book ahead before the event ends for the season January 8. — Kevin Slane
Try to be good at the Bad Santa Bar Crawl
Kick off the holiday season with the Bad Santa Bar Crawl, which provides exclusive access to bars all across Boston starting at 2 p.m. this Saturday. Every ticket purchased comes with a complimentary Santa hat that attendees can wear for the crawl. A mix of live DJs and live music can be found at 20+ participating bars, which included venues in the Theater District, Seaport, West End, Downtown, and Fenway neighborhoods. To see a full list of participating bars, click here. — Ria Goveas
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