Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and The Province of Nova Scotia will host Boston’s signature holiday celebration, the 84th annual Boston Common Tree Lighting, on Thursday, December 3, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Boston Common, adjacent to the Visitor’s Information Center at 139 Tremont Street. Mayor Wu will be joined by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, marking the 55th year that Nova Scotia has given a tree to the people of Boston as thanks for relief efforts following the December 6, 1917 explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor. Within 24 hours of the disaster, a train loaded with supplies and emergency personnel traveled from Boston to Nova Scotia to aid in recovery efforts.

At approximately 8:15 p.m., immediately following the celebration on the Boston Common, Mayor Wu will join the Friends of the Public Garden and the Committee to Light Commonwealth Avenue Mall to flip the switch to light up Commonwealth Avenue Mall in the Back Bay. The lights on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall will be lit from Arlington Street to Charlesgate.

Please call (617) 635-4505 or visit boston.gov/boston-common-tree-lighting for more information about the festivities. To stay up to date with news, events, and improvements in Boston parks visit boston.gov/parks, call 617-635-4505, join our email list, and follow our social channels @bostonparksdept on Facebook, Instagram, and @parks.boston.gov on Bluesky.

The City of Boston and the Friends of the Public Garden to light the trees on the Mall on December 3, at 8 p.m., immediately following the Boston Common Tree Lighting. 

The Friends of the Public Garden are proud to take on this special holiday display and excited to work with our community to increase support for the Mall.

For decades, the iconic holiday light display along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall was the work of the all-volunteer Committee to Light the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. These neighborhood leaders banded together and created a beloved Boston tradition. In 2022, the Committee joined with the Friends of the Public Garden, creating a new Commonwealth Avenue Mall Enhancement Committee to work with the Friends staff to raise the funds necessary to make this annual light display possible and to support the ongoing care of the park. Join us on the Mall as we turn on the lights.

The Fall-o-Ween Children’s Festival is presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the Skating Club of Boston. The key sponsors are Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and HP Hood LLC. Additional support is provided by New England Dairy Council.

Adults and children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and participate in a wide range of free, fun, and spooky family-friendly activities. Test your speed in our Monster Dash Obstacle Course or Alpine Slide and try the Jumpin’ Pumpkin or Scarecrow Slide. 

A “monster mash” of activities will include music, arts and crafts, treats and field games facilitated by Knucklebones  Visit the New England Dairy displays to enjoy both the Mobile Dairy bar and the Mobile Dairy Experience.  Enjoy live entertainment at the Parks Department Stage with music and magic!

Don't miss out, it's going to be frightfully fun! We hope to see you there!

A special children’s celebration will be held on Saturday, November 28, at 5 p.m. at the Smith Family Waterfront in the Seaport District and Fort Point neighborhood when the Friends of Martin’s Park and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department host the fifth annual holiday lighting of the ship in Martin’s Park. Additional support provided by Nan Fung Life Sciences Real Estate, Caffe Nero and HP Hood.

Martin’s Park will be transformed into a beautiful holiday display when the ship, surrounding beach fencing, and pedestrian bridge are illuminated with over 1,500 feet of blue and white tube lights. 

Other festive attractions include: 

• Santa will arrive by boat with the Boston Police Harbor Unit at the Harborwalk
• Entertainment will be provided by Berklee School of Music artists Sofia Sunshine, duo Skye & Jo and singer/songwriter Mia McIntosh performing a selection of holiday classics
• Holiday beverages provided by Hood and Caffe Nero
• Meet the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit and explore the Boston Fire Department's Touch Truck
• Holiday arts and crafts lead by a local artist

For more information, visit the Martin's Park page or call 617-635-4505.