This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.

Boston is one of the greatest cities when it comes to celebrating the holiday season. So much so, that it can get pretty overwhelming when it comes to figuring out what to do. There are just so many options! Today, I’m curating some of my favorites so that you can plan your holiday celebrations with ease.

1. Faneuil Hall Marketplace

If you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to start feeling festive, heading over to Faneuil Hall is the right move for you. The entire plaza is a short walk from the Government Center stop on the Green Line, and there are tons of restaurants and shops to get all of your holiday shopping done. The best part? Faneuil Hall is home to a massive Christmas tree that has an incredible light show with music periodically throughout the night, every single night through December.

2. Elf!

No, I don’t mean the movie. This year, Boston will be home to Elf! the Musical at the Wang Theatre on Tremont Street! Get some of your friends and grab some tickets before they’re gone, because this performance is one you’re not going to want to miss. The hilarious show will be playing until December 10th.

3. The Nutcracker

It isn’t quite Christmas without The Nutcracker playing somewhere in Boston. For the entire month of December, the Boston Ballet will be performing this holiday classic at the Boston Opera House. The show is truly beautiful, and The Nutcracker is the kind of performance everybody should see at least once in their lifetime. Why not make it this year?

4. Frog Pond

There is genuinely nothing more quintessentially Boston than ice skating on the Frog Pond every winter. This is a Boston tradition that dates back decades, and it’s definitely for a good reason. Grab some friends and rent some skates if you have none because this skating rink is open every day of the week. The Frog Pond is located in the Boston Common, so it’s not too far from campus either!

5. Boston Winter

Boston Winter in the City Hall Plaza is a newer event in Boston, but it draws huge crowds for a reason. Boston Winter is right outside of the Government Center stop on the Green Line and has a large outdoor ice skating path as well as a Holiday Shopping Market that hosts some amazing food and shopping vendors. To top it all off, there are plenty of local groups coming to do live music performances while guests enjoy the activities.

6. SantaCon Bar Crawl

This event is unfortunately only for those who are over the legal drinking age, but it is definitely worth mentioning. SantaCon is basically a bunch of adults dressed up in Santa costumes who all bar hop together through downtown Boston in a large and hilarious looking group. For more information on the event, which begins at the Hard Rock Cafe, click on the event page here.

7. Forest Park Bright Nights

This event is admittedly outside of Boston, but it is too impressive to not mention. The park is located in Springfield, MA and is home to the coolest drive-through light display in the area. If you can rent a car or have access to one, definitely make the drive out to see this light show. For more information and even a live webcam of the park, click here.

Everybody loves the holiday season, and Boston does Christmas better than a lot of other cities in America. Definitely be sure to take advantage of all the wonderful events going on this month, because there are plenty!

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The Best Christmas Events in Boston