Everything fun you can do around Boston in November 2023
When:
Wednesday, Nov 01, 2023 9:00a -
Thursday, Nov 30, 2023 10:00p
Wednesday, Nov 01, 2023 9:00a -
Thursday, Nov 30, 2023 10:00p
Where:
Boston
Surrounding areas
Boston, MA
Admission:
$Varies
Categories:
Art, Date Idea, Drinks, Food, Kid Friendly, Music, Nature, Outside, Photoworthy, Seasonal, Shopping, Shows
Now that the final Halloween candy has been munched on and the spandex from your Barbie costume is wearing down from all the costume parties, it’s time to start thinking about November. This month in Boston is the bridge between fall and winter and there are so many wonderful seasonal events to enjoy. Events are listed chronologically.
by Celina Colby
When: Wednesday 11/1-Wednesday 11/15
Where: Fenway
Info: Watch screenings of movies by Jewish filmmakers and about Jewish life at this two-week-long festival. You can also see panel discussions with filmmakers and attend opening and closing receptions for the festival.
Free First Thursdays at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
When: Thursday 11/2
Where: Fenway
Info: On the first Thursday of every month the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is free and open to the public. This month visitors can enjoy poetry and live music, fashion installations, and live artmaking among other activities.
Halloween Party: Dia de Los Muertos at Time Out Market Boston
When: Thursday 11/2
Where: Fenway
Info: Head to Time Out Market for a Day of the Dead party that features live mariachi music performances, airbrush tattoos themed for the occasion, and spooky craft cocktails. As usual you can snack on bites from the many local restaurant concepts in the market.
Québec Winter Wonderland & Carnivals
When: Friday 11/3
Where: Seaport
Info: Bonjour Québec is hosting a fabulous Winter Wonderland this month to promote their dynamic region. Watch a parade, fly down an ice slide, visit an ice palace, sample sweetness at an authentic sugar shack, ice skate, listen to live music, and much more.
The Boston Ski And Snowboard Show
When: Friday 11/3
Where: South Boston
Info: Lovers of snow sports will thrive at The Boston Ski and Snowboard Show, where you can watch lectures from speakers in the industry including Brenna Huckaby and Shaun White. Try out equipment, ski on an indoor slope, and grab a brew at the beer garden.
When: Friday 11/3
Where: Fenway
Info: After a multi-year hiatus, MFA First Fridays are back! On the First Friday of every month, experience music, dancing, art making, and exhibitions at this after-hours party at Boston’s biggest art museum.
When: Friday, 11/3
Where: South End
Info: To keep the First Friday artistic celebration going, head to Thayer Street in the South End to visit galleries, meet artists, and shop small businesses.
Hot Sauce Day at Bone Up Brewing
When: Saturday 11/4
Where: Everett
Info: You’ve enjoyed the beers at Bone Up Brewing, but can you take the heat of their favorite hot sauces? The brewery is having three hot sauce companies, Craic Sauce, The Bone Sauce, and Rhed’s Hot Sauce, come in so you can taste, shop, and spice up your Saturday.
The Real James Bond...Was Dominican
When: Wednesday 11/8-Sunday 11/12
Where: Downtown
Info: Did you know James Bond was based on a charming Dominican spy and notorious playboy? Hear the story, and how it impacted the course of actor Chris Rivas’ life, in this hilarious and heart-wrenching one-man show.
When: Thursday 11/9
Where: West End
Info: This November the Charles Hayden Planetarium will be overtaken by a wild fusion festival of live synthesizer performances. Musicians and visualizers will team up to make it a fully immersive experience in the planetarium dome.
The Holiday Market at Snowport
When: Friday 11/10-Sunday 12/31
Where: Seaport
Info: The Holiday Market at Snowport reopens this month for its 2023 season. Shop all kinds of gifts from local makers and small businesses, sip holiday-themed cocktails, and enjoy food from 11 delectable vendors.
Pulpo Day 2023: Stout Festival
When: Friday 11/10-Saturday 11/11
Where: Everett
Info: Pulpo Day is a celebration of one of Bone Up Brewing’s favorite seasonal brews, a chocolate orange stout aged in whiskey barrels. Sample the 2023 release along with vintages and chat with the brewery owners about its creation.
Holiday Grand Wine Tasting at Urban Grape
When: Saturday 11/11-Sunday 11/12
Where: South End
Info: Sample 25 festive holiday wines (for free!) at Urban Grape. Whether you’re looking for the perfect hostess gift, expanding your palate, or searching for the perfect wine for dinner, this is the spot.
Boston Spartan Stadion Weekend
When: Saturday 11/11-Sunday 11/12
Where: Fenway
Info: Put your physical fitness and mental determination to the test with Spartan Race, the world’s leading obstacle course series popping up at Fenway Park. Compete in a series of wild challenges to win a medal and eternal bragging rights.
When: Saturday 11/11
Where: West Newton
Info: This year the Sons of Norway, Norumbega Lodge, will host a Scandinavian Fair complete with Norwegian Waffles to fuel visitors and a marketplace of Christmas items, jewelry, knitwear, books, and other goods from the Nordic countries.
Brewery Bash: Lamplighter’s 7th Anniversary House Party
When: Saturday 11/11
Where: Cambridge
Info: To celebrate Lamplighter’s 7th Anniversary, try a beer slushie (yes, you read that right), play party games like cornhole and Jenga, visit an indoor beer garden, snap pictures at the Photo Booth, and take tours of the brewery.
Step into the Shadows: Party & Play at the Loring Greenough House
When: Saturday 11/11
Where: Jamaica Plain
Info: Things are about to get spooky at the historic Loring Greenough House. At this one-night-only collaboration with the Footlight Club, you can attend a spooky pre-party in the 18th-century mansion and then watch a performance of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration at the French Library
When: Thursday 11/16
Where: Back Bay
Info: Georges Duboeuf is one of the best-known Beaujolais nouveau winemakers in France. Sample his 2023 vintage paired with French appetizers and learn about the nuances of French wine.
Annual Trellis Lighting at Christopher Columbus Park
When: Monday 11/20
Where: North End
Info: Christopher Columbus Park transforms every year into a magical holiday space when its iconic trellis is lit up in blue. For the official lighting of the trellis, enjoy a holiday sing-a-long, a visit from Santa Claus, and cookies, hot chocolate, and chowder.
Sh*t-faced Shakespeare: Macbeth
When: Friday 9/15-Saturday 11/18
Where: Somerville
Info: Watch this classic Shakespearean drama with a twist - the actors are sipping cocktails during the show and progressively getting more and more tipsy. Who knows where the story will go after a few drinks.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace Holiday Tree Lighting
When: Tuesday 11/21
Where: Downtown
Info: Watch the Boston sky light up with the signs of the season during the Faneuil Hall Marketplace tree lighting. After the tree is lit, peruse the local vendors at the market.
When: Friday 11/24-Saturday 12/30
Where: Wellesley
Info: This beloved holiday event run by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society features dozens of trees intricately decorated for the holidays. Purchase raffle tickets to vote on your favorite tree and possibly win it for your own home. All proceeds benefit the MHS.
When: Friday 11/24-Sunday 12/17
Where: South End
Info: The SoWa Power Station comes alive with twinkle lights and festive garlands during this month-long festival. Shop more than 100 local vendors, artists, and small businesses, enjoy holiday-themed cocktails, and watch live performances.
When: Friday 11/24-Sunday 12/31
Where: Downtown
Info: Nothing signifies the holiday season like a performance of ‘The Nutcracker,’ and the Boston Ballet production is legendary. Immerse yourself in Tchaikovsky’s magical world at this beloved show.
Night Lights: Starry Skies at New England Botanic Garden
When: Friday 11/24-Sunday 12/31
Where: Boylston, MA
Info: Get into the holiday spirit with this expansive light display at the New England Botanic Garden. After you’ve toured the extensive light displays on the grounds, warm up by the fire and make a s’more or have a cup of hot cocoa.
SoWa Artists Guild Small Business Saturday
When: Saturday 11/25
Where: South End
Info: Shop work by local artists and small businesses just in time for the holidays. The studios and shops will be open all day welcoming shoppers and art lovers alike.
TubaChristmas in Downtown Crossing
When: Saturday 11/25
Where: Downtown
Info: More than 100 regional tuba players (yes, there are apparently that many) will gather in Downtown Crossing for a spirited holiday concert of upbeat and festive favorites.
Boston Common Tree Lighting Ceremony
When: Thursday 11/30
Where: Downtown
Info: Every year Nova Scotia gifts Boston a stunning, and huge, Christmas tree as a thank you for help during a historic fire. The lighting of the tree in the middle of the Boston Common is another marker of the holiday season.
Comm Ave Mall Holiday Lighting Ceremony
When: Thursday 11/30
Where: Back Bay
Info: After the Boston Common Tree Lighting Ceremony, head to the Commonwealth Avenue Mall to watch that light up too. It’s always a treat to walk the mall surrounded by historic Boston homes, but the holiday lights make it feel especially magical.
