{"id":18701,"date":"2011-11-08T06:00:07","date_gmt":"2011-11-08T12:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=18701"},"modified":"2018-03-12T10:57:55","modified_gmt":"2018-03-12T15:57:55","slug":"baubles-ballerinas-top-holiday-events-in-beantown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2011\/11\/baubles-ballerinas-top-holiday-events-in-beantown\/","title":{"rendered":"Baubles & ballerinas: Top holiday events in Beantown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and Santa at a Holiday Pops performance. Credit: Michael Lutch.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Erin Behan<\/em><\/p>\n

Boston — with its cobblestone streets, historic buildings and biting winter air — is made for classic holiday traditions. And it\u2019s not just those on a Boston vacation <\/a>who flock to Beantown\u2019s holiday events. Attend the Boston Common Tree lighting ceremony<\/strong> on Dec. 1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and you\u2019ll stand shoulder to shoulder with many a native. Distinctions melt away as the Mayor Thomas M. Menino flips the lights and the hot cocoa flows. For a place to stay, check out The Ritz Carlton Boston Common<\/a>, with views of the 50-acre park.<\/p>\n

Some perk for lights, others for legs. That\u2019s where the Radio City Christmas Spectacular<\/strong> comes in. There\u2019s no shame in loving the Rockettes\u2019 long and lovely limbs, but the parade of wooden soldiers and the living nativity also stoke the holiday spirit at the Dec. 2 to 28 shows at the Citi Performing Arts Wang Center. The Radisson Hotel Boston<\/a> is just a stone\u2019s throw away.<\/p>\n

Slightly more refined (thoughno less classic) is the Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker<\/strong> at the Boston Opera House from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31. This year is the last for the current version, a grand and bedazzling affair with choreography led by Mikko Nissinen and the music, of course, by Peter Iiych Tchaikovsky. It’s a short walk to the Hyatt Regency Boston<\/a> while visions of sugarplums … you know.<\/p>\n

Boston\u2019s most enduring holiday tradition is likely the Boston Pops\u2019 Holiday Pops<\/strong> season. What\u2019s not to like about everyone\u2019s favorite holiday music being played by the much-loved orchestra? There are even five kids matinees that include a sing-along and optional photos with Santa. It runs for less than three weeks from Dec. 7 to 24 at Symphony Hall, so don\u2019t put off buying tickets. The Colonnade Hotel<\/a> is a best hotel bet in the area.<\/p>\n

It wouldn\u2019t be the holiday season without some shopping, and the SOWA Holiday Market<\/strong> is the Boston destination for cool holiday gifts that didn\u2019t come from the mall\u2014instead they came from one or more of the 80 New England juried artists and designers. The hardest part about shopping the market is not just buying for oneself (whether it\u2019s that vegan designer handbag or unique sterling silver jewelry that catches the eye). The SOWA Market is a one-day only event on Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cathedral High School.<\/p>\n

Related resources<\/strong><\/p>\n