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Get ready to enjoy Boston Events for November 2015!
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Soak up the last few weeks of gorgeous fall foliage in Boston while enjoying the Boston Comedy Festival, opening days of ice skating on Boston Common's Frog Pond, the annual Veterans Day parades (yes, we have two of them), and the season's first performances of The Nutcracker at our stunning Opera House.
Sports fans love Boston during November because we have three top teams to watch and cheer: the Celtics, the Bruins, and New England Patriots, with plenty of local games scheduled throughout the month.
By the second half of the month, you'll see holiday tree lighting ceremonies taking place all over the city, lighting up the night.
If your Boston plans put you here at the end of November, be sure to make restaurant reservations for a special Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy that extra piece of pie because you can work off the calories when the holiday shopping season kicks off with plenty of Black Friday sales.
Remember, Nutcracker performances begin on the Friday after Thanksgiving - so get your tickets now because the best seats go fast.
Find out about more Thanksgiving Weekend events.
November official holidays in Boston :
Add your Boston Events for November
Quick Links: Boston events calendars: October l December l Other Months
When: Wednesday, November 11
Two rival Veterans Day Parades marching through downtown Boston, even larger Veterans Day sales, a military history Harbor Island cruise to Fort Warren, and special restaurant deals for veterans are just a few of the special events happening in Boston on Veterans Day -
Find more Veterans Day activities
Half-price Boston shows, cruises, and events in November
Why pay full price when discount tickets from Goldstar are easy to find?
- Dirty Disney (funny improv - but NOT for kids) @ The Button Factory in Fort Point
- Oysters & Craft Brews Cruise: Sip & Slurp - Karma Crew Yacht Charters, Boston Harbor
- Trapped in a Room with a Zombie @ Room Escape Adventures, Somerville
- Boston Harbor Cruise - Enjoy views of USS Constitution, Bunker Hill, more
- Huzzah Tavern Nights - Party Like a Colonial! - Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
- Improv by Fine Line Comedy @ The Button Factory in Fort Point - Comp & Half Price
Find even more half-price shows, cruises, and events!
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It's official - Frog Pond in Boston Common opens for ice skating on Saturday, November 22, 10am.
Be sure to stop by the Lily Pad Cafe snack bar, overseen by the talented chefs from 75 Chestnut and Hampshire House, where you'll enjoy some of the best hot chocolate, Belgium waffles, and cookies in the city.
For more information or weather-related updates, call 617-635-2120.
Closest T station: Green and Red Line/Park
Park: Boston Common Garage
More about ice skating on Boston's Frog Pond
Check out other fun kids activities in Boston
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Thanksgiving is celebrated on November 27
Enjoy a stress-free Thanksgiving by making reservations . . . let someone else do the cooking!
Some of Boston's top restaurants serve special once-a-year Thanksgiving dinners where you can enjoy a memorable meal, ranging from formal traditional dinners to more casual buffets.
To be sure of getting a table, you must make reservations.
Find out more about Boston restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner
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A very special Christmas tree will arrive at Boston Common at about 11am on Friday, November 21.
Look for this special tree near the Visitors Information Center at 139 Tremont Street. By tradition, it is always the first tree on the Common to be lit, and is the star of the Boston Common Holiday Lighting Ceremony.
Although Boston fills up with displays of beautiful Christmas trees throughout November and December, the most special tree of all is this Christmas tree proudly displayed on Boston Common. It symbolizes the close friendship between Nova Scotia and Boston.
Citizens of Nova Scotia send a huge, beautiful tree to the people of Boston every year in remembrance of Boston's help after a horrific explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor on December 6, 1917 killed almost 2,000 people and injured another 9,000. Within 24 hours of the disaster, a train loaded with supplies and emergency personnel from Boston arrived in Nova Scotia - the first outside help to reach the disaster scene, and the last to leave.
In a special recognition of those who were killed and injured in the Boston Marathon bombings last spring, a group of runners led the way as the tree left Halifax this year.
Christmas tree lighting ceremonies in several central locations signal the "official" start of the holiday season in Boston. These festive occasions are fun to attend and the lights are spectacular!
Here are Holiday Lighting Ceremonies taking place in Boston this month:
- Giant Christimas Tree and Blink! at Faneuil Hall Marketplace - Saturday, November 22 - outdoor festivivies begin at 2pm in the Marketplace Center with the arrival Globe Santa and carolers. Look for performances all afternoon, with the Tree Lighting ceremony beginning at 8pm, including the Mayor reading "T'was the Night Before Christmas." Lights go on at about 9pm, and Blink! will begin and run through January 4 from 4:30pm-9:30pm daily - More about Blink
- Annual Lighting of the Trellis - The Mayor turns on the 50,000 glowing blue lights along the 260 foot trellis (shown in photo) and 14 nearby trees on Monday, November 24, , at 5:15pm in Christopher Columbus Park (110 Atlantic Ave), transforming the waterfront park into a magical light garden through the holiday season
- 31 Nights of Lights at Prudential Center - From Saturday, November 30 through New Year's Eve on December 31, Prudential Tower displays lights of a different color each night to bring awareness to non-profit organizations.
December Tree Lighting events (check the December Events Calendar for exact dates):
- Boston Common Holiday Lighting - This exciting event takes place near the Visitors Information Center on Tremont St and stars the special tree sent as a gift from Nova Scotia and 80+ other lighted trees throughout the Common and Boston Garden .
- Copley Square Tree Lighting - Wreaths with red bows decorate the square, the Old South Church bell tolls when the lights go on, and Santa and Rudolph will appear.
- Commonwealth Avenue Mall - Many thousands of twinkling white lights transform this tree-filled blocks-long parkway into a winter wonderland - taking a nighttime stroll here once snow covers the ground is a memorable experience.
More about where to see special holiday decorations in Boston
Faneuil Hall Marketplace puts up its giant Christmas tree and turns on the lights for Blink! on Saturday, November 28 - the first tree lighting of the season! (date to be confirmed for 2015)
Blink! features a spectacular light show with over 350,000 (yes, that's roughly a third of a MILLION) low-energy LED lights and recorded Boston Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Pops music.
Blink!'s 7-minute sound and light show takes place daily from 5pm-10pm through January 3. The Marketplace also features carolers, local musicians, dancers, bell ringers, touring Broadway show companies, and other performers throughout the holiday season.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - Boston Opera House - November 3 - 13
Jethro Tull's The Rock Opera with Ian Anderson - Wang Center - November 5
Peco Pena Flamenco Dance Company - Berklee Performance Center - November 15
Elf: The Musical - Wang Center - November 17 - December 6
Boston Ballet: The Nutcracker - Boston Opera House - November 27 - December 31
Find more theater and shows in Boston
Half-price tickets to some wonderful Christmas and New Year's events begin to become available in November. Needless to say, grab these tickets fast when you see them because they won't last.
Note: These offers are from last year - but will give you an idea about what to expect this year.
- A Christmas Story - Wang Theatre
- Back Bay Gala - New Year's Eve bash at the Sheraton Boston Hotel
- Young Professionals New Year's Eve Celebration - The Resolution Ball
- A Christmas Carol: The Musical - Boston Center for the Arts
- A Christmas Celtic Sojourn - Cutler Majestic Theatre
- Handel's Messiah - Jordan Hall
Get Half-Price Tickets to Boston Christmas and Holiday Events
When: Friday, November 28 - as early as midnight in some places
In preparation: Take a nap right after Thanksgiving dinner, pack a turkey sandwich, start early, and keep your sense of humor!
If you're visiting Boston during the Thanksgiving holidays, indulge in "Black Friday" bargain-hunting - if you dare! The mad scramble to scoop up huge bargains is not for the faint of heart.
Where should you go? Try these Black Friday suggestions:
- Assembly Row Outlets vs Wrentham Premium Outlets - Where will you find the best bargains?
- Newbury Street boutiques and Boylston Street "big box" stores and discounters
- Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall Marketplace - Big chain stores and unique Boston shops
- Cambridgeside Galleria (huge Best Buy, big Macys)
- Prudential Center - Middle of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood - Saks, Lord & Taylor
- Wrentham Premium Outlets (Get there super early - sure to be mobbed)
- Natick Mall - Biggest shopping mall in Boston
Check out these attractive November specials at top Boston hotels. Click on Check Rates to find best rates - we also give you the hotel's phone number in case you need to call to get the package.
Faneuil Hall Shopping Package at the Millennium Bostonian (617-523-3600) - $50 food and beverage credit plus welcome bag with additional offers and savings at North 26, attractive room rate. Check rates
Wroad to Wrentham at the Colonnade (1-800-962-3030) - Just in time for holiday shopping - Includes roundtrip transportation for two to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, overnight accommodations for 2, overnight parking, and a VIP Coupon book with hundreds more in savings Check rates
Pay rates equal to your birthday year at Boston Sheraton Hotel - Stay the first night at the regular rate starting at $199 and pay a 2nd and 3rd night rate equal to your birth year. Born in 1958? Pay $58 for those nights. Use promo code NBR when you book. Reserve now
When: November 28 - December 31, matinees and evening performances almost daily
Where: Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Theatre District/Downtown Crossing (Downtown Boston)
Closest T station: Green Line/Boylston
Featuring gorgeous music by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky, choreography by Mikko Nissinen, all new sets and costumes, and a soaring performance by the Boston Ballet, The Nutcracker is an annual holiday tradition - and the Boston Opera House is the perfect setting.
The adventures of Clara, the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Russian Dancers, and The Prince as they dance around a magical winter landscape will enchant you.
Tickets for the most popular dates such as weekends can be hard to get, and they're expensive. Try these strategies:
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More than 150 tuba players delight the crowd at Faneuil Hall Marketplace when they perform their annual free holiday concert of Christmas classics on Saturday, November 29 at 2pm.
Closest T station: Orange Line/Haymarket
Parking: Boston garages near Government Center
When:
November 13-16
Where: The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts (539 Tremont Street) in Boston's South End
Tickets: $15 Friday - Sunday (under 12 free), $125- $250 for the Opening Night Gala Benefit on the 13th - plus whatever you can't resist spending on art
Closest T station: Orange Line/Back Bay
More information: Fine Arts Boston website; 617-363-0405
Love this painting? Flat Iron District, by Geoffrey Johnson - look for it at the Principle Gallery exhibit
40 top galleries from Boston, elsewhere in the US, and Europe exhibit outstanding works at this premier show and sale of traditional and contemporary fine art. Paintings, sculpture, prints, photography, and mixed media are all represented.
A Gala Preview on Thursday, November 13 features delicious food and wine, good music, and of course, the wonderful art - a perfect holiday gift. All proceeds will benefit Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit .
Want to see more art in Boston? Check out:
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Festive holiday events take place throughout the last 3 weeks of November as dazzling holiday decorations get put into place, such as these giant golden balls, part of an expansive display in Prudential's South Garden.
In addition to Prudential Center, other good places in Boston to see Christmas decorations go up - or see the festive effects once they're in place include:
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Faneuil Hall Marketplace (be sure to check out the spectacular holiday tree and Blink!)
- Boston Common when the special Christmas tree arrives from Nova Scotia
- Christopher Columbus Park Trellis in the North End
- Macy's Holiday Tree Lighting on Summer Street in Downtown Crossing
- Charles Street in Beacon Hill
- Copley Square in Back Bay
- Boston Common, after the Holiday Lighting Ceremony
Visit the site of the first Thanksgiving by making a day trip to where the Pilgrims first landed and settled back in 1620: Plymouth MA, just south of Boston, where you can see the Pilgrim Monument, go on board a reproduction of the Mayflower ship that brought the Pilgrims to the New World, and explore Plimouth Plantation, an amazingly authentic re-creation of the Pilgrim's first settlement where you can interact with actors playing the role of each of the 17th century settlers and members of the Wampanoag Nation who helped them survive.
Most convenient way to visit: Join this special Plimouth Plantation tour - you'll be picked up at your Boston hotel, and will get to visit Plimouth Plantation, Mayflower II, and explore the waterfront. Includes pick-up, transportation, admission.
The Local Food Festival celebrates all our local craft and artisan brewers, distillers, cider makers, meaderies, and food producers. It's your chance to sample the best local and New England beverages and food while enjoying spectacular views of the Boston Harbor waterfront and great live music by local musicians.
Where: Moakley U.S. Courthouse on the South Boston Waterfront (just on the other side of the Moakley footbridge)
When: November 21, 6pm-9:30pm
Admission: $47 (includes beverage and food tastings, music and entertainment, and a compostable tasting cup)
More information: bostonlocalfoodfestival.com/festivities/localcraftbrew/
Where to stay nearby: South Boston Waterfront Hotels
One of the top Boston events in November is Thanksgiving, and to get a full flavor, head south of the city to Plymouth to join this huge 3-day Thanksgiving Celebration along the harbor and waterfront.
The centerpiece is the Thanksgiving Day Parade, kicking off at 11am on Saturday, November 22, and ranked #1 in the Nation by AOL.
The parade begins at the historic waterfront. Costumed reenactors playing the roles of Pilgrims bring this period in our history to life during a food festival, music festival, and entertainment.
What makes this parade special are the historically accurate cand beautifully decorated floats, drum and bugle corps, and reenactments from all periods of American history, beginning with the Pilgrim era in the 17th century and continuing through the 21st.
When: November 21 - 23
Where: Waterfront, Plymouth, MA
Where to stay: Best Plymouth Hotels
More Parade and Festival information: Website
Photo courtesy of USA Thanksgiving, the event planner
When: Home games on November 3 and November 24
Where: Gillette Stadium
Tickets: Check for best prices, seats, discounts
Getting there: How to get to Gillette Stadium from Boston
Stay: Hotels near Gillette Stadium
Week 9 - Sunday, November 8, 1pm vs Redskins - Gillette Stadium
Week 10 - Sunday, November 15, 4:25pm at Giants
Week 11 - Monday, November 23, 8:30pm vs Buffalo Bills- Gillette Stadium
Week 12 - Sunday, November 29, 8:30pm at Broncos
Find Discount Tickets, Half-Price Tickets, Luxury Seating and Box Seats Tickets:
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Get the complete New England Patriots Schedule
Get Celtics tickets
Where: TD Garden
Stay: Hotels near TD Garden
Park: Garages near TD Garden
Celebrate: Nightlife near Celtics Games
The Boston Celtics play their first full month of the regular season, with 9 home games at TD Garden. Get ready for some green and white action!
November 1 vs San Antonio- 3:30pm
November 6 vs Washington - 7:30pm
November 11 vs Indiana- 7:30pm
November 13 vs Atlanta - 7:30pm
November 18 vs Dallas - 7:30pm
November 20 vs Brooklyn - 7:30pm
November 25 vs Philadelphia- 7:30pm
November 27 vs Washington - 7:30pm
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TD Garden Parking | Hotels near TD Garden | TD Garden | Celtics Sports Bars |
Get the complete Boston Celtics Schedule
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When: Saturday, Nov 7 (date to be confirmed for 2015), 10am - 4pm
Where: Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
Nearest MBTA station: Green Line/Symphony
Cost: $10, or a 4-pack for $35; Check Goldstar for half-price discount tickets
Boston 99.5 All Classical Radio Station WGBH hosts their annual Classical Cartoon Festival at Symphony Hall - a lively mix of classical music used in cartoons accompanied by Warner Brothers classic cartoons on the big screen, storytellers, and live performances.
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When: November 5-17
Where: Museum of Fine Arts in Boston's Fenway neighborhood, Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, with additional screenings throughout the Greater Boston metro area
Tickets: Most films are $12; a festival pass for $250 lets you watch all films, and gives you access to special pre- and post-film gatherings
More information: Website
Thirteen days of the best new international and American independent films exploring the Jewish experience and presenting films with themes about Jewish culture, heritage, and history. Traditional, experimental, documentaries, and animated formats.
When: November 13-23
Where: David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Tsai Auditorium, at Harvard University in Cambridge (1730 Cambridge Street), and the John O'Bryant African-American Institute at Northeastern University (West Village F, Room 20, Leon St, Boston)
Tickets: Available through festival website
More information: Website
Look for 11 exciting days of films, receptions, and special events at the 10th Annual Boston Latino International Film Festival. This very special celebration of BLIFF features 60 movies from 17 countries along with the participation of 15 well-known local, national, and international directors.
When: November 7-9,
Where: Somerville Theatre and Tufts University
Tickets: Available through festival website
More information: Website
This film festival is aimed at teens and their families, and showcases films for, about, and by kids. In addition, the festival includes workshops and lots of mentoring opportunities.
Find more Boston film festivals
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Over 4,000 art fans, collectors, and shoppers attend the School of the Museum of Fine Arts' annual sale each year to snap up the fabulous creations by faculty, students, and alums. Thousands of paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, new media, and more! Sales benefit student scholarships at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.
When: Thursday, November 20 - 22, 10am-8pm; Nov 23, 10am-5pm
Where: School of the Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue
Closest T station: Green Line E/Museum
For more information: 617-369-3622
Admission: Free
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When: November 7 - 15
Where: Boston's many comedy and other venues - Dick's Beantown Comedy Vault (124 Boylston St, Boston), Davis Square Theatre (225 Elm St, Somerville), Somerville Theatre (55 Davis Square, Somerville), The Burren (247 Elm Street, Somerville)
Age: 21+
What you need to do: Make reservations! Most tickets run from $10 - $20, depending on the show - although $6 - $75 is the actual range
Tickets: www.bostoncomedyfest.com
Check GoldStar Events for Half-Price Tickets
Top comedians from all around the world come to Boston to celebrate and practice comedy during this festival of laughs. Talent scouts, contests, and of course, lots of comedy make this a don't-miss event, whether you're a comedian or a fan. A stand up contest keeps everyone hopping.
And don't forget, Boston's many comedy clubs mean you can enjoy shows by the best local, national, and international comedians almost every night of the week.
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Holiday Market brings local crafts, original art and jewelry, and artisinal foods to Downtown Crossing. Look for appearances from Santa, singers and other entertainment, plus an excellent supply of Christmas trees and holiday decorations.
This free event takes place in Downtown Crossing across from Macy's (Summer Street, off Washington) from Saturday, November 29 - December 27, 11am-7pm (dates to be confirmed for 2014) Mondays through Saturdays, and 11am-5pm on Sundays. More
When: November 14 (5-9pm), Saturday Nov 15 (noon - 7pm) and Sunday Nov 16 (noon - 5pm), 2014
Where: Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston, Back Bay, Boston
Closest T station: Green Line / Hynes
For more information: 617-369-3204; website; or e-mail insideout@smfa.edu.
Entrance fee: $15 for Friday night preview plus Saturday and Sunday, $8 Saturday, $8 Sunday
Whether you're a serious collector of old books, want to shop for a few holiday gifts, or just like to read, the huge Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair is a must-visit. With over 120 dealers from the U.S. and Europe, the fair attracts visitors from around the world. In addition to the rare, collectible, and antiquarian books on exhibit and for sale, you'll also find manuscripts, autographs, maps, atlases, modern first editions, and fine and decorative prints.
If you're coming from out of town, hotels near the Hynes include the Back Bay Hilton, the Mandarin Oriental Boston, the Colonnade, the Charlesmark, the Sheraton Boston, and the Lenox.
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Home game location: TD Garden
Nearest T stop: North Station
Parking: Boston garages near North Station / TD Garden
Stay: Hotels near TD Garden
Celebrate: Best Boston bars near TD Garden
Show you care: Dress like a Bruin
Find awesome tickets to see the Bruins play
Here's the Bruins home game schedule for November - get ready for some excitement!
November 3 vs Dallas- 7:00pm
November 12 vs Colorado - 7:00pm
November 14 vs Detroit - 7:00pm
November 17 vs San Jose- 7:00pm
November 19 vs Minnesota - 7:00pm
November 21 vs Toronto- 7:00 pm
November 27 vs NY Rangers - 1:00pm
Buy yourself a Bruins blanket.
Get the complete Boston Bruins Schedule
Where: Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Fenway, Boston
Closest T station: Green Line E/Museum
Admission: $25; free entrance (and go to front of the line) when you have a Boston Discount Card
A fascinating selection of model trains, planes, and automobiles will rev up your imagination in this special exhibit from the collection of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf. The exhibit opens on November 15 and runs through May 10, 2015.
Use these Boston discount passes for Museum of Fine Arts, plus admission to lots of other attractions, museums, tours, and cruises
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In addition to the November events described on this page, many other interesting events take place in and around Boston.
We hear about lots of these events directly from other visitors to Boston Discovery Guide, or from the event organizers. Find a list of these events
Do you know about an event for November that other might enjoy? Tell us about it here
Or, if your event is for another month (not November), tell us about it here
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Boston Discovery Guide > Boston Events > November Events
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