At this time of year, the sight of rotting jack-o-lanterns perched on every front porch is a common occurrence.
Unpleasant as this view may be to some, to others it is a sure sign that the holiday seasons are about to change.
As we say goodbye to Halloween for another year, many will welcome the Christmas season with open arms in excitement of the many holiday light displays that are sure to come.
Locally, the towns of Tewksbury and Wilmington already have plans in place for tree lighting ceremonies for the upcoming month of December.
But for those who can’t get enough of the countdown sensation of illuminating thousands of twinkling lights, fear not, for the City of Boston has you covered from late November into December with multiple holiday lighting ceremonies planned.
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m., Boston’s official 2025 Boston Common Tree will arrive from Nova Scotia.
Although this 45-foot tall white spruce will not be lit immediately upon arrival, Santa will be on hand for the arrival of the tree to hand out candy canes and welcome this season’s starring spruce to the Boston area in anticipation of the upcoming tree lighting event.
The actual lighting ceremony for this Beantown tradition will take place on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 at 6 p.m.
For those who can not make it into the city that night, the holiday event will be broadcasted live on WCVB Channel 5 starting at 7 p.m.
For the die-hard Christmas light lover who can not possibly wait until December to see a spectacle of holiday lights on display, you are in luck.
The holiday tradition of the Lighting of the Tree at Faneuil Hall will take place on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
This year’s 50-foot tree comes from Northern Michigan, and will be decorated with one mile of lights and over 900 ornaments.
This event will happen from 2 until 7 p.m., and take place at the West End between Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.
Activities include live entertainment, lots of seasonal treats, and even an appearance by Santa Claus.
On Monday, Nov. 24, from 5 to 6 p.m., Boston’s historic waterfront will be transformed into a sparkling holiday display of lights at the Lighting of the Trellis at Christopher Columbus Park.
Located at 110 Atlantic Ave. in Boston, you can witness the lighting of 50,000 lights along the 260 foot trellis, as well as 14 trees that can be found throughout the park.
On Saturday, Nov. 29 from 5 to 6 p.m., attended the 5th annual Park Celebration at the Smith Family Waterfront Friends of Martin’s Park, located at 64 Sleeper St. in South Boston.
This climate resilient park was built in memory of Martin W. Richard, the youngest victim of the Boston Marathon bombing.
The park provides a fun space for children and families of all abilities to get together and play, and the centerpiece of this park’s play structure is a ship that will be lit for the holidays.
Once the calendar changes to December, the Copley Square Tree Lighting will take place on Monday, Dec. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m.
This is the first time there will be a tree at 560 Street in the Back Bay since 2022.
The Copley Place holiday event will feature the arrival of Santa and Rudolph, plus music and refreshments to celebrate the re-opening of this newly renovated park.
Immediately following the Dec. 4 Boston Common Tree Lighting ceremony there will be the Lighting of the Commonwealth Mall and Charlesgate Park, located along Arlington Street and Commonwealth Avenue, and will take place at 8:15 p.m., courtesy of the Friends of the Public Garden.
On Friday Dec. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., enjoy a night of sparkling lights in the heart of Boston’s Seaport area with Betty the Yeti, music and holiday fun at the Light Up Seaport event located at Seaport Common.
Seaport’s Snowport Winter Festival, located at 60 Seaport Blvd, will also host a Menorah Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.
The 2025 Menorah Lighting on Boston Common will be held from Dec. 14 through 22, with a giant 22-foot Menorah.
The Memorah will be on display in Boston Common near the Park Street Station, and is considered one of the largest Menorahs in New England.
Faneuil Hall also plans to hold a Menorah Lighting, but has not yet released any details on this event. Updates for this event can be found on their website at www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com.
This November, prepare yourself for the busy holiday season ahead by scheduling some time to enjoy the fun of the season before the holiday hustle and bustle begins.
Attending one of the many Boston holiday lighting events is a sure way to spark some much needed Christmas spirit within you that may just carry you through the rush of the remaining holiday season.