New Years Day Ocean Swims, Kite Fly, Hikes, Breakdancing, and More!
12/31/09 by
Johnny Monsarrat
Want a creative idea for New Years Eve? Check out last week’s blog. There are so many fun things to do! Now on to what to do for New Years Day and beyond. And this is definitely the last week for the big holiday light displays, so get out there and see some!
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-Johnny
New Years Day |
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| First Flag ceremony | 1/1 | Boston Metro |
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| This is interesting! After the American War of Independence, the first American flag was raised in Somerville. Re-enactors will be doing it again! Procession from City Hall at 11:30am then up to Prospect Hill for a ceremony at 12pm. Refreshments. Prospect Hill Park, Somerville, MA. more |
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| New Years Day Kite Fly | 1/1 | North Shore |
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| You can learn to fly a kite in Nahant alongside some pros. They also have kite flying in Newport, RI and Portland, ME. Nahant Beach, Nahant, MA.978-937-8290. more |
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| L Street Brownies New Year’s Day Swim | 1/1 | Boston Metro |
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| Every year, crazy people go for a swim on New Years. Why not show up and cheer them on? What a way to eliminate a hangover. 2009: 9am registration, 10am swim. It’s unclear where this is, exactly, the “K Street Beach”? Curley Community Center, 1663 Columbia Road, Boston, MA.617-635-5104. more |
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| Joey’s Plunge | 1/1 | Boston Metro |
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| Here’s another one in Boston, this time to benefit kids with terminal illness. 1663 Columbia Road, Boston, MA. more |
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| Penguin Plunge | 1/1 | Rhode Island |
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| This one’s for special needs kids. Mackeral Cove, Jamestown, RI. more |
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| New Years’ Day Polar Bear Plunge | 1/1 | Rhode Island |
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| Also in Rhode Island…. Easton’s Beach, Memorial Blvd, Newport, RI.401-846-0028. more |
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| Seawall Splash @ Oakland Beach Carousel | 1/1 | Rhode Island |
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| Also Rhode Island…. Warwick, RI. more |
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| Hangover Classic (race and polar swim) | 1/1 | North Shore |
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| This one’s near Newburyport, MA on the North Shore. Salisbury Beach, 3 Broadway Street, Salisbury, MA. more |
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| Freezin’ For A Reason | 1/1 | Maine |
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| It can only get crazier by doing the same damn thing, but in *MAINE*. Woo hoo! Ther’es one in Bangor, too. Portland, ME. more |
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| Annual Lobster Dip @ Old Orchard Beach | 1/1 | Maine |
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| Old Orchard Beach, ME. more | ||||
| Wachusett Mountain Polar Dip | 1/1 | Worcester |
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| And near Wachusett Mountain, the ski resort, too. Wachusett Mountain, Princeton, MA. more |
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| Wicked Frosty Four Race | 1/1 | North Shore |
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| There are also a bunch of New Years Day races. Here is one. Starts at Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA. more |
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| First Day Hikes @ Blue Hills | 1/1 | Boston Metro |
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| But I’d rather go for a guided hike. They’re all free. Various state parks, All Over. more more |
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| First Day Free @ Gardner Museum | 1/1 | Boston Metro |
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| It’s also free at the Gardner Museum, the museum that never changes (except the garden, and the performances, and they’re building an addition.). 280 The Fenway, Boston, MA.617-566-1401. more |
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The Week in Weird |
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| Boston Media Makers Meeting | 1/3 | Boston Metro |
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| I don’t normally write about club meetings, but maybe I should when they’re weird enough. Here’s an entire group of people who think they’re newsworthy, that meet to socialize and trade tips on changing the world. Doyle’s Café, 3484 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. more |
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| MIT IAP (Independent Activities Period) | 1/4 – 1/29 | Boston Metro |
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| Over winter break, MIT holds a variety of classes, lectures, and special events, many of which are wonderfully weird and open to the public. Check their calendar. MIT, Cambridge, MA.617-253-1000. more |
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| Breakdance Classes | 1/4 – 1/27 | Boston Metro |
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| For example, you can learn to breakdance! I’ve been to this one and it’s really fun! MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Chinese Dessert Night | 1/6 | Boston Metro |
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| Or you can sample oriental refreshments. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Christmas Tree Bonfire | 1/6 | North Shore |
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| I really want to see this one! They will burn holiday trees in a huge bonfire. It will smell good and the pine sap tends to pop! 6pm. Dead Horse Beach at Salem Willows, Salem, MA. more |
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Recurring Events |
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| Sleigh rides & smores at Point of View Farm | 1/1 – 2/15 | New Hampshire |
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| Weekends through February, you can get a real sleigh ride in New Hampshire. 160 South Road, Deerfield, NH.603-463-7974. more |
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| Paperfest & World of Paper Crafts at Children’s Museum | 12/23 – 1/3 | Boston Metro |
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| Learn origami, and help break the world’s record for longest paper chain. They’ll bring in professionals all week to talk about paper crafts from around the world. I called in, and the PR rep *swears* it will not be boring for adults! We’ll see! 2009: 11am-4pm. Boston Childrens Museum, Boston, MA. more |
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| Kimball Farm Horse-Draw Sleigh Rides | 1/1 – 2/15 | Northern Mass |
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| Or closer to Boston in Haverhill, MA, if there’s snow. Kimball Farm Corn Maze, 780 East Broadway, Haverhill, MA.978 521-3990. more |
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| Sleep No More | 10/8 – 2/7 | Boston Metro |
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| I hear this show is amazing. They’ve taken over an entire unused school in Brookline, and every room has a display and actors. You get to stroll from room to room interacting with everyone as the plot proceeds. Some School, Brookline, MA. more |
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| Holiday Lights | grade | |||||
| Holiday Model Trains Display @ South Station | Boston, MA | |||||
| 2009: Every day through Jan 10th. South Station Train Station, Boston, MA. more |
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| Holiday Landscapes | Stoneham, MA | |||||
| It’s a private home but a really expansive lights display, with lights that flash in rhythm to music broadcast over an FM transmitter. 83 Franklin St, Stoneham, MA. more |
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| Edaville Railroad’s Christmas Festival of Lights | Carver, MA | |||||
| The biggest and best “holiday lights” display in New England. It’s quite non-religious, with Santa letting kids sit on his lap but also plenty of generic fare like Frosty the Snowman and a tip of the hat to Hannukah. They have a train ride, ferris wheel, carousel, and other rides. They have 7 million lights, and fireworks every Friday night in December. See website for coupons. Daily. I’ve been and it’s a ton of fun even for adults who are kids at heart and like people-watching. Rt 3S to exit 6, Rt 44W for 8 miles to Rt 58 for 8 miles. 2009: 4-9pm M-F, 2-9pm Sat, Sun. Pine Street, Carver, MA.877-EDAVILLE. more |
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| Forest of Lights Holiday Hayride | West Bridgewater, MA | |||||
| 2009: Rides leave at 5,6,7, & 8pm. Matfield Maple Farm, 107 Matfield St., West Bridgewater, MA.508 588-9858. more |
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| Santa’s Magical Playland | Lowell, MA | |||||
| 2009: 4-8:45pm. It appears to be a huge attraction, with a carousel and tons of lights and costumed characters. Cawley Stadium, Lowell, MA. more |
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| La Salette Shrine Festival of Lights | Attleboro, MA | |||||
| 2009: 5-9pm. Very religious, it’s a shrine. But I’ve been and it was nice anyway. Over 300,000 lights covering 10 acres. Trolley rides Fri-Sun. 947 Park Street, Attleboro, MA.508-222-5410. more |
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| Holiday Lights at Buttonwood Zoo | New Bedford, MA | |||||
| 6-9pm. And many daytime visits by Santa, see Web site. Precise range of Xmas lights unknown, but here is their operating schedule. 425 Hawthorn Street, New Bedford, MA.(508) 991-6178. more |
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| Springfield’s Bright Night at Forest Park | Springfield, MA | |||||
| 2009: 5-9pm Mon-Thu & Sun. 5-11pm Fri, Sat. 550,000 lights. Surprisingly good though — the 2nd to Edaville. Check out Springfield Museums or zoo (open during school holidays in Dec) at same time. Daily. And check out the holiday lights at Dunn & Phillips, 185 Belmont Ave., Springfield. Rt 83, Springfield, MA.413-733-3800. more |
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| Look Park’s Winter Wonderland | Florence, MA | |||||
| 2009: 4-9pm. Hayrides and lights. Look Park Zoo. 38,000 bulbs. 300 North Main Street, Florence, MA.413.584.5457. more |
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| La Salette Shrine & Center | Enfield, NH | |||||
| Another very religious site has 45,000 evening lights spread across 30 acres. Here’s the idea. Two kids said they saw the Virgin Mary, and the parents based an entire church on that. And I couldn’t even get away with “the dog ate my homework”! 603-632-7087. more |
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| Annual Fantasy of Lights | New Haven, CT | |||||
| Benefits the Easter Seals. Was not able to confirm this is their 2009, not 2008, calendar. Open nightly. Light House Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT.(203) 777-2000. more |
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