Nov 21-29, 2011: 15 Xmas Parades, LEGO fest, Thanksgiving outings, Nutcracker giveaway, & Santa Tree Lightings, & Sing-a-Long Mary Poppins

11/21/11 by

This week I’ve created a much nicer layout, giving every event its own details page that you can share on Facebook. Please email me your feedback! Seriously, the last time I asked for feedback, nobody wrote me. Drop me a note at johnny@eventsINSIDER.com and let me know how you use the website, what works for you, what needs improving. Thanks!

Don’t just sit around with the family this Thanksgiving holiday. There are plenty of active events to get you out of the house! Sure, it’s colder, but let’s face it, it’s not going to be this warm again until late March. So enjoy the outdoors.

I hope you are having an awesome week. Now get out there and do something fun!

-Johnny

p.s. Love this blog? Subscribe to email, , or and if you help get the word out, I’ll put you on my priority list to win free stuff and send you the FREE 27-page Events INSIDER New England Guide, with over 720 off-beat attractions you won’t find in the blog!


Worcester
Fri 11/25 – Sun 11/27

The Nutcracker – tix giveaway

The Nutcracker - tix giveaway at Boston Events INSIDER

If you’re ever going to see a ballet show, make it The Nutcracker, a Christmas fantasy where children witness gingerbread soldiers fighting the mice, and are carried by dolphins to a Land of Sweets. I have 2 pairs of tickets to give away. Email johnny@eventsINSIDER.com and tell me what performance date you’d like to win. (Try not to make it Saturday.). Hanover Theatre, Worcester, MA. more info

Boston Metro
Sat 11/26

Boston TV & Movie Sites Tour – tix giveaway

Boston TV & Movie Sites Tour - tix giveaway at Boston Events INSIDER

Massachusetts offers the 2nd best discount to movie studios and as a result a ton of great films have been shot here. Now take a tour around town to see the sites for The Town, Good Will Hunting, The Departed, and more. Tours run regularly — see the website — and I’ve got 2 pairs of tickets to give away for the one Saturday, November 26 at 2:30pm. Email johnny@eventsINSIDER.com to win! Boston, MA. more info

Springfield
Fri 11/25

Springfield’s Parade of the Big Balloons

Springfield's Parade of the Big Balloons at Boston Events INSIDER

I would so love to see this! Probably the best event after Thanksgiving is the parade in Springfield. The non-metro towns that try the hardest to lure in tourists are Springfield, Quincy, Salem, and Lowell. You can bet whenever an event happens in any of these places, it’ll be good. 11am, down Main Street from Lyman Street to Locust Street. Then 2pm fest at Tower Square with carolers, costumed characters. Main Street, Springfield, MA413-733-3800.Main Street, Springfield, MA. more info

Lowell
Sat 11/26

Lowell City of Lights Parade & Holiday Art Stroll

Lowell City of Lights Parade & Holiday Art Stroll at Boston Events INSIDER

And Lowell has a parade too! Various merchants and museums will be open — these events are typically driven by the chamber of commerce — and you’ll find trolley rides, a parade, Santa Claus, a hot chocolate competition, street performers, theatre, and more. 2-9pm, with parade at 4:30pm. Plenty of free parking! Merrimack & Central Streets, Lowell, MA978-674-1481, 978-446-7162.Merrimack & Central Streets, Lowell, MA. more info

Boston Metro
Sun 11/27

Quincy Christmas Lights Festival & Parade

Quincy Christmas Lights Festival & Parade at Boston Events INSIDER

And right on cue, another town that tries hard, Quincy, has a Christmas festival. Kids festival and lighting ceremony Fri Nov 25, 4-8pm. Santa arrives by parachute Sat Nov 26, 12:30pm at Pageant Field, and a parade Sun Nov 27, 12:30pm, from School St & Elm St up Hancock St to North Quincy. It’s more of a draw if you put all this stuff together into one day, in my opinion. Quincy, MA617-376-1990 Chris Walker.Quincy, MA. more info

South Shore
Sat 11/26

The Greater Brockton Holiday Parade

The Greater Brockton Holiday Parade at Boston Events INSIDER

At 1pm, Brockton represents the South Shore better with a parade with floats! Activities and Santa photos all day. Brockton, MA508-587-4322 or 508-580-7840.Brockton, MA. more info

Metro West
Sat 11/26

Santa Parade and Fireworks over Choate

Santa Parade and Fireworks over Choate at Boston Events INSIDER

Right after you think, “Where the hell is Medway” (between Framingham and Foxboro), you think, “Fireworks!!” Parade at 5:00pm up Holliston St to Choate Park, with fireworks afterwards over Choate Pond, Santa, tree lighting. Choate Park, Medway, MA508-533-3275.Choate Park, Medway, MA. more info

Metro West
Fri 11/25 – Sun 11/27

LEGO Extravaganza at Acton

LEGO Extravaganza at Acton at Boston Events INSIDER

Can we back up just a second? It’s not ALL about Christmas and as a favor to non-believers, I will separate out the Xmas and non-Xmas events all month. For example, there’s a festival of building giant sculptures in Acton, with LEGOs. Make sure to bring hand sanitizer! They say it’s for all ages even though it’s at a children’s museum. I want to go!! 177 Main St, Acton, MA978-264-4200.177 Main St, Acton, MA. more info

South Shore
Thu 11/24

Plimoth Plantation is open on Thanksgiving

Plimoth Plantation is open on Thanksgiving at Boston Events INSIDER

Don’t just sit around on Thanksgiving! New England owns Thanksgiving because the original feast was in Plymouth, Massachusetts. And now there’s a historical re-enactment museum with dozens of live actors — and it’s open on Thanksgiving Day. 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA508-746-1622.137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA. more info

Boston Metro
Fri 11/25

Friday After Thanksgiving Chain Reaction

Friday After Thanksgiving Chain Reaction at Boston Events INSIDER

I saw this last year and it was surprisingly good for an amateur competition! Hobbyists build elaborately complicated machines called Rube Goldberg devices. That’s when the candle heats the air going into the balloon, which bursts, surprising the bird who tips over a bucket, sending water onto a cat, who yowls and pulls a string, releasing a bowling ball to roll… you get the idea. Register to join in, or show up close to the end to watch. 1-4pm. MIT Campus, Rockwell Gymnasium, 120 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA. more info

This week’s top items are below, or see the complete Boston Events Insider.

 

And a lot more this week at Boston Events Insider, the most popular events blog in New England, including:

Thanksgiving Contra Dance
Thanksgiving & A New England Wedding at OSV
“And Now Mark Twain!”
Nantucket Cold Turkey Plunge
Communicating with the Latino Market: a Free Lecture with João Silva
TubaChristmas Concert at Fanueil Hall
Christopher Columbus Park Holiday Trellis Lighting
Winthrop Holiday Lighting Festival
Charles Hotel Tree Lighting
Roslindale Tree Lighting
Dorchester Trolley Tour & Several Tree Lightings
Peabody Square Tree Lighting Celebration
Anderson Tree Lighting in Logan Square
Copley Square Tree Lighting
Macy’s Boston Tree Lighting
Newburyport Santa Parade & Tree Lighting
Gloucester’s Santa Parade & Tree Lighting
Family Breakfast with Santa!
Tree Lighting Festival at Smolak Farms
The Lanternlight Parade and The Mayor’s Greenlighting Ceremony
Santa’s Arrival at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Santa Arrives in Westerly
Holiday Parade of Lights in Berlin NH
Santa Arrives by Dogteam at Waterville Valley
Christmas in Wolfeboro Parade
HawkFeather Dancers – Modern Native American Dances and Customs
Gobble Gobble Gobble Road Race
Too Much Turkey Hike!
Boston Latino International Film Festival
Half-Price Day at Franklin Park Zoo & Stone Zoo
Our National Thanksgiving – w/ Abraham Lincoln
Owl Moon: Night Hike
Foray After the Feast
Super Megafest – my review
Captors – our review
The Capitol Steps
Arabic Music with Tufts Takht and Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – Small Jazz Concert
Straight No Chaser – my review
Tree Lighting and Lighted Boat Parade
Santa Arrives by Tugboat
Trees in the Rigging Boat Parade
CT Holiday Dazzle Light Parade
Turkey Dip
Opening Day for Hartford Winterfest
Stamford Harbor Parade of Lights
Annual Holiday Stroll at East Lyme
Waterville Parade of Lights
Manchester Merriment

And the Largest List of Nighttime Holiday Lights and Santa events in New England, tracking 130 ongoing attractions and dozens of one-shot events!

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