OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! MELTDOWN WARNING: Before you pack up the minivan, please confirm your destination. Although we’ve done our best to ensure accuracy at press time, things can and do change.
1 Friday
Photo by Michael Blanchard Photography
Morning Birds. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Rd., Worcester. 7 a.m.-9 a.m. Enjoy a leisurely birding experience and help document the sanctuary birds over the season, as we explore different corners of our land. Register ahead. Members free; nonmembers $5. massaudubon.org. Music and Movement with Miss Bernadette. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Explore sound through singing and playing, as you move, make music, listen, learn, and get a multisensory workout with Kindermusik educator Miss Bernadette. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. 4 p.m. & 7 p.m. Join Mickey, Minnie Mouse, and the comical duo of Donald Duck and Goofy as they step into mysterious portals throughout the Disney universe, entering the enchanted lands of more than 20 of your favorite Disney characters. $28-$63. hanovertheatre.org. Winter Reimagined. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. The annual celebration of winter’s arrival featuring glittering light displays indoors and out, decorated trees, handcrafted ornaments, children’s activities, and more. Through Jan. 7. Adults $17, children $7, under age 5 free. towerhillbg.org. Blink! A Light & Sound Extravaganza. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston. Nightly performances start at 4:30 p.m. and run continuously through 9:30 p.m. Featuring the music of the Holiday Pops, this all-new show is a state-of-the-art light-and-sound outdoor extravaganza. Through Jan. 1. Free. faneuilhallmarketplace.com First Friday Nights Free. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Explore the museum at night as we collect non-perishable food donations for the Acton Food Pantry and Open Table of Concord and Maynard. Free. discoverymuseums.org. Bright Nights. Forest Park, 200 Trafton Rd., Springfield. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Make the four-mile drive through Forest Park, illuminated with 650,000 sparkling lights. Through Jan. 1. $18 per vehicle Monday-Thursday, $21 Friday-Sunday and holidays. brightnights.org. ZooLights. Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St., Stoneham. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Get dazzled during this winter wonderland lighting up the park, including special festive decorations set up throughout the zoo featuring bald eagles, arctic foxes, and reindeer, and a special display for
The 244th Anniversary Boston Tea Party Reenactment. Old South Meeting House, Boston. Dec. 16.
our black bears Smoky and Bubba. Through December. Free with admission. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16.95, children ages 2 to 12 $11.95, children under 2 free. zoonewengland.org. Elf The Musical. Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston. 7 p.m. The musical adaptation of the holiday classic that follows Buddy the Elf, who embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. Through Dec. 10. Tickets $37.50+. bochcenter.org. Holiday Joy. Regent Theatre, 17 Medford St., Arlington. 7:30 p.m. The Dance Inn’s annual event embraces the holiday season with fanfare and zest. $15-$20. regenttheatre.com.
2 Saturday New England Holiday Craft Spectacular. Event Center at The Hanover Mall, Rte. 53, Hanover. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Three-day shopping bonanza with more than 250 of the nation’s finest craftsmen and artisans. Through Sunday. Adult $7, under 14 free; one admission good for all three days. Discount coupons available online. castleberryfairs.com. Beyond the Spectrum: Introduction to Anime. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Explore contemporary anime art, as well as Japanese art found in the MFA’s collection, before creating comics and sequential artwork that tells a story during this morning activity for children on the autism spectrum. Register ahead. $9. mfa.org.
Santa Saturdays. Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy winter-themed arts and crafts, holidaythemed enrichment for the animals, and more festive fun as we welcome jolly old Saint Nick as he journeys from the North Pole to the Tropical Forest building. Also on Dec. 9 and 16. Free with admission. Adults $19.95, youth ages 2 to 12 $13.94, children under age 2 free. zoonewengland.org. Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas Recreation. Main Street, Stockbridge. 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Music, storytelling, caroling, concerts, and more, culminating in Sunday’s recreation of Norman Rockwell’s famous “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas” with more than 50 antique cars. Also Sunday. stockbridgechamber.org. WeeMuse: Art Lab. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Kids take a hands-on approach mixing arts and science. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $13, youths age 4 and up $6, children 3 and under free. berkshiremuseum.org. Everyday Engineering: Straw Structures. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Engage in everyday engineering by exploring and creating shapes and structures with just straws and pipe cleaners. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. All About Snowflakes. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn how snowflakes are made, what makes them unique, and try your hand at making your own. Members $5, nonmembers $8. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.
Arms + Armor Demonstrations. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Learn all about different kinds of arms and armor used by knights and soldiers from the Roman Empire to Medieval Europe in this fun, interactive presentation. Free until noon. Members free; nonmember adults $16, ages 4 and up $6, children 3 and under free. worcesterart.org. Families @ WAM Tour. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Explore Worcester Art Museum galleries with the family on a docent-guided discovery tour, as you enjoy stories, fun facts, and time together. Free. worcesterart.org. Holiday in the Park. Six Flags New England, 1623 Main St,, Agawam. 2 p.m.-9 p.m. Guests can enjoy the theme park in a whole new way with millions of twinkling lights, holiday treats, entertainment, and over 50 rides. Weekends and select dates through Jan. 1. sixflags. com/newengland. Winter Stroll: Meet Mrs. Claus. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Share a story with Mrs. Claus and make a snowy seasonal craft before venturing out and searching for the little green elf hiding somewhere in the library’s shelves. For ages 12 and under. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. The Nutcracker. Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, 100 Westminster St., Fitchburg. Sterling Youth Ballet, in association with Paula Meola Dance, presents the holiday classic. Adults $18, children and seniors $16. sterlingyouthballet.org. Capturing Minerals with Pencil and Paper. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Explore the world of minerals, and try out tricks and techniques to capture them in 3D and give your crystal drawings some shine. For ages 9 to 13. Register ahead. Members $25, nonmembers $35. hmnh.harvard.edu. Cape Ann Big Band Holiday Concert. Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main St., Rockport. 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. Enjoy the holidays with Cape Ann’s 17-piece big band performing holiday favorites, infused with a bit of jazz, swing, and rock n’ roll. $19-$36. rockportmusic.org.
3 Sunday Tanglewood Marionettes Presents Cinderella. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. Through the use of lavishly costumed marionettes, enjoy this presentation of the classic fairy tale following a soon-to-be-princess, her prince, and her wicked family. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Adults $13, children $10. coolidge.org. BAYSTATEPARENT 37