Get Into The Spirit FRIDAY At Boston’s Light Up Seaport: Free Music, Performances, Bites and Sips

December is here! Can you believe it. Christmas music is now infiltrating our daily lives, neighborhood are starting to sparkle, and shoppers are out in full force. Take a moment to breathe and enjoy some of it. You can do exactly that in Boston on December 1st to kick off the season. Get into the spirit this Friday at Boston's Light Up Seaport, with FREE music, performances, bites and sips.

Come together with the Boston community to celebrate the holidays. At Light Up Seaport, you can take it all the sights, sounds and smells of the season. Watch as Boston's biggest holiday tree, standing 50 feet tall, gets lit! Over 10,000 lights will bedazzle the tall tannenbaum. And there is SO much more.

Celebrate the season in the Seaport this Friday, December 1st from 5:00pm – 9:00pm. There will be holiday music, an appearance by Betty the Yeti and a holiday stroll, where you can enjoy special offers and a few surprises from local business, according to a press release from Light Up Seaport. Can't get there, you can watch it on TV. Performances and more can be seen on NBC10 Boston, also on Peacock and on Roku you can view portions in a "special live edition of The Hub Today, " according to the press release.

Over 50 retailers and restaurants in the Seaport will have exclusive one-night-only promotions. Don't miss performances from local artists and aerialists through out the evening. All you have to do to be there is RSVP for Light Up Seaport, HERE. You'll find more details there, as well.

*"Light Up Seaport is a part of Snowport, a fantastical winter wonderland of good times, gifts, games, art, food, and special events, including outdoor iceless curling, The Tree Market, an annual Menorah Lighting (December 10), and the iconic The Holiday Market at Snowport, in Partnership with Constant Contact, and created with The Makers Show." (Media release)

Boston Seaport by WS has announced the return of Snowport! Also known as "Winter in Seaport," this seasonal celebration and marketplace begins November 10, 2023. Everything you need to know about it can be found right here. So, get ready to enjoy a lit holiday season that's bigger, better and blingier! Boston's festive holiday market, Snowport is back at the Seaport.

Bells will be ringing and there will be plenty of rockin' around the Christmas trees in Boston's seaport for this spectacular winter wonderland. Snowport in Boston's beautiful Seaport neighborhood is turning up the good times with even more food, art, gifts, special events and plenty of good times. Now in it's 5th year, Snowport is the ultimate destination for holiday fun and shopping.

It's not just about the shopping and eating. There's outdoor ice curling, tree trimming and the Tree Market. Don't miss the annual holiday tree lighting, Menorah Lighting and so much more at this beloved open air holiday market.

According to the press release, Snowport is the largest holiday market in New England. It's all presented in partnership with Constant Contact, and created with The Makers Show. And as stated in the official release, it's this "luminous and enchanting open-air market will showcase over 120 businesses, as well as an inviting dining area with 17 food and beverage concepts."

Get all the dates, times, events, location information and much more, here, below. It's going to be a bright, beautiful season in Boston. Come celebrate, shop eat and take part in the many activities to help us all get into the spirit, and check a few things off the holiday list.

The holidays will be here before you know it. You've got shopping and merry-making to do. Why not support small and local businesses while you do it? At this year's Holiday Market 30% of which the vendors are new to the market, 60% of them are local to Boston, and 67% are minority and/or female owned, according to the press release.

Where; 100 Seaport Blvd in Boston's Seaport District

Directions: Find a map to Snowport HERE

Parking: Snowport has Parking information HERE

Dates: November 10- December 31, and open 7 days a week except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and December 26 when it will be closed

Times: 

During the peak holiday season (December 11 – December 31), the market will have extended hours:

As stated in the press release, this year The Holiday Market at Snowport features over 120 vendors. There's more food than ever and you won't want to miss out on a visit to their custom cocktail bar. The bar is from Tuscan Kitchen. And this year there is even more festive decor like a mistletoe arch, plus a winter wish wall and crafting corner.

Some highlights of the Holiday Market, provided by Boston Seaport by WS are:

Find a full list of Holiday Market vendors HERE. 

This is a very popular attraction at Snowport. It's open 7 days a week November 10, 2023 - February 25, 2024.

GIVE IT A CURL IN SNOWPORT

Now at a new location!

You can enjoy a fun game of curling at Snowport, along Harbor Way.

Book daily curling adventures with your friends. You can also sign up for lessons. The North End Curling Club will provide complimentary Learn to Curl classes on select Saturdays from 2pm – 4pm. Book your Curling Lane reservations in advance at bostonseaport.xyz/snowport.

*The Guest Services Gondola, staffed with Snowport ambassadors will be on-hand to help with activities.

Hours for Curling during the peak holiday season (December 11 – December 31) and winter vacation week (February 19 – 25), Curling at Snowport are:

(Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and December 26^th)

10,000 square fee of outdoor dining!

The open-air space includes 17 food and beverage spots. It's an immersive environment that also includes an "après ski" themed lounge. Sit in the bright red Adirondack chairs near the faux fire pits in a heated tent with more " beer garden style seating." You can also rent this area for private and semi-private events.

New this year:  4 holiday-themed bars . Check out "Jingle Bar" with it's hundreds of bells! There's "The Dizzy Dreidel" dressed up with spinning dreidels.

Guests can sip on a sweet variety of seasonal craft cocktails and warm drinks, including the Holiday Hot Mulled Cider by Downeast Cider.

The press release provided all the food/drink options, including these:

Find a full list of food and beverage providers, HERE.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on December 1 from 5-9pm

Location: Seaport Common, 85 Northern Avenue, Boston

Boston's largest tree, measuring some 50 feet will be lit up for the 7th annual "Light Up Seaport and Holiday Stroll." Enjoy musical performances on Seaport Common, a holiday stroll through the neighborhood, and  60+ Seaport retailers offering one-night-only promotions.

Also, you'll see Betty the Yeti at Betty's Blizzard Bluff in The Superette Courtyard for an exclusive meet and greet. If you can't make it, you can tune into NBC10 Boston for live coverage of all the festivities, performances, and more.

The Menorah Lighting ceremony happens Sunday, December 10 from 4-6pm 
Location: One Seaport Courtyard, 60 Seaport Boulevard, Boston

The Seaport will celebrate Chanukkah at the Menorah Lighting celebration with Chabad of Downtown Boston on Sunday, December 10. See a spectacular light show and enjoy traditional treats, including kosher jelly donuts and chocolate gelt.

The Tree Market

Location: 65 Northern Ave. Boston

Hours: Daily 9am-8pm starting November 17 and going through December 23.

Betty's back! Betty the Yeti has a long summer of rest and relaxation in the Himalayas (according to the press release), and is ready to return to Snowport.

Take a selfie with Betty. The Seaport's "celebetty" will be making appearances throughout Snowport's season. She's getting ready to settle in at her Blizzared Bluff at the Superette, "Boston's Best Outdoor Shopping Complex" (Boston Magazine).

Betty even has her own merch. Get your Betty the Yeti plush, and other elusive Betty merchandise, at The Holiday Market, or online at the Seaport Store. Proceeds will go to 826 Boston, which is a nonprofit writing and tutoring center in Egleston Square, "dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative writing skills."

Just for grown-ups, new Betty the Yeti cocktails will be served at the bars at Snowport's Holiday Market. $1 of every Betty cocktail or mocktail sold will also go to 826.

When: Sunday, December 31, 2023, All Day
Where: Neighborhood wide (throughout the Seaport)

Snowport's last evening features the Boston Harbor Now New Year's Eve Ice Sculpture Stroll. It's a full day celebration highlighted by several large ice sculptures.