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Christmas lights at night in Boston
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Christmas lights · Boston, MA

Christmas lights in Boston

Boston's lights are almost all free and almost all walkable, strung along a route from Faneuil Hall through the Common and Public Garden to Commonwealth Avenue. The T gets you to all of them.

5 displays · 5 free · 3 with 2026 dates announced

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Where to see them

Where to go: with kids, on a date, with friends

With kids

Short walks, Santa, rides and something to do besides looking.

For a date

Somewhere to walk slowly, a drink in hand, and look good in the photos.

With friends

Cheap by the carload, or a long evening with food and music.

Walk-through: gardens, zoo, parks

All free, and all on foot. Check when each one is lit before you set out.

Xmas tree on Boston CommonPhoto: Louis Oliveira · CC BY-SA 2.0
Park·DowntownFree

Boston Common tree

The city's official tree on Boston Common — a gift from Nova Scotia every year — lit at a big ceremony, with trees across the Common wrapped in lights and a holiday drone show.

🧒 With kids✨ Date night🎉 With friends

What's there

  • Official city tree
  • Lights across the Common
  • Holiday drone show
  • Free

What visitors sayGoogle 4.7 ★ · 39,049 reviews

Visitors loved the holiday drone show and say the Common in winter feels quietly magical — the city slowing down under the lights.

The starting point for Boston's free lights walk.

2026 season
Lit from Dec 3, 2026 (85th tree lighting, 6 – 8 pm)
Cost
Free

Getting in and parking

  • MBTA Red or Green Line to Park Street. The Boston Common Garage is underneath.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • The big tree is Nova Scotia's yearly thank-you gift to Boston.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Meet Boston (2025)

Public Garden and Commonwealth Avenue Mall — illustrationIllustration
Park·Back BayFree

Public Garden and Commonwealth Avenue Mall

The Public Garden's trees and monuments and the whole length of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall strung with lights — a long, elegant Back Bay walk, especially lovely under snow.

✨ Date night

What's there

  • Mile of lit trees along Comm Ave
  • Free
  • Beautiful in snow
  • Near Newbury Street shops

What visitors sayGoogle 4.7 ★ · 602 reviews

People describe the mall covered in snow and Christmas lights as one of Boston's prettiest scenes, and even more beautiful in the evening.

Boston's most romantic free Christmas walk.

2026 season
Comm Ave Mall lit Dec 3, 2026 (8 pm, after the Common tree lighting)
Cost
Free

Getting in and parking

  • Green Line to Arlington. Walk the Public Garden, then head west along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • It's a quiet, romantic walk — good for a date.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Meet Boston (2025)

The Faneuil Hall Christmas TreePhoto: Todd Van Hoosear · CC BY-SA 2.0
Christmas Tree at Faneuil HallChristmas tree at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Photos: unclebeneficio · CC0 · Photos: Max Kawagishi · CC BY 2.0

Walk-through·Faneuil Hall MarketplaceFree

Faneuil Hall tree

A giant tree at Faneuil Hall Marketplace next to Quincy Market, lit with a ceremony in late November, with the markets and food halls around it.

🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

What's there

  • Giant tree
  • Food halls and shops
  • Free

What visitors sayGoogle 4.5 ★ · 49,364 reviews

It's one of Boston's busiest tourist spots — good for food and souvenirs, and very crowded inside and out.

Worth a stop on the lights walk — go on a weeknight.

2025 season
Lit from Nov 22, 2025
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
Free

Getting in and parking

  • MBTA to Government Center or State. Garages nearby are expensive; the T is easier.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • The light show around the big tree repeats through the evening.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Meet Boston (2025)

Christopher Columbus Park Trellis LightsPhoto: Eric Kilby · CC BY-SA 2.0
Park·WaterfrontFree

Christopher Columbus Park trellis

The long waterfront trellis in Christopher Columbus Park wrapped in blue lights, like a glowing tunnel by the harbor.

✨ Date night

What's there

  • Glowing trellis tunnel
  • Harbour views
  • Free
  • Great for photos

What visitors sayGoogle 4.7 ★ · 74 reviews

Visitors call it a beautiful, romantic Christmas walk and a cute mini date — and a favorite spot for photos.

A short, free and very romantic stop by the water.

2026 season
Lit Nov 23, 2026 (5 – 6 pm ceremony)
Cost
Free

Getting in and parking

  • Christopher Columbus Park on the Waterfront, by the Aquarium. Blue Line to Aquarium.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • The lit trellis is a favorite photo spot — go on a weeknight for fewer people.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Meet Boston (2025)

Seaport lights and Snowport — illustrationIllustration
Walk-through·Seaport DistrictFree

Seaport lights and Snowport

The Seaport lit up for the holidays, with the Snowport holiday market on Seaport Common — local makers, gifts, food and drinks.

🎉 With friends✨ Date night

What's there

  • Snowport holiday market
  • Gift shopping
  • Food and drinks
  • Harbour setting

What visitors sayGoogle 4.7 ★ · 213 reviews

Visitors call the decorations colorful and the market a great place for gifts — though it's packed, with timed entry at busy times.

Go for gifts and a drink; expect a line on weekends.

2025 season
Lit from Dec 5, 2025
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
Free

Getting in and parking

  • Silver Line to Courthouse or World Trade Center. Walk from South Station.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Combine it with Snowport, the holiday market in the Seaport.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Meet Boston (2025)

Before you go

Why some dates say 2025

Most displays announce the season in October or November. Until they do, we show last year's dates and say so, rather than guess this year's. Every card shows the day we last checked it and where the facts came from.

Santa services in the USChristmas markets in Boston

Christmas lights in other cities

Questions

Which Christmas lights in Boston are free?
Boston Common tree (Downtown), Public Garden and Commonwealth Avenue Mall (Back Bay), Faneuil Hall tree (Faneuil Hall Marketplace), Christopher Columbus Park trellis (Waterfront), Seaport lights and Snowport (Seaport District). None of them sell tickets, but some charge for parking and the busiest neighborhoods have long lines, so check each card and go on a weeknight.
When do the Boston light displays open this year?
So far Boston Common tree (Lit from Dec 3, 2026 (85th tree lighting, 6 – 8 pm)) and Public Garden and Commonwealth Avenue Mall (Comm Ave Mall lit Dec 3, 2026 (8 pm, after the Common tree lighting)) and Christopher Columbus Park trellis (Lit Nov 23, 2026 (5 – 6 pm ceremony)) have announced their 2026 dates. The rest publish in October and November; until then this page shows last year's dates, marked as such.