7 Things to Do Around New England If You Hate Black Friday Shopping
Black Friday is here again. And your policy is to run from all things retail.
Thankfully, there’s plenty to do around New England that doesn’t involve a 6 a.m. trip to Wal-Mart. To prove it, we’ve rounded up seven ideas that’ll enable you to opt out of the chaos and keep your sanity intact.
1. Take a Trip to the Zoo
Head to Franklin Park Zoo or Stone Zoo for a Black Friday celebration that doesn’t break the bank. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., admission to both zoos will be half price ($9 for adults, $6 for kids at Franklin Park Zoo; $7.5 for adults, $5.50 for kids at Stone Zoo).
Pet a reindeer!
What’s more, at Stone Zoo you’ll witness opening night of ZooLights, a winter wonderland inhabited by arctic foxes, Canada lynxes, reindeer, and thousands of twinkling lights—all for $7. The fun starts at 5 p.m. Now, that’s a deal.
2. Make Homemade Gifts at Boston Children’s Museum
A boy made a craft for “UnShopping Day’’ at the Boston Children’s Museum last year.
Stop by the Boston Children’s Museum for its annual “UnShopping Day.’’ Kids will work on up-cycled projects and do-it-yourself-gifts such as ornaments and picture frames. Guests will also enjoy the interactive performance “Ecology of Sound’’ by Ricardo Frota, who creates music with instruments fashioned from natural and recycled materials. Then, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., admission drops from $14 to $1 for Target Fridays (now there’s a Black Friday bargain!).
Check out our list of free museums in Boston and beyond for other wallet-friendly museum ideas.
3. Witness a Shooting Match at Sturbridge Village
Why not watch a historical reenactment?
Looking to brush up on your Thanksgiving history? Then forget football: markmanship is the name of the game. At Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Mass., there will be a 19th-century shooting match in the style of New England Thanksgiving tradition. These matches, where male sharpshooters fired black powder muskets at a distant paper target for bragging rights and prizes, were a popular pastime in the 1800s—much like football is today. There will also be a presentation on the customs of Thanksgiving and a buffet feast at a restaurant on site. Admission to the village is $24 for adults, $22 for seniors, $8 for youths (from 3 to 17), and free for children under 2; this does not include the buffet.
4. Cut Your Own Christmas Tree
Which one should I choose?
It’s the dream of every Christmas traditionalist to not only choose and decorate the perfect Christmas tree, but to chop it down themselves. Make this dream a reality by visiting a Christmas tree farm on Black Friday and cutting a pine of your own. With more than 50 farms within the Boston area, there are plenty of options to choose from and, depending on the farm, it can cost as little as $30. Just be sure to sharpen that saw and read up on our tips before you go.
5. Ogle Balloons at Springfield’s Tower Square Parade
Well hello there, 75-foot Cat in the Hat!
Love the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? There’s another float-filled extravaganza in town. In Springfield, Mass., giant helium-filled balloons have been delighting 70,000-plus spectators each Black Friday for more than 20 years. The free event includes musical performances, tricked out cars, and plenty of—you guessed it—balloons. Who to look out for: the Cat in the Hat, Smokey the Bear, and the big-bellied man himself.
6. Ice Skate on the Frog Pond
What’s better than skating on the Frog Pond?
Grab your sweetie and take a spin on the Frog Pond in Boston Common, which opened November 22. Admission to the pond is $5 for skaters over 58 inches and free for those under that height. And when you’re done skating, you can treat yourselves to Belgian waffles and hot chocolate at the adjacent Frog Pond Café.
7. Catch Opening Night of Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker’’
Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” debuts at the Boston Opera House November 28.
End your Black Friday with a bang by catching opening night of Boston Ballet’s rendition of “The Nutcracker’’ at the Boston Opera House. Now in its third year, it has been hailed as “the most magical version of The Nutcracker’’ and a truly memorable experience for all. Tickets are still available, can be purchased online, and cost $45 and up.
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