Winter Fun

10 things to do in Boston this weekend

BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest things to do in Boston.

The Great Hall in Hammond Castle in Gloucester.

By Kelly Chan and Gia Orsino

3 minutes to read

Hit the slopes in Seaport

And by slopes, we mean the pile of shipping containers which create Harpoon’s Slopeside, three (very legit, we promise) snow tubing lanes at the brewery. You can buy sledding tickets by the hour or the day, but this year’s official hours aren’t posted yet, so we’d recommend calling ahead. (Multiple dates and times; 306 Northern Ave., Boston; tickets start at $5)

Meal prep cookies for Santa

Or … just make them for yourself with Clover Flood Lab’s Director of Hospitality at a cookie-making class on Tuesday. If you and Santa can’t finish them all, bring them with you to Southie Social Circle’s cookie swap party on Thursday. (Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; 496 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; $15)

DIY a last-minute holiday gift

Pro tip: When all else fails, gift a fun ornament. This decoupage oyster shell decor night at Fromage Wine Bar and Restaurant is the perfect opportunity to make a lovely one. A ticket will get you four gold plated oyster shells for ornaments, a larger shell for a trinket dish, and all the supplies to paint them. (Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m.; 401 West Broadway, Boston; $45)

Dive into conversation with total strangers

Wait! Before we lose you, it’s not so bad. Skip the Small Talk has hosted tons of friendship-making events designed to help strangers connect meaningfully through big conversation prompts. The next one is on Tuesday at Trident Booksellers & Cafe. (Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m.; 338 Newbury St., Boston; $18.50)

Celebrate the history of Kwanzaa

The next installment of the Boston Public Library Parker Hill Branch’s Friday Films series is “The Black Candle.” Narrated by Maya Angelou, the film uses the holiday as a way to explore the struggle and triumph of African-American family, community, and culture. (Friday, Dec. 20 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.; 1497 Tremont St., Boston; free)

Embrace the darkness with ghost stories

On Friday, the evening before the winter solstice, The Loring Greenough House is embracing one of the darkest nights of the year with a series of holiday ghost stories, read by five authors. It’ll be followed up with a brief chat about holding onto hope. (Friday, Dec. 20 from 7 to 9 p.m.; 12 South St., Boston; tickets start at $5)

Meet some new pals, two ways

Both with Boston’s “Make Friends After College” social group for 20- and 30-somethings. Option one: Dance the night away at a The Glitter Boys concert on Friday at The Sinclair. Option two: Walk Boston’s holiday lights trail on Saturday, then grab a drink. (Multiple dates, locations, and times)

Take the commuter rail to an IRL castle

It’s possible, we promise, MassAdventures has it all covered. You’ll take the train from North Station, then a private van, to Hammond Castle in Gloucester for a self-guided tour of its stunning Deck the Halls exhibit, then back again. (Saturday, Dec. 21 from 10:15 a.m. to 3:18 p.m.; multiple locations; $63.50)

Have ‘A Very Hairy Christmas‘

No, we didn’t misspeak, that’s the name of Delaware drag queen Jolene Cuisine’s one woman Christmas special on Saturday at the Huntington. You can expect “fabulous live vocals, campy parodies, and Christmas classics.” Just note that tickets are 18+. (Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8:00 p.m.; 264 Huntington Ave., Boston; $25)

Make your list, check it twice, then shop

Holiday market season isn’t slowing down. This week, offerings include Brighton Bazaar’s huge Holiday Bazaar at Roadrunner with over 130 vendors (just don’t forget to grab a ticket); and Small Mart, another local business market at Crystal Ballroom in Davis Square. (Multiple dates, times, and locations)

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