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10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest things to do in Boston.
Welcome to BosTen, your weekly guide to the coolest events and best things to do in Boston this weekend. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter here. Have an idea about what we should cover? Leave us a comment on this article or in the BosTen Facebook group, or email us at [email protected].
Hit up Boston’s ultimate New Year’s Eve party
We’re obviously talking about First Night. This New Year’s Eve celebration is basically Boston’s version of NYC’s Times Square extravaganza (minus the drunk Andys and suffocating crowds). Expect live concerts, arts and crafts, the Frog Pong’s live skating spectacular, and most importantly, a fireworks display when the clock strikes 12. You can see the full event schedule here. Or you can check out these other New Year’s Eve celebrations across the city. (Tuesday, Dec. 31; multiple times locations; free)
Go on an ice sculpture scavenger hunt
Boston Harbor Now is back with its 12th annual waterfront ice sculpture stroll with nearly 30 sculptures on display from Revere Beach to the Seaport. Bonus: You can get to them all via public transit. If you snap pics along the way, you can enter a sweet stay-cation giveaway. (Tuesday, Dec. 31; multiple locations; free)
Step into 2025 … with a hike!
The Mass. Department of Conversation and Recreation will once again kick off the new year with free guided First Day Hikes at 14 state parks. Whether you’re trekking around Blue Hills or Walden Pond, most of the hikes are a manageable one- to three-miles long. You can see the full hike lineup here. (Wednesday, Jan. 1; multiples times and locations; free)
Start 2025 with new intentions … and a new candle
Nothing says “new year, new me” like planning out your 2025 vibes while making a cozy candle. You can do exactly that at Dark Mode’s candle-making and intention-setting workshop on Jan. 2 where they’ll teach you how to make your own personalized coconut wax candle while setting intentions and manifestations. (Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.; 1 Bow Market Wy., Somerville; $60)
Watch a great American classic
You can ring in another year of the roarin’ ’20s with a movie about the OG roaring ’20s. Trident Booksellers is hosting a free screening of “The Great Gatsby” starring Leo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan on Jan. 2 in its upstairs cafe. (Thursday, Jan. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m.; 338 Newbury St., Boston; free)
Join a RuPaul’s Drag Race watch party
Head over to Time Out Market for a season premiere viewing party, hosted by one of the contestants this season, Plane Jane. There will be performances and music during commercial breaks and an exclusive Q&A at the end with Plane Jane, as well as Boston’s own Big Atlas. (Friday, Jan. 3 from 8 to 10 p.m.; 401 Park Dr., Boston; free)
Skip Dry January for beer school
Break out your notebook and pencils, because we’re heading to Lamplighter Brewing’s beer school brewery tour and tasting class. This 60-minute guided tasting gets you a behind-the-scenes look into how the brews get made (along with plenty of samples). You can test how well you paid attention with a beer school quiz and graduate with a *very official* diploma. (Saturday, Jan. 4 from 4 to 5 p.m.; 284 Broadway, Cambridge; $30)
Turn something broken into a work of art
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Whether you’re a pottery expert or just looking to try something new, you can take a stab at this beautiful technique at Nirvana Healing Arts’ Kintsugi pottery workshop. They’ll provide all the pottery and all materials, so just bring your creativity and a can-do attitude. (Sunday, Jan. 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; 91 Hampshire St., Cambridge; $69)
Laugh off the worst of 2024
Comedy Party hosts a stand up showcase around Boston every weekend, and they’re headed for Democracy Brewing in the heart of downtown on Saturday. Expect a line up of comics with big time credits along with fresh microbrews on tap. (Saturday, Jan. 4; doors open at 7:45 p.m.; 35 Temple Pl., Boston; $20)
Level up your iPhone photo skills
Let’s be real … iPhone photos are great, but photography with a DSLR just hits … different. So if you’re DSLR-curious, this guided photo walk through the Public Garden might be for you. The 90-minute class covers the photography basics like shooting manually, composition rules, and how to scout a great pic. Just bring yourself and a camera with manual mode settings (DSLR, mirrorless, advanced point-and-shoots). (Sunday, Jan. 5 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 4 Charles St., Boston; $90)
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