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 Museum of Ice Cream.

3 minutes to read

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].

Grab cheap tickets to a holiday classic

Good news: Two Boston-based philanthropists are giving theatre lovers the chance to see the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” for just $25. The deal applies to the first five performances through Dec. 13. (Show dates and times vary; 219 Tremont St., Boston; $25)

Spice up your lunch break

The Drop Clock Club is known for hosting social dining events that highlight neighborhood gems, and this week’s group lunches are no exception. The plan: Visit Kaju Tofu House (once named Boston’s best Korean restaurant by Boston magazine) for an afternoon of dumplings, seafood and kimchi pancakes, and spicy BBQ chicken, all with new pals. (Dates and times vary; 56 Harvard Ave., Boston; $25)

Feel like a kid again

If you ever thought you were “too old” for LEGO, think again. Boston’s LEGO Discovery Center is hosting an ugly sweater adult night filled with a holiday-themed building competition, an ugly sweater contest, LEGO prizes, and more. And yes, as the name suggests, you must be 18 or older to enter. (Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.; 598 Assembly Row, Somerville; $19.99)

Get a head start on Hanukkah

The first night is set for Dec. 25, but the MFA is kicking celebrations off early with a special Hanukkah event starring art-making, live music, a Hanukkah parade, and more. Bonus: Enjoy $5 minimum, pay-what-you-wish general admission starting at 5 p.m. (Thursday, Dec. 12 from 5 to 10 p.m.; 465 Huntington Ave., Boston; starts at $5)

Swing your partner round and round

We’re headed to a hoedown at Sweet Cheeks Q for a night of line dancing and tasty BBQ. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, your ticket gets you line-dancing lessons with JPLineDance and a BBQ buffet. (Thursday, Dec. 12 from 8 to 10 p.m.; 1381 Boylston St., Boston; $18)

Make your own holiday market crawl

Trying to ween off Amazon this holiday shopping season? This weekend is loaded with local alternatives. Just to name a few: There’s the Brighton Bazaar’s “Holidaze” market selling art, vintage, and fashion, Time Out’s holly jolly holiday market, Castle Island Brewing’s shop and sip marketplace, Long Live Roxbury’s winter market featuring craft and artisan vendors, an AAPI-owned holiday market, and a Black-owned business holiday pop-up. (Multiple dates, locations, and times)

Grab a scoop at Boston’s newest museum

If your sweet tooth and an Instagram influencer had a baby, you’d get Museum of Ice Cream. After two years of construction and design, this new museum in the Seaport is set to open Dec. 14. The sweets (and photo ops) are endless, featuring a slide that ends in a pool of sprinkles, a cookie living room, and lobster ice cream. (Opens Dec. 14; 121 Seaport Blvd., Boston; prices vary)

Join the naughty list at Boston’s holiday bar crawl

‘Tis the season for toasting to the holidays in full Santa garb. That’s exactly the vibe at the 8th annual Bad Santa bar crawl. Your ticket gets you cover-free entry to a smorgasbord of Boston bars around Faneuil Hall and the West End, a free Santa hat, dozens of local DJ performances, $1,000 cash giveaway to the best Santa costume, and more. (Saturday, Dec. 14 from 12 to 8 p.m.; multiple locations; ticket prices vary)

Get your bike and join the Jingle Ride

Celebrate the holiday season with this festive 18.5-mile bike event that goes through neighborhoods in Cambridge and Boston. This 28th Annual Ciclismo Classico Jingle Ride is one of the longest-running Boston holiday sporting events, and it is a parade, not a race. The bikers will also occasionally stop to sing carols along the route. If you don’t want to bike, you can also be a volunteer or just a spectator. (Sunday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 594 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington; $25 suggested donation)

Spend Sunday in gamer heaven

The Boston Festival of Indie Games returns IRL for the first time in half a decade on Dec. 15. This is your chance to check out the latest indie tabletop and video games, along with other vendors, developers, and exhibitors. And stay tuned at the end of the festival for the Figgie Awards, honoring the top tabletop and digital indie games featured in this year’s showcase. (Sunday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 539 Tremont St., Boston; $30)

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