Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Santa is on the move this month, but you can catch him at one of the festive spots we've highlighted here. Don't forget to look through our extended December calendar listings, beginning on page 18, for more ideas of where you may have another holidays moment.
Sun. Dec. 2
Holiday Lighting at Nashoba Valley. Bolton. 4-7pm. Traditional lighting at the orchard. Hay rides, caroling with the Assabet Valley Chambersingers, and special Santa visit at 4:30pm. Wine tasting and holiday shopping for parents. Food available. Rain, snow or shine. 978-779-5521. nashobawinery.com.
Holiday Open House. Great Brook Farms, 356 Main St., Bolton. The real Santa will visit from 11am-3pm. BBQ and other refreshments available. 978- 779-6680. greatbrookfarms.com. Also Dec. 3.
Photos with Santa. Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton. Call for more information: 508-435-3414. westonnurseries.com. Also Dec. 9
Breakfast with Santa. Friendly's at the Natick Mall, 9 am. $5 per person (child or adult). A portion of the proceeds will benefit Children's Miracle Network. For more information, call Friendly's at 508-651-7004
Santa's Coming! Sleighbell Christmas Tree Farm and Gift Barn, 130 Whitins Rd., Sutton. 9am-4pm. Bring your camera for a holiday photo in an antique sleigh. Free haywagon rides (weather permitting) through fields of Christmas trees. Cartoon cutouts, hot cocoa, gifts, fresh trees and wreaths, "Santa Express" train runs through the barn. 508-234-6953. sleighbelltreefarm.com. Also Dec. 3
Sat. Dec. 3
Holiday Lighting at Nashoba Valley. Bolton. See Dec. 2 listing.
Holiday Open House. Great Brook Farms, Bolton. See Dec. 2 listing.
Christmas Parade with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Downtown Maynard. 2pm. Silver Bells theme. 978-897-2781 or e-mail nledgard@aol.com.
Santa's Coming! Sleighbell Christmas Tree Farm and Gift Barn, Sutton. See Dec. 2 listing.
Fri. Dec. 8
The Night Before Christmas. Concord Book Shop, Main St., Concord. 2:30- 5pm. St. Nick will be reading "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Moore as a fundraiser for Concord's historic landmark, The Old Manse. Photos with St. Nick are available for a suggested donation. The event is free. 978-369-3909. E-mail oldmanse@ttor.org.
Sat. Dec. 9
Sunrise with Santa. Auburn Mall Food Court, Auburn. 9-10:30am. Letter writing to Santa activity, an early photo session with Santa and a pre-packaged snack and beverage. 508-832-0781.
A Visit with Santa. Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Rd., Concord. 2-3pm: free activities. Make your own pine cone bird feeder; decorate a gingerbread cookies, etc. 3-5pm: Bring a wish list and show it to Santa. Great photos opportunities for pictures, so bring a camera! Music by Two for the Show. Candy canes, cookies, cider. Free. 978-369-4494. verrillfarm.com.
Morning with Santa for Concord Museum Members. 9-11am. Creative storybook crafts, festive refreshments, and a visit with Santa. Members only. A Free, C$25. Reserve early. Space limited. 978-369-9763.
Breakfast with Santa. Friendly's at the Natick Mall, 9 am. $5 per person (child or adult). A portion of the proceedes will benefit Children's Miracle Network. For more information call Friendly's at 508-651-7004
Breakfast with Santa. Publick House Historic Inn, On the Common, Rte. 131,
Sturbridge. Starts 8am. Hearty Yankee breakfast buffet. Sit on Santa's lap. Receive a small gift. Bring cameras. A $16.95, C (3-10) $9.95, Under 3 free. Reservations 508-347-3313 x 400. 800-PUBLICK. publickhouse. com. Also Dec. 10, 16, &17.
Santa's Tea. Gore Place, 52 Gore St., just off Rte. 20 (Main St.) near the Waltham/Watertown line. 11am. Special children's menu and a visit from Santa in a Victorian tea room of an 1806 mansion. $25pp. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations: 781-894-2798. goreplace.org. Also Dec. 16.
Sun. Dec. 10
Holiday Pops "The Magic of Christmas." Littleton Performing Arts Center, 56 King St., Littleton. 3pm. The Orchestra of Indian Hill presents an afternoon of your favorite holiday music for the whole family to enjoy. (Look for a special appearance by Santa Claus!). $20-$46. 978-486-0540 or indianhillmusic. org.
Sat. Dec. 16
Breakfast with Santa. Friendly's at the Natick Mall, 9 am. $5 per person (child or adult). A portion of the proceedes will benefit Children's Miracle Network. For more information call Friendly's at 508-651-7004
Santa Arrives at Worcester Fitness. 440 Grove St., Worcester. 10am. Holiday stories and craft. Bring your cameras. Reservations: 508-852-8209.
Sun. Dec. 17
Santa and Friends Christmas Party. Noodle Noggin' 'N Bean, Inc., Northborough. 11am-3pm. Goodies, Christmas music, games and fun!! Pose for pictures with Santa. A$2.99, C$9.99. 508-351-7060. noodlenogginnbean.com.
Polar Express Celebration. Wachusett Mountain, Princeton. 1-3pm. Santa will arrive by helicopter at 1pm. Songs and stories, Christmas goodies, holiday music, and prizes. Stay for a viewing of the Polar Express movie. Admission fees apply. 978- 464-2300. wachusett.com.
MULTI-DAY EVENTS
The Enchanted Village. Hynes Convention Center, Exhibit B, 900 Boylston St., Boston. Ends Jan. 1 Daily 10am-7pm. Magical recreation of a turn-of-the-century New England Village on a snowy Christmas Eve. Complete with storefronts, Brownstones, parlor displays, and animated figures. $1pp. Photos with Santa before Christmas $10. 617-635-3689.
Edaville Railroad Christmas Festival. Edaville USA, Rte. 58, Carver. Ends Jan. 7. Millions of twinkling lights and dozens of displays on a 5-mile ride through a cranberry plantation. Daily visits from Santa. Closed Christmas Day. A$16, C (2-12)$14. Under 2 free. Call for times: 887-EDAVILL. edaville.com.
A Broadway Christmas. Theatre at the Mount, 444 Green St., Gardner. Dec. 1 & 2; 8 & 10. 8pm. A full sleigh of Broadway songs includes "We Need a Little Christmas" from the musical Mame, "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Meet Me in St. Louis, "Toyland" from Babes in Toyland. Show stopping dance numbers and a visit from Santa. Tickets $18. 978-632-2403.
Bright Nights at Forest Park. Sumner Ave., Springfield. Wed.-Sun. Nov. 22-Dec. 10. Nightly Dec. 13-Jan. 1. Sun.-Thurs. 6-9pm. Fri., Sat., & holidays, 6-11pm. 350,000 light bulbs and 2 1/2 miles of displays. Seuss Land, Winter Woods, Toy Land, North Pole Village. Tune your radios for holiday music accompaniment. Check Web Site for Santa visits. M.-Thurs.$12 weekday/$15 Fri., Sat., Sun., & holiday. 413-748-6190. brightnights.org.
Zoolights. Stone Zoo, Stoneham. Nightly, Thanksgiving Night - Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 25). 5-9pm. A dazzling winter wonderland filled with thousands of sparkling lights, visits and photos w/Santa (ends Dec. 23), fairy tale characters and dancing plush animals at Santa's Castle. $4pp, Under 2 free. 617-989-2013. zoonewengland.org.
Christmas by Candlelight. Old Sturbridge Village. Dec. 8, 9, 10 & Dec. 15, 16, 17, 5-9pm. See the Village illuminated by hundreds of candles on pathways and in windows. Holiday demos by costumed interpreters, musical performances by local and regional choirs, choruses, and musicians, horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides, storytelling, strolling carolers, bonfires, shopping, and visits with Santa (photo packages available).$12pp. 800-SEE-1830. osv.org
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