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Header Photo Credits
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Clockwise from top left: Cranberry harvest; Hancock Shaker Village; Mayflower II/Plimoth Plantation; Christian Scott, Mass Jazz/Berklee College of Music; D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield
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GREETINGS! Massachusetts is rich in arts & culture, so it's no surprise that exciting events, exhibits and festivals are held in the state's 16 regions all year long. Find out more!
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New wing of Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Nic Lehoux, 2011
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QUICK TAKE: Home to some of Boston's most exciting performing and visual arts institutions. SEE & DO: Who says it's cold outside? Travel to sunlit Italy and John Singer Sargent's Watercolors at the Museum of Fine Arts. At the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Sophie Calle: Last Seen is based on the infamous 1990 theft of masterpieces from the Venetian-style palace. The Tony Award-winning Huntington Theatre presents "The Cocktail Hour," a delightful comedy of manners. The New England Conservatory has jazz, chamber, and orchestral concerts all month long. Get in the holiday spirit at the ever-popular Holiday Pops at historic Symphony Hall. EAT & SLEEP: Feast on seafood at Summer Shack; spend the night at the smart Copley Square Hotel.
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Featured Region: Johnny Appleseed Country
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For more information on Johnny Appleseed Country, click here.
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Martha's Vineyard
| |  The 6th Annual Holiday Artisans Festival will be held Saturday, December 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grange Hall in West Tisbury. You won't want to miss this very special holiday fair, our last of the year! Many holiday gifts are available, just right for that special someone who appreciates a true Island gift, and as usual always hand-made one by one. Catered by Little Rock Farm. Admission is free! For more information www.MVY.com. For more information on Martha's Vineyard, click here. |
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Mohawk Trail Region
| |  The annual Williamstown Holiday Walk is celebrating its 30th anniversary on Saturday, December 7th from 3 to 6 p.m. The festivities kick off at 3 p.m. with the Reindog Parade. Spectators can expect to see pooches of all shapes and sizes donning their holiday best! After the parade, Spring Street will fill with the sights and sounds of the season - music, Santa, a Cookie Bake-Off, old fashioned Penny social, performances and more! Info at williamstownchamber.com or on Facebook. For more information on the Mohawk Trail Region, click here. |
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MetroWest
| |  The 6th Annual MetroWest Festival of Trees - set for December 13-15 at Best Western Royal Plaza's 47,000 square-foot Trade Center in Marlborough - has rapidly grown into one of the premier events in MetroWest and Central Massachusetts, with over 5,000 people expected to attend! Experience more than 100 spectacularly decorated trees, the Aisle of Wreaths, Gingerbread Village, CandyLand, North Pole Playland, Dickens Village, crafters, entertainment, and more. |
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Nantucket Island
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 The quintessential Christmas experience awaits you at the 40th Christmas Stroll on Nantucket Island...cobblestoned streets lined with glittering fir trees, strolling Victorian carolers, and a surprise visit from the "Jolly One" himself! Come celebrate with us the weekend of December 6-8. Then, experience New Year's on Nantucket with several exciting events to attend, including the Black and White ball. Nantucket is the perfect place to celebrate the season. Best of all, there's no time machine required! For more information on Nantucket Island, click here. |
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North of Boston
| |  Experience the magic of the North of Boston region this holiday season. Follow the Gingerbread Express as it roars through a candy-coated village at the Wenham Museum. Welcome Santa as he parades through downtown Newburyport and gather in Market Square for the tree lighting and Christmas carols. Christmas wouldn't be the same without North Shore Music Theatre's presentation of "A Christmas Carol" - a musical spectacular with dazzling special effects and costumes. For more holiday events, visit www.northofboston.org/holiday!
For more information on North of Boston, click here. |
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Plymouth County
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 Celebrate An Artisan Christmas at The Drawing Room in Marion from December 8th through December 24th! Browse the curated collection of artisan work by more than two dozen New England artisans. Learn about the design process, and do some holiday shopping! Shop the curated collection of original handcrafted furnishings, accessories and art for all of your loved ones this holiday season. It's a place where imagination soars, creativity abounds, and beautiful surprises await.
For more information on Plymouth County, click here.
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Southeastern Massachusetts
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The Berkshires
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Credit Kevin Sprague
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For an extra special holiday treat, follow George Bailey on his journey to discover the true value of life in "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" - a retelling of this classic story! Audiences will be taken back to the Golden Age of radio by this special production, staged as a live radio broadcast straight from Christmas Eve, 1946. Visit Shakespeare.org/wonderful for more information and to buy tickets.
For more information on the Berkshires, click here.
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Greater Merrimack Valley
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Family Trees: A Celebration of Children's Literature, now in its 18th year, gives Concord Museum's renowned literary tradition a creative twist! From November 27-January 1, the Museum's galleries are filled with 38 fanciful trees of all shapes and sizes, decorated with original ornaments inspired by acclaimed children's storybooks and contemporary picture book favorites. The exhibition's focus on children's literature makes Family Trees unique among the many holiday events in Massachusetts. For more information on Greater Merrimack Valley, click here.
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Central Massachusetts
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|  Get in the Holiday Spirit this season with a visit to the world renowned Hanover Theatre in Worcester! Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and conductor Keith Lockhart entertain with their sparkling and beloved Holiday Pops concert on December 6th. Next, enjoy "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens December 14-22. To find your favorite holiday events in Central Massachusetts, click here! For more information on Central Massachusetts, click here. |
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Franklin County
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 NYC has the Rockettes' holiday show at Radio City Music Hall, but Franklin County has The Ja'Duke Holiday Spectacular at Turners Falls High School December 13-15! Watch 250 performers in a seasonal program of dancing, singing and acting that will foster the holiday spirit. The show embraces various cultures and traditions in a multimedia presentation that includes performers from age two through adult. Then enjoy a Special Day in Northfield - an Olde Fashioned Holiday Celebration - on Saturday, December 14th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information on Franklin County, click here.
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Greater Boston
| |  December simply isn't enough to take in all of Boston's cultural events! The Boston Ballet performs The Nutcracker; sing-a-longs and a visit from St Nick can be enjoyed at The Boston Pops; A Christmas Story, the Musical entertains at the Wang Theatre; Handel's Messiah resonates throughout Symphony Hall; and Black Nativity captivates audiences of all races. To make the season brighter and your wallet not too much lighter, check out the Mayor's Holiday Spectacular -half-price tickets & dining deals!
For more information on Greater Boston, click here. |
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Cape Cod
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From December 1st through the 31st, experience an authentic Christmas on Cape Cod! Enjoy festive holiday strolls, caroling, harbor lights, parades and celebrations, including the 50th Annual Falmouth Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 8th. Also take advantage of fantastic accommodation packages, and pick up a Christmas on Cape Cod Passport for a chance to win thousands in gift cards to local shops or the grand prize - a getaway provided by the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis! 'Tis the season for great giveaways on the Cape.
For more information on Cape Cod, click here.
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Greater Springfield
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Enjoy a brand new holiday tradition! The Walking in a Winter Wonderland exhibit at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield which is open every day through January 5. Be dazzled as you enter a life-size winter snow globe (complete with snowfall) and tour five themed rooms and gift shop. Before heading home, visit Springfield's Bright Nights at Forest Park, which features numerous holiday lighting exhibits set along a three mile driving route through Forest Park.
For more information on Greater Springfield, click here.
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Hampshire County
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 At midnight on New Year's Eve in Northampton, crowds gather in the streets to watch a festively-lit ball similar to the one in Times Square RISE. Yes, that's right...we said RISE! This "ball-raising" is the culmination to First Night Northampton, a city-wide New Year's Eve party, whose 12-hour family-friendly program includes an astounding array of entertainment presented by hundreds of talented performers at 22 downtown venues. Tickets are on sale now! Click for more information on Hampshire County. |
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