Get your tree decorations and holiday lights out and grab a hot cocoa — it’s Christmas time! As winter descends and the festive season begins, you may be wondering what the best things to do in Massachusetts are at this time of year.
At Keolis massAdventures, we’re just as excited about the holiday season as you, which is why we have a range of holiday-themed Day Trips Near Boston available! To help you decide on what festive activity is best for you, we’ve created this blog about the 10 magical Christmas things to do in Massachusetts.
So strap on your boots and grab a beanie, because even though it’s cold outside, adventure awaits!
Source: Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens
Enjoy Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village
Step back in time for a Christmas like no other at Old Sturbridge Village! The village, which recreates a 19th-century New England town, brings festive traditions of yore to life. Discover the stories behind Christmas stockings and tree ornaments, meet Santa in his own cabin, and listen to a performance of carols.
Even if you don’t visit Old Sturbridge Village at Christmas, make sure you include it on your bucket list, as it’s one of our Top Attractions and Hidden Gems in Central MA!
Celebrate the Season at Crane Estate
At Christmas, Castle Hill on the Crane Estate turns into a festive spectacle. Each year the mansion is beautifully decorated, and this year’s theme is “A Nod to Nature”, celebrating the beauty of nature with woodland motifs, wreaths of evergreens and natural textures. As part of our winter Guided Tour of Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, you’ll stroll through rooms adorned with nature-inspired holiday decor, sip hot chocolate, and play the Crane holiday ‘I Spy” game. Stop into the gift shop to kickstart your holiday shopping or to grab yourself a festive souvenir! Christmas at Castle Hill: “A Nod to Nature” begins on December 5, 2025 and runs through December 28, 2025 – don’t miss it!
Those looking for a peaceful outdoor experience this season will enjoy the Guided Nature Walk Through the Dunes of Castle Neck Beach on the Crane Estate. Hear the waves crashing in the distance as you make your way around the dune system behind Crane Beach, on a different kind of beach day! The dunes provide a one-of-a-kind home to many plants and animals, so of which may be curious enough to poke their heads out as you walk by. Feel the stress of the holiday season melt anyway when you see a fawn following its mother deer or a Snowy Owl swoop overhead. While we can’t guarantee you’ll see any specific animals, you will feel refreshed after! This trip provides a beautiful time of reflection, appreciation for nature, and moments to slow down during a season which can sometimes feel too busy.
Make Holiday Memories at Red Apple Farm’s Winter Lights
Bring the whole family for a magical evening at Red Apple Farm’s Winter Lights in Phillipston, Massachusetts. The farm’s sprawling orchard is strung with tens of thousands of twinkling lights, illuminated barns, and festive installations. Walk down pathways lined with colorful bulbs as the sounds of holiday songs surround you. Snap festive photos perfect for holiday cards and enjoy seasonal treats like hot apple cider, one of their famous apple cider donuts, or s’mores by the fire pits. It’s a wonderful blend of rural charm and holiday sparkle. Winter Lights kicks off its 2025 season on November 28, open select nights through December 31, 2025.
Join Deck the Halls at Hammond Castle
For some luxurious festivities, Hammond Castle transforms into an opulent Christmas display over November and December. Adorned with rich colors and whimsical decor, the museum truly brings the magic to life. See this historic Massachusetts attraction become a hub of celebration as part of our Hammond Castle Museum Tour, and admire how the castle is lit up in an otherworldly scene! This season, Deck the Hall at Hammond Castle Museum begins on November 21, 2025 and runs through January 4, 2026.
Go Ice Skating in Worcester
While New York City’s Rockefeller Center may be home to one of the most iconic ice skating rinks, the Oval Rink in Worcester is 4,000 square feet larger! Easily accessible by Commuter Rail, it’s the perfect place in winter for the whole family to enjoy — you’ll likely find yourselves skating for hours! You can rent your skates at the rink, move to the music, and grab a bite to eat after working up a sweat. Head to the Mercantile Worcester for pizzas and cocktails or Chashu Ramen for Japanese cuisine!
Meet the Reindeer at Stone Zoo
Kids (and adults) won’t want to miss the opportunity to meet the reindeer of Stone Zoo! Every year, the zoo turns into a twinkling spectacle, allowing you to explore the enclosures of bears, lynxes, and more under the night sky! A major highlight is the opportunity to have hot chocolate with the resident reindeer, Holly and Aoife. Take your choice of topping and get to know Santa’s helpers!
Admire the Winterlights at Trustees Properties
Witness hundreds of lights illuminate three garden properties of the Trustees: Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover, and Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton. Every year over the festive season, these historic estates transform into a breathtaking spectacle with music and food. Winterlights has even been voted as one of the best holiday light shows by USA Today! Canton and North Andover are easily accessible by Commuter Rail, making Winterlights an unmissable holiday excursion.
Source: Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate
Feel the Magic of the Season Aboard the Polar Express
Every year, The Polar Express makes its way down to Buzzards Bay spreading holiday cheer and bringing guests on a magical train ride to the North Pole. Perfect for families, this seasonal event will fill you with holiday cheer, hot chocolate, and don’t forget, cookies!
Enjoy a Sleigh Ride at Cornerstone Ranch
For a classic Christmas experience, why not go on a sleigh ride? At the Cornerstone Ranch in Princeton, you can go dashing through the snow in a sleigh or carriage, driven by the ranch’s friendly horses. Whether you’re a family looking for something new this Christmas or a couple searching for a romantic and festive date, you’ll be jingling all the way!
Wander through La Salette Shrine’s Christmas Lights
Nestled in Attleboro, Massachusetts, La Salette Shrine hosts one of New England’s most beloved Christmas light displays. Starting in November, the shrine adorns its grounds with over 300,000 lights, illuminated nativity scenes, and themed vignettes. Stroll down the lights trail, pause at the Live Nativity, and reflect beneath towering evergreens bathed in festive colors. This is a serene and spiritual holiday experience; perfect for couples, families, or anyone else seeking a night of peace and wonder during the holiday season. Open every night from November 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026 from 5 PM to 9 PM, there are ample opportunities to visit La Salette Shrine’s Christmas Lights – and you’re not limited to weekends!
Source: National Shrine La Salette
Discover More of Massachusetts
Whatever the season, the state of Massachusetts has a host of incredible attractions, unbeatable experiences, and outdoor adventures. Better yet, they’re all easily accessible by train! That’s why Keolis massAdventures harnesses the Commuter Rail system as part of our Day Trips from Boston, making MA accessible to local Bostonians and tourists alike. If you have any questions about our tours, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
