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Boston's Best Holiday Celebrations

Boston has fantastic community celebrations, shows and other events for the holiday season every year. Visitors to the city and residents will find it easy to be festive and part of the various communities this time of year. It is the season to enjoy music, theater, food, lights and people, making Boston one of the best places to do it. It does not matter if it is family entertainment, dancing or theater, it is just around the corner.
rattle
Photo Credit: Rattlesnake Bar

Rattlin' Around The Christmas Tree
The Rattlesnake Bar
384 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 859-7772
www.rattlesnakebar.com

Date: Dec. 4, 2013 – 5:30 p.m.

For people who are looking to do something that is not only fun but organized for a reason, Rattlin' Around the Christmas Tree is just the thing. The event is a benefit for the Globe Santa Fund. This organization is all about getting presents to children in the Boston area who are in need. So, get ready to taste some great food prepared by local chefs, check out a fashion show, do some dancing and silently bid on some auction pieces. Guests should bring shatterproof Christmas ornaments to decorate the tree.

Soccer
Photo Credit:

American Outlaws Boston Winter Ball
American Outlaws Boston
835 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02215
www.boston.theamericanoutlaws.com

Date: Dec. 7, 2013 – 7 p.m.

The American Outlaws are a group of American soccer supporters who also like to show their support for local youth. The AO Boston Winter Ball, this being the 5th annual, is a benefit to support SCORES, an organization that promotes youth health, sportsmanship and literacy. Guests do not have to be soccer fans to come eat, drink and enjoy music with the city's fans. However, being supportive of this healthy activity helps.

166_Firebird_Ensemble_
Photo Credit: Firebird Ensemble

"A Christmas Carol" By The Firebird Ensemble
Faneuil Hall
1 Faneuil Hall Square
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 635-3105
www.firebirdensemble.org

Date: Dec. 6, 2013 – 7 p.m.

"A Christmas Carol" is easily one of the most famous Christmas stories of all time. This year, the Firebird Ensemble is doing a musical take on this story in a very entertaining way. An instrument represents each character. The result is a lot of singing, clanking, musical movement and drama. Aaron Engebreth narrates with Jeffrey Mean conducting.

Related: A Guide To Finding Great Christmas Trees In Boston

violin
(Photo from: handelandhaydn.org)

A Bach Christmas
NEC's Jordan Hall
30 Gainsborough St.‎
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 585-1260
www.handelandhaydn.org

Date: Dec. 19, 2013 – 8 p.m. and Dec. 22, 2013 – 3 p.m.

A Bach Christmas is a night and an afternoon conducted by Scott Metcalfe of the Handel and Haydn Society. The music is Bach's "Cantata 62 for the first Advent Sunday." Being Bach, the music is exquisite. H&H has more than a century of great performing history, so it stands to reason that this year's celebration of the holiday and Johann Sebastian Bach will be magnificent. The society is touting this as a "specialty" of Metcalfe's. It will be interesting to see how he does in his first performance with the group.

Santa
Photo Credit:

Lunch With Santa Cruise
Spirit of Boston
200 Seaport Blvd #75
Boston, MA 02210
(866) 310-2469
www.spiritofboston.com

Date: Dec. 14, 2013 – 11:30 a.m. boarding

Kids typically want nothing more than to talk to the guy in the red suit when it comes Christmas time. People looking for something fun to do with their kids this holiday season can take them to have lunch with the big guy on a Spirit of Boston cruise. The menu features several salad choices, fish, chicken, pork, squash, mashed potatoes and a dessert duo. Kids can visit with Santa and decorate cookies aboard the ship.

Related: Best Places To See Santa Around Boston

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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