See Some of the Great Light Displays In and Around Boston This Holiday Season

Once a year in winter, Stone Zoo in Stoneham transforms its tree lined paths into a brilliantly lit winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights. Upon entering the zoo, visitors will pass by the Yukon Creek section which houses bald eagles, black bears, Canadian lynx, Gray foxes, and reindeer. Although some of the animals at Stone Zoo need to be housed indoors and kept warm, other animals are adaptable to the colder weather and can still be visited during the day time hours. Opening on Thanksgiving and running to the end of December, Zoolights is one of the best Christmas light displays and family holiday destinations. The Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt will also be taking place over the next few weeks. These elf brothers will be watching over Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo, before flying back North on December 24th to report their findings to Santa Claus. Each morning, the zoo will share a clue as to their whereabouts within the Zoos to their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce is hosting four days of holiday festivities, family events and activities! Highlights include Santa’s arrival by lobster boat, the town tree lighting ceremony, Holiday shopping preview parties, the Christmas Walk Parade, ‘Holidays are Grand’ live performances, a great raffle with great prizes, and all kinds of family events and activities sponsored by local merchants and organizations! And, for the first time in the history of the Christmas Walk, the Chamber in partnership with National Grand Bank will be using a locally grown tree. These events will be taking place in downtown Marblehead.

The Illuminations tour in Somerville features decorated homes with festive strings of lights and collections of holiday figurines, transforming our cold winter nights with a blaze of light and beauty. In celebration of this community expression, the Somerville Arts Council conducts the Illuminations Tour, a 45-minute trolley ride featuring the city’s brightest displays. Tours leave from Somerville City Hall where coffee, hot chocolate and cookies are served. There also will be craft activities for children and live music. Tickets can be purchased on Somerville City Hall 93 Highland Street, Somerville MA.