Things to Do for Kids in Boston in November 2026
New England Christmas Festival at Mohegan Sun
Uncasville, CT
Friday to Sunday, November 6-9, 2026
With over 350 vendors, the New England Christmas Festival is an eagerly anticipated annual event that has kicked off the holiday season for 38 years. Website
The Polar Express Train Ride - Blackstone Valley
Woonsocket, RI
Weekends in November 2026
The Magic Returns this holiday season for a three-hour experience at the Blackstone Valley Polar Express. Hop on a 90-minute train ride to view the North Pole that’s filled with singing, games, a reading of the classic children’s story “The Polar Express”, and a visit from Santa. Website
2026 Boston Veterans Parade
Boston — FREE
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Honor the service and sacrifices of all who have served and those who continue to serve. Assemble at the corner of Charles Street and Boylston Street (Boston Common) and march to Government Center. Website
Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
National Public Lands — FREE
Tuesday, November 11, 2026
On select days throughout the year, all national parks in the United States are open to the public with no admission fee. Yay! Website
Snowbound Expo
Uncasville, CT
Saturday & Sunday, November 14-15, 2026
The Snowbound Expo is a premium, multi-sensory, immersive experiences that serves as the official kick off for winter and is the ultimate destination for the latest products, legendary athletes, top resorts, film premiers, shopping, music, art, food, and the biggest brands. Website
Boston Bhangra Competition 2026
Dorchester
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Bhangra is a highly energetic folk dance from the Punjab region of India/Pakistan. Get ready to see some of the best dance performances of the year with teams from the US, Canada, and abroad. Website
The Polar Express Train on Cape Cod Central Railroad
Buzzards Bay, MA
Weekends beginning November 20, 2026
“The bell still rings for all who truly believe.” Adventure comes to life when the train departs for a round-trip journey to the North Pole led by our merry-making cast. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ for approximately 90-minutes to meet Santa. Website
America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration
Plymouth — FREE
Saturday, November 21, 2026
For over 25 years, hundreds of thousands of people have traveled to the historic Plymouth Harbor and Waterfront to experience a celebration of Thanksgiving history with pilgrims, Indigenous Peoples, soldiers, and pioneers climbing out of the history books and onto the streets of Plymouth. Website
Thanksgiving Model Train Show
Roslindale
Saturday & Sunday, November 21-22, 2026
The Bay State Model Railroad Museum is hosting a holiday model train show. See operating model trains and trolleys in scales O, HO and N. Website
Tally Ho! Amelia Peabody Memorial Hunt
Dover — FREE
Saturday, November 21, 2026
Enjoy the pageantry of the centuries-old tradition of the sport of fox hunting, by watching the Norfolk Hunt as it rides through Powisset Farm and Noanet Woodlands. The foxhounds follow a drag scent (no live foxes participate) through woods and fields, followed by beautiful horses with riders dressed in traditional foxhunting attire. Website
Night Lights: Fantastical Forest at New England Botanic Garden
Boylston
Daily, beginning Friday, November 21, 2026
Enter an illuminated world where the stars of the botanic garden shine, and where sparkling experiences and one-of-a-kind light displays inspire joy that lasts all year. It’s a celebration of nature like never before seen—bright, bold, and full of dazzle. Website
Trellis Lighting at Christopher Columbus Park
Boston — FREE
Monday, November 23, 2026
Witness the wonder of the 24th annual holiday lighting of the signature trellis at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End. The historic waterfront will be transformed into a stunning holiday display when the park’s 260 feet of trellis are illuminated with 50,000 lights. Website
Boston's Official Holiday Tree Arrival
Boston — FREE
Tuesday, November 24, 2026
The 55th annual gift of an evergreen Christmas tree from Nova Scotia is arriving by police escort at Boston Common on Tuesday, November 18. Website
Lighting of the Ship in Martin’s Park
Boston — FREE
Saturday, November 28, 2026
A special children’s celebration will be held at the Smith Family Waterfront, and the ship will be lit for the fifth annual holiday in Martin’s Park. Martin’s Park will be transformed into a magical holiday display when the ship, surrounding beach fencing, and pedestrian bridge are illuminated with over 1,500 feet of blue and white tube lights. Website
New England Harvest Feast
Plymouth
Multiple Dates in November 2026
Take a savory journey into the past. An evening of entertainment and hospitality awaits guests to sit down to a 17th-century meal filled with the finest food that the season of plenty has to offer. Website