Davron S. Monroe plays the Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol, at North Shore Music Theatre from December 5 to 22, 2024. Photo by David Costa Photography

HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES

10 Live Holiday Performances Worth the Splurge

An unofficial guide to the best, most festive performances and celebrations in the city

The holiday season is upon us, and one of the best ways to get into the festive spirit is to treat yourself to a trip to the theater for a feast of the eyes (and ears). We’ve put together a list of local holiday performances and events, including the classics (a night at the Boston Ballet or the Boston Symphony Orchestra) and some new favorites (Mariah Carey live in concert singing a holiday song you may have heard of). If you’re looking for a celebratory night out amidst the chaos of the end of the semester, take a look!

Music

Holiday Pops 2024

The Boston Pops annual holiday show is one of New England’s favorite festive traditions. Led by Keith Lockhart (Hon.’04), the concerts contain all of the holiday favorites—like “Sleigh Ride” and “The 12 Days of Christmas”—and other beloved songs from around the world, performed by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Be sure to stay until the end to catch an appearance from Santa Claus and a sing-along. 

Boston Pops Holiday Pops performances, including sensory-friendly shows and kids’ matinees, runs December 5 to 24 at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. Purchase tickets here.

Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings

This experience on nearby Beacon Street will surely be a relaxing break from the stress of finals. Enjoy a peaceful candlelit 60-minute-long strings concert at the beautiful Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, performed by the Listeso String Quartet. The repertoire will include classics like “O Holy Night,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Carol of the Bells.”

Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings, Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 pm, Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon St., Brookline. Purchase tickets here.

Mariah Carey’s “Christmas Time” Concert

You’ll probably hear Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” no less than 638 times this holiday season—but, admit it, you still love it. Now you have a chance to hear it in person, as the Queen of Christmas is coming to Boston on a holiday tour. Expect to hear much of her iconic 1994 album Merry Christmas and other hits from one of the best-selling artists of all time.

Mariah Carey’s “Christmas Time,” Thursday, December 5, at 7:30 pm, TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston. Purchase tickets here.

Home Alone in Concert

Merry Christmas, you filthy animal! The Boston Symphony Orchestra is bringing Home Alone to Boston with this screening and concert all in one. Audiences will watch the movie while the orchestra performs the score, written by none other than renowned composer John Williams (Hon.’85).

Home Alone in Concert runs December 27 to 29 at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. Purchase tickets here.

Theater

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

This child-friendly production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is sure to make your heart grow three sizes bigger. A stage adaptation of a Dr. Seuss classic, this production is the perfect festive activity for all ages. Narrated by Max, the Grinch’s dog, the play follows the mean and scheming titular character who decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas runs December 10 to 23, at the Boch Center Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston. Purchase tickets here.

A Christmas Carol

Don’t miss the North Shore Music Theatre’s 35th annual production of A Christmas Carol. The show is based on Charles Dickens’ classic ghost story of the same name that follows the cantankerous Ebenezer Scrooge as he discovers the true spirit of the holidays. Year after year, the musical attracts massive audiences and has been seen by more than a million people since its 1989 premiere at the theater. There are $25 student rush tickets, available in person one hour prior to curtain time with student ID, subject to availability.

A Christmas Carol runs December 5 to 22 at the North Shore Music Theatre, 54 Dunham Rd., Beverly. Purchase tickets here.

Black Nativity

Now in its 54th season, Black Nativity is presented by the National Center of Afro-American Artists. The show, which is an adaptation of the play of the same name by poet Langston Hughes, tells the story of Jesus’ birth using Black vernacular speech, gospel music, dance, and poetry and has become a beloved holiday favorite among Boston theater-goers.

Black Nativity runs December 6 to 22 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at Emerson College’s Paramount Theatre, 559 Washington St., Boston. Purchase tickets here.

Dance

The Nutcracker

Choreographed by Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet’s adaptation of The Nutcracker has been a wildly popular holiday feat for Bostonians since its first performance in 1958. The beautiful dancing and intricate costumes and set pieces are sure to transport you to the dreamy Land of Sweets, wishing for a dance with the Snow Queen, and humming along to the classic Tchaikovsky soundtrack.

Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker runs November 29 to December 29 at the Citizens Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston. Anyone 20 years old and under can save 50 percent on their ticket for select performances (see website for additional information). Purchase tickets here.

The Slutcracker

In search of a raunchy, yet merry, night out? Look no further than a performance of The Slutcracker. Open to anyone 18 and older, The Slutcracker is a modern, much more risqué take on The Nutcracker—one in which Clara and the beloved cast of characters are all grown up. It also features some new characters, like dry-humping clowns. Be sure to get your tickets early, as the performances tend to sell out quickly.

The Slutcracker runs December 6 to January 5 at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. Purchase tickets here.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

Enjoy a night of thrilling acrobatics, gravity-defying stunts, live singers, and seasonal cheer at a show the Boston Globe describes as “Las Vegas meets family entertainment.”

Cirque Dreams Holidaze runs December 6 to 8 at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston. Purchase tickets here.