By Elissa Taublib, news staff
Thursday, Dec. 7
Beacon Hill is considered one of Boston’s most charming neighborhoods. Its Victorian brick houses and Massachusetts State House overlook the Boston Common. Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll 2017 shows how this area becomes even more magical during the holiday season. You can go to the Hill House to take pictures with Santa, journey down Charles Street to admire its shops and restaurants and, finally, go to Mount Vernon to appreciate some Christmas caroling and a tree lighting. After the lighting, you can enjoy a free horse and buggy ride on Charles Street. 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Beacon Hill; free
Friday, Dec. 8
Support Northeastern’s students, enjoy some great music to warm your hearts and ears, and help chime in the upcoming winter. At the NU Chamber Music Concert, you can see for yourself how different instruments like violins, flutes, pianos and trumpets can create something beautiful and unique together. These instruments are commonly used in chamber music, which is a form of classical music composed for a small group of instruments. Organized by Northeastern University Department of Music and directed by professor Evan Bennett, the concert will feature some of the world’s best music for small ensembles. 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Fenway Center – 77 St. Stephen Street; free
Saturday, Dec. 9
This quarterly indoor marketplace brings local artisans and tasty pop-ups to Boston’s Seaport district. At ICA Winter Harbor Market, you can sample treats from Union Square donuts, Aeronaut Brewing and Bon Me. If you are still not sold on this popular event, what about a hot cocoa bar to warm yourself up, some wintry art-making and pop-up caroling from the Boston City Singer Children’s Chorus to get you into the holiday spirit? You can also shop for soy candles and body oils from FEMMEVIOLET, handmade jewelry from Sculpture to Wear and many other vendors. What’s more, you can even see Santa at Seaport from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; The Institute of Contemporary Art – 25 Harbor Shore Drive; free
Sunday, Dec. 10
What is the true meaning of gender equality? At Berklee Women in Action’s Gender Equality Showcase, you can hear some impactful stories to reflect on that question. The event will feature strong women such as singer Gabby Michelle, singer Jenni Rudolph, Berklee student Olivia Krent, singer Makele Clemmons, actress Mandy Kessler and many others. During the showcase, they will also be hosting a bake sale to raise money for War Child USA, a nonprofit that works to protect children and their families in conflict zones. The event is organized by BWA, a student-run activist club that seeks to promote and empower women in college and in music industry. 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Berklee College of Music; free
Monday, Dec. 11
This event is the cosiest and comfiest way to kick off the most wonderful time of the year. Break out your ugliest sweater and attend Student Night: Ugly Sweater Contest at Newsfeed Café. In addition to the contest, the café, which opened in the summer of 2016 as part of Boston’s Central Library’s renovation of the Johnson building, will be also serving traditional eggnog and playing popular Christmas songs. Students (of a legal age) can purchase dinner and a beer for only $10 with the student night special. So, what are you waiting for? Bring along some friends for what should definitely be an entertaining night. 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Newsfeed Café – 700 Boylston St; free
Tuesday, Dec. 12
Known as the Festival of Lights, Chanukah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates an eight-day miracle. Organized by Chabad Boston, Lighting the Boston Menorah is an annual event that commemorates this holiday by the kindling of lights in a nine-branched candelabrum called a Chanukiah. This celebration lights the largest Chanukiah in New England, and Governor Charlie Baker, City Councilor Josh Zakim and State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg will all be there to celebrate. The event is on the first Night of Chanukah, and besides the live performances by the Berklee Music Ensemble, there will be menorah kits, dreidels, chocolate Gelt and donuts. 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Copley Square; free
Wednesday, Dec. 13
Organized by Boston Public Library, Bullets into Bells: Poets & Citizens Respond to Gun Violence is a discussion of the book that is a compilation of poems by some of the country`s most renowned poets, such as Billy Collins, Mark Doty, Rita Dove, Martín Espada, Naomi Shihab Nye, Ocean Vuong and Juan Felipe Herrera. In the event, editors Brian Clements, Alexandra Teague and Dean Rader discuss the poems, which focus on the crisis of gun violence in the United States and the need for gun control. Each poem on the book is followed by a response from a gun violence prevention activist, including Senator Chris Murphy, or gun violence survivors. 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Boston Public Library; free
