This is the last week for nighttime holiday lights, and there's a TON of creative New Year's stuff that doesn't involve going to the same bars that are open year 'round.
No giveaways this week, but I do have something free for ya. Did you know that I'm writing a book? It's based on my art project. Email me at johnny@eventsinsider.com if you'd be willing to look over and comment on my book proposal, which includes the first two chapters. It's short.
Welcome to Boston Events Insider! This week's top items are below, or see the complete Boston Events Insider.
| Fri 12/31 - Sat 1/1Boston MetroFirst Night Boston | 
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Don't do it! Don't go to a bar! Let's face it, GETTING DRUNK IS NOT CREATIVE. (Unless you're doing shots off of an ice sculpture of a naked warrior princess.) We spend a third of our lives asleep... that's enough blotting out life for me. Even going to somebody's ballroom party is not exactly a big deal: you stand around, talk, you get drunk, you can do it any time of the year. It drives me crazy. There are so many CREATIVE things to do on New Years Eve. I now present the biggest list of arty New Years Eve events in New England. I know it's the biggest because I Googled every single town in the state, so much that Google briefly shut me out for too much searching. So here are some great ideas. Let's start with the big one in Boston, First Night. You buy one ticket and get admission to dozens of dance, music, & participatory events, all within walking distance of each other downtown. It's really fantastic and you must give it a shot. It's the largest New Years celebration in the country. The trick is to stand in the back and don't be afraid to leave & go next door midway through a performance. Starts in the early afternoon and goes through midnight.
Various Locations, Boston, MA.
see details on the complete Events Insider
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| Fri 12/31WorcesterFirst Night Worcester, MA |
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| However, I've discovered another 30 cities in New England that hold First Night celebrations, too! Tired of First Night Boston? Why not get a hotel room and visit another city? Everyone wants a stake in this game. Worcester is getting in on the act, too! And they'll have shuttles so you don't have to drive. There's a street painting festival at the DCU Center, Atwater-Donnelly (my favorite folk group), a trampoline show, and an early parade and fireworks starting at 6pm.
Worcester, MA.
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| Fri 12/31WorcesterNew Year's Eve at Wachusett Mountain |
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| Most ski resorts are having a New Years celebration. The best ones like Wachusett Mountain have fireworks and let you ski at night until midnight! And they have snow tubing, too. There's a shuttle from the Commuter Rail you can take if you don't drive. See their website.
Wachusett Mountain, Princeton, MA.
see details on the complete Events Insider
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| Fri 12/31Boston MetroNew Year's Eve Dance Party at Folk Arts Center of New England |
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| OK, let's say you're afraid of walking in the cold and just want to stay in a single place for New Years. Pick up any paper and you'll see that restaurants and bars are having their usual non-special special celebrations. Here's a party that's out of the ordinary, and below are a bunch more, too. The first one is a fantastic folk dance.
Church, 11 Homer Street, Newton, MA.
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| Sat 1/1Boston MetroL Street Brownies New Year's Day Swim |
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| Every New Years Day, crazy people go for a swim on New Years. Why not show up and cheer them on? What a way to eliminate a hangover. I list a few more below, as well. 9am registration, 10am swim. It's unclear where this is, exactly, the "K Street Beach"?
Curley Community Center, 1663 Columbia Road, Boston, MA.617-635-5104.
see details on the complete Events Insider
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| Sat 1/1Metro WestNew Years Day 1847 at Walden Pond |
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| This is awesome! A re-enactor plays Henry David Thoreau. Then a guided hike. Then hot chocolate! 12-2pm.
Concord, MA.978-369-3254.
see details on the complete Events Insider
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| Sat 1/1Boston MetroNew Year Winter Walk |
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| Here's another walk, conveniently in Boston. Below I list a bunch more in state parks all around. 2-4pm. The nearby Franklin Park Zoo is open on New Year's, too!
Franklin Park, Boston, MA.
see details on the complete Events Insider
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| Mon 1/3 - Tue 1/4Metro WestQuadtrantids Meteor Shower |
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| Or stay up late to see the meteor shower, which is around before dawn Jan 3rd but peaks at 1am Jan 4th. Go someplace without any city lights, like a large field or lake, and bring someone you can chat with while waiting, because the Quadtrantids are unpredictable.
Everywhere.
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more
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And a lot more this week at Boston Events Insider, the most popular events blog in New England, including:
Sing a Long Sound of Music, First Night Grand Procession & Fireworks, First Night Tours at Otis House, Spirit of Boston New Year's Cruise, New Year's Dancin' Eve, New Years' Eve Contra Dances, New Year's Eve Labyrinth Walk, New Year's Needham, MA, New Years Rockport Eve, City Celebrates! New Year's Eve, New Bedford, MA, Beverly's New Year, Billerica Family First Night, First Night Orange, MA, Nashoba Ski Area New Year's Eve Celebration, First Night Northampton, MA, First Night Portsmouth, NH, First Night Wolfeboro, NH, Night Skiing & Fireworks at Cranmore, First Night Chatham, MA, Bright Night Providence, New Year's Murder Mystery, First Night Danbury, CT, First Night Hartford, CT, First Night Wesport, CT, Nudist resort New Years', First Night Burlington, VT, First Night Montpelier, VT, First Night St. Johnsbury, VT, New Year's Eve at the Irish Cultural Center of New England, New Years's Jam at Earthdance, Bessie's New Year's Eve PJ Dance Party, First Night, Jr. at Holyoke, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? with Kathy St. George, First Day Fall River, Joey's Plunge, Penguin Plunge, Rocky Neck New Year's Plunge, New Years Day Kite Fly - Nahant, MA, New Years Day Kite Fly - Newport, RI, New Years Day Kite Fly - Portland, ME, Free Public Skates at DCR on New Years Day, First Day Hikes at Blue Hills, Neponset First Day Hike, Wicked Frosty Four New Year's Day Race, Frank Hatch First Day Free at the Gardner Museum, Nights at the Museum, Kimball Farm Horse-Draw Sleigh Rides, Fire & Ice Hike, Bread and Puppet Theatre, Mayor's New Year Open House, Nocturnal Night at Animal Adventures, Waterfire Celebration for the Inauguration, Moonlit Snowshoe Tour, Holiday Luncheons and Sleigh Rides at Remick Museum, CoCo Key Water Resort at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Santa and Elf Take a Swim!, Carnival Days at One Stop Fun, and more than 25 ongoing holiday attractions in New England!
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