Plan out your January in Boston with our picks for the best things to see and do
January in Boston brings short days and colder temps, but at least there's the much-needed promise of a new year. Now more than ever, everyone wants to get outside and moving whenever they can, so make plans to check out the best ice skating rinks, snowboarding destinations and skiing spots near Boston. As with any January in The Hub, you might get a little stir crazy, so maybe you'll want to consider one of the best winter day trips from Boston. Check out one of the best museums in Boston, or bring your crew to see the best holiday lights in Boston.
RECOMMENDED: The 50 best things to do in Boston
On Jan 18 at 5 pm, The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston will host its 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Day community celebration virtually, with performances and talks that commemorate the life and work of Dr. King. The free event will be held in partnership with Citizens, which has sponsored the MFA’s annual community celebration for 19 consecutive years. The online event will stream on the Museum’s Facebook, YouTube and on mfa.org.
Through Jan 10, all train lovers must head to the Museum of Science for this fun-for-all-ages temporary exhibit featuring classic winter landscapes and nostalgia. Miniature trains, snow-covered peaks, engaging activities, and even a few surprises await.
On Jan 15 at 7pm, enjoy some family fun with The Jimmy Fund's Bingo Night. The live online game will be hosted by New England Patriots cheerleaders Lauren and Alexis, the team captain and a two-year veteran, respectively. The game will be played on The Jimmy Fund’s Facebook page. A donation of $10 or more is suggested to receive one bingo card. Family packages, which includes five bingo cards, are available for $40. Participants can also sponsor a Jimmy Fund patient to play for $10. Winners of each round will receive fun prizes, including exclusive Jimmy Fund items. All participants will be entered to win the grand prize.
As the city's premier artistic hub, the 450 Harrison building is a veritable hive of artistic activity in the back of the South End. Find the perfect gift on Sundays from 11am-4pm, when the city's coolest vintage market features a rotating roster of vendors specializing in curated collections of fashion, jewelry, art, furnishings and more.
On the first Friday of every month (Jan 1), head to the 450 Harrison building in the the South End for a blast of art and culture. Many artists open their doors for open studios events where they greet locals and visitors. In normal times, more than 200 artists, galleries, shops and showrooms welcome everyone from art aficionados to afterwork activity-seekers for an evening of art, wine, cheese and mingling.
Through Jan 21, you can stream your way into the holiday spirit as Keith Lockhart leads the Boston Pops Orchestra in holiday classics old and new. Portions of this Holiday Pops program were filmed at Fenway Park, where team mascot Wally participated in the recording festivities.
Head to the MFA to check out a pair of particularly timely exhibits. “Women Take the Floor” challenges the dominant history of 20th century American art by focusing on the overlooked and underrepresented work and stories of women artists, while “Black Histories, Black Futures,” which was curated by young scholars as part of the MFA’s new partnership with local youth empowerment organizations, focuses on works by 20th century artists of color.
The holidays might be over, but some of the city's best light displays stay illuminated well into January.
In normal times, the Hub’s cultural calendar is relentless, with plenty of noteworthy shows and events taking place across the city. Still, there's plenty of cool things to do around the Hub.
Discover Time Out original video
Â
