On Beacon Hill, the signs of the season are subtle. A flicker in the window. A chill in the air. A hush between footsteps on Charles Street. And just beyond the glow of gaslamps and shopfronts, The Whitney Hotel offers a place to settle in. 

The holidays in Boston don’t need to announce themselves. They’re already underway.

Celebrating at The Whitney

Dinner is planned. Glasses are set. The dining room is ready for company. Around here, the holidays are about sharing good food, taking your time, and feeling at home.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day at Peregrine | December 24-25, 2025

Christmas Dinner begins with something fresh from the oven: baked brie wrapped in puff pastry, or spiced carrots with whipped feta. Plates are passed. Wine is poured. The evening moves from short rib bolognese over fresh pappardelle to roasted cauliflower steak fragrant with winter spice. And for dessert: sticky toffee pudding, soft at the center, rich at the edges. This is food made for gathering, and there’s always room for one more.

New Year’s Eve Dinner | December 31, 2025 – January 1, 2026

The last meal of the year is built to linger. Crisp, 1,000-layer potatoes. Braised lamb bucatini finished with lemon and mint. Courses that feel generous and celebratory. Dessert is a Millionaire’s chocolate tart that’s layered, lavish, and unapologetically decadent. A fitting finish for the year behind, and a sweet beginning to the year ahead. 

A Neighborhood That Knows How To Keep Traditions

Step outside The Whitney and into a season that feels familiar. On Beacon Hill, the holidays echo with their usual cheer and well-loved rituals.

Lighting of the Columbus Park Trellis | November 24, 2025

50,000 blue and white lights stretch across the waterfront trellis, casting a dappled glow over the harbor. Santa stops by, cocoa and chowder are passed around, and voices rise in song before the lights come on. 

Faneuil Hall Marketplace Tree Lighting | November 25, 2025

Santa flips the switch on a tree between Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Expect a little theater, a little music, and a lot of holiday spirit, plus hot chocolate and Ben & Jerry’s in hand.

Boston Common Tree Lighting | December 4, 2025

As the lights come on, so does the city. The towering evergreen, a gift from Nova Scotia, is lit with care as families convene, carolers warm their voices, and, for a moment, the whole city seems to pause and look up.

Blink! at Faneuil Hall | December 4, 2025 – January 1, 2026

Bells ring out over cobblestone and lights dance across the old brick façades in a coordinated show of color and sound. The display draws a crowd each evening, turning the marketplace into a celebration of the season. Stop by after dinner for a dose of sparkle and bustle before returning to the quiet of Charles Street.

Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall | December 4–December 30, 2025

Red velvet seats, gleaming brass, and a chorus that fills every corner of the room. This beloved concert is festive, familiar, and pure Boston at the holidays.

Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker | November 28–December 28, 2025

A tradition stitched into the fabric of the city. At the Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker returns with snowflakes that shimmer, sweets that dance, and staging that feels both extravagant and timeless. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, the magic holds.

Hanover Theatre & Conservatory’s A Christmas Carol | December 17–28, 2025

Ghosts rattle the chains of memory in New England’s largest production of A Christmas Carol. With brand-new staging, Troy Siebel’s reimagined version brings Scrooge’s world to life, complete with the glow of footlights and the thunder of the Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

Ice Skating on the Frog Pond | Late November 2025 – Early March 2026

A short walk from the hotel, the rink waits under winter skies. Lace your skates. Loop the pond. Or lean against the rail with something warm in your hands and watch the city glide by.

Where the Season Feels Most Like Itself 

At The Whitney, small details carry the season. A fire burns in the lobby, casting soft shadows across high ceilings and classic finishes. Quiet conversation drifts from Peregrine’s tables. Outside, streetlamps glow, rooftops fold into the winter sky. 

Whether you’re arriving with family, escaping solo for a few restorative days, or making a new ritual of a December weekend, you’ll find this moment ready for you. Winter, as it’s meant to feel. Let the holidays find you here.