Boston-Area Tree Lightings 2026: Dates and Details
5 tree lighting ceremonies around Greater Boston have confirmed their 2026 date. Here they are in order, with the official link for each.
Tree lightings are the first big night of the season, and the dates cluster in the weeks after Thanksgiving. We list a ceremony only when its official page has confirmed the date; others that are still to be announced are tracked in the full holiday guide.
The first confirmed lighting is Saturday, November 21: Faneuil Hall Marketplace Annual Holiday Tree Lighting.Official event page, checked November 9, 2026
The dates at a glance
- Saturday, November 21: Faneuil Hall Marketplace Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, Downtown Boston
- Friday, November 27: Santa's Arrival and Holiday Tree Lighting, Salem
- Sunday, November 29: 23rd Annual Tree Lighting on the Town Common, Stoneham
- Monday, November 30: Copley Square Tree Lighting and Park Reopening, Back Bay, Boston
- Thursday, December 3: Boston Common Tree Lighting, Boston
Details for each ceremony
Faneuil Hall Marketplace Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
Downtown Boston · Nov 21 · 2-6 pm program window · Free
Marketplace's big holiday tree lighting with an afternoon stage program. Official page ↗
Santa's Arrival and Holiday Tree Lighting
Salem · Nov 27 · TBA (2025: 5:45-8 pm) · Free
Santa arrives atop the Hawthorne Hotel, then a procession down the Essex Street pedestrian mall to light the city holiday tree at Lappin Park. Kicks off Salem's Holiday Happenings season. Official page ↗
23rd Annual Tree Lighting on the Town Common
Stoneham · Nov 29 · 3:00-5:00 pm · Free
Music, caroling, holiday characters and kids' crafts, ending with the lighting of the Common's holiday tree. Official page ↗
Copley Square Tree Lighting and Park Reopening
Back Bay, Boston · Nov 30 · 5-6 pm · Free
Tree lighting plus a guided tour of the renovated park, crafts, Santa and Rudolph, and choir performances; cookies and Santa photos after at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. Official page ↗
Boston Common Tree Lighting
Boston · Dec 3 · 6-8 pm · Free
City's signature tree lighting with the Nova Scotia tree, hosted by Mayor Wu and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston; the Commonwealth Ave Mall lights follow. Official page ↗
Planning your evening
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace Annual Holiday Tree Lighting: Aim to arrive by 5 pm for a spot near the stage.
- Santa's Arrival and Holiday Tree Lighting: Arrive early for a spot along Essex Street; the evening is a short walk from the Salem commuter rail station.
- 23rd Annual Tree Lighting on the Town Common: Hosted by the Stoneham Chamber; dress warmly, it runs 3-5 pm into dusk.
- Copley Square Tree Lighting and Park Reopening: Copley T stop is steps away.
- Boston Common Tree Lighting: Take the T to Park Street and arrive early; the crowd is large.
For the week ahead, see this weekend's confirmed events. Stoneham and Salem have their own town guides with winter rules and trash notices, and the town list has the rest.