# Christmas break with kids in Boston, 2026 > What to do with kids in Boston over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus two dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between. - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - 4 places’ holiday hours; 7 dated outings - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/boston/christmas-break/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/boston/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/boston/llms.txt ## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1 - **Museum of Science**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24: closes at 2pm; Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Daily 9am–5pm. Closes at 2pm the day before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day” Source: https://www.mos.org/visit/hours (checked 2026-10-29) - **Franklin Park Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24: open 9am–4pm; Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Open 9am–4pm. Their page says: “Nov 9–Mar 31: daily 9am–4pm, last ticket an hour before closing; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day” Source: https://www.zoonewengland.org/franklin-park-zoo/hours-info-faq/ (checked 2026-10-29) - **Museum of Fine Arts, Boston**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Closed. Their page says: “Open 10am–5pm, Thursdays and Fridays until 10pm, closed Tuesdays. Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kids 6 and under free” Source: https://www.mfa.org/visit (checked 2026-10-29) - **Boston Children’s Museum**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Open 9am–4pm, Wednesday through Monday, plus Massachusetts school vacation weeks; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. The museum hasn’t posted its 2026 vacation-week hours yet” Source: https://bostonchildrensmuseum.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-29) ## Christmas Eve - **Santa’s Elevator Express at Natick Mall** at Natick Mall, 1245 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760. When: Nov 1 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: Daily; see the booking page. Price: Photo packages; reservations encouraged. An elevator ride to the North Pole, then Santa photos. The mall warns of 3 to 4 hour waits for weekend walk-ups. Official page: https://www.natickmall.com/en/events/49132/ (checked 2026-10-28) ## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30) - **ZooLights at Stone Zoo** at Stone Zoo, 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA 02180. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 4–9:30pm; last entry 8:30. Price: Ticketed. Tree-lined paths lit with thousands of lights in Stoneham, with a candy-themed Yukon Creek this year. Official page: https://zoonewengland.org/engage/zoolights/ (checked 2026-10-28) ## New Year’s Eve and Day - **First Night Boston** at Copley Square, Boston Common and venues around downtown, Copley Square, Boston, MA. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: Fireworks over Boston Common at 7pm; harbor fireworks at midnight. Price: Free. The city’s New Year’s Eve celebration with performances, ice sculptures, a procession and family activities. The early fireworks over Boston Common follow the procession, which makes them the easier pick with kids. The 2027 performance schedule hasn’t been posted yet. Official page: https://www.firstnightboston.org/fireworks/ (checked 2026-10-29) - **Bessie’s Rockin’ Noon Year’s Eve** at Discovery Museum, 177 Main St. (Route 27), Acton, MA 01720. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10am–noon; ball drop at noon. Price: Free with museum admission. Make party hats and noisemakers, come in pajamas, and count down to a noon ball drop. Bad weather can change or cancel the program. Official page: https://www.discoveryacton.org/events-programs/bessies-rockin-noon-years-eve-3 (checked 2026-10-29) - **Noon Year’s Eve Party at South Boston Library** at Boston Public Library – South Boston, 646 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30am–12:15pm. Price: Free. For ages 3–7: make party hats and noisemakers, play balloon games and have a mini dance party for the countdown to noon. Official page: https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6adf912d9dbc2b002c911ba2 (checked 2026-10-29) - **New Year’s Eve Noon Celebration at Hyde Park Library** at Boston Public Library – Hyde Park, 35 Harvard Ave, Hyde Park, MA 02136. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free. Holiday stories and a festive craft, then ring in the new year at noon. Not meant for large groups. Official page: https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6abaab3cebad220045418438 (checked 2026-10-29) - **ZooLights at Stone Zoo** at Stone Zoo, 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA 02180. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 4–9:30pm; last entry 8:30. Price: Ticketed. Tree-lined paths lit with thousands of lights in Stoneham, with a candy-themed Yukon Creek this year. Official page: https://zoonewengland.org/engage/zoolights/ (checked 2026-10-28) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### What’s open on Christmas Day in Boston with kids? Museum of Science (Dec 24: closes at 2pm; Dec 25: closed), Franklin Park Zoo (Dec 24: open 9am–4pm; Dec 25: closed), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Dec 25: closed), Boston Children’s Museum (Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day. ### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Boston? On the calendar: Santa’s Elevator Express at Natick Mall. ### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Boston? Museum of Science (Not listed), Franklin Park Zoo (Open 9am–4pm), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Closed), Boston Children’s Museum (Not listed). ### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Boston? On the calendar for Jan 1: ZooLights at Stone Zoo. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change. ### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Boston? ZooLights at Stone Zoo. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days. ### How do you check these holiday hours? Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).