WHAT ARE FAIRY HOUSES?

Fairy houses are small structures for fairies and woodland creatures to live in. These whimsical habitats are build by children, families, gardeners, and nature lovers alike. 

Fairy house building is a fun and creative activity for children that encourages kids to go outside and connect with the natural world, in an environmentally friendly way. 

Not sure how to make a fairy house? Don't worry, members of the Mayor's Mural Crew have come up with step-by-step instructions of how to create your very own fairy house. 

This free, family event will feature:

• outdoor nature play
• storytelling, and
• Fairy House Building.

Children are invited to wear their favorite fairy and elf costumes to encourage their tiny guests to alight in Franklin Park. Natural materials will be provided, but everyone is  welcome to explore their surroundings to find natural elements, including sticks, stones, and leaves to adorn their fairy houses.

Schoolmaster Hill is located on Circuit Drive between the William Devine Golf Course Clubhouse and Shattuck Hospital. For more information, please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505, or visit the Parks website.

Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and title sponsor The Province of Nova Scotia will host Boston’s signature holiday celebration, the 83rd annual Boston Common Tree Lighting, on Thursday, December 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Boston Common, adjacent to the Visitor’s Information Center at 139 Tremont Street. 

The event is supported by title sponsor Province of Nova Scotia, presenting sponsor Amazon, signature sponsors JetBlue and Meet Boston, community sponsors Bank of America and Constellation, and media partners WCVB Channel 5 and The Boston Globe. A sampling village will feature giveaways and refreshments from JetBlue, H.P. Hood, New England Coffee, Harry Potter, The Exhibition, and Raising Cane’s while supplies last. Sponsors of the “Make the Common Glow for the Holidays” who make the lighting of the Common and Public Garden possible include The Lynch Family Foundation, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, the Friends of the Public Garden, and Gilbane Building Company.

WCVB Channel 5’s Chronicle co-anchors Anthony Everett and Shayna Seymour will host Channel 5’s live broadcast of the event beginning at 7:00 p.m. American Authors, 5x platinum recording artists, and 2x Grammy nominees who got their start in Boston at Berklee College of Music, will headline with hit songs like “Best Day of My Life” and “Christmas Karaoke”. This year’s entertainment includes Halifax pop singer-songwriter Ria Mae, songs from A Christmas Carol performed by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, the soulful melodies of Mi’kmaq folk artist and fiddler Morgan Toney, the legendary vocals of Boston-based jazz and gospel icon Renese King, a heartwarming performance by the Boston Children’s Chorus, and more.

The holiday lights throughout both parks will light up in sequence shortly before 8 p.m. when Mayor Wu is joined onstage by Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

A sampling village will feature a photo-op, giveaways, and refreshments from several companies while supplies last.

Immediately following the celebration on the Boston Common, Mayor Michelle Wu, the Friends of the Public Garden, and the Committee to Light Commonwealth Avenue Mall will  flip the switch to light up Commonwealth Avenue Mall. 

Please call (617) 635-4505 or visit our tree lighting page for more information about the festivities. To stay up to date with news and events in Boston parks, sign up for the email list  and follow the social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The City of Boston and the Friends of the Public Garden to light the trees on the Mall on December 5th at 8 p.m., immediately following the Boston Common Tree Lighting. 

The Friends of the Public Garden are proud to take on this special holiday display and excited to work with our community to increase support for the Mall.

For decades, the iconic holiday light display along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall was the work of the all-volunteer Committee to Light the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. These neighborhood leaders banded together and created a beloved Boston tradition. In 2022, the Committee joined with the Friends of the Public Garden, creating a new Commonwealth Avenue Mall Enhancement Committee to work with the Friends staff to raise the funds necessary to make this annual light display possible and to support the ongoing care of the park. Join us on the Mall as we turn on the lights.