George Andrew Fotheringham

A fantastic lineup of events is coming to Central Mass. this December! These interactive activities are sure to be full of fun and are perfect for adults and children alike. From Worcester to Sturbridge, Pulse Magazine is here to let you know where to find the brightest light shows and most festive holiday happenings this year!

Tower Hill Botanic Garden

The Tower Hill Botanic Garden, a beautiful location in Worcester will be hosting both day and nighttime events this December. With a general admission ticket, you can enjoy the indoor and outdoor holiday experience of the beautiful outdoor grounds and fun events. The real magic happens at night, when the gardens light up for a powerful experience. There will be thousands of lights along with some fun and festive events. Keep in mind, that you will need to purchase specialized tickets for the nighttime event which runs between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. If you’re more of a day person, Tower Hill will still be offering a Winter Wonderland experience including a chance to hike around the beautiful grounds. Although you might need to pack some snowshoes! They also have events perfect for families with children to enjoy such as scavenger hunts, the model train, discovery backpacks, hands on library activities and more. Tower Hill is located at 11 French Drive, Boylston, and you can purchase your tickets and find more information on their website at www.towerhillbg.org/night-lights-2019/.

Preservation Worcester Holiday Stroll

Preservation Worcester is a group that is dedicated to preserving the rich history of Worcester. According to their website their mission is, “To maintain for future generations the sites and structures which are significant to the culture, history and architecture of the city and to encourage excellence in future design.” An important job and a difficult one for anyone to undertake, especially in the face of rampant gentrification that many cities are going through right now. This December, the Holiday Stroll is your chance to see the interiors of some of the most interesting and elaborate houses around. Don’t miss your chance to soak up some history and exercise before the New England winter traps us indoors. The walk takes place on December 8th at 12 p.m. and is preceded by a pre-party that you can attend with a separate set of tickets. The pre-party takes place at the Lyman Gordon House and you will be able to enjoy some music, appetizers, and some festive drink. Just go easy on the drinks if you plan on making it to all the houses. Look forward to a sunny day of walking and hopefully not to heavy snowfall to kick off your holidays this year. You can find more information at the Preservation Worcester Facebook page.

Old Sturbridge Village Christmas By Candlelight

Take a step back in time to appreciate the simpler joys of Christmas without of the pervading distractions of the modern world. The entirety of Old Sturbridge Village will be transformed this holiday season into a storybook vista. There are several events inspired by the works of Charles Dickens such as the ghost of Christmas Past enjoying his Christmas break in one of the Salem townhouses and a demonstration Christmas dinner like the one that is eaten by the Cratchit family in “A Christmas Carol”. Along with these great events you can enjoy the nightly tree lightings or listen to the sweet melodies of carolers. There is even a horse and buggy ride, but most important will be the transformation of Gallery Row into everyone’s favorite Christmas Village. This year there will be an expanded model train display constructed by the Worcester Model Railroaders including some trains from the movie Joy. There will also be a giant “The Night Before Christmas” storybook for you to walk through before you finally get that chance to meet the elusive Santa and his handy elves. There’s much more to experience which you can all find on their website along with lodging and dining options, so don’t forget to buy your tickets now at www.osv.org/.

Menorah Lighting in Newton Square

This December, Central Mass Chabad will be hosting their annual Menorah lighting at Newton Square. This year’s lighting takes place on the first day of Hanukkah on December 22nd and will be free and open to all. Expect music and food such as loads of chocolate coins, hot latkes, doughnuts and hot drinks, and participation by local politicians. The annual lighting is the perfect opportunities for families to come together and observe the beginning of this holiday. The Menorah at Newton Square is located at 3 Newton Ave., Worcester and the lighting will take place at 4 p.m. each evening, except for Friday when it will begin at 3:15 p.m. and Saturday at 5:30 p.m.