December Vacation Week Activities - MFA, Boston
Dec 26 - Dec 29
Free with admission        

The museum offers activities for children and families all week long. Explore the Art of the Americas wing, attend films and musical performances, or drop in on special art-making activities throughout the week. Visit the website for the schedule of events.

Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure - TD Garden, Boston
Through Dec 29
Cost: $15 & up        

Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Daisy on a journey to the magical worlds of Disney’s The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and Lilo & Stitch.

Vacation Week Clay Fun - Barefoot Books, Concord
Friday and Saturday
$25 covers materials, paints, glaze, 2 firings        

Children take part in fun clay hand-building & slab-rolling projects that lead to something great! Pre-registration suggested but drop-ins welcome.

Happy Noon Year! - Boston Children's Museum, Boston
Dec 31
Free with admission        

Why wait until midnight to welcome 2013? Start your celebration with costumes and decorations and join the museum folk as they count down to the “Noon” year.

Bessie’s New Year’s Eve PJ Dance Party & Ring in the New Year Discovery Museums, Acton
Dec 31
Free with admission

Shake, rattle, and roll into the New Year with Bessie, dinosaur mascot of The Discovery Museums, and create party hats and noisemakers and dance to popular kids’ music. Plus, children can make some noise this New Year’s Eve! when they construct their own noise makers and party hats to use to celebrate the coming of a new year. Add your hopes for 2013 to the museum's “Wishing Tree.”

New Year’s Eve Kids-Countdown-to-Midnight - Wenham Museum
Dec 31
$8-$12

Ring in the New Year with a kids-countdown-to-midnight including noisemakers, party hats, balloon art and a ginger ale toast. Enjoy silly songs and mesmerizing magic tricks performed by Awesome Robb as Major Holiday and the comical antics of Lindsay and her Puppet Pals. First-come, first-served. Registration recommended.

First Night 2014 - Boston
Dec 31-Jan 1
Cost: $10       

Boston rings in 2014 with the 38th edition of First Night, the country’s oldest and largest New Year’s Eve arts festival. Visit the website for a complete schedule, and buy your buttons in advance.

First Day Hikes - Houghton's Pond, Milton
Jan 1
FREE

Join the DCR and The Friends of the Blue Hills for the 21st Annual First Day Hikes event. The afternoon starts with free hot soup or hot chocolate and cookies around the fire, followed by scenic one- to two-hour hikes for all ability levels led by DCR Park Rangers and FBH volunteers. Dress warmly and wear sturdy hiking boots for all hikes. Traction recommended if there is snow and you plan on hiking in the hills.