Things to Do in Boston with Kids This Weekend: Puppet Shows, Concerts, and More 12/21-12/22

12/19/13 - By Audrey Trieschman

The start of school vacation and the last weekend before Christmas mean there’s a calendar full of things going on for Boston families. Special shows include Hansel and Gretel at Puppet Showplace Theatre and The Muppet Christmas Carol at Coolidge Corner Theatre. Vacation week activities kick off at several museums this weekend, and special holiday shows and performances continue.

And although most places in and around Boston are closed on Christmas day, we’ve come up with a few things you can do with kids on December 25. And if you are still looking for good camp options for December vacation, check out some camps for nature enthusiasts, LEGO fanatics, young artists, and preschoolers with a lot of energy to burn.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week is Celeste’s post about the Roslindale Village Main Streets (RVMS), an organization that works to make Roslindale a vibrant place to live or visit by sponsoring events, supporting local businesses, and making the neighborhood beautiful. (And be sure to check out Rachel's 20 Things to Do in Roslindale, too.)

A reminder: Our BIggest Holiday Giveaway continues every day through Christmas - have you checked it out yet? We're giving away over $3,000 worth of prizes!

Enjoy, and wishing you and yours a week that's full of friends, family and fun.

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Weekend Events

Hansel and Gretel - Puppet Showplace Theatre, Brookline
Fri 12/20-Sun 12/22
Tickets $12

In this original adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel need to work together, using both brains and bravery, to find their way out of the woods. This beautifully hand-crafted production by Tanglewood Marionettes begins with an interactive puppet demonstration and features enchanting music from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel opera. [Details]


The Muppet Christmas Carol - Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
Sat 12/21
Adults $7; Children $5        

The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve. [Details]


Wayne Marting Puppets: Santa's North Pole Express - The Center for the Arts in Natick (TCAN), Natick
Sat 12/21
Adults $10; Children $8        

Climb aboard the North Pole Express and meet your favorite characters, including Frosty, Rudolph, Elmer Elf, and more! Master puppeteer Wayne Martin brings the magic of Christmas to life with his oversized marionettes. [Details]


Josh and the Jamtones in Concert - Temple Isaiah, Lexington
Sun 12/22
FREE

Warm up to a full cup of family fun! Join Josh and the Jamtones for a morning of singing, crafts, breakfast and lots and lots of fun. [Details]


Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure - Agganis Arena, Boston
through 12/29
Tickets $32-$102        

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. [Details]


Museum Activities

  • New England Aquarium: visit the penguins, seals and every type of marine life imaginable. Adults $24.95; Children (3-11) $17.95. Or check out the IMAX schedule at the Simons IMAX Theatre (Adults $9.95; Children $7.95). Boston
  • Boston Children’s Museum: plenty of hands-on activities, KidStage performances, and exhibits and special events. Admission: $14. Boston
  • USS Constitution Museum: take part in An Officer's Life for Me: December School Vacation program. Learn the skills these men had to master at the USS Constitution Museum during December School Vacation Week. Sail a nautical mile in their shoes and write with a quill pen, keep a medical logbook, navigate with a homemade compass, and more. Admission by donation. Charlestown
  • Concord Museum: The annual Family Trees exhibit - in which the museum’s galleries are filled with fanciful trees of all shapes and sizes, decorated with original ornaments inspired by acclaimed children’s storybooks and contemporary picture book favorites - is open through New Year’s Day. Adults $15; Seniors $10; Children (4-18) $6. Concord
  • Higgins Armory: Vacation week fun offers kids the chance to see, live and in-person, the toys that knights played with and see a knight in full armor as he guards the Higgins Castle. $8-$12. Worcester
  • Get a look inside the workings of the human body at the Body Worlds Vital exhibit at Faneuil Hall. $15.50-$22.50. Boston

Library Happenings

There are lots of fun movies opening in theaters this school break, but if you're looking for something more affordable, there are free movies, crafts and stories for kids at several BPL branches. (Please call in advance to verify that the event has not been rescheduled or canceled.) Here’s just a sampling:

  • Crafts: Handmade Holidays, Jamaica Plain, 12/21, 12/23, 12/24; Winter Wreaths, Hyde Park, 12/23; Candy Cane Reindeer, Lower Mills 12/24
  • Family Films: Upham’s Corner, 12/21 3:30pm; Grove Hall, 12/24;
  • Stories: Winter Family Storytime, Connolly, 12/23
  • Cookie Decorating: Egleston Square, 12/24 11am; Mattapan, 12/24

Planning Ahead

If you plan to attend First Night on New Year’s Eve, please check our post for details to help you get the most out of the event.

Image: The Muppet Christmas Carol