Guide to Boston’s winter culture

Winter in Boston is a far cry from balmy, but it is peak season for cultural offerings, from art exhibits to intimate concerts to festive theater and dance. And, of course, Boston sports do not cool off in winter either, as basketball and hockey seasons are in full swing. Don’t be deterred by a few flakes of snow: cold winds may blow, but the city is filled with beauty and light. Here are 11 ways to experience the best of Boston’s arts and culture in winter.

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1. Follow the marquee lights to the Theater District

When the night is dark, the lights of the Theater District shine brightly, with more than a dozen theaters packed into a few square blocks. The city's winter calendar is full of holiday magic, Broadway plays, comedy shows and more. Put on your best duds and go out on the town for a world-class performance.

Planning: Check Boston Theater to see what shows are coming to the Theater District. Visit the ArtsBoston booth at Faneuil Hall or the Prudential Center for last-minute discounted tickets.

2. Discover the playful Winteractive art exhibits in Downtown Boston

From January to April, the streets of Downtown Boston are dotted with wonderful, whimsical public art, in an annual exhibition known as Winteractive, presented by the Downtown Boston Alliance. As the name suggests, many of the displays follow a seasonal theme, and many are interactive, encouraging touching, playing, traversing and, of course, photographing (and posting). Download a map or just keep your eyes open to the whimsy as you walk the city's streets.

Local tip: When you need to warm up, duck into the Thinking Cup for a cup of Stumptown coffee or a decadent French hot chocolate.

3. Groove to jazz and blues at the Beehive

Descend into the basement of the Boston Center for the Arts to enter the Beehive, a club straight out of 1920s Paris, where beautiful people sip strong cocktails and the sounds of jazz fill the air. The Beehive’s Sunday night blues are guaranteed to warm your heart.

Local tip: The Queen Bee (vodka, grapefruit and sparkling wine with elderflower) is the bomb.

4. Browse the books and admire the art at the Boston Athenaeum

A distinguished private library and art museum, the Boston Athenaeum has been a center of Boston intellectual life since 1807. Over the years, luminaries such as John Quincy Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne have gathered here. The Beacon Hill landmark is replete with sun-dappled rooms and art-filled walls and rows upon rows of bookcases - an enticing place to while away a winter afternoon. 

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Planning: Book well in advance for scheduled art and architecture tours. Alternatively, access the first floor without a guide, or purchase a one-day membership for full access to library materials and spaces.

5. Root for the Bruins or the Celtics at TD Garden

Winter in Boston means rooting for the Celtics on the basketball court and the Bruins on the ice. Join loyal fans at the TD Garden in the West End or watch the game nearby at The Greatest Bar. Sports fans can delve deeper into the local lore at the Sports Museum, also located at TD Garden. A 45-minute tour shows off highlights like Shaquille O’Neal’s shoes (size 23) and Nancy Kerrigan’s ice skates. The tour ends at Boston Bruins Heritage Hall, featuring lots of high-tech interactive hockey fun.

Detour: The Boston Bruins practice at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton. The practices are open to the public and free to watch! The schedule is posted online, but it changes frequently (and sometimes last minute), so it’s always smart to call and confirm before showing up.

6.  Get artsy in the SoWa Arts District

The South End, the area south of Washington St (SoWa), is the city’s vibrant art district, packed with studios, galleries, markets and maker spaces. In December, the district hosts the SoWa Winter Festival, an outdoor holiday market with local vendors, food trucks, art workshops, live entertainment and plenty of festive vibes. Outside the holiday season, the best time to come is the first Friday of the month. That's when many creatives open their studios and galleries to the public to browse the artworks and hobnob with artists. 

Local Tip: If you’re more of a doer than an observer, you might spend some time making your own art at Wyllo, Clay Lounge or Boston Fiber Co.    

7. Listen to an organ recital at Trinity Church

One of Boston’s most cherished architectural icons, Trinity Church is a stunner any time of year. But Henry Hobson Richardson’s masterpiece is particularly glorious in winter, when the sun is low in the sky and the rays illuminate the stained glass windows with a rich, muted glow. The 30-minute audio tour showcases the exquisite windows, as well as murals by John La Farge.

Local Tip: A wonderful way to experience this spectacular setting is to come for a free weekly organ recital (Friday at 12:15) - a simultaneous celebration of sound and vision. 

8. Admire seasonal blooms in the courtyard at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Isabella Stewart Gardner was a 19th-century socialite who constructed a handsome Venetian-style palazzo in the Fenway to house her fantastic art collection. The mansion is now a delightful museum, displaying some of the thousands of artworks that she personally collected or commissioned. A highlight of the palazzo is the interior courtyard, filled with lush greenery, seasonal blooms and evocative sculptures. In December and January, a holiday garden shows off flowering jade trees and dark red amaryllis flowers. Later in the winter, the garden features glorious tropical plants, including many exotic varieties of orchids.

Planning: Calderwood Hall is the museum’s unique and intimate cube-shaped concert hall, setting for a popular weekend concert series. Purchase tickets well in advance!

9. Take an off-season baseball pilgrimage to Fenway Park

You’ll have to go to Fort Myers to see the Red Sox play baseball at this time of year, but you can still take a tour of America’s oldest ball park, Fenway Park. The full tour includes the visiting team’s locker room, the press box and the Green Monster seats, as well as an extensive collection of memorabilia. The excellent guides know all the stories: even tried-and-true Red Sox fans will come away with some new fun facts. 

Local tip: Another way to experience Fenway Park in the off-season is to visit the Bleacher Bar, a fun spot tucked beneath the bleachers. The entrance is from Lansdowne St, but a huge window overlooks center field. It’s a thrill to get a glimpse into the ballpark, even when there’s no game (or season) underway. 

10. Marvel at the magic of the Boston Ballet

Performing at Citizens Opera House, the world-class Boston Ballet thrills audiences with its wide-ranging repertoire, from classic performances to creative contemporary interpretations. Case in point: Consider these two beloved wintertime traditions. In December, the ballet company performs Miko Nissenen’s elaborate production of The Nutcracker, a holiday classic. Later in the winter, the company offers the Winter Experience, two dreamy and sensual productions that explore themes of the natural and supernatural worlds - The Seasons’ Canon by Crystal Pite and Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) by Jorma Elo. 

Detour: Meanwhile, a few blocks away at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre, the Boston City Ballet performs Anthony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker, a modern, multicultural interpretation of the classic, featuring hip hop, swing, step, jazz and more.

11. Get a lesson in American art at the Museum of Fine Arts

There’s a lot to see at the Museum of Fine Arts, which is truly encyclopedic in scope, but the museum’s wing dedicated to the Art of the Americas is the star of the show. Some of the outstanding galleries showcase Boston originals, for example, the art from revolutionary Boston (including silver pieces by Paul Revere); a large collection of paintings by John Singleton Copley; the impressive John Singer Sargent gallery; and the American Impressionist galleries, featuring paintings by Childe Hassam, among others. Hassam’s winter scene At Dusk (Boston Common at Twilight) may look familiar.

Local tip: Don’t miss the graceful murals by John Singer Sargent that adorn the ceiling of the central staircase and rotunda. Conveniently placed mirrors allow viewers to examine the murals without straining their necks.