Dear Members and Friends:
Say goodbye to 2024 … time to ring in the New Year!
Events throughout the city
There’s a long list of wintery fun things to do, see, and eat compiled by Boston Uncovered, including Holiday Lights along Comm Ave, and a new winter festival in Charlestown, where Winter Fest transforms Hood Park into a two-acre winter holiday light show, food, fun and ice skating rink – making it the biggest holiday themed attraction in the city. In the Fenway, there’s Time Out Market, having a “glow up” on New Year’s Eve and of course, to cap it off, there’s FIRST NIGHT…
Full schedule of Events on Tuesday, December 31st
First Night has been the best party in town since 1976! Events start early on Tuesday, December 31st – free and open to all! There’s so much to do, plan ahead to enjoy the live music, a 6pm parade then fireworks at 7pm and again at midnight, ice sculptures, tasty treats, and many family activities.
New Year traditions… many you’ve heard of – some, maybe not!
Here’s a list of some New Year’s traditions from around the world…
Some traditions focus on letting the past go, or bringing good fortune and luck into the future, exchanging meaningful symbolic gifts, or just making a lot of noise and, of course, fire and fireworks! Here are two hot takes on old traditions:
Panama: Burning away the old year’s grudges
Panamanians bid adieu to the past by setting ablaze effigies representing their year’s grievances. This cathartic ritual symbolizes letting go of negative experiences and embracing the fresh start that the new year brings. The burning of the effigies is a symbolic act of letting go.
Germany: Molten lead predicts the future
Germans turn to molten lead for a glimpse into their future. On New Year’s Eve, they melt lead into various shapes, and the resulting forms are interpreted to predict events in the year ahead.
Check out 30 traditions from around the world
MBTA – HOLIDAY SCHEDULES AND NOTICES
Best way to get about, take the T! FREE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
Subway runs on a regular weekday schedule until 3 PM. Service increases after 3 PM and will be extended by one hour, ending around 2:30 AM.
Bus, ferry, and The RIDE run on a regular weekday schedule.
Commuter Rail will run on a regular weekday schedule, with the last trains departing at 12:30 AM. No bikes will be allowed after 8PM.
Note: Starting at 8 PM on December 31, subway, bus, and The RIDE will be fare-free. Commuter Rail service will be free on trains that arrive or depart North/South Station from 8 PM through end of service.
UPCOMING
City of Boston Holiday schedule – what’s open/closed etc.
Wednesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
Monday, January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Boston is expanding free museum, zoo and aquarium days to more families – click the link for more info – starting in January!
ONGOING
Mondays, 9-10 a.m., Age Strong Chair Yoga (virtual) Join the City of Boston sponsored free virtual class. Repeats weekly through June 16, 2025.
Every Other Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.until done, Fenway Cares Food Distribution
*no distribution on Jan 1st – Next date: 1/15 – at 2 locations:
West Fenway – Fenway Community Center, 1282 Boylston (enter-Jersey)
East Fenway – Symphony Community Park, 39 Edgerly Road
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for all dates and both locations! Volunteer
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 2-5 p.m. on Fenway Cares dates, East Fenway, in Morville House, 100 Norway Street. Offerings may include blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar testing, COVID-19, flu, and pneumonia vaccines.
For ongoing cultural events, check the ArtsBoston calendar.
DEVELOPING NEWS – BOSTON CITY COUNCIL: On Friday, December 6, Tania Fernandes Anderson, City Councilor District 7, was arrested on federal public corruption charges. (District 7 consists of East Fenway, Roxbury, Dorchester, and part of the South End.) The second term Councilor pleaded not guilty, announced she has no plans to resign, and attended the last council meeting of 2024 on December 11th. Councilors Flynn, Fitzgerald and Murphy offered an order for a hearing to establish an ethics committee at the Boston City Council, the offer was tabled until the next meeting on January 8, 2025 at noon. City Council terms are two years. The next election is November 2025.
DEVELOPMENTS BY STATUS:
409 Huntington Avenue, 262 St. Botolph St., 142-146 St. Mary’s Street
Kenmore Hotel, Fenway Corners (West), Fenway Corners (North), Fenway Center, Boston University – Warren Towers Renovation, 819 Beacon Street,
601 Newbury Street, 20 Charlesgate West, 2 Charlesgate West, 165 Park Drive, 1400 Boylston Street, 1241 Boylston Street, 112-114 Queensberry St, 109 Brookline Avenue
We got a lot done together in 2024! Here’s looking forward to a happy, healthy and productive New Year!
From your friends at
Fenway Civic Association 