Boston Flora

Category: benefit

  • Saturday, December 13, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Pony Under the Christmas Tree

    Come to Wright-Locke Farm, 82 Ridge Street in Winchester on the evening of December 13th and bid on the best, hand-picked horse/pony presents around for your children, nieces, nephews, grandkids and even yourselves.

    Get some fantastic holiday shopping done while supporting a great equine nonprofit at the same time! “Pony Under the Christmas Tree” is a silent auction and wine pull for adults.

    We are fully stocked with everything from huge ride on pony toys for kids, extraordinary horse stable sets, one of a kind Etsy artisan creations, Barbie horse rider and pony collections, My Little Pony figurines, horse themed Legos and Magna-tiles, fashionable horse house decor for equestrian adults, and even beautiful apparel for adults and kids. Mobile Whinnies is a nonprofit that provides fun, FREE experiential math and reading programs in partnership with miniature horses to schools and libraries.
    They also provide FREE wellness visits to senior centers, hospitals, and local businesses.

  • Now Through Saturday, January 3, 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine will again present Gardens Aglow Thursdays through Sundays, plus select dates, throughout their beautiful gardens, from 4 – 9 pm. Gardens Aglow is an outdoor, walking event. Weather conditions vary greatly along the Maine coast in the winter. Dress in layers and be aware of snowy and icy weather risks. Please note that parking is limited; consider carpooling with family and friends. Tickets are necessary at https://www.mainegardens.org/ Tickets must be purchased ahead of time online, and none will be sold on-site. Make sure you have them in hand (or available on your phone!) for your visit.

    Adults: $23, Seniors (65+) and Veterans: $20, Children (3-17): $13, Child under 3: free. Member Adult: $18.50, Member Child: $10.50

  • Friday, December 5 – Sunday, December 28 – Christmas at Castle Hill

    Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition. Don’t miss this year’s event celebrating the beauty of the natural world. You’ll see birds, flowers, snowflakes, and more as you view 18 spaces decorated for the holidays. Go at your own pace and learn from interpreters stationed in rooms.

    Enjoy freshly baked cookies and hot chocolate, try the Crane holiday eye spy, and shop in the Castle Hill Gift Shop during your visit.

    Timed entry will limit the number of guests for the comfort of guests and staff. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Ipswich residents: apply discount code “IPSWICH” for resident rate and show resident beach sticker or other identification at gate. Children ages 4 and under are admitted free; ages 5-14 receive the discounted child rate.

    Christmas at Castle Hill runs Fridays, December 5, 12, 19, and 26, 4-7PM; Saturdays, December 6, 13, 20, and 27, 10AM-4PM (sensory-friendly hours 10AM-11:30AM); Sundays, December 7, 14, 21, and 28, 10AM-4PM.

    Sensory-friendly Hours: 10AM-11:30AM on Saturdays, Dec 6, 13, 20, and 27. Reduced capacity and no flickering lights.

    Accessibility: The Grand Stair has 30 steps. We’re sorry, but there is no elevator. There will be a digital picture display of second floor museum rooms for guests unable to climb the stairs.

    Refund and exchange requests must be made at least 7 days in advance of the event date. Register HERE

  • Friday, December 5, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Etiquetteer’s 14th Annual Repeal Day Celebration

    The Gibson House Museum and Etiquetteer Robert B. Dimmick will once again host a glittering evening celebrating the repeal of Prohibition. Featuring hors d’oeuvre, cocktails, and stories of the parties thrown by our own Charlie Gibson–it’s an evening you won’t want to miss. The event is December 5, from 6 – 8, at the Museum

    Spots are limited, so be sure to reserve yours soon! Tickets ($100 plus $6 handling fee) may be purchased at https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/thegibsonhouse/items/676628/availability/1886168923/book/?full-items=yes

  • Thursday, December 11, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Beacon Hill Civic Association Holiday Concert

    The Beacon Hill Civic Association invites you to a Holiday Concert on Thursday, December 11. Cocktail reception will begin at 6:00 pm, and Concert will begin at 6:30. The event takes place at the Harvard Musical Association, 57A Chestnut Street in Beacon Hill, and prices range from $50 for BHCA Founders Circle members to $75 for general members to $100 for nonmembers. RSVP by emailing info@bhcivic.org no later than December 4.

  • Thursday, December 4, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Young Friends at the Arnold

    Keep in step with science and the Young Friends of the Arnold! Meet us for an unforgettable evening at the Weld Hill Research Building on Thursday, December 4 from 6:30–9:30pm. This special event is tailored for those aged 21-45 or anyone young at heart who enjoy learning about nature, conserving biodiversity, and engaging with a community of plant enthusiasts. Enjoy seasonal refreshments, explore the Arboretum’s cutting-edge research, and learn how your support helps preserve one of Boston’s most treasured landscapes. Whether you’re a longtime member or new to the Young Friends, this is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your engagement with the Arboretum and meet others who value trees, science, and sustainability. Your participation helps fund vital programs and supports our mission to connect people with the natural world. Don’t miss this festive and meaningful gathering—purchase your tickets today and get ready for a night of discovery and delight!

    lease note that this is a 21 and older event.

    Purchase tickets for $110/person, which covers individual admittance to the event, passed food, and an open wine and beer bar. Members of the Arnold Arboretum are eligible to purchase tickets (up to 4 tickets) for $75/person. Patron level tickets are available for $250/person and include a hand-turned wood bowl crafted from a felled Arnold Arboretum tree. Purchase tickets at https://arboretum.harvard.edu/support/young-friends-of-the-arnold-arboretum/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=aa_nov_2025_newsletter&utm_term=young_friends

  • Fridays & Saturdays, December 5 – 20, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm, and Sundays, December 7 – 21, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Strawbery Banke Candlelight Strolls

    Every year since 1979, Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke has captured 350 years of seasonal and holiday traditions against the backdrop of the museum’s historic houses. Wander the Museum grounds under the glow of candle boxes and string lights, visiting furnished historic homes from 1795 through the 1950s, each adorned with greens and dried flowers from the Museum’s heirloom gardens. Inside, costumed roleplayers portray neighborhood families, sharing stories, customs, and seasonal traditions.

    Tour exhibit houses highlight Portsmouth’s maritime heritage, traditional trades, and more, offering context to life in the Puddle Dock neighborhood. Outside, carolers, fife-and-drummers, and other musicians fill the air with seasonal melodies, while wandering historical reenactors bring figures from the past to life across the grounds.

    Twice each evening, Ice Dance International’s Currier & Ives Vintage Christmas Skaters take the ice for special performances that capture the spirit of the season (weather dependent). Visitors can warm up at the Cider Shed with a cup of cider, then explore the Grove of Sponsored Holiday Trees, where you can vote for your favorite.

    Parking is NOT available on-site; the small onsite parking lot is reserved for handicapped accessible needs first-come, first-served.

    This year there will also be a Daytime Stroll on December 14 from 2 – 4.

    For more information and to reserve tickets visit www.strawberybanke.org

  • Thursday, December 4 – Holiday Lights on the Mall

    The Friends of the Public Garden invites you to the lighting of the trees on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall on December 4. One of Boston’s most iconic holiday sights, Holiday Lights on the Mall is community spirit and goodwill brought to life during the darkest months, This winter, Friends of the Public Garden will once again invest $250,000 to bring the wintertime magic of the lights along the Mall, and this is only possible with your support. Neighbors and friends have given generously to uphold this beloved tradition since 2000. Your charitable gift of any size will bring light and help care for the park all year long. You can donate by credit card or electronic fund transfer at friendsofthepublicgarden.org/givelight or by telephone at 617-723-8144 x 203.

  • Friday, November 28 – Garden Club of the Back Bay Holiday Wreaths Order Deadline

    Don’t delay sending in your order for a beautifully crafted holiday wreath from The Garden Club of the Back Bay. Supplies are limited, especially for fully decorated wreaths, and proceeds from this all-volunteer endeavor go directly into neighborhood beautification and tree care. Place your order at https://bostonflora.com/store

  • Friday, November 28 – Sunday, December 28 – 17th Annual Festival of Trees

    Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s 17th Festival of Trees showcases dozens of decorated trees as well as Snow Village, including a model railroad display.  This annual event takes place at The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482.  The venues are handicapped accessible. 

    Mostly displayed in the Hunnewell Building, the Festival offers beautifully decorated holiday trees that are donated and decorated by local businesses, garden clubs and other organizations, and individuals. Holiday lights and decorations fill the Garden. See the Garden at Elm Bank in a new light with holiday lightscapes, magical displays, and the perfect photo opportunities. You’ll get a hot cocoa at the gate and finish your visit with s’mores by the firepits. 

    Visitors ‘vote’ with their raffle tickets, selecting the tree(s) they would like to win at the end of the event.  Tree sizes vary from one foot to nine feet in height and some have gifts in addition to the decorations.  This year there will also be a virtual Festival in addition to the physical display.    

    Another and totally different experience is provided by Snow Village, an indoor exhibit occupying a whole room.  This large display features model trains wending their way through villages and vignettes, including Christmas in the City (Boston of course!), Fenway Park, a Dickensian village, the North Pole and hundreds of decorated houses and lights.  There are too many Santas to count as well as skaters galore.  This is a visual treat for young and old alike and each year it is a little different. 

    For tickets and more information visit https://www.masshort.org/festival-of-trees#signup