Boston Winter in City Hall Plaza Is Back and Better Than Ever

Enjoy an all-in-one holiday festival in City Hall Plaza with a craft market, ice skating path, and indoor wine tent.

By Claire Tran· 11/30/2017, 1:02 p.m.

Photo by Claire Tran

Last year, more than 300,000 visitors experienced the wonder of Boston Winter, an all-in-one holiday festival right in City Hall Plaza. Produced by Millennial Entertainment Group, Boston Winter boasts a market, ice skating path, indoor wine and beer experience, and more.

This year, it’s back with plenty of new things to appreciate. The winter wonderland opened a week earlier, with more food, entertainment, and twice the number of vendors. Lena Romanova, the founder of Millennial Entertainment Group, also geared this year’s exhibition more towards children, with a Santa house and an enchanted castle experience. Kids can also get a “passport” at the info desk, which then gets stamped at every vendor and exhibit they visit, making for a fun memento.

“A lot of people don’t like to go out in the winter, especially in Boston, so we try to see what are the exciting things that we can bring to really get kids and families out to celebrate the holidays together,” she says.

Check out the highlights of this year’s Boston Winter.

Photo by Claire Tran

Each vendor set up shop in Cape Cod-inspired wooden chalets, with charming holiday decor.

Photo by Claire Tran

More than 85 local and national businesses are selling their products and services, twice as many as last year.

Photo by Claire Tran

Munch on New England winter classics, like cider donuts, apple crisps, and Belgian waffles.

Photo by Claire Tran

Romanova emphasized the importance of bringing local vendors to Boston Winter, who often can’t afford to rent a space in the mall or Faneuil Hall.

Photo by Claire Tran

Score homemade ornaments and other decorations for the holidays season.

Photo by Claire Tran

The custom-designed skating path is the first of its kind in New England. It costs $15 for adults to enter the skating path, with skate rentals adding an extra $8.

Photo by Claire Tran

Boston Winter is filled with fun holiday decorations, including life-sized nutcrackers, a huge lawn chair, or these drummer boys.

Photo by Claire Tran

Last year, vendors made an estimated $5 million throughout the festival, according to Romanova. Nearby restaurants also saw an uptick in customers.

Photo by Claire Tran

Abnormal Creations, a New Hampshire mother-daughter duo, sells unique items made from birch trees.

Photo by Claire Tran

Even in the middle of the day, Boston Winter is bustling with shoppers. “It’s all about the experience,” says Romanova. “Whether they come at 11 a.m. in the morning or 5 p.m. on Saturday, whether they come with kids or alone, they have to feel like there is an experience for them.”