Massachusetts invented the First Night celebration, and is also at the forefront of creating First Day activities for residents and visitors to enjoy on January 1st each year. From yoga to frisbee golf, and from road races to outdoor hikes, here is a selection of First Day activities in Massachusetts.
Relax with Yoga
The New Bedford Whaling Museum offers a meditation and yoga session appropriate for all levels.
Golf in January!
Check out the 8th annual New Year’s Day Disc Golf Tournament in Oaks Bluff, Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a growing sport that is played with a Frisbee, not a golf ball.
Have a Toast
White’s of Westford is offering a Champagne Brunch Buffet from 11am to 1pm to help jump start your New Year.
Cool Jazz & Ice Sculptures
Boston First Night continues through to First Day with live music, dance and magic performances starting at 11 am and continuing till 4pm in Copley Square, Boston Common as well as Berklee College of Music and the Prudential Center.
Sprint into the New Year
There are nine 5K road races in Massachusetts on January 1, in Whitinsviille, Sandwich, Norwood, Seekonk, Lowell, Westfield, Salisbury, Needham and North Falmouth.
Go Indie
The Gateway City Arts in Holyoke presents Rubblebucket, an Indie Music and Dance group from Brooklyn, to rock the house, starting at 8 pm.
First Day Hikes
The Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) has scheduled First Day Hikes in eleven state parks located in Boston, Uxbridge, Topsfield, Saugus, Milton, South Carver, Hull, Brewster, Waquoit, Lanesborough and Turners Fall.
Harbor Swim
If welcoming the New Year means diving into cold water, then check out the annual Polar Bear Plunge with the L Street Brownies in South Boston, or the hearty folks in Provincetown.
Art Exploration
Take a Gallery Tour at the Mass MoCA in North Adams, from 11 am to 5 pm. On display, Xu Bing’s monumental Phoenix, a display of birds fabricated from construction sites in urban China.
Historic Brunch
Combine the past and the future with a First Day Brunch at Old Sturbridge Village, a replica historic village from the 19th century.
Bentley University
Waltham
Brandeis University
Waltham
Buy & Consign
Waltham
Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Waltham
Gore Place
Waltham
Lyman Estate Mansion and Greenhouses, A Historic New England Property
Waltham
Rose Art Museum
Waltham
Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate
Waltham
Boston Tours
Waltham
Daily sightseeing tours of Boston, Cambridge, and Charlestown. Trips leave from suburban and Boston hotels. Reservations required. more
Girl Scout Museum at Cedar Hill
Waltham
Lincoln Arts Gallery
Waltham
Contemporary art gallery on thriving Moody Street in downtown Waltham. more
Nahant Music Festival
Waltham
The Nahant Music Festival brings high-quality classical music to the North Shore during the first two weeks of June. Master... more
Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston
Waltham
Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston is a unique award-winning regional theater company that features Broadway stars performing alongside local... more
Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University
Waltham
Rose Art Museum is among the nation's premier museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art. With a noted international collection,... more
The Telephone Museum, Inc.
Waltham
When you were a kid, did you take stuff apart just to find out what was inside? Today's stuff is... more
Waltham Mills Artists Association
Waltham
WMAA artists work in a wide range of media, including sculpture, glass, drawing, printmaking, painting, textiles, photography, woodworking, film and... more
Waltham Museum
Waltham
- A
Bentley University
175 Forest St.
Waltham
781-891-2745 - B
Brandeis University
415 South Street
Waltham
781-736-2000 - C
Buy & Consign
1250 Main Street
Waltham
781-336-9443 - D
Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
154 Moody Street
Waltham
781-893-5410 - E
Gore Place
52 Gore St.
Waltham
781-894-2798 - F
Lyman Estate Mansion and Greenhouses, A Historic New England Property
185 Lyman Street
Waltham
617-994-5912 - G
Rose Art Museum
415 Street
415 South Street
Waltham
781-736-3434 - H
Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate
100 Robert Treat Paine Dr.
Waltham
781-314-3290 - I
Boston Tours
56 Williams St.
Waltham
781-899-1454 - J
Girl Scout Museum at Cedar Hill
265 Beaver Street
Waltham - K
Lincoln Arts Gallery
289 Moody Street
Waltham
781-209-0058 - L
Nahant Music Festival
147b Brown Street
Waltham
781-373-5496 - M
Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston
Robinson Theatre
617 Lexington Street
Waltham
781-891-5600 - N
Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University
415 South Street Ms 069
Waltham
(781) 736-3434 - O
The Telephone Museum, Inc.
289 Moody Street
Waltham
(781) 314-6864 - P
Waltham Mills Artists Association
144 Moody St.
Waltham
718-986-8996 - Q
Waltham Museum
196 Charles Street
Waltham
(781) 893-9020