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.
Arsenal Mall
Watertown
The Plumbing Museum
Watertown
Arsenal Yards
Watertown
Eastern Clothing
Watertown
Meravelha
Watertown
Meravelha was formed in 2012 in Boston for the purpose of making medieval music accessible to a wider audience through live... more
New Center for Arts & Culture
Watertown
Exploring the Jewish imagination through innovative programming, performances, and conversations that are relevant to both Jews and the broader community. more
New Repertory Theatre
Watertown
Professional theatre presenting intelligent and provocative works. more
Perkins Museum
Watertown
A multisensory journey through the history of blind and deafblind education over the last 200 years. more
Pocket Metro
Watertown
PocketMetro is a GPS map that you rent and take with you when you visit Boston. As you walk, PocketMetro... more
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Arsenal Mall
485 Arsenal St
Watertown
617-923-4700 - B
The Plumbing Museum
80 Rosedale Road
Watertown
617-926-2111 - C
Arsenal Yards
130 Arsenal Yards Boulevard
Watertown
(617) 923-9944 - D
Eastern Clothing
76 Coolidge Hill Rd
Watertown
(617) 924-8240 - E
Meravelha
660 Belmont St.
Watertown
585-734-7246 - F
New Center for Arts & Culture
321 Arsenal Street
Watertown
617-531-4610 - G
New Repertory Theatre
200 Dexter Avenue
Watertown
617-923-7060 - H
Perkins Museum
175 North Beacon St.
Watertown
617-924-7767 - I
Pocket Metro
18 Hillcrest Circle
Watertown
(617) 500-4597