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.
1699 Historic Winslow House
Marshfield
3D Bean
Boston
Adventure East
Hadley
The Adventure Park at Heritage Museums & Gardens
Sandwich
Alden House Historic Site
Duxbury
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum
Springfield
American Heritage Museum
Hudson
Amherst Business Improvement District
Amherst
Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company: Museum & Library
Boston
Arrowhead
Pittsfield
Art in the Orchard
Easthampton
ArtsWorcester - Art Gallery
Worcester
ArtWeek
Boston
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
Sudbury
Beauport Cruiselines
Gloucester
Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, a Historic New England property
Gloucester
Behold Boston Tours
Boston
Berkshire Camino LLC
Pittsfield
The Berkshire Carousel Inc.
Pittsfield
Beverly Historical Society and Museum
Beverly
- A
1699 Historic Winslow House
635 Careswell Street
Marshfield
781-837-5753 - B
3D Bean
460 Harrison Avenue
Suite C15
Boston
8572332528 - C
Adventure East
12 Breckenridge Road
Hadley
+14138005345 - D
The Adventure Park at Heritage Museums & Gardens
67 Grove Street
Sandwich
508-866-0199 - E
Alden House Historic Site
105 Alden St.
Po Box 2754
Duxbury
781-934-9092 - F
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum
21 Edwards St.
Springfield
800-625-7738 - G
American Heritage Museum
568 Main Street
Hudson
978-562-9182 - H
Amherst Business Improvement District
35 South Pleasant Street
Amherst
413-345-2945 - I
Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company: Museum & Library
Ahac, Armory, Fourth Floor
Faneuil Hall
Boston
617 227 1638 - J
Arrowhead
780 Holmes Rd.
Pittsfield
413-442-1793 - K
Art in the Orchard
82 Park Hill Rd
Easthampton
413-527-6186 - L
ArtsWorcester - Art Gallery
660 Main Street
Worcester
508-755-5142 - M
ArtWeek
270 Tremont St
Boston
(617) 532-1251 - N
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
680 Hudson Road
Sudbury
(978) 562-3527 - O
Beauport Cruiselines
6 Rowe Square
Gloucester
978-865-3210 - P
Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, a Historic New England property
75 Eastern Point Boulevard
Gloucester
978-283-0800 - Q
Behold Boston Tours
137 Pearl St
Unit 4
Boston
6154826254 - R
Berkshire Camino LLC
437 North St
Pittsfield
413-327-4312 - S
The Berkshire Carousel Inc.
50 Center Street
Pittsfield
413-499-0457 - T
Beverly Historical Society and Museum
117 Cabot St.
Beverly
978-922-1186