1 Thursday

Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza, 4:30-9:30pm, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Watch as more than 350,000 lights dance to the beat of the world famous Holiday Pops. Through Jan. 1. FREE. bostonblinks.com.

Boston Common Tree Lighting, 6-8pm, Boston Common, Tremont St., Boston. The park holiday lights are switched on for the season and Mayor Walsh is joined onstage by entertainers and Santa Claus. FREE. 617-635-4505; cityofboston.gov.

2 Friday

Holiday Open House, 10am – 4pm, Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston. Meet colonial characters, enjoy a cup of tea, make crafts and much more. Through Dec. 3. FREE. 617-482-6439; osmh.org.

3 Saturday

Dorchester Stringfest, 3pm, Kroc Center Boston, 650 Dudley St., Dorchester. A cross-cultural adventure from India and China featuring erhu, tabla and strings. Reservations suggested. FREE. 617-598-3225; celebrityseries.org.

SOUTH

The Writers’ Loft Holiday Bazaar and Book Fair, 11am – 2pm, An Unlikely Story, 111 South St., Plainville. Book signings from local children’s authors, crafts and activities for the whole family. FREE. 508-699-0244; thewritersloft.org.

Star Gazing Nights, 6:30-8:30pm, Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill St., Sharon. Join local astronomers for a look at the stars and other night objects through big telescopes. FREE. 781-784-5691; massaudubon.org.

WEST

Holiday Open House, 10am – 4pm, Heifer Farm, 216 Wachusett St., Rutland. Meet farm animals, take a wagon ride, decorate gingerbread cookies and much more. Weekends through Dec. 11. FREE with a canned good. 508-886-5000; heifer.org/farm.

4 Sunday

Roxbury Stringfest, 3pm, Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley St., Roxbury. A cross-cultural adventure from India and China featuring erhu, tabla and strings. Reservations suggested. FREE. 617-598-3225; celebrityseries.org.

10 Saturday

Holiday On Ice, 11am – 9pm, Community Ice Skating at Kendall Square, 300 Athenaeum St., Cambridge. Enjoy free admission all day with a professional skating show at 2pm. FREE; skate rental extra. 617-492-0941; skatekendall.com.

SOUTH.

Middleborough Festival of Lights, 4-9pm, Boston/Cape Cod KOA, 438 Plymouth St., Middleborough. Drive through hundreds of thousands of lights then park and walk through Santa’s Village. Weekends through Dec. 18. $1. discovermiddleborough.com.

WEST

Holiday Nature Crafts Open House, 1-4pm, Broad Meadow Brook, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester. Craft ornaments from natural materials and enjoy snacks and music. Adults, $5; youth, $3. 508-753-6087; massaudubon.org.

11 Sunday

BYSO Family Holiday Concert, 3pm, Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury. The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras’ Intensive Community Program will perform holiday favorites. FREE. 617-353-3348; bysoweb.org.

12 Monday

One Act Play Festival, 10:30am, Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown. New student-written and directed plays, performed by the Watertown Children’s Theatre community. Parental discretion suggested. FREE. 800-838-3006; watertownchildrenstheatre.org.

17 Saturday

Posada Navideña, 10am, various locations, Roslindale. A Mexican Nativity re-enactment including caroling, a Mariachi band, pinatas, crafts and Mexican food. FREE. friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.

NORTH

Puppet Playtime Holiday Sing-a-long, 10:30am, Creative Arts, 25 Woburn St., Reading. Sing your favorite holiday tunes with puppet friends, watch two short performances and make a craft. $5. 781-942-9600; weteachcreativearts.org.

27 Tuesday

Len Cabral, 10:30am, JFK Presidential Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston. Storyteller Len Cabral spins winter tales from near and far. Reservations required. FREE. 617-514-1644 ; jfklibrary.org.

31 Saturday

First Night/First Day Boston, 6pm to midnight, Copley Square and Boston Common, Boston. ​A two-day celebration with a parade, fireworks show, ice sculptures and family friendly performances and activities. FREE. 617-439-7700; firstnightboston.org.

NORTH

New Year’s Eve: Launch!, 4-6pm, Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem. Ring in the new year at a family festival featuring an early countdown at Old Town Hall at 6pm. $5 donation suggested. salemmainstreets.org.