Sparklefest in Harvard Square

The Harvard Square Business Association is excited to announce the schedule for Sparklefest 2023! Sparklefest is a five-week celebration of the holiday season in Harvard Square that culminates on New Year’s Eve. With stunning holiday lights adorning the trees and street lamps, Harvard Square becomes the perfect festive location to shop and dine during the holiday season. Harvard Square is more than just a world-class destination for shopping and dining. Set aside time to enjoy all the holiday events offered this season!

Noir at The Charles Hotel
Maccabee Bar
November 29th – December 31st

Maccabee Bar is meant for anyone who wants to experience a different side of the holidays, whether you grew up celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza or anything else. While hosting Maccabee Bar, Noir at the Charles Hotel will be transformed into a Hanukkah wonderland with special decor, Hanukkah themed cocktails, and traditional bites, including latkes, hummus, and more. Monday and Tuesday 4pm to 12am and Wednesday through Saturday 4pm to 1am.

Make a Reservation

Harvard Square Giving Tree Kickoff

December 2nd

Brattle Plaza, 4pm

The Harvard Square Business Association members and friends are generously donating hats, gloves, socks, mittens, t-shirts, and scarves. These items will be placed in water-tight zipper bags along with candy canes, chocolates and treats and will be hung on the Holiday Giving Tree. Please bring your own items similarly packaged, or come and help us place ours. People are encouraged to take what they need.

To kick off the installation of the Giving Tree, The Boys of the St. Paul’s Choir School will perform joyous hymns and songs. These young boys have performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein on the legendary stage of Carnegie Hall, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for Pope Francis, and countless Boston Red Sox and Celtics games. Consisting of singers who are both artistically and technically highly developed, it may be surprising to discover that the boys range from grades 3 through 8. Complimentary hot chocolate and yummy cookies for those attending and for passersby will be served by HSBA staff.

El Jefe’s Taqueria

The 6th Annual Ben Abercrombie Day

December 5th

Passim
Windborne’s Music on Midwinter
December 6th and 19th

After many years of serving as the vocal bedrock of the hit Boston institution A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Windborne is performing a full show of their favorite songs of the season! A joyful and heartfelt celebration of song, Windborne’s lush vocals and unique arrangements bring light to a dark time, as they draw on midwinter music from traditional, classical, and folk from the US, British Isles and beyond. Unique from their typical show, the holiday spirit is accentuated with added instrumentation, from guitars and banjos to the Lithuanian Kankl?s and Irish bodhran. With Windborne as their guide across continents and centuries, audiences will be delighted by holiday stories, songs, and humor in a livestream concert for the whole family! Sing along with familiar favorites, enjoy new twists on old classics or sit back and enjoy discovering new favorites, but make sure you don’t miss Windborne’s Music of Midwinter!
Tickets

American Repertory Theater
Real Women Have Curves
December 6th – January 21st

Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the iconic hit film, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical is an empowering new show that explores life’s unexpected curves. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo (Arrabal, Ain’t Too Proud, Jersey Boys), this world-premiere musical features a book by award-winning playwright Lisa Loomer (Roe; The Waiting Room; Girl, Interrupted) with an original score by Grammy-winning recording artist Joy Huerta (from world-renowned Mexican pop duo Jesse&Joy) and Fred Ebb Award winner Benjamin Velez (Kiss My Aztec).
Tickets

Passim
Tony Trischka’s Holiday Show
December 7th
Tony Trischka hosts a banjo-driven celebration of the season where he turns his considerable melodic inventiveness loose on Bluegrass and Americana music for the holidays. With the backing of his band of extraordinary musicians, Tony is joined by shape-note singer and multi-instrumentalist Tim Eriksen, Hannah Read on guitar and vocals, Jared Engel on bass and vocals, and Sean Trischka on percussion. A diverse, highly textural seasonal collection, Trischka also revels in songs long forgotten and little known. Truly a sumptuous feast for the ears presented as only Tony Trischka can.
Tickets

Regattabar
Merry Christmas from Jose James Featuring Aaron Parks
December 7th

José James – VoiceAaron Parks – PianoHave yourself a soulful little Christmas with José James, an R&B-steeped singer who’s as effective evoking Billie Holiday as Bill Withers.
7pm Tickets
9pm Tickets

Click here to Read More Information About Sparklefest in Harvard Square 2023