Cobblehop / Guides / Holiday lights by T

Boston tree lightings and holiday lights by T (2026)

Which T stop to use for the tree lightings, holiday markets and light shows this season, and what to check before you go.

By Ahmad Haji, founder of Cobblehop · Updated October 29, 2026

Quick answer: For the Boston Common tree lighting (Thursday, Dec 3, 6 to 8 pm), take the Red or Green Line to Park Street, which is right on the Common. For the Faneuil Hall tree lighting (Saturday, Nov 21, 2 to 6 pm), take the T to State, Haymarket or Government Center. Snowport, the SoWa Christmas Market and ZooLights are all reachable by Silver Line or bus. ZooLights is the one to plan carefully, because its bus doesn't run on Sundays.

Where to go and which stop

Event	Dates and hours	Get off at
Faneuil Hall Marketplace Holiday Tree Lighting	Sat Nov 21, 2-6 pm	State, Haymarket or Government Center
Boston Common Tree Lighting	Thu Dec 3, 6-8 pm	Park Street (Red/Green) or Boylston (Green)
Commonwealth Ave Mall lights	Switched on about 8:15 pm Dec 3	Arlington (Green)
Snowport Holiday Market, Seaport	Nov 6 to Dec 27	Courthouse (SL1, SL2, SL3)
SoWa Christmas Market, South End	Nov 20 to Dec 27, closed Mondays	SL4/SL5 at Washington St @ E Berkeley St
ZooLights, Stone Zoo, Stoneham	Nov 20 to Jan 3, 4-9:30 pm	Bus 132 to Pond St @ Stone Zoo

Boston Common Tree Lighting: Thursday, Dec 3

The city's official tree lighting is free. It runs from 6 to 8 pm next to the Visitor Information Center at 139 Tremont St. The tree is Nova Scotia's yearly thank-you gift for Boston's help after the 1917 Halifax Harbor explosion.

Getting there. Park Street station opens right onto the Common on Tremont St. Boylston, one Green Line stop away, is at the Common's southern corner.
The crowd. It's a weeknight event that starts at 6 pm, during the evening rush. Expect full trains around Park Street from about 5 pm on.
Next, the Comm Ave lights. At about 8:15 pm the Commonwealth Avenue Mall lights come on, from Arlington St to Charlesgate in the Back Bay. You can walk there across the Public Garden, or take the Green Line two stops from Park Street to Arlington.

Faneuil Hall tree lighting: Saturday, Nov 21

Faneuil Hall Marketplace holds its annual Holiday Tree Lighting from 2 to 6 pm. The marketplace says it's a short walk from State, Haymarket and Government Center stations.

It's a busy Saturday. The same afternoon, Harvard and Yale play The Game at Fenway Park (3:30 pm kickoff), and the Bruins host Washington at 7 pm at TD Garden. Expect crowded trains on the Green Line and around North Station.

Red Line riders. From Nov 20 to Nov 22, shuttle buses replace Red Line trains between Broadway and JFK/UMass on the Ashmont branch and between Broadway and North Quincy on the Braintree branch. If you're coming from Dorchester, Quincy or Braintree, leave extra time. For planned work on any weekend, see MBTA this weekend.

Snowport (Seaport): Nov 6 to Dec 27

Snowport's holiday market is at 100 Seaport Blvd, and general admission is free. Courthouse station on the Silver Line (SL1, SL2 and SL3) is one stop from South Station, and you can also walk over from South Station.

According to Boston 25 News, it's open from 3 pm on Monday through Thursday early in the season, and earlier on Fridays and weekends. It's closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

SoWa Christmas Market (South End): Nov 20 to Dec 27

The market is at the SoWa Power Station on Harrison Ave in the South End. It has an admission charge, and kids 12 and under get in free. It's closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and closes at 4 pm on Christmas Eve.

The Silver Line SL4 and SL5 run along Washington St, one block over. Get off at Washington St @ E Berkeley St or Washington St @ Union Park.

ZooLights at Stone Zoo: Nov 20 to Jan 3

ZooLights runs from 4 to 9:30 pm, with last entry at 8:30 pm. You need a timed ticket, and it's closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

By bus. MBTA route 132 stops at Pond St @ Stone Zoo. It connects to the Orange Line at Oak Grove and to Malden Center.

Before you go, check the bus times. On the MBTA's current schedule (valid into early December):

Weekdays. Buses run about hourly in the evening. The last bus from the zoo toward Malden leaves around 11:30 pm.
Saturdays. The last bus from the zoo toward Malden leaves around 8:10 pm, before ZooLights closes.
Sundays. Route 132 doesn't run.

The zoo's FAQ also mentions bus 99, but in the MBTA's stop list for route 99 we didn't find a stop at the zoo. Plan around the 132.

Holiday Pops: Symphony station is closed

If you're going to the Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall (Dec 3 to 28), note that Symphony station is closed until spring 2029, and Green Line E trains pass it without stopping. Massachusetts Avenue station on the Orange Line is a short walk from the hall.

What it costs

Subway. $2.40 one way. That includes the Silver Line SL1, SL2 and SL3 to Courthouse for Snowport. Changing between subway lines is free.
Bus. $1.70 on a local bus, including the SL4 and SL5 to SoWa and route 132 to ZooLights.
Bus and subway together. Under an MBTA pilot, you can change between bus and subway within 2 hours of your first tap and pay only the highest fare, if you use the same card or phone each time. Cash doesn't get transfers.
How to pay. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch, or use a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket. Children 11 and under ride free.

Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.

Holiday lights by T: common questions

What T stop is closest to the Boston Common tree lighting?

Park Street, on the Red and Green Lines. The lighting is next to the Visitor Information Center at 139 Tremont St, steps from the station.

What time is the Boston Common tree lighting in 2026?

Thursday, Dec 3, from 6 to 8 pm, according to the City of Boston. The Comm Ave Mall lights come on at about 8:15 pm.

Can I get to ZooLights without a car?

Yes, on route 132 from Oak Grove or Malden Center. Go on a weekday evening or early on a Saturday. The 132 doesn't run on Sundays, and on Saturdays the last bus leaves the zoo around 8:10 pm.

Is Blink! back at Faneuil Hall this year?

The marketplace hadn't announced it as of Oct 29. We'll update this page if it does.

How do I get to Snowport from South Station?

Take any SL1, SL2 or SL3 bus one stop to Courthouse, or walk.

How much does the T cost to see the holiday lights?

$2.40 one way on the subway, including the Silver Line SL1, SL2 and SL3 to Courthouse for Snowport. A local bus, such as the SL4, the SL5 or route 132 to ZooLights, is $1.70. Children 11 and under ride free.

Official sources

Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with the MBTA, MassDOT, the City of Boston or any event organizer. Check their pages for the latest hours, schedules and service changes:

Published October 29, 2026. Event details were checked on the organizers' websites, and bus times against the MBTA's published schedules, on October 29, 2026. Event hours and bus schedules change, so check before you go, and check Cobblehop for live times.

Plan your trip in Cobblehop. Say where you're going and get one clear route, a leave-in countdown and an alert before your stop.

Open Cobblehop