Those chilly temps are bringing on the season! Get ready to kick it off Quincy style with parachuting elves, sing alongs, and two tree lightings. Here’s a roundup of Quincy and Squantum holiday festivities over Thanksgiving weekend. After you recover from the Turkey Trot and the feast…head out with your friends and family to celebrate the warmth of the season.

Squantum Tree Lighting
Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 4:00 pm (after the Quincy Parade)
Gilbert Memorial Park, at the intersection of Huckins Avenue and East Squantum Street [map]
Join the festivities as we kick off the holiday season with the annual Tree Lighting following the Quincy Christmas Parade. Head over to the triangle at Gilbert Memorial Park and join your neighbors for hot cocoa and delicious cookies provided by the Seaside Gardeners of Squantum. Join in on the carol singing as we welcome Santa Claus who will do the honors of lighting up the tree! Hope to see you and the whole family there!

Note: if the Quincy Parade is postponed due to weather, the tree lighting will also be postponed.

Quincy holiday festivities 

View the flyer for the weekend festivities, or visit the Quincy site with info.

Quincy tree lighting celebration
Friday, November 29, 5–7 pm
Hancock Adams Common
, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA [map]
Enjoy the Hancock-Adams Common, decked with twinkling lights and holiday displays. Mayor Koch and special guests – maybe one from the North Pole – will flip the switch to bring the holiday spirit to the Common. Heated tents will be set up for this event. Enjoy strolling Victorian carolers, ice sculptures, street performers, and costumed characters, as well as activities including letter writing to Santa. Enjoy free popcorn and hot chocolate, and check out holiday treats from local vendors.

Scheduled activities

• 5:00 pm: Donna Marie Children’s Puppet Show
• 5:45 pm: Children’s Christmas Chorus
• 6:15 pm: Tree Lighting Ceremony hosted by Mayor Thomas P. Koch and a special guest

Santa and Elves arrival by parachute
Cancelled! Due to high winds. 
Date is weather dependent. Stay tuned for confirmation from the City.
Pageant Field, One Merrymount Parkway (up the road from Adams Field), Quincy, MA [map]
Santa and his elves arrive in Quincy by parachute, landing at Pageant Field, at this fun family event. While waiting for the touchdown of the Jolly Old Elf and friends, take a hayride around the field or “high-five” one of the visiting costumed characters!

Fair Saturday
Saturday, November 30, 
11 am – 8 pm

Various locations around downtown Quincy
Fair Saturday is a global cultural movement of which Quincy is proud to be part. This festival of local arts and culture will include musicians and artists performing in Quincy, the first official U.S. city to join this movement. In lieu of an admission fee for Fair Saturday, donations are suggested and will benefit each performer’s selected social cause.
View the schedule of events and learn more about Fair Saturday.

City of Quincy Christmas Parade
Sunday, December 1, 12:30 pm-3:30 pm
Hancock Street
Enjoy an old fashioned Christmas parade featuring high school and adult marching bands from around the state, Christmas themed floats, costumed characters, antique vehicles, and Santa in his traditional fire truck ride. The parade route begins at the intersection of Hancock Street and the Walter J. Hannon Parkway, continuing up Hancock Street to North Quincy High School. This is one of the largest parades in the Commonwealth. The theme this year will be Christmas Around the World.
The new parking garage on Cottage Avenue will be open, and the Ross Lot has a walkway from the lot to the parade route on Hancock Street.

Please note: In the interest of public safety, all bags and backpacks are subject to public search.