Get ready to kick off the holidays Quincy style with Santa and the elves, sing alongs, and two tree lightings. Here’s a roundup of Quincy and Squantum holiday festivities over Thanksgiving weekend. Head out with your friends and family to celebrate the warmth of the season.

Squantum Tree Lighting
Sunday, November 28, 2021 at 4:30 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 26, 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

Santa and Elves arrival by helicopter
Saturday, November 27, 
Noon
Pageant Field, One Merrymount Parkway (up the road from Adams Field), Quincy, MA [map]
Santa and his elves arrive in Quincy by helicopter, 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

City of Quincy Christmas Parade
Sunday, November 28, 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.

Menorah Lighting
Sunday, November 28, 4:00 pm
Hancock-Adams Common
, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA [map]
Join a ceremony to light the first candle on the menorah outside City Hall as we observe the beginning of Chanukah.

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, November 25, 2018 at 4:30 pm
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!

Quincy holiday festivities 

View the flyer for the weekend festivities.

Quincy tree lighting celebration
Friday, November 23, 5 pm-7 pm
Hancock Adams Common
, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA [map]
Enjoy the newly opened 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
Saturday, November 24 ~ 12:00 pm noon
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!

Festive Fun on the Common
Saturday, November 24, 2:00 – 7:00 pm
Hancock Adams Common
, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA [map]
Jingle Bell rock your way around the bedecked Common and enjoy live music from local bands. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Heated tents will be set up for this event.

• 2 – 4:00 PM: Munk Duane & Soul Jacker
• 4 – 5:00 PM: DJ /House music Paul Duffley
• 5 – 7:00 PM: Soul City Band

City of Quincy Christmas Parade
Sunday, November 25, 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 Ross Lot and Presidents’ Place Garage will be open. 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.

Time to pack away the shorts and dig out your scarves and hats, Squantumites…those balmy breezes have finally given way to crisp morning air! And just in time for us to kick off the season. From parachuting Santa and elves, to sing alongs, and two tree lightings…it’s time to get your twinkle on peeps! 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 fam to celebrate the warmth of the season.

Squantum Tree Lighting
Sunday, November 26, 2017
4:30 pm
Gilbert Memorial Park, at the intersection of Huckins Avenue and East Squantum Street

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!

Quincy holiday festivities 

Quincy tree lighting celebration (note new location this year)
Friday, November 24, 5 pm-7 pm
Thomas Crane Public Library lawn, 40 Washington Street, Quincy, MA
Drop off your letters to Santa and enjoy free popcorn, hot chocolate, and candy canes, as well as food trucks food trucks and a gingerbread competition. Enjoy Donna Marie Children’s Puppet Show (5pm), strolling Victorian Christmas Carolers, street performers, and the youthful voices of the Quincy/North Quincy Choir. At approximately at 6:15pm, Mayor Thomas P. Koch will turn on the Christmas lights at the library and throughout Quincy Center to mark the beginning of our holiday season.

City of Quincy Christmas Parade
Sunday, November 26, 12:30 pm-3 pm
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.

Santa and his Elves arrival by parachute – new date
Saturday, December 2 (postponed form November 25) ~ 12:30 pm
Pageant Field,One Merrymount Parkway (up the road from Adams Field), Quincy, MA
Costumed characters from the parade greet children as they await the arrival of Santa Claus and his elves by parachute at Quincy’s unique Christmas tradition. Take a Holiday Wagon Ride with a costumed character.

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