Gnomevember at New England Botanic Garden

Explore the whimsical world of garden gnomes at New England Botanic Garden! Visiting from near and far, this cast of 40 sneaky gnomes have taken up residence in some of their favorite spots around the Garden. Created by talented local artists, each gnome has a unique personality and a story waiting to be discovered. Can you find all 40? Discover Gnomevember daily from November 1 – 30 with general Garden admission. Learn more at: <a href="https://nebg.org/gnomevember/">https://nebg.org/gnomevember/</a>.

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

The Art of Perennial Planting Design at New England Botanic Garden

Refine your garden vision and turn your perennials into a cohesive, season-long design. Learn to expand on the use of color palettes, plant combinations, and layout techniques to create a flower garden that blooms from spring through fall. In this three-session workshop, you'll learn how to select a personal garden color palette, how to create vivid planting combinations that will flower in seasonal succession, and how to use drifts, masses, and individual plants to create garden lay-outs. We'll note plants to add for winter interest.&nbsp; Each week includes, in-class learning, hands-on activities, and a tutorial walk that follows a weekly lecture onsite at the Garden. Dress for the weather and for walking over rolling terrain and mulched paths.

Annual Holiday Marketplace at New England Botanic Garden

Enjoy a Holiday Marketplace featuring some of our favorite local artists and makers offering handmade wares for sale for holiday shopping. Find special, unique and handcrafted gifts from a host of guest artisans and vendors as well as from our own well-stocked Garden Shop. This event is included with General Admission. We recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to secure your preferred date. You can also buy tickets in person at the Garden. Members will enjoy a double discount (20%) on Garden Shop purchases. You must be the named cardholder to receive the member discounts. No additional discounts on artwork or sale items.

Introduction to Permaculture Design at New England Botanic Garden

Most landscape challenges begin long before the first plant goes in the ground. Understanding how sunlight, water, soil, and daily patterns interact is the foundation of a resilient landscape. In this introductory workshop, you will explore the ethics and principles of permaculture design and learn how to view your property as a connected living system rather than a collection of individual garden beds. Through practical examples and real-world applications, we'll discuss how thoughtful observation leads to better design decisions, healthier ecosystems, and landscapes that require less work overtime.

Enchanted Botanical Broom at New England Botanic Garden

tep into the world of nature's magic and handcraft and create your very own Enchanted Botanical Besom.&nbsp; Using dried flowers, botanicals elements, crystals, and more; you'll craft a one-of-a-kind keepsake that's as meaningful as it is beautiful. Along the way, you'll learn how to work with and care for dried blooms so they last for years to come. We will discuss the symbolism and lore woven into each element, so every choice you make is intentional. Whether you're drawn to this class for its artistry or its connection to seasonal living you'll find something to take home beyond the besom itself. Your finished besom makes a beautiful display piece, a thoughtful gift, or a personal keepsake connected to nature and the seasons.

The Growth of Trees: A Journey Through Time

No single view of a tree is a fixed snapshot in time that tells the complete story.&nbsp; Join Michael and discover how trees grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment across days, weeks, seasons, and years and over varying scales—from the intricate details of buds, flowers, leaves, and bark that we use for species identification to the collaborative roles of trees in ecosystems. Learn more about the function and experience the beauty of characteristics such as overwintering buds, lobed or toothed leaves, flowers by the thousands, and seeds that fly on the wind. Please come dressed to walk around the gardens, potentially on the forest trails.

Botanical Mixology: Thanksgiving Cocktails at New England Botanic Garden

Step into a cozy Thanksgiving-inspired world where seasonal flavors meet modern mixology, and raise a glass to the warmth and magic of the season. Each session features two unique seasonal cocktails: a signature drink highlighting the session’s featured spirit and a vodka-based creation with a dedicated mocktail variation. Beyond the recipes, every class introduces a new mixology technique to help you build your craft, one skill at a time. All attendees must be 21 and provide ID.

Night Lights: Fantastical Forest at New England Botanic Garden

Experience the nation's #1 light display! Last year, Night Lights earned the top spot in USA TODAY's 10BEST Readers' Choice Award for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights. Get ready to be swept away by half a million lights. Stroll with friends and family through winding paths where nature, fantasy, and imagination intertwine. Wrap yourself in winter wonder where every step reveals whimsical surprises and inspires new memories to last a lifetime. Members of New England Botanic Garden receive a 25% discount, and enjoy an exclusive members’ discount of 50% off on tickets purchased for the evenings of November 30, December 1, and December 2 (while supplies last!). Tickets are available for Garden members beginning October 14 and the general public beginning October 23. Learn more about Night Lights, special programs taking place during this year’s event, festive features, discounts, and amenities at <a href="https://nebg.org/nightlights/">https://nebg.org/nightlights/</a>.

Thanksgiving Botanical Centerpiece at New England Botanic Garden

Turn your Thanksgiving table into a stunning celebration of the season! Turn your Thanksgiving table into a stunning celebration of the season! In this hands-on class, you’ll design a lush, one-of-a-kind centerpiece using fresh seasonal flowers and beautiful foliage. Create your arrangement in a reusable vessel that’s perfect for holiday entertaining or gifting.

Winter Smartphone Photography at New England Botanic Garden

Capture the winter landscape of the gardens in the palm of your hand. Are you getting the most out of your smartphone camera? Learn techniques for photographing early winter textures, colors, and landscapes. Maximize your phone’s tools to highlight composition, lighting, contrast, and more.

Winter Wonderland Silk Painting at New England Botanic Garden

Come explore your creative side and experiment with colors without fear of making a mistake. Join in this easy, magical, and relaxing adventure into the world of freedom and creativity, after which you will get a masterpiece created by your own hands. During this master class, you will tap into your creativity and grow your unique Flower, a symbol of feminine beauty and divine blessing.

Night Lights Photography at New England Botanic Garden

This photography workshop will have two parts, a one-hour lecture: “Introduction to Night Photography," followed by a 2-hour photo shoot at night in the Botanic Gardens. The lecture covers the basics of night photography: the uniqueness of making photos at night, equipment, exposure, white balance, highlights and shadows, composition, capturing the element of time and a brief concept of light painting. The photo shoot will have the instructor assist everyone in getting started and making sure that you get good images and have fun. To save time, attendees can prepare their camera according to 7-page eBook they will receive as part of the workshop. Intermediate to advanced skill level and familiarity with manual camera settings is suggested. Required equipment: a camera capable of manual settings (user-selectable exposure time, aperture, ISO, white balance), a tripod to hold that camera and a remote control/intervalometer for exposures longer than 30 seconds.

Holiday Wreaths at New England Botanic Garden

Join Bluebird Bouquets for a wreath workshop filled with festive florals! Together we will create a fresh floral wreath to adorn your door, wall or table in Bluebird's signature asymmetrical style. We will use an 18" grapevine wreath to build our creation off of.&nbsp;Bluebird Bouquets will provide a variety of fresh foliage, flowers, and decorations to create the perfect holiday wreath for your home.

Birdhouse Building Workshop at New England Botanic Garden

A well-built birdhouse is more than a decorative feature. Learn the basics of birdhouse design, which species commonly use nest boxes in New England, and how proper placement and maintenance support successful nesting. Build a birdhouse to take home while gaining a deeper appreciation for the important role birds play in healthy ecosystems.

The Magic of the Holidays in Flowers at New England Botanic Garden

Celebrate the magic of the holiday season by creating an elegant floral arrangement that brings warmth, fragrance, and timeless style to your home. Participants will design a lush centerpiece featuring rich seasonal evergreens, deep red blooms, and natural accents that capture the beauty of winter. Each guest will leave with an arrangement perfect for a holiday table, mantel, or entryway.&nbsp; No prior floral experience is necessary, and all materials and tools are provided.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything to do around Boston.

Things to do in Boston and beyond

Things to do in Boston

New at Museum of Science, Boston 💫 

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

newenglandbg

Experiences