10 Things to Do in Boston in November

Winter arrives in Boston and the city changes colours. The white of the snow is joined by the colours of the United States flag to celebrate Veterans Day and also hundreds of bright colours from the Christmas lights that begin to appear throughout the city.

During November, there is a wide variety of things to see and do in Boston, from fairs and parades to tree lightings and Thanksgiving events.

Get your flags ready and dress in red, white and blue to participate in the Boston Veterans Day Parade, held annually on the anniversary of the historic signing of the Armistice Agreement on 11 November 1918, which ended the fighting during World War I.

Throughout its history, the United States has fought in various wars across the globe. Veterans who fought for their country in different armed conflicts are highly respected by the vast majority of the country's population, regardless of political ideology.

Veterans Day celebrations are not limited to the Veterans Parade Boston. Every year, many events are organised around this date that
you can attend, from traditional barbecues to evening parties.

Special shows can also be found in Boston in tribute to veterans. The events change every year, so it is a good idea to keep an eye out for official announcements about the activities that will take place in the city in November to mark Veterans Day.

Practical information

• Where: the parade takes place in the city centre, starting at Charles Street. The rest of the activities are spread across several different areas.
• When: it usually takes place on one of the first Saturdays of the month.
• Price: free

If you love books and antiques, this is definitely the event for you. The Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair is one of the largest rare book fairs in the country and the world.

The Book Fair welcomes more than 120 booksellers from around the world who gather annually in November at the Hynes Convention Centre, located in Boston's Back Bay, to showcase their latest acquisitions to collectors and make their sales.

This is a rare event, so if you are in Boston during the fair, take the opportunity to visit it. You can see the details of the Boston Antiquarian Book Fair and plan your visit.

The calendar of events is published around September, so keep an eye on the official event website for all the details.

Practical information

• Where: Hynes Convention Centre, 900 Boylston St
• When: usually during the second week of November.

One of the country's most important basketball teams is based in Boston. The Boston Celtics are a team that brings together sports fans not only from Boston, but also from the rest of the United States and around the world.

November is one of the best months to see the Boston Celtics because the season is already underway, but it is usually still undecided and the teams give their all on the court to achieve victory.

Sports fans will want to witness a game played by one of the greatest teams in NBA history. To see the team in action, you will need to book well in advance because tickets sell out quickly.

Some time ago, if I had been invited to a tuba concert, I would have responded with a resounding "no," but after seeing the Christmas tuba concert in Boston, I changed my mind.

The Boston Christmas Tuba Concert is a lively event that is sure to lift your Christmas spirit, which begins to be felt throughout the United States in November. You will enjoy the enchanting sound of more than 150 tubas as they serenade you with a selection of Christmas classics.

This concert is held annually at Quincy Market. You can check the dates and times of the Boston Christmas Tuba Concert and add this colourful event to your itinerary.

Practical information

• Where: Quincy Market. 4 S Market St,
• When: at the end of the month.
• Price: approximately £8

After Thanksgiving, the United States begins to prepare for its Christmas celebrations, and they really celebrate in style. If you have travelled to Boston in autumn, you will be able to enjoy the start of the festive season.

Across the country, the popular Christmas tree lighting ceremonies begin. From the smallest villages to the largest cities, everyone has a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Boston is no exception.

The enormous tree at Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the tallest decorated tree in the Northeast and features over 30,000 sparkling lights. The tree's spectacular lights are illuminated during a traditional ceremony complete with live musical performances.

The dates and times for the tree lighting are announced in the autumn, so keep an eye out as the holidays approach.

Check out the information about the Christmas lighting ceremony and add it to your list of things to do if you are travelling to Boston with children.

If you like this type of event, don't miss the annual lighting of the Macy's Christmas tree in Downtown Boston, where there is also plenty of fun to be had in addition to the tree lighting.

Another winter activity that begins in November in Boston is ice skating. During the season, several temporary ice rinks are set up in addition to the permanent ones, to increase the options available to fans of this winter sport.

One of the favourite places for Bostonians to go ice skating is Frog Pond in Boston Common, a rink with its own ice-making system.

One of the advantages of this place is that you don't need to have your own skates, as skates and equipment are available for hire. After an evening of skating, there's nothing better to warm up than a hot chocolate at Pond Cottage.

Pricing details

• Ticket prices: from approximately £5 per person.
• Skate hire: adults from approximately £10 and children from approximately £5.
• Skate sharpening: from approximately £8.

A cosmopolitan city like Boston has a huge gastronomic offering to boast about. In Boston, you can try dishes from almost everywhere in the world, from France to Thailand, Mexico to Brazil; the gastronomic styles of many regions are represented in Boston.

One of the activities you can do in November is a gastronomic tour of the city. Although you can do this throughout the year, I recommend doing it in November because the weather, which is becoming inhospitable, can alter your itinerary.

Taking a gastronomic tour of Boston is the perfect activity for a cold or rainy day, as you will be indoors most of the time.

At this time of year, Boston's cosmopolitan restaurants tend to change their menus to reflect the weather, offering more calorific dishes such as Cajun-style fried lobster tail or seasoned pork ribs.

There is a wide variety of food tours in Boston. Some offer a mix of gastronomy and history, others focus more on pizza, for example, and others specialise in beer. In short, there is something for every palate.

You can choose your favourite and don't worry if you gain a few extra pounds, the cold weather in Boston in November will help you burn off the extra calories.

It's true that Boston is a city best explored on foot and there's no need to hire a car, but during the first cold spells of winter in November, it's better to explore the city by combining walking with other means of transport so you don't spend too much time out in the cold.

I recommend taking a tram tour of the city. The tours last between 1.5 and 2 hours, during which you can see the main sights of the city while sitting comfortably and sheltered from the cold.

Another great advantage of these tours is that they have free stops, which gives you more flexibility and allows you to use them as an alternative means of transport. If you prefer, there are also tourist buses available in Boston.

If you're a sports fan, going to a Red Sox game in Boston in November is an excellent idea because the season will already be underway and the speculation will be in full swing, forcing the players to work even harder to achieve the best results.

You'll see baseball fans going crazy for their team and supporting them at every game, which is why it's difficult to get tickets if you don't buy them in advance.

When I was planning my first trip to Boston, I must admit that I wasn't very keen on the idea of going to see a baseball game. I didn't understand the sport, but after much insistence, my husband convinced me.

I bought tickets to see the Red Sox and studied the rules of baseball a little. I went to the game without many expectations, but after a few minutes there, the energy of the Red Sox fans was so special that it rubbed off on me. Now the team has one more fan on the other side of the ocean.

Thanksgiving is one of the days of the year when families get together to celebrate. In addition to the classic family meals, there are different events to celebrate the day.

One of those special events is called America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade, a parade that mobilises thousands of people in the city of Plymouth, Massachusetts, near Boston.

The Plymouth Thanksgiving Parade is ranked as the best Thanksgiving parade in the United States by AOL.

You will see beautifully decorated floats, nationally recognised drum and bugle corps, historical re-enactment groups from all periods of American history, and military units during this comprehensive parade.

How to get from Boston to Plymouth

• Bus: The journey takes about an hour and costs between €10 and €17.
• Train: it also takes about an hour and costs around €11.
• Car: this is the best option, as it only takes around 45 minutes and the price is much lower, as you will spend around €3 to €6 on fuel.

The weather in Boston in November is very cold. Daytime temperatures are around 8 degrees Celsius and can drop to 6 degrees at night. The average temperature is 7 degrees, with a maximum of 11 degrees and a minimum of 3 degrees.

As for rainfall, November has historically had an average of 13 days of rain during the month. When planning your trip, take the weather into account when organising your itinerary.

You can check the weather in Boston in real time when planning your activities.

The influx of tourists in Boston is lower during November due to inclement weather. However, there is quite a bit of domestic tourism at certain times of the month, such as the days before and after Thanksgiving, when families get together.

You will see that there are quite a few people at specific events during November, such as the Christmas light-up shows.

When it comes to sports, the weather and cold do not matter; fans still attend the games, so do not be complacent. If you plan to go to a game, purchase your ticket in advance.

One of the great things about travelling to the United States in November is that you can take advantage of incredible Black Friday discounts, and Boston has excellent shops in all categories for your Christmas shopping.

You'll save a lot if you travel to Boston in November because the sales often extend a few days before and after Black Friday. Don't miss the opportunity to buy all your Christmas gifts at ridiculously low prices on almost all items.

Keep in mind that people go a little crazy on that day, so take it easy and don't try to be the first one in the shops. Some people queue outside from the early hours of the morning, in the rain and cold, to make sure they are the first ones in and get the best discounts.

In addition to Black Friday , there is Cyber Monday, where you can also buy the latest technology at sale prices.

The most important things to pack are warm clothes and shoes. Boston is quite cold in November, so you need to be prepared for that. You should also be prepared for rain.

But there is something you should keep in mind: you will be in Boston during the month when all the shops offer the biggest discounts. You have to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

I recommend that you pack your suitcases as lightly as possible and take advantage of the opportunity to buy whatever you need in Boston. If you are travelling to the United States in November, it is often worth paying for excess baggage or an extra suitcase on your return home.

When I say that people go crazy during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the United States, I am not exaggerating. So I recommend following these simple tips if you are going to take advantage of the November discounts in Boston:

• Do not try to compete with the locals to be the first to enter any shop. Some people wait all year for this day and will do anything to be first, even becoming aggressive.

• Try to find out the prices of the items you want to buy before Black Friday, as the discounts are often not that great.

• The offers are often incredible, and you may be tempted to spend more than you can afford, so control yourself.

• Enjoy your shopping day and have fun. Shopping on Black Friday in Boston or any other city in the United States can be an adventure.