10 events to visit in Boston this January

After the festive December storm comes the January calm in Boston, punctuated only by the heralding of a fresh calendar of great events across the city.

With New Year’s revolutions ruling out many of our favoured excessive of life, what better way to stave off those temptations of yesteryear than by attending a fun and wholesome event? In Boston, January sees an immediate restart of the city’s bustling cultural calendar, with concerts, exhibitions and other events taking place at venues throughout the city. Here are 10 of the best to look forward to this time round.

Boston Wine & Food Festival

Boston has a vibrant food and wine scene and each year it is celebrated at this nearly three-month- long festival at the Diamond Boston Harbor Hotel. Designed to ignite the senses, the event features themed weekends, intimate winemaker-hosted dinners, brunches, tastings, seminars, and a myriad of other captivating gastronomic events. As well as dedicated foodies, the event is also known for attracting key industry figures from the world of wine and food, including top restaurateurs and vintners

Diamon Boston Harbor Hotel / Through January 2024

Boston Celtic Music Festival

The 21st annual Boston Celtic Music Festival, known as BCMFest, returns this January. Presented by Passim, a Cambridge-based non-profit that supports the local music community, the festival will once again showcase Greater Boston’s deep tradition of music, song and dance from Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Quebecois and other Celtic communities. Featuring will be both traditional acts and others that draw on contemporary sounds and ideas, including full-time, professional touring acts as well as local session musicians, highlighting performers from across the generations.

Club Passim / 11-14 January 2024

Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular

This psychedelic and electrifying tribute concert celebrates one of the greatest bands of the 20th century – Pink Floyd. In true ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ spirit, spectators at Boston’s acclaimed Big Night Live venue can experience the incredible music of Pink Floyd as a multi-sensory show takes place all around them. Lasers, special effects lighting, and video projections choreographed to dance, flicker and blaze in time to the music swirl all around as the tribute band plays the famous music of the iconic group on-stage.

Big Night Live / 18 January 2024

MLK Day

On the third Monday in January each year, towns and cities across the US celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day with a federal holiday that honours the achievements of the iconic civil rights leader. As part of Boston’s contribution to this annual tradition, the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the city’s most prestigious cultural venues, will once again be hosting an Open House event which invites visitors to discover more about the great man. There’ll be art making, performances, and talks with community members, all designed to shine a light on the life and his legacy of one of America’s true 20^th century heroes.

The Museum of Fine Arts / 15 January 2024

Polar Plunge

An event only for the hardiest of souls, the New Year’s Day Boston Polar Plunge has become a legendary annual tradition, attracting thousands of participants, plus friends, families and celebrities who assemble at the L Street Brownies polar bear club in South Boston to raise money for local causes. The challenge? To brave the icy cold waters off of Carson Beach The good news is that to complete the task, you only need to rush in and out again, with no obligation to take the full plunge.

Carson Beach / 1 January 2024

Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA

This concert transports you to the captivating era of the iconic Swedish pop group ABBA. Spectators can immerse themselves in the band’s timeless melodies and infectious rhythms as they witness the magic unfold at The Wilbur, an esteemed venue that sets the stage for a memorable evening. The air will be filled with a medley of ABBA’s greatest hits, performed by the talented musicians of Direct from Sweden. From the foot-tapping “Dancing Queen” to the heart-warming “Mamma Mia,” the music will transport you on a nostalgic journey that celebrates ABBA’s enduring legacy as a band that helped define a generation.

The Wilbur / 6 January 2024

Blue Man Group 

The comic musical and artistic Blue Man Group have been entertaining audiences across the world with their magical, multi-sensory performances for almost 25 years. Throughout January they’ll be putting on their unique and long-running show at Boston’s Charles Playhouse, featuring their distinctive brand of audience interaction with the famously blue-painted cast. Incorporating an eclectic mix of music and art, both popular and obscure, the show never fails to dazzle those who see it.

Charles Playhouse / Various dates through January 2024

The Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston Tribute

Led by South African star Belinda Davids, this tribute show at Boston’s Capitol Center for the Arts has been created to honour the late and great American singer, Whitney Houston, with mesmerising performances of all her biggest hits. It will serve as a reminder of just how unforgettable Houston’s music is and how it will live on forever, be it on dance-floors or in the comfort of our homes. With a six-piece live band and stunning dancers, the show creates a powerful presentation of the highs of Whitney Houston’s life and the amazing musical legacy that she has left behind.

Capitol Center for the Arts / 4-5 January 2024

New England Boat Show

Showcasing the region’s boating heritage and enduring position at the cutting edge of boat design and technology, the internationally renowned New England Boat Show features the latest boats, yachts, superyachts, electronics, engines and thousands of accessories from major manufacturers. Visitors have the chance to look at the newest and most beautiful watercrafts and learn about trends in the industry. A highlight of the event each year is the SailFest, which displays the latest innovations and features for sailboats, whether for use in racing or recreation.

Boston Convention & Exhibition Center / 10-14 January 2024

Madonna – The Celebration Tour

As part of her heavily rescheduled Celebration Tour that is visiting multiple cities across North America and Europe, legendary American singer Madonna will stop off in Boston for two magical nights this January where she will perform at the TD Garden multi-purpose arena. The concert chronicles Madonna’s artistic journey through four prolific decades, paying particular respect to the city of New York where her career in music began.

TD Garden / 8-9 January 2024

By  Paul Joseph