Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Peruse the MassArt Made Holiday Sale, ice skate at Kendall Square, and take on the annual Santa Speedo Run.

weekend events in boston

Vase and bowl by Jane Floyd / Photo courtesy of MassArt.

SHOPPING
MassArt Made Holiday Sale

It’s holiday shopping made easy. With handblown glass, scarves, paintings, and jewelry on display—all carefully made by talented students and alumni from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design—you’ll be able to find something for everyone on your list. Support local artists and gift your friends and family something unique.

Free to attend, item prices vary, Thursday, December 10, through Saturday, December 12, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Tower Building at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, 621 Huntington Ave., Boston, massart.edu.

HOLIDAY SPIRIT
ZooLights at the Stone Zoo

Wander down tree-lined paths where almost everything in sight is festively decorated and illuminated by thousands of lights. Be sure to explore the Yukon Creek, where you’ll get an up-close look at bald eagles, Canada lynx, arctic foxes, and even reindeer, who will be available for photos. Kids will also love the hot chocolate, the camel rides, the carousel, and the chance to meet Santa. This event runs nightly through Jan. 3, with the exception of Dec. 25.

$7-9, free for children under two, Thursday, December 10, through Sunday, December 13, 5-9 p.m., Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St., Stoneham, zoonewengland.org.

weekend events in boston

Santa Speedo Run. / Photo by Margaret Burdge for Boston Magazine

FUN RUN
16th Annual Santa Speedo Run

Nothing says Christmas like a crowd of half-dressed Santa Clauses bolting through Back Bay. It all started on December 16, 2000, when five men, wearing nothing but Santa hats, Santa beards, and speedos, ran down Newbury Street with a boombox that blared The Muppets Christmas Carols. Now, 700 annual participants brave the sometimes-below-freezing temperatures to partake in this holiday tradition and raise funds for local children’s charities. Grab your swimsuits and celebrate with them this Saturday.

$30, Saturday, December 12, check-in begins at 10 a.m., Lir Tavern and Whiskey’s at the corner of Gloucester and Boylston streets, Boston, ssrunners.org.

SKATING SPECTACULAR
10th Annual Kendall Square Holiday on Ice

While this seasonal, zamboni-maintained outdoor skating rink is open all winter, a special event takes place on Saturday. At 2 p.m., Frozen Frog Productions presents a skating show that features world-class professional skaters and international competitors. Watch as they glide, spin, and leap along with Santa and a snowman. Skate rentals are available for those who want to skate themselves before and after the show.

Free, Saturday, December 12, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Kendall Square, 300 Athenaeum St., Cambridge, skatekendall.com.

weekend events in boston

Léa Seydoux, who plays Belle, in the premiere of La Belle Et La Bête at the 64th Berlin International Film in 2014. / Photo via Wikimedia Commons

FILM
La Belle et la Bête

The French Cultural Center will be screening Christophe Gans’s 2014 version of the classic fairytale “Beauty and the Beast” for December’s Ciné-Club de l’Alliance. Unlike the classic Disney love story, this 112-minute film is much darker and closer to the Grimm brothers’ original. It also features an added, unique backstory for the Beast. This special screening is perfect for both fans of the Franco-German tale and movie buffs, as Gans’s film garnered praise for its visual style and was awarded the 2014 César Award for Best Production Design.

$5 suggested donation, Thursday, December 10, 6:30 p.m., The French Cultural Center, 53 Marlborough St., Boston, frenchculturalcenter.org.