A local’s guide to Snowport, Boston’s Seaport holiday market

It has been five years since I moved back to the outskirts of Boston after living abroad in the Dominican Republic. And each year, my daughter and I have carried out our tradition of spending time at our favorite Boston holiday market.

Every holiday season for the past six years, the Seaport district has been transformed into a winter scene you could only find in a snow globe. Snowport comes together as an enchanted place. It’s full of wonder, twinkling lights, food, games, vendors, events, and more. 

I absolutely love this dreamy market. It brings together small businesses, residents from all over Boston, and tourists for a fun-filled holiday season. 

New to Snowport? Here’s when, where, & how to enjoy it

Snowport is an annual outdoor market that kicks off the holiday season in Boston. It’s located in the Seaport neighborhood which is a great area of Boston to stay. Especially when it becomes the frosty setting for this annual holiday market. 

This year, Snowport will run through Sunday, December 28.

Snowport’s location and hours

📍 Snowport is located at 100 Seaport Blvd. 
📅 It is open 7 days a week from November 7 to December 28. 

(Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day)

🕙 You can shop from:
3 pm – 8 pm Monday through Thursday
11 am – 9 pm Friday and Saturday
11 am – 8 pm on Sunday

Snowport grows in popularity with every holiday season that passes. The list of vendors and makers becomes longer, and the crowds of visitors become larger. 

Keep in mind that due to the large crowds, especially on the weekends, you may have to wait in line for entry to the market. This year, when my daughter and I hopped in a short line, we discovered we were in the wrong line when asked for our tickets.

For the first time this year, visitors can reserve a timed entry ticket in advance to avoid waiting in long lines. Tickets start at $12 per adult and $6 per child. Reserve your time via the Seaport Insider App.

Non-timed admission, however, is free. We found that the longer line for free entry moved quickly. We only had to wait about 10 minutes before entering Snowport.

Eat your way through Snowport

If you’re anything like me, you like to eat before you spend the day shopping. The first thing I do once I set foot in Snowport is navigate through the crowd to the Apres Ski-themed lounge.

This is Snowport’s 10,000 square foot dining area with faux fire pits, a heated tent, and 17 food and beverage vendors. 

Grab a mocktail or signature cocktail at Jingle Bar. You can sip on it while you wait in line for food. There is nothing more comforting to me than a warm gooey grilled cheese sandwich with a piping hot bowl of soup. You can get both at Cheese Louise. I really loved their vegan options.  

Then, meet your loved ones at a table in the beer-garden style seating under the warm tent. Fuel up before shopping. You’ll need your energy to stay focused while you browse. Trust me, you don’t want hunger to get in the way of this holiday market experience. 

Here’s a partial list of some food and drink vendors you can’t miss:

🍷 Holiday-themed bar for cocktails by Dizzy Dreidel
🍝 Fried ravioli, crispy arancini, and saucy meatballs from Tuscan Kitchen
🍯 Made-to-order sweet or savory crepes from The Frenchman’s Crepes

Discover unique gifts and shop over 100 vendors

With a full belly, we were off to find something warm to hold in our hands while we perused through the market. Clarke’s Cakes and Cookies offers the richest and creamiest vegan hot chocolate. I topped mine with a vegan ginger dunker for an added treat (and a cute photo prop). 

Strolling through the outdoor market is quite remarkable as it features 120 small businesses. 

According to Snowport organizers, the market features a blend of new vendors, as well as vendors from around the New England area, and vendors that are minority and/or women-owned. 

With that said, you are bound to find a variety of gift options for anyone and everyone on your shopping list. 

Holiday goodies sold at the market include holiday decorations, art, clothing, jewelry, home decor, toys, books, gourmet treats, products for fur-babies, handcrafted candles, and more. 

I walked away with the cutest Christmas tree candle from The Sleeping Candle. My daughter purchased a Taylor Swift illustration from Melsy’s Illustrations. We even played with sock puppets made for cool kids of all ages by Sock Puppet City. 

Get to know all of the makers and vendors at Snowport for all of your gift options here. 

Exciting happenings in and around Snowport – Don’t miss out!

There is so much happening at Snowport, both inside and outside the holiday market. 

There is a tree market located a block away. On 99 Autumn Lane, you can find trees, wreaths, tree stands, lights, and more. You can either load your tree into your car, or arrange to have it delivered if you live in the area. 

The most popular activity is curling, found on Harbor Way. You can reserve lanes in advance for iceless curling for free! Be sure to book in advance, as I have yet to snag a reservation myself.

New to curling? The North End Curling Club offers complimentary classes on select Saturdays. Enjoy lessons from 2 pm to 4 pm. 

Inside Snowport’s market, you will find its Great Wall of Winter Wishes. This wall is 25 feet of chalkboard where visitors can write down their holiday wishes for the season.

My wishes consisted of a trip for myself… along with peace, joy, and love for all. Look for chalk at the Wall of Winter Wishes. Write down what you will be wishing for this year.

Grab your loved one by the hand and head to the romantic mistletoe arch. This arch is 10 feet in length and is beautifully decorated in festive greenery, garland, and mistletoe. Ask a friendly stranger to capture a picture of you and your loved one under the “Kiss Me” written across the top. 

This year, the LEGO Group will occupy a little nook in Snowport called The Crafting Corner. On Saturday, November 22nd, and Sunday, November 23rd, you can drop in to make a LEGO Snowman of your own. This activity is both kid and adult-friendly. However, it is recommended for ages 6+, while supplies last. [source]

The Seaport district makes all of its events and activities a magical experience. It draws the community together and embodies the festive spirit of the holidays. 

I love the towering and majestic tree that stands in Seaport. All of its branches are dressed in twinkling lights and shiny ornaments. Like a moth to a flame, I am drawn into its sparkle and brilliance. 

Here are a few more events to look out for:

🎄 Every year, Seaport hosts an annual tree lighting ceremony. All of Seaport lights up with the largest tree in all of Boston. More than 10,000 lights adorn the tree. This year, the celebration will take place on Friday, December 5th, from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Seaport Common.

🕎 Join Seaport as it celebrates Hanukkah with a 9-foot-tall Menorah. On Sunday, December 21st, Chabad of Downtown Boston will lead the ceremony. Gather at One Seaport from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm. There will be traditional treats, such as kosher jelly donuts!

🧊 Make your New Year’s Eve memorable. On Wednesday, December 31st, you can head to One Seaport and stroll down the waterfront to see large-scale ice sculptures on display. The “Boston Harbor Now: NYE Ice Sculpture Stroll” runs from 9 am – 11 pm with activities throughout over a dozen sites. 

Mark your calendars so that you don’t miss any of these holiday events happening in Seaport!

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The Seaport district reflects holiday cheer each year with its outdoor holiday market. Crowds gather from all over Boston and beyond for seasonal fun at Snowport. If you plan to visit the city this holiday season, be sure to bookmark my list of favorite things to do in Boston. Happy Holidays!