Brookline will welcome the holiday season with its annual First Light celebration on Thursday, November 29. Organized by the Brookline Chamber of Commerce, the evening is jam-packed with live performances, exhibits, decorations, and giveaways. The 2018 event sponsors include Brookline Bank, Capital One, Viking Sports, Chobee Hoy Group Compass, Wicked Local and Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. This year’s celebration will be based in Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village with over 35 businesses participating.
First Light began 20 years ago when Brookline businesses led by Barbara Sofier came together to decorate their windows for the holiday season. It’s now grown into a yearly cultural festival celebrating local business and Brookline’s tight-knit community. The name plays on the “First Night” title given to Boston’s New Years festivities. Stroll through Brookline’s neighborhoods with a warm cup of cider in hand and get a head start on your holiday shopping while supporting the local economy.
Get in touch with your agile side at Viking Sports’ popup Ninja Warrior obstacle course in Coolidge Corner. The cold weather course is geared towards families and requires a blend of balance, speed, and flexibility. Plus that kind of workout is a great excuse to head over to Serenade Chocolatier for a free sample of peppermint bark, guilt-free.
Kids are in luck this year; there are loads of family-friendly activities (and snacks) to make the night special. Strawberry Child Care, Boston School of Boabom and Tiny Hanger are offering face painting and Unlimited Sotheby’s will be making balloon animals from 5–7 pm. Curds and Co is giving away glow-in-the-dark bracelets to the first 100 kids that come by and even if you don’t make the cut there will be free cheese tastings and live music to enjoy. Don’t forget to flex your artistic muscles with ornament making at The Golden Chickpea Center and Gateway Arts.
Adults can warm up with sweet wines and artisan chocolates at Fire Opal and jam out to live music at Highrock Church and Wild Goose Chase. A beer tasting will follow the Highrock concert. There’s a creative opportunity for you too with a poetry bag and candle jar making a class at Art With Amy. Furry friends can pick up their own special treat from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.
Whether you’re there to get some serious gift shopping done, to bond with your family, or just to enjoy the lights and music, First Light is a wonderful reminder of the community spirit that makes Brookline such a unique place to live.
