What to know about this year's SoWa Winter Festival
A lot has changed in the near-decade of the SoWa Winter Festival. The historic building where it’s held now has restrooms, mainly! The renovated, insulated Power Station is home to what’s become New England’s largest indoor holiday market (Snowport claims the outdoor crown). SoWa Winter Festival, now in its ninth year, returns for the 2024 season on November 29. It's newly open every day through Sunday, Dec. 22.
“In 2016, we created the SoWa Winter Festival to share the magic of the holidays while giving opportunities to small businesses from Boston and New England,” says founder Mario Nicosia. “We made the decision to open seven days a week, giving visitors a greater opportunity to make the SoWa Winter Festival a part of their own holiday tradition.”
Holiday Market in Boston’s South End
More than 100 of the region’s top artists, crafters, food and beverage businesses and other vendors will be set up daily inside the twinkle-lit Power Station. The holiday market is stocked with things you need to get ready for the season—from artisan cheese, holiday roast pre-orders and accouterments from farms throughout New England, to boutique designers decked out with festive ’fits for the whole family—along with gifts for the people on your list. Check out the full lineup of vendors here.
Food and drink at SoWa Winter Festival
Snacks and drinks are available on-site every day, such as grab-and-go charcuterie boxes from Springdale Farm Creamery in Maine, pasta dishes and more from Eataly, hot and ready Matilda Empanadas and Samosa Man samosas, Batter + Bloom cupcakes and Blackbird Doughnuts. Native Colombian and KoHi Coffee companies are adding to the mix of seasonal hot beverages, which again includes The Fat Cactus hot chocolate.
On the mezzanine level of the Power Station, you’ll find the Holiday Lounge serving up beer, wine, cocktails and mocktails.
In addition, SoWa’s signature Food Truck Village rolls in every weekend of the winter fest. SoWa regulars Moyzilla Asian Street Food, Daddy’s Bonetown Burgers, Bon Me, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Zaaki’s Mediterranean, Paisani Pizza, Wanderlust Global Street Food, Mi Corazon Taqueria, North East of the Border and Gogi on the Block are all returning.
The Holiday Lounge and inside food vendors will be open daily for the duration of fest hours.
The Food Truck Village will be open 12-6pm on opening day (Friday, Nov. 29). It parks at 500 Harrison Ave. on subsequent Fridays from 5–8pm, Saturdays from 12–6pm and Sundays from 12–4pm.
Crafts, live music and other winter fun at SoWa Winter Festival
The Power Station mezzanine is where the festival’s “holiday photo ops” are set up. New this year: That level fully becomes the SoWa Holiday Workshop on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with ticketed, hands-on crafting experiences. Ornament and wreath-making, candle-making, gemstone jewelry and printmaking are planned throughout the season.
Live music returns select weekdays and D’s Keys dueling pianists will once again perform Thursdays–Sundays. Holiday caroling happens on the weekends.
As befits the location in Boston’s most vibrant arts district, the SoWa Winter Festival also enlivens the galleries, studios and vintage shops on nearby Thayer Street. Friday, Dec. 6, is the seasonal First Friday, with open studios and more festive fun in store. Select weekends will see holiday caroling in artists’ lofts and other ways to get an inside look at SoWa galleries.
Here's where to find the full schedule of programming.
Getting to the SoWa Winter Festival
Not too far to walk from the Orange or Red Line (Tufts or Broadway, respectively) for most able bodies, the SoWa Power Station also offers cash-only parking for $10 per car, at 500 and 540 Harrison Ave. Other nearby parking lots are on Albany Street, and there’s street parking on Harrison, Washington and side streets.
The winter festival is $10 per person to get in and there’s no re-entry because of its tendency to reach capacity. You can use a card or Apple Pay as well as cash for the entry fee.