Even though the biggest Boston New Year's Eve event for 2019 is the famous First Night celebration, there are plenty of other New Year's Eve parties and special events for you to consider - plus a spectacular fireworks show over Boston Harbor and Countdown at Copley Square at midnight.

Whether you're looking for a romantic night of dancing and champagne, a fireworks cruise, entertainment at a concert or a comedy club, or a festive but family-friendly way to welcome the New Year, you'll find plenty of exciting choices.

New Year's Eve Fireworks on Boston Harbor

New Year's Eve fireworks at midnight over Boston Harbor. Head over to Christopher Columbus Park to ring in the New Year by watching fireworks over Boston Harbor at midnight launched from a barge between Long Wharf and Fan Pier.

The best place to watch?  Any spot along the waterfront overlooking Boston Harbor, such as the North End's Christopher Columbus Park, the Downtown Waterfront, Fan Pier in the Seaport District, the East Boston Harborwalk, Charlestown Waterfront, and Castle Island.

New Year's Eve Cruises

Holiday cruises around Boston Harbor Cruise on the Northern Lights
Welcome the New Year aboard the elegant yacht Northern Lights on these special New Year's Eve and New Year's Day cruises around Boston Harbor. 

• New Year's Eve Fireworks Cruise with live music, dancing, hors d'oeuvres, & fireworks at midnight
• New Year’s Day Brunch aboard Northern Lights

More Cruises:

Celebrate the holidays while relaxing and sightseeing on the festively decorated Yacht Northern Lights on these special cruises around Boston Harbor:

An Irish Christmas Carol Cruise - Get into the holiday spirit with Slainte, the Northern Lights' house Irish band.   Raise your glass as you join in singing some merry Irish holiday ballads on this 90 minute Harbor cruise.

Cocoa & Carols Holiday Cruise - Join in singing your favorite Christmas holiday songs led by the Blue Motion Jazz Quartet on this cozy 90 minute Harbor Cruise on the Northern Lights with drinks and snacks available for purchase at the yacht's Main Deck Bar. 

Holiday Sunset Cruise - As the ship's captain points out highlights of passing landmarks and soft music plays in the background, watch the ever-changing sunset colors as the sun sets behind Boston's city skyline on this relaxing 90 minute cruise around the Harbor.  

Holiday Jazz Cruise - Relax to the sounds of jazzy Christmas tunes performed live by Blue Motion Jazz Quartet, and enjoy an adult beverage on this 90 minute romantic evening cruise past iconic attractions along the Boston waterfront.

Holiday Brunch Cruise - See historic sights and panoramic views around Boston Harbor as you enjoy this 2 hour narrated cruise including hot chocolate and brunch (Mimosas, Bloody Marys, and spiked hot chocolate available at the bar).

Cocoa & Blues Holiday Cruise - Enjoy Boston's sparkling skyline at night along with spiked hot chocolate or a glass of champagne as City of Four, Northern Lights' house R&B/funk band, plays contemporary versions of holiday classics inspired by Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and the Temptations.

First Night Boston:

First Night Boston ice sculpture of Tadpole Playground in Boston Common.
Ice sculptures, a huge parade down Boylston Street, non-stop entertainment, music and dancing, Countdown to Midnight in Copley Square - Boston's annual First Night celebration offers something fun for everyone.

With events starting at noon, the alcohol-free, family-friendly First Night Boston is the city's largest New Year's Eve celebration.

Best of all:  All official First Night/First Day events are free.

New Year's Eve Shows & Theater in Boston

From Blue Man Group to Lake Street Dive, you can choose from several shows in Boston's theaters on New Year's Eve:

More shows in Boston:

New Year's Eve Comedy Shows, Start the New Year with a laugh.

Bryan Callen is appearing at the Wilbur Theatre on New Year's Eve (find tickets), and Boston's comedy clubs will have exciting lineups as well.

Boston Sports on New Year's Eve: 
TD Garden is usually a good bet for New Year's Eve entertainment - but not this year!  If you want to catch a Celtics, Bruins, or Harlem Globetrotters game there this year, head over on Christmas Day or Wednesday or Thursday.

New Year's Eve (and Day) on the Waterfront:

In addition to the Midnight Harbor Fireworks, lots more mostly free fun activities take place along the Waterfront throughout New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Ice Sculpture Stroll:

The annual Ice Sculpture Stroll along Boston Harbor is bigger and better than ever this year, with imaginative ice sculptures and activities for you to enjoy in these (mostly) waterfront locations:

North End Ice Sculpture Locations: 

• Atlantic Wharf
• Battery Wharf Hotel
• Christopher Columbus Park
• Charlestown End Ice Sculpture Locations
• Charlestown Navy Yard
• Downtown Waterfront Ice Sculpture Locations
• Marriott Long Wharf
• New England Aquarium
• Harbor Towers
• International Place
• Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center (Greenway)
• Boston Harbor Hotel
• Seaport/South Boston Waterfront Ice Sculpture Locations
• Envoy Hotel
• Fan Pier/Fallon CBRE
• Fjällräven
• Kings Dining & Entertainment
• LL Bean
• Moakley Courthouse
• Sephora Seaport
• WS Development Seaport
• Yotel

More New Year's Eve Along the Waterfront Activities - December 31

Wharf District Harborwalk Tour
1pm-4pm - First Responder Touch-a-Truck/Boat at the Envoy Hotel in Seaport
Harbor Map Tour at the Boston Harbor Hotel

New Year's Day Activities - January 1

12 noon-about 1pm - First Day Hike from Old North Church (meet there at noon) to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown  (to be confirmed)
12 noon-4pm - Seafarer's Island Holiday - New Year's Cruise to Thompson Island from Rowes Wharf on the Downtown Waterfront

Christmas and Chanukah share a similar spiritual message: that it is possible to bring light and hope into the world. These two holidays occur together this year, which makes this an even more special holiday season.

This is a season to reflect upon how fortunate we are to have you as our customers: our friends and neighbors. During these holidays, we wish you, your family, and your friends a safe, joy-filled, and relaxing season.

Warm wishes for a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, and a most Happy New Year! With peace, joy, and love this holiday season and beyond!

Insurance might be the least exciting thing about surprising your loved one with a valuable gift this holiday — but don’t let it fall off your priority list.

Don’t sacrifice preparedness for the surprise.

You can insure some gifts by making a phone call to your agent or a specialty insurance company. Others, such as cars or vacations, require your loved one to buy a policy in his or her own name.

Whether it’ll hang on a wall or sit in a garage, here’s how to cover your big gift.

Existing insurance may cover the gift

If you’re giving a pricey gift to someone who lives with you, the simplest way to insure it may be by expanding your . Standard policies pay out if belongings in your home are damaged or stolen, but coverage for valuables — such as furs, art and jewelry — is typically limited to $1,000 to $5,000. That’s after any deductible, which is the amount you pay before insurance pays a claim.

You can expand your current policy with a “scheduled” rider, floater or endorsement. Scheduling items onto your policy insures them based on cost or current value. For this reason, you’ll likely need a bill of sale or certified appraisal to cover the gift.

But talk to your insurance agent before you start shopping. An agent can help you choose between coverage options — for example, a scheduled rider versus standalone jewelry insurance for an engagement ring.

Special coverage for items that gain value

For gifts such as contemporary art or heirlooms that may appreciate in value, a rider that pays the increased value if the gift is damaged or stolen is a good investment.

To keep such a policy or rider in force, you might need an appraisal every one to three years. An can help you find an appraiser.

When a standalone policy is better

Some insurers specialize in certain policies, covering only boats, electronics, or jewelry, for example. These companies may offer more policy options than large insurers — such as coverage for losing the gift — but you might miss the convenience and savings of bundling with one insurer.

There are several reasons you may want a standalone policy for a gift, rather than using home insurance:

• It’s for someone who doesn’t live with you, and you can’t add it to your home insurance
• You or the recipient don’t have homeowners or renters insurance
• It might be used for work, which would exclude it from many home policies
• A different type of policy is required for the gift, such as car or travel insurance

Vehicles are a special case

If your gift involves four wheels and a big red bow, the person driving it will need his or her own insurance — and you’ll need coverage to get it off the lot.

If you share an with the gift recipient, it’s relatively simple: Add the car to your shared policy and transfer the title after the surprise.

But if you bought a vehicle for someone who doesn’t live with you, he or she will have to insure it independently. In this situation, consider surprising your loved one at the dealership so the car is properly titled and insured from the start.

Take precautions for travel or shipping

The last thing you want is for your expensive gift to be lost or stolen before the recipient sees it, and the chances of this are higher if it needs to travel. Never pack expensive items in your checked luggage.

If you’re ordering something expensive online, make sure it won’t sit on a front porch unattended. Porch theft is a hot new cottage industry. Use a shipping method that requires a signature upon delivery.

When shipping fine art, use a professional shipper and packer so it’s not damaged before it arrives, and make sure the shipper has insurance. Damage in transit is the leading cause of fine art claims. For more information, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

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Did you know that if you or your employees are using personal vehicles for business and you get in an accident, the accident may not be covered under your personal auto policy? It's true.

Commercial automobile insurance is there for a reason. Make sure your employees are properly covered and save your business from unwanted risk.

With commercial auto insurance, the policy should include liability, property, injury, medical, collision and comprehensive, un- and underinsured motorist, towing and rental.

Every business has specific needs however. Perhaps yours is seasonal, or maybe your are in the towing business. Perhaps you are in the livery business or transport expensive merchandise. Contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance for your specific commercial auto insurance needs.