~ Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has announced that the popular Open Newbury event will be expanding into the holiday season this year. The event, which is typically held in the summer and early fall, will now take place on Sunday, December 1 and Sunday, December 8 in the Back Bay neighborhood.

Since its inception in 2016, Open Newbury has drawn thousands of visitors to enjoy food, shopping, and dining along the mile-long stretch of Newbury Street from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue. This year's holiday edition of Open Newbury aims to celebrate the festive season and promote winter shopping in the Back Bay.

"I am thrilled to present the holiday edition of Open Newbury to Back Bay this winter for all of our residents to enjoy," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "The tradition of Open Newbury that we enjoy during the summer brings so much opportunity for community gathering and economic growth for our small businesses. I am looking forward to seeing the city gather together again for Open Newbury this holiday season."

On both December 1 and December 8, Newbury Street will be closed to cars from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., following the same route as the summer series. The City is encouraging local businesses along Newbury Street to participate by activating their outdoor spaces with family-friendly activities, pop-up parklets, brand activations, and more. In case of inclement weather, a makeup date has been scheduled for December 15.

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Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets for Boston, expressed excitement about combining two beloved traditions - holiday markets and car-free exploration - into one event. "Introducing Open Newbury to the winter season brings together two traditions: the excitement of holiday markets and the experience of exploring one of Boston's most vibrant streets from a fresh perspective, free from cars," he said. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the local business community, who have made Newbury Street such an iconic part of Boston."

City Councilor Sharon Durkan also shared her enthusiasm for the event, stating, "We know that our local businesses thrive when residents do their holiday shopping in person! With the trees sparkling with holiday lights and the excitement around a holiday stroll, these two dates will be an exciting chance to support our local businesses and build community. I cannot wait."

To accommodate the car-free event, parking will be restricted on Newbury Street and certain cross streets starting at 6:00 a.m. Signs will be posted to inform drivers of the change. The intersections of Fairfield Street, Gloucester Street, and Hereford Street will be closed to cars, while the remaining intersections will remain open for public safety access and general vehicular traffic flow.

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Lisa Shah, owner of LIT Boutique on Newbury Street, expressed her excitement for Open Newbury: Holiday Stroll. "Open Newbury is a great way to bring the entire city together - the quintessential holiday stroll," she said. "We are excited to welcome the community to our street on Sundays this December!"

Meg Mainzer-Cohen, President of the Back Bay Association, also shared her support for the event and its potential impact on local businesses. "The Back Bay Association is looking forward to seeing how the Open Streets Holiday Stroll benefits the Newbury Street businesses and brings value to the retail corridor at such an essential time of year," she said. "We are proud to have secured funding to provide holiday lighting which will coincide with this event, enhancing the atmosphere for shoppers and tourists alike and benefiting our business community."

More details about Open Newbury can be found on their website. This event builds upon Mayor Wu's efforts to reimagine public spaces in Boston. In 2024, Boston hosted Open Streets events in six different neighborhoods where roadways were closed off for a day to encourage residents to connect with their neighbors, support local businesses, and experience streets as public spaces where communities thrive.

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