BOSTON — Friday, February 4, 2022 — Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the Boston Winter Express, a new effort to safely bring Bostonians together outdoors during the winter months, foster community, support our Main Street districts, and combat social isolation during the pandemic. The Boston Winter Express will include pop-up spaces in neighborhoods across Boston with free outdoor artistic performances, book giveaways, complimentary hot drinks, and more.
The first event will be a celebration of Lunar New Year on February 13th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in partnership with the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy and Chinatown Main Street at the Chinatown Gate in Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park on The Greenway. It will feature complimentary food and drinks, free COVID-19 test kits provided by the Boston Public Health Commission, free books courtesy of the Boston Public Library, and the City of Boston’s City Hall To Go truck.
The Boston Winter Express will be making additional weekend stops in Nubian Square on Saturday, February 26th and in Fields Corner at Town Field on Saturday, March 5th.
“I’m excited to announce the Boston Winter Express,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This is an opportunity for us to bring some cold weather joy to our neighborhoods. We are excited to bring communities across our city together safely outside in the wintertime. I invite Boston residents to come join us at these events for family friendly fun, hot chocolate, and more!”
“As we celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Tiger, Chinatown Main Street is so excited to partner with Mayor Wu and the Rose Kennedy Greenway in bringing the Boston Winter Express event to Chinatown. We are wishing businesses success, people good health and everyone with prosperity in the coming year,” said Debbie Ho, Executive Director, Chinatown Main Street.
“We are thrilled to partner with Mayor Wu to create an opportunity for the Boston community to gather and play safely on The Greenway during the winter. We look forward to bringing the Boston Winter Express to Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park to celebrate Lunar New Year and bring joy to a winter day,” said Keelin Caldwell, Director of Programs and Community Engagement of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.
“Fields Corner Main Street is excited to work with The City, and our community partners to provide a family-centered experience for residents and visitors to be outside, have fun and enjoy delicious treats from some of our neighborhood's small businesses,” said Jackey West Devine, Executive Director, Fields Corner Main Street.
“Our outdoor spaces are vital social and ecological infrastructure,” said Gretchen Rabinkin, Executive Director of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects. “We are delighted to collaborate with Mayor Wu and community partners to create joyful ways that invite residents and small businesses to connect and play throughout Boston’s neighborhoods. Especially in winter, these moments together out of doors improve our mental and physical health. Join us outside!”
In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Arts + Culture, the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment, Boston Parks & Recreation Department, Boston Public Library, the Boston Public Health Commision, the Boston Winter Express is a new cold weather placemaking program that will leverage our outdoor public spaces to build community this winter.
In partnership with the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, the City of Boston will prototype a winter placemaking kit to create fun and comfortable pop-up spaces in Boston’s neighborhoods. Over four weekends starting February 13th, each stop on the Boston Winter Express will include seasonal lighting, warm seating, musical and artistic performances, public art created by local artists, and complimentary hot beverages provided by neighborhood restaurants.
As part of the Boston Winter Express, the City will also bring back the Children’s Winter Festival on Boston Common on Thursday, February 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Hosted by Mayor Michelle Wu and the Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation, the festival is a cherished afternoon activity for kids of all ages, featuring music, giveaways, various winter attractions, treats, crafts, and much more.
To learn about more free, family-friendly winter events happening in the City of Boston, follow the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment on social media @VisitBostonCity and visit boston.gov/visiting-boston.
The Boston Winter Express will be made up entirely of outdoor, open-air events. It is encouraged, but not required, to wear masks. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are still at high-risk of spreading COVID-19. If you are not fully vaccinated, you should avoid large social gatherings. If you do plan to attend, avoid congested areas, wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth, and maintain six feet of physical distance as much as possible. To get vaccinated, find a location near you on boston.gov/coronavirus. 
