Brookline First Light 2017: What To Know

BROOKLINE, MA — First Light is in the air. If you've lived here a while, you know the drill, but if you're just joining us here's the recap: To welcome the holiday season, Brookline businesses get together in their neighborhoods to celebrate what's called First Light. It's basically a night festival full of art, holiday lights and an excuse to get out and get some early holiday shopping in locally.

This year, Brookline's First Light is Thursday, Nov. 30. Visitors can expect food, fun and entertainment from a number of great local establishments. It begins at 5 p.m. and lasts til about 8 p.m. Parking is free.

More than two decades ago First Light began as a way for Washington Square businesses to bring a little holiday spirit and call attention to their shops and get folks to consider doing their holiday shopping locally at the area small businesses.

The name is a bit of a play on First Night held to celebrate New Years, but is an attempt to highlight the first holiday decorations.

This year much of the activity has shifted from Washington Square to Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village, and between the two squares some 28 businesses are participating.

Brookline Music School, the Brookline Arts Center, the Puppet Showplace Theatre are all joining the fun.
For the past few years, organizers are hoping capture the special parts of Brookline in a photography contest. The deadline for submissions was Nov. 1, and the photos are now being reviewed both by a panel of judges, and fans of the 1st Light Facebook page.

Here's a map of events:

((Have you signed up for the daily free Brookline Patch newsletter yet? You should probably get on that. ))

Photos by Jenna Fisher