First Day Hikes: Massachusetts is known for starting revolutions, so on January 1, 1992 when 380 people gathered for the premier First Day Hike at the Blue Hills Reservation it is no surprise that this Massachusetts outdoor initiative swept the nation. DCR celebrates over 30 years of this tradition in Massachusetts. Today, all 50 states are offering First Day Hikes in state parks across the country!

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation invites you to join all 50 states on January 1, 2023 for a First Day Hike!   Join DCR for one of the 7 guided hiking experiences listed or, create your own First Day Hike Adventure at a state park near you! Check out DCR’s Self-Guided Suggested Hiking Guides at almost 70 facilities statewide! Be sure to print or download your DCR Trail Map at home! Blue Hills Reservation, 12:00pm 840 Hillside St, Milton Gather at Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area at 11:00am. Two guided hikes and one self-guided hike at 12:00pm. Enjoy hot chocolate sold by the Boy Scouts. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Interfaith Social Services Food Pantry of Quincy. Co-Sponsored by Friends of the Blue Hills. In 2023, we hope that you make state parks an important part of your exercise routine and your life. Happy New Year!

Avon - IMHNE visits the Enchanted Ice Sun, Jan 1, 1 - 3p. Join It's My Heart New England as we travel through the Enchanted Village to lace up our skates on the indoor synthetic ice rink at Jordan's Furniture! This is a fun way to let our kids experience ice skating without the cold air!

New this year, we will also be tubing on Jordan's indoor mountain. Admission for both activities provided by IMHNE for heart heroes, parents, and siblings, as well as heart angel parents and siblings. Please RSVP with the number of people participating.

Bridgewater - December Artist: Taylor Morrison Now through Dec 31 during BPL open hours. Drop by the Flora T. Little Gallery throughout the month of December to see In the Tall Grass: Paintings by Taylor Morrison.

Taylor Morrison is a painter from Saratoga Springs, NY. He graduated from Bennington College in 2012. He works as a scenic artist for Adirondack Studios.

Brockton - Holiday Handmade Quality Craftsmanship: One of A Kind Crafts @ Fuller Holiday Shop Now thru Jan 8, Tues - Sun, 10a - 5p. Find something special for everyone on your shopping list this holiday season! Visit the Holiday Shop for one-of-a-kind and handmade items such as jewelry, prints, glassware, clothing, home decor, and much more that you can only find at Fuller Craft Museum! Museum members receive a 10% discount on all items from the shop! Admission to the museum is free. For more information, visit FullerCraft.org.

Canton - Winterlights at the Bradley Estate Now through Jan 7, 4:30 - 8:30p. Winterlights is back! Join us for a magical outdoor experience at the Bradley Estate as it sparkles with thousands of shimmering and artfully-designed holiday lights. Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required.

East Bridgewater - Midnight at Noon Ball Sat, Dec 31st, 11a - 12p, 635 Plymouth St. The Old Colony YMCA invites you to celebrate the new year by dancing the day away. Bring your children and friends to the dance party. The ball will drop at noon. There will be arts and crafts, DJ Rosie Rose, and a special guest performance. The event is free.

Fall River - Last Day Hike Sat, Dec 31, 3 - 5p. Celebrate the last day of the year with a sunset walk on the trails of Copicut Woods. Join Green Button Counseling for guided, self-reflection and mental health-oriented goal setting. Copicut Woods features a variety of vernal pools, an abandoned farm settlement, and the nearly mile-long Miller Lane, a 150-year-old stone-wall-lined scenic cart path. If the trail is icy due to weather conditions, we will have extra traction cleats available to borrow.

Hanover - Clydesdale Wagon Rides Fri, Dec 30, 4 - 7p. DATE ADDED! All aboard the holiday express! Join up to 10 of your family or friends on a horse-drawn carriage ride through Starland! Grab some hot cocoa, bundle up, and enjoy a 10-minute ride around Starland’s winter spectacular. Pulled by a team of Clydesdales, each wagon ride can seat up to 10 people and the big man himself, Santa Claus will be in the drivers seat!

Carriages will depart every 15 minutes for the duration of the event. While you wait, you can enjoy discounted attractions (included in ticket purchase), photo ops with our massive decorations AND Santa, holiday music and food & beverage from our concessions and beer garden! Enjoy a hot cocoa on us while you wait to board your carriage, and there will be photo opportunities with Mr. Claus in between rides!

Please note: If you are late for your ride you are not guaranteed to get on another. NO refunds will be given if you miss your appointment. For any questions about the Clydesdale Carriage Rides or activities associated, email!

Hingham - Women in Business Brunch Sat, Dec 31, 12 - 4p. If you’re ready to join 20 Women in Business, Entrepreneurs, Leaders & Professionals in setting clear goals for 2023, this event is for you. If you are in Woman in Business and are dying to meet other women who, like you, are in business and looking to build a solid network of goal-oriented women, you should come to this Women In Business Brunch.

Hull - 2023 Kyle F. Dandrow Polar Plunge Sun, Jan 1, 12p. For the last eight years, on New Year's Day, we braved the cold ocean amid the warmth of friends—to honor our departed friend Kyle Dandrow and to raise scholarship funds for high school ruggers. This year, join us to take the plunge and honor our friend at Nantasket Beach, with a reception to follow at The Parrot. Learn more and join us here.

Middleboro - Jump into the New Year, Midnight at Noon Pool Party Sat, Dec 31, 10:30a - 1:30p. Join us for our annual Midnight at Noon celebration as we JUMP into 2023, with a countdown to 2023 and jump into our indoor pool. We will have open activities & crafts throughout the building & New Years toast to all the great things to come at the Y and in our community in 2023! Register today to JUMP IN on the fun!

Middleboro - New Year's Eve Craft Prep Fri, Dec 30, 12 - 2p. Get ready for the big celebration by swinging by and creating all the noisemakers and hats you'll need!

Milton - Kidleidoscope Fri, December 30, 10 - 11a. Explore nature! Join us for a story, activities, and a craft. Ac- tivities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Suitable for ages 4-10 with an adult. Siblings and friends welcome.

Milton - New Year's Eve Morning Hike & Breakfast Sat, Dec 31, 9a - 12:30p. We'll do 3 mile loop on the skyline trail, generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1h 43min to complete. Then we'll go to nearby Newcomb Farmers Restaurant for breakfast. RSVP to Coach Jean if you plan on attending.

Milton - Family Nature Exploration Sat, Dec 31, 10 - 11a. On Saturday mornings, explore what nature has to offer in the Blue Hills Reservation. For families and curious adults. A Murder Most Fowl: Crows are remarkably social and intelligent animals. These clever birds have long been a source of fascination and lore. See how different cultures have viewed crows throughout history and how these myths are often supported by the newest science.

Pembroke - Christmas Lights at North River Now through Dec 31, 4:30 - 9p. Don't forget to add North River Lights to your list of places to see Christmas Lights this year! The Christmas Light display will run nightly. Invite friends and neighbors to drive through North River's campus and enjoy the lights, festive displays and let us bring some joy into your holiday season!

Quincy - South Shore Sights & Lights Holiday Trolley Tour Now through Dec 31, 6p. 4th annual Holiday Lights Tour. BYOB Adults Only.

Quincy - NYE Breathwork & Reiki Sat, Dec 31, 12 - 2p. New year, new me? Nah, new year, same me, but gaining clarity and peace with this breath-work practice. Lets set those resolutions and intentions and then breathe life right into them! We won't change ourselves instantly as the ball drops at midnight, but we CAN work on changing the relationship to the habits we're looking to shift. Breathing into the toughest of spaces that allow our transformations to open and take place.

Raynham - Blood Drive Fri - Sun, Dec 30 - Jan 1, 7a - 3:15p, 215 New State Highway.

Raynham - New Year's Day BrrrRUNch Sun, Jan 1, 9:30a - 12p. Please join us for the Colonial Road Runners Annual New Year's Day BrrrRUNch Run. The run starts at 10a using the Raynham 4 and 3.25 mile FUN RUN routes. The run will be followed by refreshments and socializing at the Raynham Lions Club. Please indicate that you're going on this event page to help us plan for refreshments.

Rockland - New Years Eve Pajama Jammy Jam Sat, Dec 31, 7p. Join Warner Paranormal Preservation Society as we ring in the new year at Hartsuff Hall! This will not be your average ghost hunt, this will be a haunted slumber party! An overnight sleepover with ghost stories, a midnight "toast to the ghosts" and pizza and light refreshments. This is for the experienced investigator, as this will be a free roam hunt. Bring your equipment, sleeping bag/air mattress, and you MUST wear pajamas. The first official overnight at the Hall, ring in the new year in style with some fun! Tickets are $85, the sum of 12+31+20+22, for the numerical lovers out there!

Seekonk - Cookie Decorating & Face Painting Fri, Dec 30. Cookie Decorating 3 - 5p; Face Painting 4 - 6p.

Seekonk - New Year's Eve Comedy Night Sat, Dec 31, 6 - 10p. Join us for a night full of laughter with Michael Petit, Derrick Fonseca & Stacey Kendro, three of New England's favorite stand up comedians. Tickets include a delicious Dinner Buffet with Carving Station. Doors Open at 6p; Show 8 - 10p.

Stoughton - Blood Drive Fri, Dec 30, 11a - 4p. Old Colony YMCA, 445 Central St.

Taunton - Fair Foods Fri, Dec 30, 3 - 5p. Fair Foods and Old Colony YMCA have partnered to sell fresh produce, meats, and more! Purchase a bag of groceries for $2 bag. Cash Only.

Taunton - Winter Break Open Skate Fri, Dec 30, 12 - 4:30p. Join us for Winter Break Open Skate at our outdoor synthetic ice rink! Cost includes an hour of skate, skate rentals, & a hot chocolate. Skates from youth size 1 through adult size 14.

Walpole - First Day Hike Sun, Jan 1, 9a - 4p. Hiking Walpole 2023: Walpole Trails Committee invites you and your family to visit one of our public properties on New Year's Day, with a *new* fourth property added to the lineup! You choose: Norfolk County Agricultural School; Adams Farm; Jarvis Farm/Town Forest; and/or the woods behind Route 1A ballfields. This year, guided hikes are back! Meet at Jarvis Farm, 691 Common St., at 8a.; Route 1A, 2450 Main St., behind homeplate at 10a; Aggie, 400 Main St., at noon; and/or Adams Farm, 999 North St. at 2p (refreshments at Adams Farm). Event may also be self-guided, as the Trails Committee will post arrows and maps for easy navigating.

Weymouth - Weymouth 400 "Our Story Continues" Sat, Dec 31, 1 - 3p. Our Story Continues..... is the legacy project of Weymouth 400, Inc., a non-profit organization charged with the programs and events commemorating the 400th Anniversary of original settlement of Wessagusset, the 2nd oldest settlement in Massachusetts. Produced and filmed by HawkVisuals, this documentary will tell the story of the town, its community and highlight the events and programs of Weymouth 400 over the last several years. We are excited to have you with us and can't wait to share this historic night for our community. Join us...and enjoy, "Our Story Continues....."

Weymouth - New Year's Eve Cacao Sound-N-Sip Celebration Sat, Dec 31, 6 - 8p. Sacred cacao ceremony gives us respite in a hectic and stressful world. It is the perfect space to switch off the outside chaos and journey into our sacred purpose. There we gain clarity of who we are, envision where we are going, and are guided to the opportunities available to us. This is a special ceremony in which we will activate a renewed sense of self as residing in your true purpose.

Whitman - New Year's Eve Celebration at Whitman Public Library Sat, Dec 31, 11:30a - 3p. Celebrate the new year with a countdown to noon! Listen to a story, play games, and make a party hat while you wait for the clock to strike 12p! This program is open to all ages but mostly geared toward ages 2-7. Drop in 11:30a -12p. 12 - 3p activities will be geared towards all ages to play games, make a party hat and take photos with their new year's props.

Youth Mental Health First Aid - Fri, Dec 30, 10:30a - 3p. This 4.5-hour training gives adults who work with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support. Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 6 -18) who is, or maybe experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge and help connect them to the appropriate care. Much like CPR -- Mental Health First Aid is a great tool to have. Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

Manifesting Without Ego - Fri, Dec 30, 2p. Learn how to manifest the life of your dreams in co-creation with the universe. Manifestation techniques are powerful, but there are definite risks involved.

If we don’t know how to use these techniques in a conscious (unattached) way, we can end up in a whole lot of grief and despair. How do we “manifest” the life of our dreams while keeping ego in check?

Join us for a one-hour guided, interactive session where you’ll learn: - the difference between manifesting as ego vs. higher self - the “split awareness” technique that’ll allow you to live life from a higher perspective - how to manifest in co-creation with the universe.

Bridgewater - Community Dance Fri, Jan 6, 7 - 9p, 10 Wally Krueger Way. All ages enjoy an evening of international folk dance, New England squares and contras, mixers, and line dances.

Plymouth - Plimouth Patuxet New Volunteer Information Session Fri, Jan 13, 9:30 - 10:30a. Interested in volunteering at Plimoth Patuxet this season? Our volunteers are open-minded, life-long learners who enjoy engaging with people who share a common passion for history and community engagement. If this sounds like you, please join us for a Volunteer Information Session. You`ll have a chance to meet with volunteer team leaders from across the Museum and learn more about volunteer opportunities for the 2023 season to decide what may be the right fit for you.

West Bridgewater - Genealogy Workshop with Rev. Diane Badger Sat, Jan 14, 1p, 162 Howard Street. We will cover the basics; starting with what you know and moving you back into your past. What are the sources available online; what are the sources to explore that are not online? Most of the workshop will concentrate on New England research, other areas will be covered. Bring a notebook to take notes, and any information you might have and we will try pointing you in new directions for your research. The cost is only $5 and starts at 1p.

Bridgewater - GBWOT Comedy Fundraiser Fri, Jan 20th, Bridgewater Vets, 85 Cottage St. Want something to look forward to after the holidays? Get your tickets for the Comedy Night Fundraiser. Laugh the night away for just $25 per ticket! Proceeds help local families in need. There will be a cash bar. Doors will open at 6:30p, and the show starts at 7:30p. To reserve a table for 8-10 people, contact bernadette.reed@comcast.net.