Mayor Michelle Wu announced the 29th Annual Enchanted Trolley Tour will take place on December 6 and 7, visiting 16 neighborhoods in Boston. The event features holiday tree lighting, Santa visits, and community giveaways, celebrating the start of the holiday season. Bank of America sponsors the tour, emphasizing its importance to Boston's festive traditions.
Boston hosted its inaugural BERDO Fest on October 23, 2025, focusing on building decarbonization. The event gathered hundreds of stakeholders to discuss compliance with emissions standards under the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), which targets significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from large buildings.
Mayor Michelle Wu announced the arrival of Boston's official Christmas tree from Nova Scotia, scheduled for November 18. This year's 45-foot white spruce symbolizes over a century of friendship between the two regions, originating from Boston's support after the 1917 Halifax Explosion. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on December 4 at Boston Common.
The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Commonwealth Land Trust celebrated the grand opening of 570 Warren Street in Dorchester, providing 26 affordable single-room occupancy units. This event also marked CLT’s 40th anniversary, emphasizing their long-standing partnership with the City of Boston to combat homelessness and expand affordable housing.
YOU Boston served 161 youth in Summer 2025, exceeding its target of 130 by 24%. The organization provided industry-focused training, enabling 32 participants to earn recognized credentials for future employment.
Boston will implement parking restrictions and street closures for upcoming events, including the Girls on the Run Road Race and Camp Harbor View 5K. Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or use public transportation to navigate the city. The MBTA recommends purchasing round-trip tickets for quicker returns.
Mayor Michelle Wu announced the winners of the Icons of Franklin Park Poster Competition during a ceremony on October 26, 2025. The competition invited artists to create original designs celebrating Franklin Park's history and cultural significance, with over fifty submissions received. Winning designs will be exhibited at Boston City Hall and other local venues.
Boston and Northeastern University announced a new Institutional Master Plan and Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes agreement, committing over $62 million in community benefits and housing initiatives over the next decade. The plan includes a $10 million investment in housing stabilization and aims to reduce off-campus student housing demand while adding 1,000 new student beds.
Youth hockey teams from Boston will compete in the 2025 Mayor’s Cup Ice Hockey Tournament starting December 5. The event, featuring 134 games across nine rinks, aims to promote community and sportsmanship among nearly 1,500 young athletes. Mayor Michelle Wu emphasized the importance of youth sports in fostering relationships and healthy lifestyles.
Boston residents must secure a Use of Premises permit from Inspectional Services to keep live chickens on their property. The application process includes document submission, inspection, and approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Residents can keep up to six hens, but roosters are prohibited to minimize noise disturbances.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded $20.5 million to seven affordable housing projects in Boston to enhance energy efficiency and support electrification efforts. The funding aims to reduce energy use and carbon emissions across over 275 units in various neighborhoods, aligning with Massachusetts' climate goals.
Massachusetts residents prepare to honor military servicemembers with various events for Veterans Day. Celebrations include parades in towns like Lexington and Westfield, and a special ceremony at Boston's State House featuring Gov. Maura Healey. The day also marks the return of Private Alfred Thomas Langevin, whose remains were recently identified after more than 80 years.
Boston has commenced construction on the final parcels of Welcome Home, Boston Phase I, which will provide 72 new affordable homes in Dorchester. Mayor Michelle Wu aims to close the racial wealth gap and increase homeownership opportunities for residents through initiatives supporting developers of color.
A fire at the Olympia Place apartment complex in Amherst displaced over 230 residents, primarily UMass students. The fire, which began in an under-construction building, spread rapidly, leading to a state of emergency and ongoing firefighting efforts. No injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation by local authorities.
The Boston City Council urged the city to seek certification from FEMA for the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System. This move aims to reduce flood insurance costs for residents, particularly in vulnerable waterfront neighborhoods, while enhancing community resilience against climate change risks.
Boston's Office of Climate Resilience launched a coastal resilience project for the Mario Umana Academy in East Boston, releasing a Request for Proposals with up to $640,000 for design and engineering services. The initiative aims to enhance flood protection and create a waterfront park, addressing current and future flood risks while engaging the community in climate education.
The City of Boston Archives received full funding for a project to digitize official documentation related to "Hero Squares" honoring veterans. Graduate student Aurora Daniel, a U.S. Army veteran, worked on the project to preserve the history of these memorials dedicated to service members killed in action. The initiative highlights the importance of recognizing veterans' contributions and the historical context of Boston's neighborhoods.
The Boston City Council approved a $99,476 grant to enhance emergency response capabilities through the Pipeline Emergency Response Grant. The funding will support training for 203 firefighters and the acquisition of specialized equipment, particularly in areas near a high-pressure natural gas pipeline in West Roxbury. These initiatives aim to protect vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure.
Mayor Michelle Wu will visit Nova Scotia from November 9 to 12 to strengthen the partnership between Boston and Nova Scotia, commemorating the 1917 Halifax Harbor explosion. She will participate in the Tree for Boston tree cutting ceremony and engage with local officials to foster economic collaboration. Wu emphasized the longstanding bond of friendship between the two regions.
Boston will host several events in November 2025, including the Veterans Day Parade on November 8 and the Girls on the Run Road Race on November 16. Parking restrictions will be in effect in various areas, and attendees are encouraged to use public transit or bike to the events. The Boston Transportation Department also plans roadwork on Massachusetts Avenue to enhance bike infrastructure.
Boston will host youth soccer clinics led by the Revolution at various community centers in November and December. Pre-registration is required due to limited space, and interested participants can register through the BCYF center's webpage or at Boston.gov/BCYF.
Boston won the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Climate Award for its Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) and Equitable Emissions Investment Fund. The city was recognized at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro for its effective local climate policies. Mayor Michelle Wu emphasized the importance of community-based solutions in addressing climate change.
Latino communities in Boston actively preserve their cultural heritage through organizations like Sociedad Latina and Hyde Square Task Force. These groups focus on community development, youth engagement, and cultural preservation, reflecting the importance of cultural identity in urban environments.
Mayor Michelle Wu announced a one-year contract extension with the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, ratified on October 29, 2025. The agreement includes a 2% wage increase for officers and mandates that all patrol officers wear nametags to enhance transparency. The contract, costing an estimated $6.7 million, aims to improve officer wellbeing and accountability.
