The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the obligatory deluge of Christmas carols, frantic shopping and good cheer that defines the most wonderful time of the year. Not one to be left out, Seaport has re-launched Snowport, a self-styled “magical winter getaway” in the center of Boston. For those seeking reprieve from the stress of college applications and school, Snowport is a fun, wintery attraction — provided you do not mind waiting in line.
When walking from South Station toward Seaport’s waterfront, it is impossible to miss the flagship attraction of Snowport: The Holiday Market. Local businesses commandeered a full city block to construct it, filling the space with cute stalls that scream holiday cheer. Among more than 60 stores, you can find everything from jewelry to body soaps to sock puppets, making the market a prime spot to search for stocking stuffers and holiday treats. Prices range from outrageous to affordable, so do not be alarmed if it takes some time to find the right gift!
Ikra Abbasi (III), a fan of Snowport, notes, “It is a good excuse to go out and spend time with family. Also all the lights and festivities bring everyone together, so it’s nice.”
The Holiday Market can get busy, though, so make sure to plan ahead. Ms. Nicole Yang, head coach of BLS Speech and Debate, recommends going on a weekday: “Even if you pay for timed entry on a weekend, it’s so packed inside that it’s less enjoyable.” For those willing to stand the crowds, Ms. Yang notes that Snowport “is fun, [with] pretty good gift options there.”
Once you have checked off your holiday shopping list, you can walk over to Harbor Way and embrace your inner Canadian by curling (yes, curling), free of charge. If you are new to the sport, you can arrange a lesson with the North End Curling Club — who knows, it may just become your favorite pastime. If curling is not your thing, then you can engage in large-scale versions of Battleship, Jenga or KanJam, which are surefire ways to have fun.
On your way back to South Station after enjoying a day in Snowport, you may spot Betty, a pink yeti allegedly from the Himalayas, who roams the area. But no need to be anxious: she is friendly and, unlike Bigfoot, open to selfies.
While the holiday cheer in Snowport is undeniable, so too is the consumerism that looms large over the entire venue. For one thing, corporate sponsorships are everywhere. A concession tent is sponsored by JetBlue; the curling lanes are sponsored by a health insurer (albeit a nonprofit one); and the pressure to spend money is all-encompassing, something only reinforced by the lengthy lines which make you feel as though it would be a waste to leave empty-handed.
Leo Deng (I), however, believes that this dynamic is not necessarily a bad thing: “It is a way of celebrating Christmas […] If [people] don’t like that, they can go somewhere else.”
Consumerist or not, Snowport is still a great way to spend a crisp winter day; just be sure to watch your budget, and keep an eye out for yetis!