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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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aggregation-no-1Longfellow Holiday Open House from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday (and Holiday House Tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday) at Longfellow House, 105 Brattle St., West Cambridge. Free.

This was Gen. George Washington’s headquarters around the Siege of Boston, July 1775 to April 1776, and later the home of famed 19th century poet Henry W. Longfellow, drawing visitors such as Charles Dickens and Nathaniel Hawthorne. And the current caretakers – the National Park Service – wants to show you how the Longfellows did the holidays. On Friday, walk through the decorated rooms of the Brattle Street mansion, stroll the illuminated grounds, listen to carols and enjoy free refreshments and holiday-themed arts and crafts, with specialty items from the archives and collection displayed throughout. On Saturday, join a park ranger for guided tours starting each half-hour in the Visitor Center, with crafts again be available in the Carriage House. Information is here.

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aggregation-no-2Street Theory Pop Up Gallery from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at 39 JFK St., the former American Express Travel building, Harvard Square.

Nationally and internationally known elite street artists 123Klan, Marka27, Problak, Percy Fortini-Wright and Imagine are doing installation art, live paintings and signings throughout the weekend, starting with an opening night party Friday with tunes by Oliver Mak and Gucci Vutton. Information is here.

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aggregation-no-311th Annual Kendall Square Holiday on Ice from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Community Ice Skating at Kendall Square, 300 Athenaeum St. Free.

Come eat and skate for free (though skate rentals are not free) and check out a 2 p.m. show with  performances by local and international competitors and world-class professional skaters. East End House will be accepting donations of new toys, winter clothes and basic necessities. Information is here. (Another free skating event: MIT Figure Skating Club Presents: “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Johnson Ice Rink, 77 Massachusetts Ave., with music, warm drinks and skating performances, as well as a free skate after the show.)

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aggregation-no-4Holiday Pops with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Tickets are $20 general admission (with a $1.99 online service fee) and $10 for students and seniors (with a $1.49 online service fee).

The orchestra takes on seasonal favorites such as “Sleigh Ride,” holds an audience sing-along and welcomes Santa Claus with guest artist Vira Slywotzky, who will perform Broadway tunes as well as holiday classics. The orchestra will be joined by student musicians from the Perkins School for the Blind and accept canned-good donations on behalf of the Helping Hand Food Pantry. Information is here. (Can’t get enough Christmas music? Take in the free, 18-song Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Christ Church, Cambridge, Zero Garden St., Harvard Square; or the 107th Annual Christmas Carol Services from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s Church, 29 Mount Auburn St., Harvard Square, which is free with an offering for charity collected.)

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aggregation-no-5Black Market holiday market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Massasoit Elks Lodge, 55 Bishop Allen Drive, Central Square. Admission is $1.

Cool stuff, from secondhand to handmade, including artwork, zines, body care, nail art, records, baked goods, patches, pins, books, T-shirts, leather goods, knits, woodwork, pottery, local honey, vintage clothing, jewelry, tea, haircuts, tarot card readings, face-painting, portraits and more. Information is here. (There’s no shortage of other shopping opportunities too. In Cambridge, the Cultural Survival Bazaar takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 459 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge, with goods made by native artists from around the world; the giant Harvard Square Holiday Fair from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday is back for its 31st year at 50 Church St.; a Holiday Geek Faire with 10 vendors selling stuff for gamers and geeks from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Pandemonium Books & Games, 4 Pleasant St., Central Square; and the Observatory Hill Holiday Stroll taking place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday for a whole neighborhood’s worth of shopping and festive food and crafts. In Somerville, the Union Square Holiday Stroll runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with free popcorn and cocoa, music, a visit from Santa, a holiday display contest and access to more than 60 vendors; the Somerville Local First Holiday Marketplace follows from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday with more than 40 local vendors filling The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave.)

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aggregation-no-6Linking Hands Peace Sign Cambridge from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Danehy Park, 99 Sherman St., in the Avon Hill neighborhood just east of Fresh Pond.

Come together to create a human peace sign – meeting behind the playground area at the Sherman Street park entrance, ideally with warm drinks and some music. Information is here. (Participants may also be interested in attending Cambridge 2 Charlotte: Justice 4 All Victims of Police Brutality from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St., in the Riverside Neighborhood, for a community discussion led by a panel of survivors and family of victims of violent interactions with police – including in Roslindale, Roxbury, Chelsea and here in Cambridge.)