Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and The Friends of Copley Square welcome the holidays with the annual Copley Square Tree Lighting on Monday, November 26, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The free event will feature appearances by Mayor Walsh, NECN’s Jenny Johnson, Santa Claus, and Rudolph along with musical performances by vocalist Mark “Sing” Robertson, the Boston Children’s Chorus, the Boston Pops Brass Quintet, and Berklee College of Music's own Natalie Daniela Castro Diaz.

Light refreshments will be provided by Drake’s Cakes, KIND Snacks, HP Hood LLC, and the dairy farm families of New England and Must Be The Milk. The Fairmont Copley Plaza will host a family reception immediately following for all in attendance.  The reception will include cookie decorating, photos with Santa and treats from the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

For additional information please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505. You can learn more about The Friends of Copley Square online.

In traditional Mexican homes, every November 1 and 2, departed family members are remembered with altars lovingly decorated with photographs, papel picado, offerings of fruit, favorite food and drink, candles, and masses of fragrant orange marigolds, la flor de cempasuchil.

Marigolds, with their bright orange color and scent, are thought to guide the spirits home. The City of Boston’s altar in Copley Square will contain 500 pots of marigolds, grown from seed and tended to since August by Boston Parks Department horticulturalists. You can upload photos of your loved ones to have them displayed at the altar:

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• November 1 and 2, 12 - 9 p.m., Copley Square: Traditional Altar de Muertos
• November 1, 5:30 p.m. and November 2, 3 p.m., Copley Hall (Rabb Hall), Free showing of "Coco"
• November 2, 5:30 p.m.: Speaking program

There will also be food, music, and more during the two-day event.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh has announced that the annual Fall Pumpkin Float will be held at the Boston Common Frog Pond on Friday, October 19, from 5 - 8 p.m. Hundreds of illuminated jack-o’-lanterns will be floated on the water accompanied by spooky family activities.

Attendees are asked to bring eight-inch or smaller carved pumpkins that will be lit and then floated on the Frog Pond for a dramatic early evening display. In addition, attendees are invited to view creatively carved and decorated jack-o’-lanterns from various local sports teams and organizations. Adults and children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and participate in a wide range of fun activities. Children are invited to decorate luminary bags which will be displayed and illuminated along the edge of the Frog Pond. Test your courage and problem-solving skills in our haunted corn maze.

The Fall Pumpkin Float is presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the Skating Club of Boston. For more information, please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505, or visit our Facebook page.

On Monday, October 1, Mayor Martin J. Walsh will host a City Hall Open House in West Roxbury. Residents from all across West Roxbury and Roslindale are invited to learn more about City services, capital projects, and ongoing programs from the City of Boston.

Food and refreshments will be served. This is a family friendly event. Representatives from City departments will be present to answer questions and share resources, including:

• the Boston Planning and Development Agency
• the Boston Transportation Department
• the Public Works Department
• the Parks and Recreation Department
• Boston Public Schools
• Boston Public Health Commission, and
• Boston Centers for Youth and Families.

Bike along a car-free Storrow Drive and across the Emerald Necklace on a 40-mile journey through Boston's unique neighborhoods. You can also choose to take our more family-friendly and beginner 10-mile ride. Both courses start and finish on City Hall Plaza in downtown Boston.

A portion of your registration fee will benefit Boston Children's Hospital, but consider becoming a Hope Rider (or creating your own bike team!) to help raise even more funds to support cancer research.

This event is presented by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and new title sponsor, EF Education First, with special thanks to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Lärabar, and Boloco.