Local calendar
60 upcoming events near Boston. Each card links back to the source, so you can check the details before you go.
Source linked
Community & civic
Races all day
Boston, MA
The world's largest two-day rowing regatta draws crews from around the world to the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge, timed to peak fall foliage. You can watch for free from the riverbanks and bridges.
Lifelong learning
Tufts University, Medford · Boston, MA
Tufts University, Medford
You can join peer-led summer study groups for adults through Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Community & civic
Morning start, finishers all day
Boston, MA
The 130th Boston Marathon brings tens of thousands of runners through the city and finishes in Copley Square. Even if you are not running, lining the route to cheer is a Boston rite of spring.
Classes & arts
Feet of Clay Pottery, Brookline · Boston, MA
Feet of Clay Pottery, Brookline
You can visit this cooperative clay studio on the third Friday of each month and take multi-session adult classes.
Classes & arts
Evening
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Fenway · Boston, MA
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Fenway
You can enjoy a free evening of dance, music, art making, and the galleries at the Gardner on the first Thursday of the month.
Lifelong learning
Emerson Colonial Theatre · Boston, MA
Emerson Colonial Theatre
You can tour the historic Colonial Theatre and learn the stories behind one of Boston's oldest stages.
Community & civic
Franklin Park · Boston, MA
Franklin Park
You can mark Juneteenth with a free community celebration of freedom and culture at Franklin Park.
Music & concerts
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston · Boston, MA
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
You can spend a First Friday evening at the MFA with music, art making, and spotlight gallery talks.
Pickleball & rec
Courts across Greater Boston · Boston, MA
Courts across Greater Boston
You can find and join free pickup pickleball sessions through the player-run PlayTime Scheduler.
Markets
SoWa, South End · Boston, MA
SoWa, South End
You can hunt for antiques and vintage finds downstairs at SoWa every Sunday and on the first Friday of each month.
Community & civic
Daytime and evening sessions
Boston, MA
Each winter the Frog Pond on Boston Common becomes an outdoor ice rink, voted among the best in the country, open from about mid-November to mid-March. There is a cafe on site and skate rentals.
Music & concerts
7:30 p.m.
Boston Symphony Hall · Boston, MA
Boston Symphony Hall
You can hear singer-songwriter Ben Folds perform at the storied Symphony Hall.
Lifelong learning
Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge · Boston, MA
Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge
You can attend free in-person natural history lectures from leading scientists at the Harvard museum.
Food festivals
Harvard Square, Cambridge · Boston, MA
Harvard Square, Cambridge
You can taste your way through Harvard Square's donut shops on a guided Sunday walking tour.
Community & civic
6 p.m. and 7 p.m. rounds
Samuel Adams Brewery, Jamaica Plain · Boston, MA
Samuel Adams Brewery, Jamaica Plain
You can join weekly taproom trivia at the Sam Adams brewery with no reservation needed.
Music & concerts
7:30 p.m.
Emerson Colonial Theatre · Boston, MA
Emerson Colonial Theatre
You can sing along to a Motown tribute revue at the historic Colonial Theatre.
Music & concerts
Boston Symphony Hall · Boston, MA
Boston Symphony Hall
You can hear Broadway star Alex Newell join the Pops and the Boston Gay Men's Chorus for a Pride celebration.
Food festivals
Afternoon
Hibernian Hall, Roxbury · Boston, MA
Hibernian Hall, Roxbury
You can taste from 15-plus diaspora-owned food vendors during this one-day celebration of culture through food in Roxbury.
Senior programs
The Senior Center · Boston, MA
The Senior Center
You can paint with watercolors in a weekly afternoon class made for older adults.
Community & civic
Daytime
Downtown Boston · Boston, MA
Downtown Boston
You can join the citywide Pride parade, festival, and block party with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in downtown Boston.
Tastings
7 p.m.
Book Ends, Winchester area · Boston, MA
Book Ends, Winchester area
You can taste and learn about rose wines at this Wine Wednesday class near Boston.
Outdoors & nature
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Boston, MA
Once a year Harvard's Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain celebrates its collection of more than 400 lilacs in full bloom, with tours and picnicking allowed. It is one of the few days the arboretum lets you spread a blanket and eat on the grounds.
Community & civic
Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co., Boston · Boston, MA
Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co., Boston
You can test your knowledge at weekly taproom trivia night at Mighty Squirrel.
Community & civic
All day
Boston, MA
Boston's Pride celebration returns with a parade, a festival, and a block party in the heart of the city. It is an all-day, all-ages street event downtown.
Outdoors & nature
Long Wharf to Spectacle, Georges, and Peddocks Islands · Boston, MA
Long Wharf to Spectacle, Georges, and Peddocks Islands
You can take a scenic ferry to explore Spectacle, Georges, or Peddocks Island all season long.
Community & civic
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Boston, MA
One of the largest open-air markets in the city, SoWa runs every Sunday in the South End with farmers, artisans, food trucks, and vintage sellers. The season runs spring through mid-November.
Music & concerts
TD Garden · Boston, MA
TD Garden
You can catch Josh Groban with Jennifer Hudson on their shared bill at TD Garden.
Food festivals
Boston · Boston, MA
Boston
You can sample dishes from across the Asian diaspora at this one-day Boston food festival.
Tastings
607 Tremont St, Boston · Boston, MA
607 Tremont St, Boston
You can build a floral arrangement while sipping through a wine tasting at this South End workshop.
Food festivals
Boston · Boston, MA
Boston
You can take a guided walking tour to taste your way through Boston's best chocolate shops on weekends.
Classes & arts
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Fenway · Boston, MA
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Fenway
You can drop in for hands-on art making at the Gardner's Saturday Open Studios, free with museum admission.
Classes & arts
Mudflat Studio, Somerville · Boston, MA
Mudflat Studio, Somerville
You can take a hands-on clay class or workshop in a long-running community pottery studio near Boston.
Music & concerts
Evening concert, fireworks after dark
Boston, MA
The Boston Pops play a free concert on the Charles River Esplanade that ends with one of the country's best fireworks shows over the water. People stake out blanket spots on the lawn hours ahead.
Food festivals
12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Charles River, Boston and Cambridge · Boston, MA
Charles River, Boston and Cambridge
You can watch dragon boat races on the Charles plus Chinese dance, food, and cultural performances at North America's oldest such festival.
Senior programs
Boston-area climbing gym · Boston, MA
Boston-area climbing gym
You can try a welcoming indoor climbing meetup designed for adults 55 and over.
Community & civic
St. James Ave, Back Bay · Boston, MA
St. James Ave, Back Bay
You can join a big outdoor block party with DJs, a beer garden, and food trucks on St. James Ave.
Outdoors & nature
90-minute walks
Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain · Boston, MA
Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain
You can take a free 90-minute docent-led walk through seasonal plant highlights and Arboretum history.
Dance & fitness
Boston Ballroom Dance Center area · Boston, MA
Boston Ballroom Dance Center area
You can meet new dancers at a Saturday social ballroom and swing dance with DJ music.
Senior programs
The Senior Center · Boston, MA
The Senior Center
You can build strength and steadiness in a weekly Healthy Bones and Balance session geared to seniors.
Lifelong learning
UMass Boston / OLLI · Boston, MA
UMass Boston / OLLI
You can check out OLLI at UMass Boston at this summer open house to see lifelong-learning offerings before registering.
Community & civic
Afternoon through midnight
Boston, MA
Running since 1976, this free citywide New Year's Eve celebration includes a parade down Boylston Street, ice sculptures, performances, and fireworks over Boston Harbor. It is family-friendly and mostly outdoors.
Markets
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SoWa, South End · Boston, MA
SoWa, South End
You can browse over 350 vendors of art, crafts, food trucks, and farm goods every Sunday at Boston's largest open-air market.
Dance & fitness
The Senior Center · Boston, MA
The Senior Center
You can kick up your heels at a lively afternoon dance party for older adults.
Outdoors & nature
Franklin Park · Boston, MA
Franklin Park
You can take a guided nature walk exploring Franklin Park's natural wonders with Zoo New England.
Outdoors & nature
Boston Nature Center, Mattapan · Boston, MA
Boston Nature Center, Mattapan
You can join a weekly guided bird walk at the Mass Audubon Boston Nature Center.
Outdoors & nature
Boston Nature Center, Mattapan · Boston, MA
Boston Nature Center, Mattapan
You can join a monthly seasonal nature program with bird walks on the second Saturday at the Boston Nature Center.
Dance & fitness
The Senior Center · Boston, MA
The Senior Center
You can practice gentle Tai Chi each week in a class designed for older adults.
Outdoors & nature
Boston Public Garden · Boston, MA
Boston Public Garden
You can glide around the lagoon on the historic Swan Boats in the nation's first botanical garden.
Senior programs
The Senior Center · Boston, MA
The Senior Center
You can join the Novel Idea Book Club to talk over the month's read with fellow members.
Community & civic
Faneuil Hall Marketplace · Boston, MA
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
You can take in Native American music and dance and a tribute concert to local Black history at this free marketplace festival.
Senior programs
Citywide, Boston · Boston, MA
Citywide, Boston
You can browse a citywide monthly roundup of free events and programs for Boston adults age 60 and over.
Markets
From late morning
Boston, MA
Boston's biggest and busiest farmers market sets up in Copley Square twice a week through the warm months. Expect local produce, bread, and prepared foods in a newly renovated downtown plaza.
Outdoors & nature
Starting 10 a.m.
Central Wharf, New England Aquarium · Boston, MA
Central Wharf, New England Aquarium
You can celebrate World Ocean Day with free activities and entertainment on Central Wharf at the Aquarium.
Markets
Central Square, Cambridge · Boston, MA
Central Square, Cambridge
You can pick up local produce every Monday at the Central Square farmers market just across the river.
Music & concerts
7:30 p.m.
City Winery, Boston · Boston, MA
City Winery, Boston
You can see Heart's Ann Wilson perform live in the intimate City Winery room.
Lifelong learning
Bunker Hill Community College, Charlestown · Boston, MA
Bunker Hill Community College, Charlestown
You can enroll in flexible summer continuing-education and noncredit classes at BHCC's Charlestown campus.
Theater & film
At sundown
Hatch Memorial Shell, Charles River Esplanade · Boston, MA
Hatch Memorial Shell, Charles River Esplanade
You can pack a blanket and watch free outdoor movies under the stars on Friday nights at the Esplanade.
Music & concerts
Wang Theatre, Boch Center · Boston, MA
Wang Theatre, Boch Center
You can hear Jason Mraz live at the elegant Wang Theatre downtown.
Lifelong learning
Boston Public Library, Copley Square · Boston, MA
Boston Public Library, Copley Square
You can hear authors read and discuss their books for free at the Central Library's Author Talk Series.
Classes & arts
2-hour sessions
Pottery Studio 1, Boston · Boston, MA
Pottery Studio 1, Boston
You can try a one-time two-hour pottery and ceramics class at this everyday studio in Boston.
