Top Things to Do in Boston This May

• Boston Public Garden
• Recurring weekly on Saturday

This vibrant open-air market features 50 local artists and small businesses, making it a must-visit destination for anyone who appreciates handcrafted goods and locally-made products. Conveniently located at the Boylston Street entrance to the Boston Public Garden, the market…

• Citizens Opera House
• Recurring daily

The 2026 Spring Experience is made up of three contrasting works that showcase the versatility of Boston Ballet dancers and the varied styles of contemporary ballet storytelling. A Boston premiere of Jerome Robbins’ signature ballet, Dances at a Gathering is about human…

• Institute of Contemporary Art
• Recurring weekly on Thursday

The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Tickets for Free Thursday Nights will be available at icaboston.org/tickets at 10 AM on that Thursday morning. Beginning May 29, in line with the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and…

• Emerald Necklace Conservancy

Thank you for your interest in Sparkle in the Park! Public ticket sales will open on Monday, March 3, 2026. If you are interested in purchasing a sponsorship, please reach out to events@emeraldnecklace.org. The Conservancy is working to increase fundraising opportunities during…

• Ohiri Field, Harvard University

Panda Fest, one of the nation’s fastest-growing outdoor Asian food and culture festivals, is thrilled to announce its return to Boston for its second year, taking place from May 15 to May 17, 2026, at Ohiri Field at Harvard University. Following a successful debut that sold out…

• Various Locations, Boston
• Recurring daily

Got Bach? We do–and Telemann too! Enjoy the unparalleled H+H Orchestra led by Artistic Director Jonathan Cohen as they share their “consistently fresh and vital” takes on Baroque music ( The Boston Globe ). Embrace the warm comfort of Bach cantatas perfectly paired by the…

• Boston Harbor Cruise
• Recurring daily

Set sail with us for the whale watch experience of a lifetime. Our destination: Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, sea birds and other marine creatures. You’ll have a good chance to view several different species of large whales…

• Franklin Park Playstead, Roxbury

It’s opening day in Franklin Park! Don’t miss out on this 50-year tradition in our park. You can make a kite, buy one, or bring your own! Food trucks Bikes to try for younger kids with Countdown to Kindergarten Bicycle repair station by REI Contact us to sponsor this wonderful…

• Boston Symphony Orchestra / Boston Pops / Symphony Hall
• Recurring daily

Featuring all the John Williams favorites from Harry Potter, Superman: The Movie, and more as well as the music that inspired him, this distinctive film night also includes exclusive videos of Williams discussing his creative process.

• Long Wharf
• Recurring daily

Get ready for more thrills, more laughs, and more speed than you ever imagined as you zip across the ocean at up to 40 miles per hour. The wind roars. The music blares. And the waves will splash during a wet and wild 40-minute ride of full blast, sensational fun. Codzilla runs on…

• Menino Convention & Exhibition Center
• Recurring daily

Sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service, the Boston 2026 World Expo brings the world of stamps to Boston for eight days as part of the America's 250th anniversary and features world-class exhibits, post offices from around the world, beginners and children's areas, stamp dealers…

• Boston Symphony Orchestra / Boston Pops / Symphony Hall

Celebrate the 100th birthdays of two formative figures in jazz whose work defined key moments in the genre’s history. Miles Davis’ kaleidoscopic stylings and John Coltrane’s harmonically rich, spiritual approach are honored in this collaborative tribute. *Please note the Boston…

• Boston University
• Recurring daily

The WBUR Festival is back on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 and our guest list is heating up! A few of the big names who’ll take the mic in 2026 include: José Andrés, Sam Sanders, Mary Louise Kelly and many more of your NPR and WBUR favorites. Join us for lively…

• The Strand Theatre

Young love blooms brightly in the gardens of Verona, but it cannot escape the changing of the seasons. Directed by CSC’s Associate Artistic Director, Bryn Boice, this fresh and imaginative production sets Shakespeare’s heartfelt tragedy, Romeo and Juliet , inside Friar Laurence’s…