Arts & Culture

Boston’s cultural scene is vibrant in all seasons. From museums and performing arts, to International Festivals and outdoor concerts, Boston is abuzz with activities for cultural enthusiasts.

If you love the classics, ensembles such as Handel & Haydn Society and the Boston Symphony Orchestra are reason enough to visit Boston.   If you prefer a lighter, contemporary flair then the Boston Pops is your orchestra of choice.  The Pops is a staple of spring and come December the famous Holiday Pops enthrall audiences of all ages.  Boston’s renowned music colleges, including Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music, also perform weekly throughout the school year.

If outdoor concerts and music festivals are more appealing, head to the Esplanade during the summer for the Boston Landmarks Orchestra or The Blues Barge behind Boston Harbor Hotel for an evening delight.  For cultural festivals with music and dance check out City Hall Plaza during the summer months, and in late May, Boston Calling, a 3 day musical extravaganza in Allston.  

The performing arts in Boston reveal a rich array of theatre, dance and intimate concerts.  Award-winning theater companies across the city include Huntington Theatre Company, ArtsEmerson’s World on Stage, and American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge.  Iconic venues such as the Boston Opera House and the Boch Center bring captivating drama, comedy, dance and popular music performances to Boston’s theatre district.

Explore Boston’s diverse museums, from the great masters at the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Harvard Art Museums to modern art at the Institute of Contemporary Art. Artifacts as well as photography exhibits are on display at the Museum of African American History and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Most of these sites, as well as the Boston Public Library, feature intimate concerts set against the backdrop of their distinctive settings.