Discover Boston's top experiences without breaking the bank.
Festivals
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- Assembly Row
To cap off the summer season, Riverfest will return with a day filled with family fun, free events, fun, and fireworks. The event includes live music from local performers, free family-friendly activities, and concludes with fireworks over the Mystic River. It’s the perfect…
Boston Local Food Festival is an annual celebration of the bounty and diversity of our local and regional foods. With nearly 100 farms, food vendors, activities, informational booths, cooking demonstrations, and more, there is something for the whole family! This event is a…
Join us at the Charles Hotel’s Lower Courtyard in Harvard Square to celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Sunday, September 15th from 4-9pm! The event will include a selection of traditional food and games for all, as well as a live performance by Veronica Robles all-female…
- Meridian Street
Open Streets Boston is a free, family friendly event. During these events, the City will close major thoroughfares to motor traffic, opening them for pedestrian use including: walking, rolling, biking, and connecting with neighbors and local businesses. Open Streets Boston…
- SoWa Art + Design District
- Recurring weekly on Sunday
Spend a Sunday afternoon at 450 Harrison Ave, and meet the artists directly. Family friendly and free event. Plenty of parking is available. SoWa Artists Guild Facebook/SoWa Artists Guild Instagram/SoWa Artists Guild
- Prudential Center
- Recurring daily
Experience flowers like never before at Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE - A fresh floral celebration by remarkable artists and culturally curated with the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Featuring Boston’s talented florists, creating incredible fresh floral mannequins inspired by…
- East Boston Memorial Park
The East Boston Latin Music & Dance Festival will take place on September 21 at East Boston Memorial Park! This event brings together local musicians, dancers, and businesses to highlight the strength of our community and celebrate the beauty of Latin American cultures. Join…
- Condon Shell
Spend the afternoon at the Condon Shell at Medford’s biggest arts festival! Watch live performances, browse local artisan crafts, get to know local businesses and organizations, eat food, and take part in any number of fun activities for all ages including a Knucklebones play…
- Roslindale
Roslindale Porch Fest is a free music festival held on porches (and in driveways and yards) across Roslindale and features bands, musicians, and DJs representing all genres of music, with performers of all ages – ranging from professional musicians to student groups…
- East Broadway between I and L Streets
The 24th South Boston Street Fest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, with a rain date of Sept. 28, 2024! This free event includes participation by nearly 100 South Boston businesses, non-profit organizations, and artists that will fill the festival site – along with…
- Union Square
Save the date for the 19th Annual Festival happening Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 2-6 pm (rain date Sun 9/22) in Union Square. Join in the celebration of the 107th anniversary of Fluff, invented in Somerville’s Union Square in 1917 by Archibald Query. This madcap…
- Harvard Avenue in Allston
Join us at the Allston Village Street Fair, a multicultural festival celebrating the rich diversity of Allston-Brighton residents, as well as residents in the surrounding neighborhoods of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and surrounding New England Areas. The Allston Village Street…
Entering its 13th year, The Boston Cup Classic Car Show is the Northeast’s premier invitation only collector auto show. The Boston Cup is annually attended by 30,000 enthusiasts making it the largest free auto show in America. From nostalgic models, muscle cars and supercars, to…
- Prime Group Shetland Park to Salem Common
The Salem Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you to enjoy the Annual Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade on Thursday, October 6, 2024. The parade will follow the normal route from Prime Group Shetland Park to Salem Common. This year’s event will feature…
Harvard Square’s flagship event returns! Live music on multiple stages, countless international food vendors, crafts, and, of course, festive beer gardens located throughout the Square. Come be a part of a legendary tradition – it will be Wunderbar to see you again!
- Trillium Brewing Company
- Recurring daily
Join us in Canton for our annual Fall Fest! Saturday and Sunday from 11-5pm we will have live music, fall inspired food specials, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo and 20 local vendors!
- Brighton Avenue and Harvard Avenue, Allston
Open Streets Boston is a free, family friendly event. During these events, the City will close major thoroughfares to motor traffic, opening them for pedestrian use including: walking, rolling, biking, and connecting with neighbors and local businesses. Open Streets Boston…
- Copley Square
Celebrating the power of words to stimulate, agitate, unite, delight, and inspire, the Boston Book Festival presents year-round events culminating in an annual festival that promotes a culture of reading and ideas and enhances the vibrancy of our city. Find out more at…
Festival della Creatività Italiana is a celebration of Italian genius through time and sectors! This free event at Boston's iconic SoWa Power Station will provide an opportunity to experience culture, design, fashion, and beyond while indulging in world-famous food & wine! A…
Museums & Exhibitions
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- 1 Faneuil Hall Sq Ste 4
- Recurring weekly on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Located on the top floor of the historic Faneuil Hall, the Military Museum and Armory displays uniforms, medals, and weaponry from The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, among other, more modern military artifacts. Learn about the soldiers of the Ancient…
- 855 Commonwealth Ave
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The BU Art Galleries host a variety of ongoing exhibitions in three locations on the University campus focused on national and regional artistic endeavors. Tours Availability: Tuesday – Sunday (closed on holidays recognized by the school) Gallery Hours: 11 pm - 5 pm
- 43 Monument Ave
- Recurring daily
The Bunker Hill Museum’s exhibits and dioramas tell the stories of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the construction of the Monument, and the history of the Charlestown Neighborhood. The museum is housed in the old Charlestown branch of the Boston Public Library. Guests can request…
- Commonwealth Museum
- Recurring daily
The Commonwealth Museum brings history alive through exhibits and educational programs. Changing exhibits interpret artifacts and documents that illuminate Massachusetts history. The exhibits featured are typically focused on the work and words of men like John Hancock, Samuel…
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- Recurring daily
This summer, the digital photo collage that graces the Anne H. Fitzpatrick Façade presents artist Hakeem Adewumi (he/him), part of the Artists-in-Residence program, posing with tenderness and obscurity. This public installation serves as a mirror for visitors to contend with the…
- 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…
- Massachusetts Historical Society
- Recurring daily
Founded in 1791, the Massachusetts Historical Society is the nation's oldest historical society. The collections bring alive the stories of America's past through a series of changing exhibitions and public programs that are free to the public. Availability: Monday…
- McMullen Museum of Art
- Recurring daily
If you’re in the mood for a different kind of art, this museum houses collections loaned from institutions and art collectors all over the globe. Due to their reliance on loans, their exhibitions change quite frequently. In the span of a year, you could see pieces from China…
- MIT List Visual Arts Center
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The MIT List Visual Arts Center offers visitors a dynamic program of temporary exhibitions in the galleries, as well as renowned permanent and public art collections located across the Institute making it an excellent location to discover unique artistic visions. Availability…
- Dorchester Brewing Co.
- Recurring daily
MOBA is the world's only museum dedicated to the collection, exhibition, and celebration of art that would not be welcomed to any traditional art museum. Our collection includes sincere art in which something has gone wrong in a way that results in a compelling, interesting…
We invite you to the opening celebration of our special exhibition Made in Germany? Art and Identity in a Global Nation , on view from September 13, 2024 through January 5, 2025. Following an introduction by exhibition curator Lynette Roth, Berlin-based artist Henrike Naumann…
- Midway Artist Studios, Fort Point
- Recurring daily
This exhibition at Midway Artist Studios offers a peek behind the scenes at two of opera’s most revered scenic designers including BLO Artistic Advisor John Conklin, who has designed shows for the company for 30+ years. A collaboration between BLO, Midway Artist Studios, the…
- Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital
- Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
The Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation tells the rich story of Massachusetts General Hospital's two centuries of history. Visit us to learn about the hospital's important contributions to the medical field and see how these discoveries and advancements…
- USS Constitution Museum
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Old Ironsides is one of the most famous ships in the history of the United States. Learn about the legacy of the USS Constitution ship, the world's oldest commissioned warship, at the USS Constitution Museum. The museum of this historic vessel is open to the public for free…
- Waterworks Museum
- Recurring daily
The Waterworks Museum interprets unique stories of the country's first metropolitan water system through exhibitions and educational programs on engineering, architecture, social history, and public health. Located along the Chestnut Hill reservoir, the Waterworks Museum…
- Harvard Art Museums
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Discover an array of artworks that transcend borders and spotlight the complexities of modern German identity. Made in Germany? Art and Identity in a Global Nation takes an unprecedented look at German art since 1980. Featuring artists from different generations and diverse…
- 344 Congress St
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
The Boston Fire Museum houses some of the oldest devices used to fight fires in Boston. In addition to buckets, trumpets, and fire grenades, you will also see some of the earliest examples of fire engines – some dating back to 1793. Tour Availability: Saturday Saturday…
Enjoy free admission to the Museum thanks to UNIQLO. Everyone is welcome—join us for an art-making activity, the newly reopened Arts of Japan galleries, and more! Events and Activities Art Making: Miniature Sculptures 10 am–4 pm (last entry 3:45 pm) Huntington Avenue Lawn…
- 685 Commonwealth Ave
- Recurring weekly on Wednesday
This astronomical observatory owned and operated by Boston University. It's located on the roof of the College of Arts & Sciences and offers free public hours on Wednesday nights. • Although it won’t cost you a dime, you do need to obtain tickets ahead of time because there…
- Prudential Center
- Recurring daily
Experience flowers like never before at Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE - A fresh floral celebration by remarkable artists and culturally curated with the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Featuring Boston’s talented florists, creating incredible fresh floral mannequins inspired by…
- Arts at The Armory, Somerville
Se Réfleter Dans celebrates the dynamic vision of Haitian-born painter, textile designer, and sculptor Colette Brésilla who explores the cultural and creative contexts as a tool for social change. Curated from the artist’s private collection, the exhibition is organized…
Calling all curious! Bring your family and friends and drop in to the Boston Athenaeum for our Community Day open house. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What's an Athenaeum?” or walked by 10 ½ Beacon Street and wondered about the unique address or the swinging red doors, come on…
Join us for a program and performance with the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers, a group of musicians and artisans from the tribal communities of Mashpee on Cape Cod and Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Participate in the performance of eastern social…
Family Friendly
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- Assembly Row
To cap off the summer season, Riverfest will return with a day filled with family fun, free events, fun, and fireworks. The event includes live music from local performers, free family-friendly activities, and concludes with fireworks over the Mystic River. It’s the perfect…
- Meridian Street
Open Streets Boston is a free, family friendly event. During these events, the City will close major thoroughfares to motor traffic, opening them for pedestrian use including: walking, rolling, biking, and connecting with neighbors and local businesses. Open Streets Boston…
- East Boston Memorial Park
The East Boston Latin Music & Dance Festival will take place on September 21 at East Boston Memorial Park! This event brings together local musicians, dancers, and businesses to highlight the strength of our community and celebrate the beauty of Latin American cultures. Join…
- Condon Shell
Spend the afternoon at the Condon Shell at Medford’s biggest arts festival! Watch live performances, browse local artisan crafts, get to know local businesses and organizations, eat food, and take part in any number of fun activities for all ages including a Knucklebones play…
- East Broadway between I and L Streets
The 24th South Boston Street Fest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, with a rain date of Sept. 28, 2024! This free event includes participation by nearly 100 South Boston businesses, non-profit organizations, and artists that will fill the festival site – along with…
- Union Square
Save the date for the 19th Annual Festival happening Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 2-6 pm (rain date Sun 9/22) in Union Square. Join in the celebration of the 107th anniversary of Fluff, invented in Somerville’s Union Square in 1917 by Archibald Query. This madcap…
- Harvard Avenue in Allston
Join us at the Allston Village Street Fair, a multicultural festival celebrating the rich diversity of Allston-Brighton residents, as well as residents in the surrounding neighborhoods of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and surrounding New England Areas. The Allston Village Street…
Harvard Square’s flagship event returns! Live music on multiple stages, countless international food vendors, crafts, and, of course, festive beer gardens located throughout the Square. Come be a part of a legendary tradition – it will be Wunderbar to see you again!
- Trillium Brewing Company
- Recurring daily
Join us in Canton for our annual Fall Fest! Saturday and Sunday from 11-5pm we will have live music, fall inspired food specials, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo and 20 local vendors!
- Brighton Avenue and Harvard Avenue, Allston
Open Streets Boston is a free, family friendly event. During these events, the City will close major thoroughfares to motor traffic, opening them for pedestrian use including: walking, rolling, biking, and connecting with neighbors and local businesses. Open Streets Boston…
Performing Arts
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- Goethe-Institut Boston
The Boston-based Ludovico Ensemble will perform a concert of works by South Korean composer Younghi Pagh-Paan and Croatian composer Sara Glojnarić, both of whom were born outside Germany and now make their living as composers and composition teachers within the country. The…
- King's Chapel
- Recurring weekly on Tuesday
Tuesday Recitals feature a wide variety of performing artists ranging from local students to traveling performers. The performances range from jazz and folk music from numerous ethnicities to classical music from medieval times to the present. Admission is a suggested donation of…
- The Red Room at Cafe 939, Berklee College of Music
You can find Julius Rodriguez in many places. You could walk into a packed jazz haunt and witness him behind the piano with energy practically surging from his fingers through the room. You might scroll up on social media and catch him alternating from drums to bass to guitar at…
The Pipes on the Plaza organ concert series continues at the Christian Science Plaza for 2024. Experience the glorious sounds of one of the world’s largest pipe organs at our upcoming organ concert at The Mother Church, featuring Ross Wood, Associate Organist at Parish of All…
Films / Movies
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- The Lot on The Dot
Join us for Movie Nights on The LOT! Admission is free, but drinks and snacks are available for purchase. Come early to enjoy games before the movie showing. Remember to bring your own chairs and blankets for extra comfort. Limited seats will be available! This evening of…
- Malden City Hall
The Filmbuilding Malden Festival will be held on Saturday, September 14 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. This free event will feature a suite of short film premieres taking place at Malden City Hall. The program is for people of all ages, including families, and will include a lineup of youth…
Classes / Lectures
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We invite you to the opening celebration of our special exhibition Made in Germany? Art and Identity in a Global Nation , on view from September 13, 2024 through January 5, 2025. Following an introduction by exhibition curator Lynette Roth, Berlin-based artist Henrike Naumann…
American Repertory Theater Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus will host a lively, free conversation with renowned scholars Stephen Greenblatt and Ramie Targoff in conjunction with American Repertory Theater’s production of Shakespeare’s iconic love story…
- Boston Area Spanish Exchange (BASE)
- Recurring weekly on Friday
Spanish for Lunch! Free Open-level informal online conversation workshops at lunch time. Come chat it up over lunch, or just come eavesdrop. Viernes, del 6 al 27 de septiembre, de 2024. De 12pm a 1 pm All levels are welcome for these free informal Spanish conversation…
- The Anchor Boston
- Recurring weekly on Monday
Come get your salsa on by the waterfront! Your friends at Sabor Latino, Salsa y Control and DJ Hernanare bringing fun free Dance classes to the Anchor. Saborcito At the Anchor is a dance class/ dance party hosted at the beautiful Anchor Boston. The Anchor’s open-air, courtyard…
How do presidents and their speechwriters prepare the addresses that make history? How can you use these lessons and skills to speak up for change yourself? Join us for an evening with Terry Szuplat, one of President Barack Obama's longest-serving speechwriters and former deputy…
Morning Writes at Mount Auburn will help you jumpstart a new creative practice or re-energize your existing routine. Recharge your imagination. Shift your perspective. Nurture your creativity in nature. MORNING WRITES is an informal writing time and a chance to meet up with other…
Tours & Trails
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- Cambridge
- Recurring daily
This tour provides an opportunity to visit and interact with the spaces that influential Black women in Cambridge inhabited during the 19th century. These historical figures include Harriet Jacobs, Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Alberta V. Scott, Pauline Hopkins, Maria Baldwin, Mary…
- 256 Commonwealth ave.
- Recurring daily
In honor of the 20th Anniversary of the Boston Women’s Memorial, special recordings have been created for the statues of prominent women's rights advocates, enabling the statues to speak! This memorial, which is also one of the stops on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail…
- Recurring daily
Take a self-guided tour of Grove Hall and Nubian Square. Download the mobile app by visiting the Google Play or Apple app store · Download the 'Distrix' app · Make sure location is on · Select Roxbury Memory Trail · Have fun!
- The First Church of Christ, Scientist
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday
Join us for free tours of the original Romanesque church (The Mother Church Original, 1894) and the Byzantine-Renaissance extension (The Mother Church Extension, 1906), which houses one of the world’s largest pipe organs. Friday: 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. Saturday…
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
Join us for a free tour of Quincy Market's history, geography, and architecture. The guided tour occurs on Saturdays at 11am. Meet your tour guide, Linda Perlman, in front of Starbucks at 8 North Market.
- Community Boating Inc.
The Esplanade Association's free Guided History Tours will walk participants through the fascinating history of the Esplanade. Our guided tours last about an hour and a half and cover about a mile of the Esplanade and over 150 years of history! Your suggested donation of $10…
- Community Boating Inc.
Explore the variety of public art featured along the Charles River Esplanade through the Esplanade Association’s Art in the Park Guided Tour! Since 2017, the Esplanade Association has commissioned 4 public murals from 4 women-identifying artists on the Esplanade including…
- Community Boating Inc.
The Esplanade Association presents a special tour series led by our very own design & marketing coordinator. In this tour, we will be walking throughout the Esplanade and finding some of the best places to snap a picture and capture memories. Discover new angles and viewing…
Outdoor Fun in Boston
With nearly 300 parks and iconic waterways, Greater Boston has plenty of space to explore.
Parks in Boston
With almost 300 in Boston and Cambridge, there's space for you to get outdoors in Boston.
Guide to Fall in Boston
Discover your ultimate fall bucket list in Boston.
Great Deals
Find discounts on attractions, restaurants, theatre tickets, tours, and more with our Great Deals.
