Boston College Arts Festival
April TBA, 2021
Every year during springtime, Boston College holds a free festival lasting several days, showcasing the talents and works of over a thousand artists, of both students and faculty members. All aspects of art—visual, performance, and literary arts—each have their place in the festival for everyone to enjoy and experience. Art demonstrations and exhibits, musical performances, theater and dance numbers, literary readings, films, are all included. The intent of the 3-day event is to allow the fruits of artistic labor of the Boston College community to be appreciated by everyone. The stage is set at the O’Neil Plaza each spring.
Now in its 22nd year, the festival will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday April TBA, 2020. Events start at 12 noon and will go all the way to 10:00 pm in the evening (Tentative). Every hour features different theater, music and dance events. Art exhibits for all sorts of visual masterpieces are all over miscellaneous venues. There are also literary readings and featured films throughout the day. Think of it as sort of a theme park of artistic experiences. Everywhere you go, there's something going on that will likely leave you with a sense of wonder or, at the very least, be entertaining. There is always something being created—whether it's a high note from an opera singer, the stroke of a paint brush on a canvas, the sound of dancers clapping and snapping, or even a small child's piece of chalk, scraping against the O'Neil Plaza’s pavement forming yet another masterpiece.
One noteworthy part of the festival is the fact that there are activities that children can participate in. This really makes for an inexpensive (free) and unique alternative to the usual kids' educational and enjoyment routine. There are arts and crafts, where activities vary from year to year. Past activities have included creating masks, making tambourines, cookie decorating, etc. There are also activities where kids are guided by art professors and students, such as ceramics or pottery, scene painting, sidewalk murals, and even jewelry making for older students. There is also the children's theater, story hour and the unique instrument petting zoo hosted by the Boston College Band.
The dance events are always fun to watch—with a whole array of dance styles featured by the students. They perform tap-dancing, hip-hop, Asian cultural dances, Latin, ballroom, and many others styles. Musical performances are just as diverse, featuring big band jazz, A Cappella groups, solo classical performances, chorale numbers, opera, and song writing exhibitions. There is also an awarding ceremony to recognize the distinguished members of the students, faculty and alumni.
Boston College was founded in 1863 after its charter was approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, though the school had already started to operate even before then. It's the second Jesuit institution of higher learning in the state, and the first in the Boston area. Today, it has over 13,000 students and is considered a "Research University" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education—meaning there is high level of research activity in the University's nine schools offering bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees.
Contact Information & Address:
Boston College Arts Festival
O'Neill Plaza
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
bc.edu/artsfestival
bc.edu/../arts-council
617.552.2787
Nearest MBTA: Boston College Stop (Green Line B-Tram)
