Outdoor Venues

Boston Events Calendar

Boston Events Calendar

January

Boston Antiques and Design Show

Boston Antiques and Design Show 
Saturday-Sunday December TBA, 2021  
A very popular antiques show held each year at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington. Dealers offer rare furniture, porcelain, lamps, paintings, and many other antiques and works of art. Admission is $10, Free parking.

February

Beanpot Hockey Tournament

Beanpot College Hockey Tournament 
Monday February TBA, 2021  
The traditional hockey championship held at TD Garden between four cross-town colleges: Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University. The contest dates back to 1952, and the winner gains bragging rights as best college hockey team in Boston each year.

Penny Arcade Expo Boston

Penny Arcade Expo Boston (PAX East) 
Thursday-Sunday, February TBA, 2021
PAX East is a four-day game festival at the Boston Convention Center for tabletop, videogame, and PC gamers. There are tournaments and freeplay areas, and even nerdcore concerts, panel discussions, and an exhibitor hall filled with booths displaying the latest from top game publishers and developers.

March

Saint Patrick's Day Parade (FREE) 
Sunday March TBA, 2021, 12:00 pm
Huge annual parade to honor St. Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, and Irish culture in Boston. It's held in South Boston, the predominantly Irish-American neighborhood of the city.

Boston Underground Film Festival

Boston Underground Film Festival (BUFF) 
Wednesday-Sunday March TBA, 2021 
Annual showing of independently produced "bizarre and insane" films. Gore and sexual genres draw publicity, with both feature-length movies and shorts being aired.

April

Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon (FREE) 
Monday April 20, 2020, 9:00 am
WAS POSTPONED to September 14, 2020
 
America's oldest annual marathon. This world-famous 26.2 human foot race begins in Hopkinton, MA and ends one block west of Copley Square in Boston. A Patriot's Day tradition.

Boston College Arts Festival

Boston College Arts Festival (FREE) 
Thu-Sat, April  TBA, 2021 12:00 pm-10:00 pm 
This 3-day event features art exhibitions, concerts, theatrical and dance performances, children's activities, literary readings, film screenings, a craft sale, and much more.

Anime Boston

Anime Boston 
Friday-Sunday, April TBA, 2021 
New England’s largest annual celebration of Japanese animation, comics, and pop culture. More than 20,000 guests are expected to attend the event in 2019 at the Hynes Convention Center.

May

Walk For Hunger

Walk For Hunger & 5k Run 
Sunday May TBA, 2021, 7:00 am Rolling Start  
Annual charity walk and run for Project Bread. Sponsored volunteers walk up to 10 miles and begin at any checkpoint. Food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, and food salvage programs are supported by Project Bread.

Make Way For Ducklings Parade

Duckling Day and Parade 
Sunday May TBA, 2021, 10:00 am Registration
Annual Make Way For Ducklings children's parade to the famous statue in Boston Public Garden. Young kids dress up in duck-like outfits and trace the steps of the mallards in the famous Robert McCloskey book. A Mother's Day tradition. Online

Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour

Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour 
Thursday May TBA, 2021, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
 
Members of the Garden Club open up their hidden urban gardens for the tour. It's a unique event, with proceeds going to environmental, horticultural, and conservation organizations across the US. Early Bird tickets are $50, $60 after May 9. A temporary ticket booth is set up at 70 Charles Street at Mount Vernon Street, or purchase tickets online. Rain or shine event.

June

Beacon Hill Art Walk

Beacon Hill Art Walk 
Sunday June 2, 2019, 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm 
Residents open up their private gardens, patios, and courtyards and allow artists to display and sell their artwork at a wide range of prices. Visitors also enjoy a unique atmosphere with background sounds of live classical, klezmer and folk music playing in various gardens throughout the day. Starting places are 135-1/2 Charles Street, and the corner at Cambridge & West Cedar Streets.

Aids Walk & 5k Run Boston

Aids Walk & 5k Run 
Sunday June 2, 2019, 7:30 am Registration 
Support a great cause to help fight a horrific disease. The event starts and ends at the Hatch Shell. Registration is usually at 7:30 am, with the 5k Run beginning at 9:50 am, and the AIDS Walk starting at 10:00 am.

Scooper Bowl

Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl 
Tuesday-Thursday, June 4 - 6, 2019 
12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
 
The all-you-can-eat Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl® will take place at Boston City Hall Plaza. The Scooper Bowl has raised more than $6.7 million for cancer research and patient care at the Dana-Farber Institute. Admission is $8 for adults and $3 for children aged 3-9.  Advanced online ticket prices are discounted. A three-day Scooper Pass is $20 online. Rain or shine event.

Boston Pride Parade

Boston Pride Festival Parade Day (FREE) 
Saturday June 8, 2019, 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm 
Annual parade and festival to celebrate LGBT pride and public awareness. The parade winds through several streets in the Back Bay; staging at Copley Square, and ending at City Hall Plaza. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, and the weeklong festival will include exhibits to raise awareness of this historic event.

Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival (FREE) 
Saturday-Sunday, June 8 - 9, 2019 
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Festivities on Sunday)
 
A celebration of Asian culture. The time trials take place on Saturday, with the official tournament and festival on Sunday. There are live dance and music performances, martial arts demonstrations, and arts & crafts exhibits. A variety of Asian foods and treats are also available of course.

Boston Arthritis Walk

Walk to Cure Arthritis 
Sunday June 23, 2019, 9:00 am Registration
 
Annual Boston Arthritis Walk at Canal Park in Cambridge. A one or three mile walk for all ages that benefits arthritis research and community programs. Registration begins at 9:00 am, with the walk starting at 10:00 am.

July

Boston HarborFest

Boston HarborFest 
Monday - Sunday, July 1 - 7, 2019 
Annual festival leading up to July 4th that celebrates Boston's rich colonial and maritime history. There are many concerts and other activities that take place during the week. On Tuesday July 2, a fireworks display takes place at 8:30 pm over Boston Harbor at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End.

Independence Day Celebration

Independence Day Celebration 
Thursday July 4, 2019, 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm 
Annual Independence Day celebration at the Hatch Shell. There is a free Boston Pops Orchestra concert at 8:30 pm, and a fireworks display above the Charles River after dark. About 300,000 to 500,000 people attend the event each year. A first-come first-served wrist band booth opens at 5:00 pm near the Hatch Shell lawn. The wrist bands allow access to the lawn "oval" and "lagoon" area close to the Hatch Shell. Concert visitors should arrive at the Esplanade early as capacity is very limited, with security checkpoints in place. Many people view the fireworks from the Cambridge side of the Charles River or from the Longfellow Bridge. The fireworks are set off when the Pops are playing the finale of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Guest artists: Queen Latifah, Arlo Guthrie, Texas Tenors, and Amanda Mena.

Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival

Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival (FREE) 
Friday-Sunday July 26 - 28, 2019 
An area of the Revere Beach is fenced off like a gallery and visitors stroll past giant sand sculptures. There is free music at the bandstand, and fireworks on Saturday night.

August

Boston GreenFest

Boston GreenFest (FREE Outdoor Festival) 
Friday-Sunday August 16 - 18, 2019 
A huge festival that will take along the Greenway and Long Wharf, emphasizing earth-friendly products and how to reduce one's impact on the environment. There are live performances on multiple stages, over 200 exhibitors, a family entertainment area, EcoFashion Tent, GreenFilmFest, and forums and lectures. A Green Fireworks Display and Laser Light Show have taken place in previous years.

Fisherman's Feast

Fisherman's Feast (FREE Outdoor Festival) 
Thursday-Sunday August 15 - 18, 2019 
Annual Italian festival that takes place at Fleet & North Streets in the North End to honor Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help), and the ancient local fishing trade. The feast includes a religious procession through the narrow streets carrying the Madonna Statue. Lots of food, entertainment, games, and street vendors line the streets during the festival.

Boston GreenFest

Saint Anthony's Feast (FREE Outdoor Festival) 
Thursday-Sunday August 22 - 25, 2019 
Annual Italian festival that takes place at Thacher & Endicott Streets in the North End to honor St. Anthony of Padua. St. Anthony was a Catholic teacher and orator, and is beloved by many people. St. Anthony has historically been invoked to help find lost things. Lots of food, entertainment, games, and street vendors line the streets during the festival.

September

Boston Arts Festival

Boston Arts Festival 
Saturday-Sunday, September 7 - 8, 2019
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
 
17th annual display of works of art by local artists. Multiple waterfront stages are erected for performing artists. There's also a children's pavilion set up for younger visitors. The festival is a celebration of the many ethnic cultures in Boston, and held at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End.

Boston Arthritis Walk

Boston Comedy Festival (Ticketed) 
Wednesday-Saturday, September 13 - 16, 2019
 
Annual contest of stand-up comedians and improve groups. There are also airings of independent films in local theater(s). For a week, comedians come together from all across the globe to share their talent and make people laugh.

Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon (FREE) 
Monday September 14, 2020, 9:00 am
America's oldest annual marathon. This world-famous 26.2 human foot race begins in Hopkinton, MA and ends one block west of Copley Square in Boston. Rescheduled from Patriot's Day in April.

Hub on Wheels

Hub on Wheels (FREE) 
Sunday September 15, 2019, 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
 
Boston's only citywide charity bike ride. Choose from a 12 or  45 mile route. After the ride, enjoy food, tunes, and fun at City Hall Plaza. Proceeds go to Boston Children's Hospital.

Phantom Gourmet Food Festival

Phantom Gourmet Food Festival (Ticketed) 
Saturday September 21, 2019, 12:00  - 4:00 pm
 
The annual Food Festival on Lansdowne Street next to Fenway Park. No minors or pets. Buy the tickets early via Phantom Gourmet web site or their partners as they often sell out before the event. If you have ever watched the show on Channel 38, you’re probably thinking of a half-pound cheeseburger with onion rings on it right now. Tickets are $30 for a limited time, $40 in advance, and $50 at the event (if not sold out). VIP Tickets are are available for $60 in advance.

Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival

Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival (FREE) 
Saturday September TBA, 2019, 12:00 - 6:00 pm
 
This ever-expanding outdoor jazz celebration takes place on Columbus Avenue between Mass Ave & Burke Street. It's a very popular street festival featuring 15 or so bands, and draws nearly 80,000 people each year.

October

Columbus Day Parade

Columbus Day Parade (FREE) 
Sunday October 13, 2019, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm 
A decades-long tradition in the North End and East Boston celebrating the historic voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492. 2019's parade will take place in the North End. The festival's focal point is Christopher Columbus Park. The route of the parade is from City Hall Plaza and down Hanover Street to the waterfront.

Boston International Fine Art Show

Boston International Fine Art Show 
Thursday - Sunday, October 24 - 27, 2019 
Annual major show with contemporary and traditional fine art, paintings, sculpture, fine prints and photographs. Expo fair and sale, gala preview benefit, lectures and other events, that all take place at Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street.

Head of the Charles Regatta

Head of the Charles Regatta (FREE to Observe) 
Saturday - Sunday, October 19 - 20, 2019 
7:45 am - 4:15 pm
 
The world's largest 2-day rowing event. Head races are usually 3-miles long, with the boats racing against each other and the clock. Winners receive the title of Head Of The Charles.

Boston Film Festival

Boston Film Festival (Ticketed) 
Thursday-Saturday, October TBA, 2019
 
Annual showing of original English language and independently produced films. Seating is limited to the participating theater's capacity. Special events in past festivals have included visits by famous film stars including Jeff Bridges, Nicholas Cage, George Clooney, Jodie Foster, and Susan Sarandon.

November

Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair

Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair 
Friday - Sunday, November 15 - 17, 2019 
Held at the Hynes Convention Center, the Fair is one of the oldest and most prestigious book shows in the country, featuring fine and rare collections from more than 120 dealers. A broad range of rare, collectable and antique books, modern first editions, manuscripts, maps, atlases, autographs and literary ephemera are presented. There will be an abundance of bargain books, as well as lectures on collecting and restoration, and glimpses at rare books seldom seen outside academic libraries. Fine and decorative prints will also be featured.

December

Nova Scotia Christmas Tree

Nova Scotia Christmas Tree Lighting (FREE) 
Thursday November TBA, 2019, 6:00 - 8:00 pm 
Annual Christmas Tree lighting event on Boston Common. Holiday music, cultural exchanges, and other entertainment. The tree is a gift from Nova Scotia each year in gratitude for Boston's aid after the tragic Halifax Explosion of 1917.

SS Charity Run

SS Charity Run (FREE to Observe) 
Saturday December TBA, 2019, 1:00 pm Start
 
Each year, people strip down into tiny bathing suits in near freezing weather and run around the Back Bay to raise money for a local charity. The event is limited to the first 700 registrants, age 21 or older. Registration begins at 10:00 am at 903 Boylston Street (Lir Tavern). The fee is $30, with a commitment to raise at least $400 in donations. Formerly known as the Santa Speedo Run.

First Night Boston

First Night Celebration 
Monday December 31, 2019
 
Huge annual New Years Eve celebration. Visitors purchase a button that allows entry into many arts performances and exhibitions. Nearly a million people attend. There is an impressive fireworks display over Boston Harbor at midnight.

   
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