Free classical music
June 3 - Aug. 28, 2020
1.5 miles SW
One-hour Concerts in the Courtyard are free on Wednesdays (6 p.m.) and Fridays (12:30 p.m.) in the courtyard of the Central Library on Boylston Street, or in Rabb Hall if it rains.
Boston events June 2020
Party on the Point
June 4, 2020
0.8 miles SE
Join young philanthropists aged 21 to 40 for drinks, heavy appetizers, BBQ, and dancing on the water of the Fort Point Channel at Party on the Point to support Boston Children’s Museum.
Greek festival in Arlington
June 4 - 7, 2020
7.8 miles NW
Arlington Greek Festival offers Greek food, beer, wine, music, dancing, and kids’ activities at St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church in Arlington. Free.
Female Sherlock Holmes
June 4 - 28, 2020
9.5 miles NW
Miss Holmes Returns features Miss Holmes (a private investigator) and Miss Watson (a doctor) who are unconventional women solving a murder mystery at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham.
Salem Arts Festival
June 5 - 7, 2020
20 miles NE
Salem Arts Festival is a family friendly celebration that includes an exhibition of juried artists’ work in Old Town Hall, performance indoors and outdoors, and a street fair. Free.
Cambridge river festival
June 6, 2020
1.5 miles NW
Cambridge Arts River Festival features live jazz, folk, and roots music; dance, theater performances, and poetry; art making, workshops, and demonstrations; and vendors of arts, crafts, and international foods at the Charles River (along Cambridge Parkway and at Lechmere Canal Park). Free.
Bike for beer
June 6, 2020
2 miles SE
Bikes and Beers Boston is a 15, 30, or 50 mile ride through the city, with rest stop refreshments, followed by an after-party at Harpoon Brewery including two beers, a band, food trucks, and outdoor games for age 21+.
Food-truck festival
June 6, 2020
47 miles west
Shop from 40 food trucks at Worcester Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival at Worcester Common. Free admission for children age 12 and younger.
Beacon Hill Art Walk
June 7, 2020
1 mile west
See artwork in residential gardens and courtyards of Beacon Hill’s North Slope and hear live music (folk, classical, klezmer) at Beacon Hill Art Walk. Begin at 135 Charles Street, or at the corner of Cambridge Street & W. Cedar Street. Free.
Literature in bars
June 11, 2020
(uncertain)
0.7 miles SW
Lit Crawl Boston features games, performances, and local authors reading their works in bars, cafes, bookstores, art galleries, and performance spaces in the Boston Literary District surrounding Boston Common.
Noir film festival
June 12 - 14, 2020
5.5 miles west
Noir City screens classic films that are stylish, cynical, and melodramatic at The Brattle Theatre.
Pride parade & festival
June 13, 2020
0.1 miles west
The highlight of LGBT Boston Pride Week is the Boston Pride Parade, which begins at noon in Copley Square and ends at Boston Pride Festival in City Hall Plaza. Free.
Water festival for families
June 13, 2020
(11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
7.4 miles NW
See how water is treated, hear live music, join the bike rodeo, and do nature activities during Fresh Pond Day at Cambridge Water Department (250 Fresh Pond Parkway). Free.
Wakefield festival
June 13, 2020
14 miles north
Festival by the Lake has arts, crafts, kids’ activities, live music, and food vendors lakeside in Wakefield. Free.
Strawberries and art
June 13, 2020
23 miles NE
Eat strawberry shortcake and browse works by 60 artists at the Strawberry Festival in Topsfield. Free.
Dragon boat festival
June 14, 2020
3.5 miles NW
Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival includes Chinese arts & crafts, dance, drumming, music, martial arts, Asian food, and dragon-boat races on the Charles River. Free.
Taste of the Nation
June 16, 2020
(7 to 9:30 p.m.)
1.9 miles SE
Enjoy gourmet food made by 60 top local chefs, wine, beer, cocktails, entertainment, and an auction at Boston’s Taste of the Nation at 1 Black Falcon Ave.
Juneteenth
June 17, 2020
(5 to 10 p.m.)
2.6 miles SW
Celebrate the emancipation of slaves with an evening of live art and performances at Juneteenth at the Museum of Fine Arts. Free.
Beer-tasting cruise
June 18 - Sept. 10, 2020
(Thursdays)
0.5 miles SE
Boston Harbor Thirsty Thursday Cruise features “2 or 3 different local breweries providing tastings of their best beers while crusing Boston Harbor” for 75 minutes, departing from 60 Rowes Wharf for age 21+.
Free music
June 20, 2020
3.6 miles NW
Make Music Harvard Square (part of international Fête De La Musique Festival) features musicians playing rock, pop, hip hop, and jazz in five parks. Free.
World music festival
June 20, 2020
5.4 miles SW
Family-friendly Boston Art & Music Soul Festival offers a diverse lineup of music from around the world at Franklin Park Playstead in Franklin Park. The lineup includes R&B, hip-hop, Afrobeat/house, jazz, fusion, funk, soul, and spoken word. Free.
Taste of Allston
June 20, 2020
6 miles west
Taste of Allston includes tastes from 20 restaurants, live music, and lawn games outdoors at Harvard Stadium. Rain date June 21, 2020.
River festival
June 20, 2020
(10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
6.8 miles south
Try out a kayak or canoe, walk or bike, play in a spray park, shop from food vendors, and hear music at Neponset RiverFest at DCR Neponset Park in Dorchester. Free.
Strawberry Festival
June 20, 2020
22 miles NE
Visit the Strawberry Festival at Connors Farm in Danvers for hayrides, farm animals, pedal carts, music, barbecue, and strawberry shortcake. Cost.
Beverly art festival
June 20, 2020
26 miles NE
Arts Fest Beverly is an outdoor festival featuring 150 juried artists and crafters, music and entertainment, kids’ activities and crafts, and a food court. Free.
Father’s Day restaurants
June 21, 2020
New England locations
OpenTable lists restaurants that offer special brunch, lunch, and dinner menus on Father’s Day. Also see the recommendations at BostonChefs.
Harvard festival
June 21, 2020
4 miles NW
Summer Solstice Celebration includes Celtic folk music, Greek and Flamenco dancing, circus performers, farm animals, food trucks, hands-on activities, and free entry to four Harvard museums.
Dance camp
June 25 - July 2, 2020
25 miles NE
Get totally immersed in dance classes, dance parties, and dance shows at Beantown Camp in Beverly.
Kids’ obstacle race
June 27 - 28, 2020
47 miles west
Kids 4 to 14 run through mud and over obstacles during the Kids Obstacle Challenge at Kalon Farm in Lancaster. Parents can race for free.
Lamb tasting
June 28, 2020
1.8 miles SE
Taste lamb and BBQ cooked by six local chefs, and sample beer, wine, and spirits at Boston Lamb Jam, with butcher demonstrations and live music at The Innovation and Design Building for age 21+.
Ice cream festival
June 2020
(undated)
0.1 miles west
A ticket to the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl gets you unlimited ice cream at City Hall Plaza, rain or shine. Adults have the option of buying a happy hour ticket that includes two adult drinks on Thursday evening.
Roller skating
June 2020
(undated)
0.2 miles west
Donna Summer Roller Disco Party honors the local music pioneer with family friendly skating to DJ music at City Hall Plaza. Free, including limited skates.
Concert in the Park
June 2020
(undated)
0.3 miles south
The spring Concert in the Park features Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, young performers, musician speakers, and an award for the mayor at Norman B. Leventhal Park. Free.
Wine party
June 2020
(undated)
1.2 miles SE
Join the young professionals drinking samples of fruity sangria and pink wine at Sangria and Rosé Fest, with DJ music at Revere Hotel for age 21+.
Races
June 2020
(undated)
1.4 miles SE
Watch “the world’s fastest men and women” jump and sprint up Boylston Street during Boost Boston Games (1:30 to 6 p.m.), or register to run yourself in the all-ages Boost Back Bay Mile (11 a.m. to noon).
Beer tasting
June 2020
(undated)
1.5 miles SW
Funk Boston: A Wild & Sour Beer Fest is pouring 125 beers, with food for sale at Cyclorama for age 21+.
Free music
June 2020
(undated)
1.5 miles SW
Dance to live music in seven South End parks during Fête de la Musique. Picnics are welcome. Free.
Gelato Festival
June 2020
(undated)
1.8 miles SW
Enjoy unlimited tastes of gelato and vote for your favorite with a ticket to the Gelato Festival in Boylston Plaza at the Prudential Center.
Young inventors fair
June 2020
(undated)
2.4 miles west
Watch young inventors from high schools and colleges present working prototypes of their inventions on Wednesday, and see an exhibition of those inventions on Thursday during EurekaFest at MIT. Free.
Formal party in the rose garden
June 2020
(undated)
2.7 miles SW
Join the mayor at the Rose Garden Party for passed hors d’oeuvres, a buffet, live entertainment, a painting demonstration, a hat contest, and auctions (live and silent) at Kelleher Rose Garden in the Back Bay Fens.
Guitar festival
June 2020
(undated)
3 miles SW
Boston GuitarFest includes competitions, workshops, and concerts (some are free) at the New England Conservatory.
Wine at the zoo
June 2020
(undated)
3.5 miles SW
Sample wines at Roars and Pours as you stroll past animals in the Tropical Forest Pavilion at Franklin Park Zoo for age 21+.
Beer festival
June 2020
(undated)
3.6 miles west
Hyper-Local Craft Brewfest showcases locally made beer, cider, mead, and food, as well as unfiltered cask beer at University Park in Cambridge. Delayed if it rains.
Bicycle party
June 2020
(undated)
4.3 miles NW
Your $15 ticket to Bike Party & Benefit gets you a sandwich, beer or other drink, bike valet, and a raffle ticket at Redbones Barbecue in Somerville. May be postponed if it rains.
Coolidge Corner festival
June 2020
(undated)
4.4 miles SW
See fine art from 85 artists at the Coolidge Corner Arts Festival. In the afternoon, hear live music, shop from local food trucks, and buy beer & wine on Babcock Street in Brookline. Free.
Smart happy hour
June 2020
(undated)
7.2 miles west
BostonTalks: Rosé All Day features wine experts and adult beverages for sale in a bar-like setting at WGBH Studios for age 21+.
Family fair in Quincy
June 2020
(undated)
7.5 miles south
Quincy Family Fun Fair has “arts and crafts, family competitions, a bouncy house, and a petting zoo” at Cavanagh Stadium, sponsored by Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. Free.
Tasting at the zoo
June 2020
(undated)
8.2 miles north
A Wild Affair includes food from restaurants and caterers, a drink ticket, live entertainment, auctions, and animal visits at Stone Zoo for age 21+.
Greek festival in Woburn
June 2020
(undated)
11 miles NW
Enjoy Greek food, dessert, music, and dance at the Greek Festival at Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Woburn. Free.
Swing dance
June 2020
(undated)
12 miles west
Dance to a swing band and a vocal group at Independence Day Swing Dance at Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham, with beer and wine for sale. Beginner’s dance lessons at 7 and 8:50 p.m.
Free movies at Wellesley
June 2020
(undated)
18.2 miles west
Bring chairs or blankets to the Summer Film Series outside Davis Museum at Wellesley College. Free.
South Shore art festival
June 2020
(undated)
20 miles SE
South Shore Art Center Arts Festival features 85 juried exhibitors, live music, art demonstrations, and children’s art activities in Cohasset. Donation.
German festival
June 2020
(undated)
25 miles SW
Celebrate BSV Sommerfest with live music, dancing, kids’ games, German food, beer, and wine in a covered pavilion at the German club in Walpole.
Hanover festival
June 2020
(undated)
25 miles SE
Hanover Day has a craft fair, music, entertainment, historical demonstrations, food booths, 4-H animals, a 5K race, kids’ activities, a carnival, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Free.
Marching music
June 2020
(undated)
27 miles north
Watch the Boston Crusaders compete against other drum and bugle corps during the East Coast Classic at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.
Monster trucks
June 2020
(undated)
27 miles SW
Big trucks with big wheels make big noise at the Monster Jam at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Rodeo
June 2020
(undated)
31 miles SW
North Star Pro Rodeo has a Saturday show at 6 p.m. and a Sunday show at 2 p.m. Gates open two hours before the show, with food vendors and kids’ activities at Marshfield Fairgrounds. Children younger than age 8 are free. Free parking.
Father’s Day Sail
June 2020
(undated)
0.4 miles SE
Take Dad for a two-hour Boston Harbor Sail aboard the historic Roseway sailboat, which departs from Rowes Wharf. Bring snacks; beverages are sold onboard.
Rhode Island bacon & beer
June 2020
(undated)
53 miles SW
At the annual Bacon & Beer Fest, “28 local restaurants create their favorite bacon inspired dish carefully paired with a beer from 28 world class breweries” for you to enjoy while it lasts with games and live music at Cranston Print Works in Providence, RI for age 21+.