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Boston Events Guide

Best Boston holidays, celebrations, and festivals

Boston events, holidays, celebrations, parades, and festivals take place during every month of the year. 

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Some events, such as the Boston Marathon, July 4th Fireworks and Pops Concerts, and gala "First Night" New Year's Eve Celebration, get lots of publicity. 

Other events fall into the "Insider's Secret" category. 

These include events such as the North End Feasts, the huge Columbus Day Parade, Shakespeare on the Common and plenty of other events you probably won't find listed in tourist guides. 

Our Boston Events Guide includes the big gala events, sports schedules, and festivals - plus local celebrations and festivities that make the city special. 

Be sure to attend some of both types during your visit to experience the real Boston.

Do you have a Boston event to share?

Want to tell others about an upcoming event in Boston?  Add your information to the Events Calendars here.

Have a question about events?  Ask here

January - Boston Events and Holidays

January Events - New Year's Day brunches, the L Street Brownies' famous New Year Day "Polar Bear" Swim, non-stop Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots games, Faneuil Hall events marking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day, a national U.S. holiday honoring the life of the famous civil rights leader. 

More Boston events in January:

Wine tasting events - The Boston Wine Expo and 3-month long Boston Wine Festival make January a special month for oenophiles

More Things to do in January - Find even more suggestions about what to do for fun in January

February - Boston Events

February Event Calendar for Boston - Our best college hockey teams compete for the Beanpot championship, Super Bowl Sunday puts everyone in a party mood (find out how to celebrate Super Bowl), the 10-day Boston Sci-Festival transports you to parallel worlds, and the huge New England Boat Show lets you fantasize about the return of warm weather. 

More Boston events in February:

Valentine's Day - February weather in Boston may still be cold, but Valentine's Day Hotel Packages warm the heart.

Find the best Valentine's Day celebrations and events in Boston

Winter Break in Boston - School's out for a week, and Boston beckons - fun things to do!

Chinese New Year Parade in Boston's Chinatown

Things to do in Boston in February - More suggestions about what to do during February.

March - Boston Events

Event Calendar for March - Boston Massacre Re-Enactment, two of the city's most popular film festivals, and much more

More events in March:

Boston's Flower and Garden Show - Come get ideas for your spring garden at the biggest and best garden show in New England.

Dine Out Boston - 2 weeks of big savings on lunch and dinner in 200+ top restaurants.

St Patrick's Day - Plenty of green beer and live Irish music.  The huge St Patrick's Day Parade through "Southie" (South Boston) is not to be missed!

April Events

April Events in Boston - Biggest events include the Boston Marathon and Patriots Day holiday, but also look for a fun Robotics competition for kids, Lyric Opera's annual free Open House at the Schubert Theatre, the huge Boston International Film Festival celebrating indie films.

More Boston Events in April:

Boston Marathon - Join the excitement as elite athletes from all over the world compete in this huge event.

Patriots' Day Holiday - Re-enactments, parades, and special events in and near Boston commemorate the beginning of the American Revolution. Find details on the Patriots' Day Schedule

Red Sox Opening Game at Fenway Park- Schedule and Ticket information - The unofficial beginning of spring!  

Run of the Charles Races - The biggest canoeing and kayaking race event in New England, and the perfect excuse to spend a day at the river - bring a picnic, and enjoy the spring!

More things to do in April - Find more suggestions about what to do in Boston in April when warm weather arrives.

May Events

Event Calendar for May - Top events during May, including lots of Mother's Day events such as the Duckling Day Parade and Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum

More Mothers Day Events in Boston

More Boston events during May:

Memorial Day Weekend Events - Find out about all the events during the 3-day Memorial Day Weekend in Boston

Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour - Once each year, Beacon Hill gardens normally hidden behind high walls open their gates to welcome you

South End Open Studios - Spend the day enjoying art in Boston's South End

More Things to do in May - Find more suggestions about what to do in Boston in May, when the whole city bursts into bloom, restaurants set up tables and chairs on the sidewalks for "patio" seating, and everyone heads outdoors

June Events

Event Calendar for June - FInd out about all of Boston's June events, including Bunker Hill Day on June 17th, a legal holiday in Boston and Suffolk County in honor of those who fought and died for American Liberty at Bunker Hill in 1775. 

More Boston events during June:

Scooper Bowl - For 3 glorious days, eat at all the ice cream you want guilt-free as you support an important cause

Dragon Boat Festival - Watch the Charles River fill up with colorful "dragons"

Food Truck Festival - Sample the best mobile food in Boston - all in one place!  Festivals continue into October

Harborfest - Starting on June 29, this HUGE Independence Day celebration - the biggest in the U.S. - features more than 200 events

Tall Ships come to Boston to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the War of 1812.

More Things to Do in June - Find more suggestions about what to do in Boston in June

Discount passes for attractions, tours, cruises

July Events

Boston Events in July - Lots more fun events in July!

More July events:

Fireworks and Boston Pops Concerts - Our famous July 4th celebration

Harborfest - Huge 6-day celebration of American Liberty continues

Shakespeare on the Common - Enjoy Shakespeare under the stars - bring a picnic and blanket to these free productions under the stars

Things to Do in July - Find more suggestions about what to do in July

August Events

Event Calendar for August - Top events in August, including some of the best North End traditional Italian feasts and festivals featuring food, music, saints, and singers

More events in August :

Shakespeare on the Common - A continuation of the perfect way to spend a summer evening during August

Dine Out Boston - 2 weeks of splendid dining at bargain prices - the summer menus are usually wonderful! 

New England Patriots - Watch them kick off the new season with pre-season games

Running of the Brides - Sadly, this famous wedding gown event took place for the final time, victim to Filene Basement's bankruptcy filing. 

September Events

September Events in Boston - Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival with loads of free and ticketed jazz events all over the city, Fashion Week, Wine Week, and the big Boston Film Festival.

More Boston events in September:

Boston Labor Day Events - Enjoy the last few days of summer leisure with these fun events

October Events

Boston Calendar for October - Fort Point Open Studios and art walks, OctoberFest featuring music, dancing, and tasty beverages at Harpoon Brewery, Boston Book Festival, and more!

More Boston events in October:

Columbus Day Parade - Huge parade , plus other Columbus Day Weekend events

Head of the Charles Regatta - Watch athletes from around the world compete in this exciting 2-day rowing event

Bruins and Celtics - Come watch them begin the new season at TD Garden

Fall Foliage - Enjoy the best of New England foliage - right here in Boston!

Halloween in Boston - Graveyards, ghosts, and goblins - Boston has them all! Join the fun as Bostonians celebrate this favorite event!

Halloween in Salem - Witches, ghosts, and the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade make Salem the New England center of Halloween events.

Things to Do in Boston in October - More ways to enjoy this glorious fall month in Boston!

November Events

Event Calendar for November, including the Boston Comedy Festival at Boston's many comedy clubs, Christmas tree lighting events, Black Friday shopping, and more!

More Boston events in November:

Thanksgiving - Where to Go for Dinner - Boston's best restaurants go all out to prepare their best meal of the year

Thanksgiving Weekend Events - Top things to do in Boston during Thanksgiving weekend.

Veterans Day Events - Huge parade, military history cruise, sales in all the stores, special meals, more.

More Fun Things to Do in Boston in November

December Events

Boston Calendar for December - Filled with special musical events such as Holiday Pops with the Boston Pops, the Boston Tea Party Reenactment, the special Black Nativity productions, The Nutcracker, and many more holiday events - another month when there's almost too much to do in Boston!

More events in December:

Christmas in Boston - Discover what makes the city special at Christmas time, and all the wonderful things you can do here to celebrate this magical season

First Night Boston - Boston's gala day- and night-long celebration to welcome the New Year - tons of events, and fun for everyone

More Things to Do in December

Boston Events throughout the Year

Theaters and Shows

Although we list a few of the biggest shows in the monthly event calendars, there are just too many to list all of them - especially since live theater and shows continue to expand!  So we set up a special list.  Check out our list of Theatre District Shows

Concerts

With dozens of concert venues, it's not a surprise that you can attend top performances almost every night of the week.  See our concert listings for each month

Event Tickets

Although many Boston events are free, you'll need to get tickets for others - but no need to spend a fortune!  Check out our guide about where to get Boston tickets - along with a few tips about how to save money and even find half-price tickets from Goldstar to shows, concerts, comedy clubs, sports, and cruises.

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