Free Things To Do in Boston

The Boston area offers an abundance of free and fun activities for everyone. See what's happening in Boston below!

Dudley Farm Day 2024 Apr 20
  • 33 Shirley Street, Boston

As our goat friends would say, Dudley Farm Day is baaaaa-ck for its second year! Join us for a day of farm animals, wool weaving, butter making, seed planting, craft-making fun here at the Shirley-Eustis House. We’ll be joined by representatives from a number of fellow…

Massachusetts Space Week 2024 Apr 20
  • Various Locations
  • Recurring daily

Launched in 2017, The Space Consortium is an MA-based, space academics & researchers-led 501(c)(3) non-profit and public charity, which organizes a series of space education & outreach initiatives, including MA Space Week, to help democratize space knowledge and connect…

SoWa Sundays Apr 21

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

Boston Design Week Apr 23
  • Multiple Venues
  • Recurring daily

The 11th Boston Design Week will take place April 23-May 5, 2024, featuring dozens of in-person, virtual and outdoor events citywide, including the annual Design Week Awards, Thursday, May 2nd. This 12-day design festival offers renowned guest speakers, panel discussions…

Arts First Festival Apr 24
  • Harvard University
  • Recurring daily

Join us for Harvard University’s annual ARTS FIRST Festival! Produced by the Office for the Arts at Harvard, this annual campus-wide event takes place April 24-28 and showcases the expansive creativity and innovation of Harvard students, staff, alums and faculty. Enjoy the…

EN-NICHE Japenese Festival Apr 26

Join us and enjoy our old fashioned EN-NICHI Japanese festival! On Friday, April 26th, from 4pm - 9pm, the Bow Market courtyard will be filled with fun and joy for all - from children to adults hosted by Ko-Kyoto. There will be food, music, dance, games, and merriment. Special…

JoyWalk: A Fenway Cultural District Art Crawl May 02
  • Various Locations

Join us on Thursday, May 2nd from 12pm-8pm for the FIRST EVER JoyWalk! JoyWalk: A Fenway Cultural District Art Crawl is a new, FREE art initiative started by the Fenway Alliance in partnership with our member institutions. Through this initiative, we hope to create a setting in…

Fife and Drum Weekend May 04
  • Lexington Battle Green and Hastings Park

Attend the 22nd Annual Lexington Tattoo and Muster! Tattoo: Friday, May 3, 6:30 pm on the Lexington Battle Green (1625 Massachusetts Ave.). Free outdoor evening performance of fife and drum music at the scene of the first skirmish in the Revolutionary War. Hosted by the William…

MayFair in Harvard Square May 05
  • Harvard Square

The Harvard Square Business Association is excited to announce that the 39th annual MayFair festival will take place on the streets of Harvard Square on Sunday, May 5th, 2024 from noon until 6:00 p.m. Entertain the kids on a trip of the event grounds aboard the Roaming Railroad…

Revere Beach Kite Festival May 19
  • Revere Beach

On Sunday, May 19th, we will host our 8th Annual Kite Festival on Revere Beach. This is our way of kicking off beach season with fun for the whole family! Children will have the opportunity to build, decorate, and fly their kites. The event also features professional kite flyers…

Caribbean American Heritage Festival Jun 01
  • Reggie Lewis Center

June has been designated as National Caribbean American Heritage Month by Presidential Proclamation. Caribbean American have contributed to the development of the United States in extraordinary ways. Millions of people in the United. Come out and enjoy a festival presentation of…

My Caribbean One World Expo Jul 06
  • Rowes Wharf Plaza, Rose Kennedy Greenway

MY CARIBBEAN, ONE WORLD EXPO” to be held Saturday, July 6, 2024 at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, Rowes Wharf Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts. The theme for the 2024 Expo is “Our Folklore Culture”, highlighting the rich Caribbean community culture, arts and craft…

Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival Jul 19
  • Revere Beach Boulevard

The Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival is a renowned annual event that transforms the shores of Revere Beach into an awe-inspiring boardwalk and open-air festival. Celebrating its 20th year in 2024, this festival gathers world-class sand sculptors who showcase…

Museums & Exhibitions

Back to Top of List
Boston Fire Museum Apr 20
  • 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…

Boston University Art Galleries Apr 20
  • 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

Bunker Hill Museum Apr 20
  • 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 Apr 20

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…

Future Minded: New Works in the Collection Apr 20

Examine the museums’ recent acquisitions, spanning centuries and media. Future Minded highlights a selection of works acquired in recent years that exemplify the Harvard Art Museums’ collecting vision and strategies. Nearly all are on display for the first time. The museums are…

McMullen Museum of Art - Boston College Apr 20
  • 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 Apr 20
  • 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…

Museum of Bad Art Apr 20
  • Dorchester Brewing Co.
  • Recurring daily

MOBA is the world's only museum dedicated to the collection, exhibition, and celebration of bad art in all forms. This year's theme is 99% Inspiration, 1% Persperation, a twist on Thomas Edison's famous definition of genius. Located in the basement of Somerville Theater…

Picasso: War, Combat, and Revolution Apr 20

Pablo Picasso’s painting Guernica was commissioned by the Spanish government for the 1937 Paris World’s Fair. It was exhibited in Josep Lluís Sert’s Spanish Pavilion, alongside Joan Miró’s The Reaper and other works. Completed in early summer 1937, the massive 11 × 25 foot…

USS Constitution Ship Apr 20

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 Apr 20
  • 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…

Wolf Vostell: Dé-coll/age Is Your Life Apr 20

See how Wolf Vostell created art, as well as an expansive aesthetic philosophy, that challenged human complacency toward war, genocide, and other catastrophic world events. “Art shall remind us that we must remember.” —Wolf Vostell A witness to the brutality of World War II and…

Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company Apr 24
  • 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…

Coit Observatory Apr 24
  • 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…

ICA Free Thursday Night Apr 25

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…

JoyWalk: A Fenway Cultural District Art Crawl May 02
  • Various Locations

Join us on Thursday, May 2nd from 12pm-8pm for the FIRST EVER JoyWalk! JoyWalk: A Fenway Cultural District Art Crawl is a new, FREE art initiative started by the Fenway Alliance in partnership with our member institutions. Through this initiative, we hope to create a setting in…

Family Friendly

Back to Top of List
Dudley Farm Day 2024 Apr 20
  • 33 Shirley Street, Boston

As our goat friends would say, Dudley Farm Day is baaaaa-ck for its second year! Join us for a day of farm animals, wool weaving, butter making, seed planting, craft-making fun here at the Shirley-Eustis House. We’ll be joined by representatives from a number of fellow…

EN-NICHE Japenese Festival Apr 26

Join us and enjoy our old fashioned EN-NICHI Japanese festival! On Friday, April 26th, from 4pm - 9pm, the Bow Market courtyard will be filled with fun and joy for all - from children to adults hosted by Ko-Kyoto. There will be food, music, dance, games, and merriment. Special…

Fife and Drum Weekend May 04
  • Lexington Battle Green and Hastings Park

Attend the 22nd Annual Lexington Tattoo and Muster! Tattoo: Friday, May 3, 6:30 pm on the Lexington Battle Green (1625 Massachusetts Ave.). Free outdoor evening performance of fife and drum music at the scene of the first skirmish in the Revolutionary War. Hosted by the William…

Revere Beach Kite Festival May 19
  • Revere Beach

On Sunday, May 19th, we will host our 8th Annual Kite Festival on Revere Beach. This is our way of kicking off beach season with fun for the whole family! Children will have the opportunity to build, decorate, and fly their kites. The event also features professional kite flyers…

Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival Jul 19
  • Revere Beach Boulevard

The Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival is a renowned annual event that transforms the shores of Revere Beach into an awe-inspiring boardwalk and open-air festival. Celebrating its 20th year in 2024, this festival gathers world-class sand sculptors who showcase…

Performing Arts

Back to Top of List
Arts First Festival Apr 24
  • Harvard University
  • Recurring daily

Join us for Harvard University’s annual ARTS FIRST Festival! Produced by the Office for the Arts at Harvard, this annual campus-wide event takes place April 24-28 and showcases the expansive creativity and innovation of Harvard students, staff, alums and faculty. Enjoy the…

Cirque du Soleil Ensemble Apr 29

Boston Conservatory’s Cirque du Soleil Ensemble, directed by Professor Rich Greenblatt, presents recreated music from various Cirque du Soleil productions. This performance is the second collaboration with the Boston Conservatory Dance Division and Assistant Professor Jun Kuribay

Classes / Lectures

Back to Top of List

Tours & Trails

Back to Top of List
African American Women in Cambridge Walking Tour Apr 20
  • 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…

Boston Women's Memorial: Talking Statues Project Apr 20
  • 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…

Roxbury Memory Trail Apr 20
  • 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!

Bird Watching Exploration on the Belle Isle Marsh Apr 28
  • Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, East Boston

Join The Trustees and our guide on this stunning DCR property of Belle Isle Marsh for our FREE monthly birdwatching walk at Belle Isle Marsh, Boston's last remaining salt marsh. Watch the wave of migratory birds call this place home throughout the seasons and learn about climate…

JoyWalk: A Fenway Cultural District Art Crawl May 02
  • Fenway-Kenmore Locations

Join us on Thursday, May 2nd for the Fenway Alliance’s first ever JoyWalk: A Fenway Cultural District Art Crawl! Two tours: 2:00 - 3:15pm (Meet at Fenway Studios, 30 Ipswich Street) 4:30 - 6:00pm (Meet at The Green at 401 Park Drive) Visit 9 locations in the Fenway Cultural…

Parks in Boston

Relax on the Boston Common and Public Garden, discover the Kelleher Rose Garden in the Back Bay Fens, escape to the Boston Harbor Islands, or stand in awe at Mount Auburn Cemetery - uncover Greater Boston's top parks.

Guide to Spring in Boston

Get outside in Boston, one of America’s great walking cities where the historic port, beautiful waterways, elaborate bike paths and networks of urban green space invite you to have fun outdoors.

Great Deals

Find discounts on attractions, restaurants, theatre tickets, tours, and more with our Great Deals.