23 Things You Have to Do in Boston This Year, from Fluff Fest to Boston Calling
These are the must-hit festivals, concerts, events, and most fun things to do this year in Boston.
Boston's Fourth of July celebration is legendary for its Americana vibes, but the city always has something on deck for locals and visitors alike. Even in the winter, Bostonians are always down for a celebration or festival, and luckily, Boston's calendar is chock full of not-to-be-missed annual events. These are the quintessential Boston events—when the city's community spirit, cultural connections, and freewheeling spirit shine their brightest.
There are booze-free opportunities to experience Boston for dry January and beyond and annual events for Sports-Obsessed Boston tourists. Then again, Boston's annual music festivals, New Year's Eve celebration, St. Paddy's Day parade, and famed marathon are all airline ticket-worthy. Plus, there's a festival dedicated to the area's sweetest invention—Fluff! If you're looking for s'more, here's a list of Boston's best annual events.
January
January 16–19, 2025
Cambridge
The Boston Celtic Music Festival (BCMFest) showcases more than just a few Celtic bands. This multi-day, multi-venue festival includes performances and workshops. The festival offers a deep dive into Celtic music culture, featuring Scottish, Irish, Celtic, and Cape Breton traditions in song and dance. Catch live shows from international performers and regional session musicians alike. Workshops might include topics like Scottish Gaelic Whistle Tunes, and festival goers can also get in on free-form dance parties, teatime, and Celtic brunch. Performances and events are held at Club Passim, Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, and The Rockwell—all top music hubs.
January 31
Citywide
First Night Boston is an indoor-outdoor citywide New Year's Eve event and a joyous blend of arts, entertainment, and whimsy (think ice sculptures and figure skating shows on Frog Pond). Everything is free and fabulous, from carousel rides on Rose Kennedy Greenway to drumming and Chinese yo-yo demonstrations by The Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association. Expect the festivities to start early—usually around 11 am—and end with big-name performers like 2023's Sammy Adams and a big ol' fireworks show to kickstart the new year with a glitzy bang.
Winter 2025, exact dates TBD
Back Bay
It might start with a kick-off toast in January, but the Annual Boston Wine & Food Festival spans the winter, wrapping up at the end of March. What better way to wait out a few flurries? The calendar is peppered with varietal-specific events, educational soirees, and deep dive experiences, like 2024's Rosé in Springtime Master Class. Snag tickets for full-on gastronomic joy with dinners that celebrate everything from luxe Massachusetts' Duxbury oysters to Burgandy's scarce and highly acclaimed Domaine de la Romanée Conti. You might find a $70 champagne spritz workshop, a $200 Valentine's Day dinner, or a once-in-a-lifetime tasting. Book tickets here.
February
February 12–17, 2025
Somerville
The Boston Science Fiction Film Festival has logged 50 years of futurism, space operas, and beyond. The festival claimed the honor of being the longest-running genre fest in the US and got its start in the Orson Welles Cinema near Harvard Square. These days, their orbit centers around The Somerville Theatre. Festival-goers can expect over 100 features and shorts, plus workshops, panels, and sci-fi soirees. It all leads up to the big shebang—a 24-hour sci-fi marathon. Whether your fandom is Denis Villeneuve's Dune or Lang's 1926 Metropolis, you're in for six days of warp-speed shenanigans.
February 2025, exact dates TBD
West End
Winter in Boston serves as a testament to the fact that a hockey jersey over a hoodie is just as effective as a puffer coat. Between the Bruins games and endless college games, there are always games to be found, but The Beanpot Tournament, created in 1952, remains as sacred a Boston tradition as it gets. Watch as Boston's most beloved collegiate teams—Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University—skate it out at TD Garden for the coveted win. The women face off in January, followed by the men in February. Tickets typically go on sale in December.
March
March 17, 2025
South Boston
Not to brag, but Boston has been celebrating St. Patrick's Day since 1737, and our St. Paddy's Day Parade is a magnificent doozy of a celebration. Locals start hydrating in advance, and the all-day drinks start flowing in the morning. For 24 years running, Massachusetts-native Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys have kicked off the festivities leading up to the holiday, followed by the parade on March 17. Visit one of the city's many Irish bars, like J.J. Foley's Café, but just as we're all Irish for the day, so are the bars. Expect bangers and mash, whiskey cocktails, and Guinness available throughout the city.
April
April 15, 2025
Citywide
The energy surrounding the Boston Marathon creates a palpable feeling of next-level Boston kinship—whether you live here or not. Every April 15, people come from far and wide to line the streets with handmade signs ranging from heartfelt to hilarious, cheering the runners on with intense encouragement. It's the most Bostony we Bostonians ever get (except for big Red Sox and Bruins games, of course). Make a sign, and join the fun near the finish line on Boylston Street. The restaurants, storefronts, and clubs get into the spirit, so visitors can expect special menus, sales, and plenty of marathon memorabilia.
April 2025, exact dates TBD
Fenway
It's the Red Sox. Of course, Boston goes overboard in the best possible way. Score tickets early, but even if it sells out, no worries. Pretty much every bar, restaurant, and establishment with a screen of any kind will have the game on. To fully immerse yourself in opening day shenanigans, head over to the park and celebrate at the bars on Jersey, Lansdowne, and other surrounding streets. Pregame at Bleacher Bar, where you can see Fenway's centerfield or local favorites like Cask 'n Flagon and Lansdowne Pub. Make sure to check out sausage carts on Lansdowne Street for an iconic Boston food experience.
May
May 8–11, 2025
Seaport
Game culture, but make it so next-level that even Mario would be starstruck. In a nutshell, the four-day Pax East convention is the gaming event of the year, offering access to an incredible library of decades-worth of games and consoles, discussion panels, plus tournaments and world-class competition vis the Pax Arena. Gamers can check out up-and-coming indie game developers and chat with vendors in the Expo Hall, including AAA publishers, industry disruptors, and OG brands like Atari. When you need a break from the action, the Handheld Lounge offers a chill spot to relax or hop in a Switch tourney.
May 23–25, 2025
Allston-Brighton
A strong argument can be made that the allure of the three-day Boston Calling music festival is bands like the Foo Fighters and The Lumineers. Then again, have you seen that cute AF Boston-Terrier-in-a-Bowler-hat logo? The four-stage festival attracts big crowds and equally big names like Leon Bridges and The Killers but leaves plenty of room on the line-up sheet for local talent, like Boston's Coral Moons. Visitors can expect local food vendors like The Chubby Chickpea, The Sausage Guy, and the city's beloved Blackbird Doughnuts. Plus, there's a Ferris wheel, scavenger hunt, giveaways, VIP Lounge, and local beer gardens.
May 2025, exact dates TBD
Somerville
Somerville doubled down on how music brings people together and amplifies it with feel-good community vibes. Porchfest attracts upwards of 15,000 visitors for its citywide concerts—all performed from residents' porches and yards. All are welcome, but think chill, meandering music mood and leave the let's rage vibes for another day. The Somerville Arts Council creates a yearly map outlining where and when the many bands will play. Spend the day listening to indie, pop, punk, blues, Americana, and more, performed by over 300 bands and performers.
June
June 14, 2025
Citywide
Boston Pride by the numbers? Over a million people gather for the annual parade, which includes 250 bands, troupes, performers, and marching contingents. Post-parade, the celebration continues with two festivals—a family-friendly party on Boston Common and Boston City Hall Plaza's 21-plus event, each with food, live music, and vendors. Whereas the city's first Pride event, in 1971, was a protest, this is an empowering celebration of the Boston LGBTQ+ and beyond—from individuals to families, businesses, organizations, and their many allies. From nonchalant to over-the-top, more-is-better-chalant—all are welcome. So, grab a rainbow and follow your heart to the parade route.
June 2025, exact dates TBD
Downtown
Entry into Boston's cheesiest annual event is free, but resisting the urge to try the parade of pizza slices is impossible. So, stock up on slice tickets online or when you arrive, and dabble in crust styles, cheese medleys, and epic topping combos. You can make your own pizza, watch demonstrations, and visit vendors for swag. Beyond the pizza marathon, the Boston Pizza Festival also features local distillers, sweet treats, and live DJ entertainment. Discuss the gastronomic art of leoparding (fancy talk for those itty-bitty charred bubbles) and fermented pizza dough, or just crush as many slices as possible because pizza.
June 2025, exact dates TBD
Citywide
The Roxbury International Film Festival is a badass celebration of global cinematography by, for, and about people of color that offers an epic line-up of script readings, film screenings, workshops, panels, and various free-entry events. Live events unfold over about eight days, and 2024 featured the likes of award-winning actor-producer Keith Mascoll, co-host and producer of the Living a Triggered Life Podcast. Events and screenings are held at venues across Boston, with ticketing options ranging from full access to individual events.
July
July 4, 2025
Back Bay
Like an old-timey summer illustration, Boston's Fourth of July feels like the lovechild of nostalgia and festival vibes. This ambiance is thanks to the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular—a free outdoor concert first performed in 1929. Held at the DCR Hatch Shell, nearly every inch of grass along the Charles River Esplanade and surrounding area is covered with picnic blankets, beach chairs, and smiling faces. The city's beloved Boston Pops is known for its orchestral riffs of mainstream songs with a few traditional pieces for good measure. Of course, the day's low-key magic culminates after dark with a legendary fireworks display.
August
August 11, 2024
Chinatown
Along the lines of the Chinese New Year, the August Moon Festival marks one of the most meaningful Chinese festivals. It marks the beginning of fall, a time of bounty, and is similar to American Thanksgiving. The streets of Boston's Chinatown transform into a festival scene, with vendors selling everything from gifts to souvenirs and food. Try a traditional Mooncake, a sweet treat stuffed with lotus bean paste, and enjoy cultural performances like lion dancing. The event also allows guests to learn about Chinese culture, so have fun dabbling in Chinese calligraphy and traditional folk dance.
August 15–18, 2024
North End
The North End is a predominantly Italian neighborhood home to Boston's most authentic Italian restaurants. It's also where you'll find the original locations of Mike's and Modern Bakery—Boston institutions with arguably the best cannoli in the Northeast. The neighborhood's Fisherman's Feast is a draw beyond its religious meaning, welcoming people for its famed street parade since 1910. The aroma of sausage wafts down the streets as vendors sell Italian fare. And, of course, there's a meatball contest, so show up hungry and opinionated. Make a reservation at one of the many family-owned restaurants like Lo Conte's and indulge in homemade pasta.
September
September 15, 2024
Downtown
Boston's local food scene runs deeper than lobster rolls and Fenway franks, and the Boston Local Food Festival brings together the best chefs, flavors, and local food-centric goodies in New England. More than taste-testing the freshest seafood and freshly plucked produce, it highlights the importance of prioritizing locally sourced food, keeping that commerce in the region, and reducing the environmental impact of food shipping. The one-day fest packs the agenda with cooking demonstrations and vendor samples. Weave your way through the Rose Kennedy Greenway to visit family farm vendors and locally crafted goods—from Pigeon Cove Ferments to the Whoopie Wagon.
September 21, 2024
Somerville
Fluff was invented in Somerville, and this celebration is as delightfully whacky as you can imagine. Like wandering a Willy Wonka dreamscape, the What the Fluff Festival features its namesake confection in nearly all its food and fun. Grab some gourmet strawberry champagne Moeshmallows or a Peruvian bite from Machu Picchu, then head to the Shenanigans Stage for fluff-themed games like jousting or catch a show at the Fluff'n Jam Stage. Makers and artists? Of course—everything from cannabis brands to hot sauce and fine art prints. Ultimately, it's a celebration of Union Square innovation, so you might also see youth inventors and s'mores-making bots.
October
October 18–20, 2024
Allston-Cambridge
Boston's sports scene is more than a raucous Bruins game or games at our famed Fenway Park. Each fall, the Head of the Charles Regatta brings the Zen-like mystique of competitive rowing to The Charles River. Join throngs of spectators that watch from the river's banks or the many bridges along the 4702m racecourse. Magazine Beach offers a tranquil viewing spot, whereas Weeks Footbridge—near a challenging 90-degree course turn—offers big-time energy. Visit the Weld Exhibition for food and drinks or FALS Bar for cocktails. Looking for custom Regatta swag? Attager Row's Rowing & Fitness Expo at Herter Park is the spot.
October 26, 2024
Back Bay
If your book queue is taller than most toddlers, meet your fandom cohorts at the Boston Book Festival. Yes, they have events throughout the year, but this is the big show, with 200 authors and over 20,000 attendees. The all-ages programming spans tours, vendors, giveaways at the Copley Square Street Fair, and panels featuring authors such as Brian Merchant, speaking about his book Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech. The event makes use of some of the city's most beautiful locations, such as the Boston Public Library.
November
November 2024, exact dates TBD
Downtown
For over five decades, the Canadian province of Nova Scotia has gifted Boston a magnificent holiday tree. This enduring symbol of friendship honors Boston's help after Nova Scotia suffered a disastrous World War I munitions ship explosion on December 6, 1917. Now an annual tradition, Boston kicks off the winter holidays by lighting the over 7,000 lights on the annual spruce and a staggering array of trees throughout Boston Common and the Public Garden—nostalgic and dramatic in equal measure. The vibe includes music, hot cocoa, and usually an appearance from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
December
December 2024, exact dates TBD
Fenway–Kenmore
Boston Pops, an endearingly approachable off-shoot of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, ushers in the winter holidays with its renowned Holiday Pop series. Imagine the grandiose setting of Boston Symphony Hall and fill it to the rafters with immeasurable joy—and that's just the beginning. The entire theater is abuzz with anticipation, and Boston Pops delivers every season without fail. Expect over-the-top renditions of holiday favorites alongside deeply nostalgic classics and celebratory cultural exploration. It always includes a sing-a-long or two and offers an elegant-yet-quirky orchestral experience—and lifelong memories. It is, without question, one of Boston's most treasured experiences.