List of annual events in Boston

There are a number of events held annually in Boston, Massachusetts, in the USA. They include:

Events[edit]

January[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
L Street Brownies swim[1] New Year's Day Curley Community Center South Boston Open water swimming
Polar bear plunge
A quick swim into the icy cold Boston Harbor

February[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
Truck Day Around February 8 Fenway Park Kenmore Square Celebration Boston Red Sox fans cheer the Red Sox equipment truck as it departs for the Sox spring training grounds in Florida.
Boston Science Fiction Film Festival Around President's Day Somerville Theatre Somerville Festival A 10-day film festival showcasing feature and short science fiction films. The festival ends with a 24-hour movie marathon of new and classic films.

March[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
St. Patrick's Day Parade Sunday closest to Saint Patrick's Day West/East Broadway, Thomas Park, Telegraph St., Dorchester Street ending before Southampton Street. South Boston Festival/Parade Starting W. Broadway, E. Broadway, Thomas Park, Telegraph St., Dorchester St. ending before Southampton St.

April[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
Boston Marathon Patriots' Day Within the city, predominately on Commonwealth Avenue. (Finish at Copley Square.) Back Bay, Fenway-Kenmore, Allston/Brighton Marathon The world's oldest annual marathon, beginning in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, roughly 26 miles west of Boston. The finish line is on Boylston Street, outside the main branch of the Boston Public Library at Copley Square.
Patriot's Day Parade Patriots' Day City Hall Plaza, Kings Chapel, Paul Revere Mall, Eliot Square Downtown Boston Parade/re-enactment Flag raising ceremony at City Hall Plaza at 9:00am. The Patriots' Day Parade will march from City Hall Plaza to the Old Granary Burial Grounds.

Later ceremonies are re-enactments of the midnight ride of Paul Revere and William Dawes that occurred on April 18, 1775.

- Re-enactment of Paul Revere’s ride: Old North Church at 10:00AM.

- Re-enactment of William Dawes’ ride: Eliot Square, Roxbury at 10:00AM.

Greek Independence Parade April 26 Boylston St. Back Bay Parade

May[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
Walk for Hunger First Sunday in May Boston Common Downtown Boston Pledge Walk It is a 20-mile walk starting and ending at the Boston Common.
Haitian Parade Third Sunday in May Mattapan Square, Blue Hill Ave. Mattapan/Dorchester Festival/Parade

June[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
June Day Parade-AHAC Change of Command Ceremonies First Monday in June Faneuil Hall/Boston Common Boston Parade
Dorchester Parade First Sunday in June Dorchester Ave. Dorchester Parade
Boston Gay Pride Day Second Saturday in June Tremont St, to City Hall Plaza South End/Downtown Boston Parade
Bunker Hill Parade Second Sunday in June Main St. & Monument Charlestown Parade

July[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
(U.S.) Independence Day Parade July 4 City Hall Plaza to Old Granary Burial Ground, and Faneuil Hall Downtown Boston Parade
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular July 4 Hatch Shell Esplanade, Charles River Basin Back Bay/Charles River Concert/Fireworks show
Puerto Rican Parade Last Sunday in July Egleston Square to Franklin Park Dorchester Festival/Parade
Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon July 21-22 2018 DCR's Carson Beach South Boston Athletic Competition

August[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
Boston (Caribbean) Kiddies Carnival One week prior to the parade (Sunday). White Stadium Dorchester Pageant Competition
Boston (Caribbean) Carnival Last Saturday in Aug. M.L.K. Blvd., Warren St., Blue Hill Ave., Franklin Park Roxbury/Dorchester Festival/Parade
St. Anthony's Feast Last Weekend in August Endicott, Thatcher, and North Margin Streets North End Festival

September[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
Boston Freedom Rally (Hempfest) Third Saturday in Sept. Boston Common Downtown Boston Festival/Public activism

October[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
Columbus Day Parade Sunday before Columbus Day Atlantic Ave, Cross St, & Hanover St, North End (odd years); Bennington St, East Boston (even years) North End or East Boston Parade
Arlington International Film Festival Mid October. The Regent Theatre Arlington Film Festival
Head of the Charles Regatta Third Weekend in October Charles River Back Bay, Allston, Brighton Rowing Race

November[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
Build Boston Second and Third week of Nov. Seaport Hotel and Seaport World Trade Center South Boston/Waterfront Trade show for architecture and building.

December[edit]

Event Date Venue Neighborhood Event type Notes
First Night December 31 Boston Common Downtown Boston Festival

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mass Moments: Brownies Take a Winter Swim". Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2014-01-01.