30 Can’t-miss Spring Festivals Coming to Boston in 2024
When:
Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 9:00a -
Sunday, Jun 16, 2024 9:00p
Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 9:00a -
Sunday, Jun 16, 2024 9:00p
Where:
Boston
Surrounding areas
Boston, MA
Admission:
$Varies
Categories:
Art, Drinks, Meetup, Music, Outside
Event website:
https://joyraft.com/event/24-festivals-to-enjoy-in-boston-this-spring-boston-455683
Spring is one of the most magical seasons in Boston as the city sheds its puffy winter coat and comes back to life. In addition to spotting blooms in the Boston Public Garden and picnicking on the esplanade, celebrate the season with these spring festivals happening in Boston. Festivals are listed chronologically.
by Celina Colby
Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival
When: Saturday 4/20
Where: South End
Cost: $55
Info: For one glorious day you can find more than 40 of Massachusetts' best craft breweries under one roof. Tickets include unlimited beer sampling and you can chat with some of the brewers themselves.
Boston Comics in Color Festival
When: Saturday 4/20
Where: Roxbury
Cost: Free
Info: Celebrate BIPOC comics and comic book artists at this beloved local festival in its fourth year. Shop a marketplace of local artists, hear from comic book creators, see incredible cosplay performers, and more.
When: Tuesday 4/23-Sunday 5/5
Where: Around Boston
Cost: Varies (most events are free)
Info: For an exciting two weeks the Boston Design Week festival celebrates design of all kinds around the city. Attend lectures, art shows, and parties (most of them free and all of them open to the public) touching on contemporary design topics.
When: Wednesday 4/24-Sunday 4/28
Where: Harvard Square
Cost: Varies (most events are free)
Info: Produced by the Office for the Arts at Harvard University, this lively festival is open to all. Watch a drag show emcee'd by environmental activist Pattie Gonia, listen to live jazz music, watch short performances on 10 different stages throughout the festival, participate in live artmaking, and more.
When: Friday 4/26
Where: Union Square
Cost: Free
Info: Special guests from Japan Dagashiya Rock will host music and dance performances, games, and offer traditional foods at this celebration, inspired by traditional Japanese festivals held in towns across the country. Admission is free but games and food cost extra.
When: Saturday 4/27-Sunday 4/28
Where: Downtown
Cost: Free
Info: After a five year hiatus Japan Festival returns to Boston with vibrant performances on the main stage, a tea ceremony, interactive activities like calligraphy and origami, and a marketplace of Japanese arts and crafts.
The Gore Place Sheepshearing Festival
When: Saturday 4/27
Where: Waltham
Cost: $20
Info: Enjoy live music, demonstrations of traditional shearing and herding dogs, a marketplace of more than 100 craft and fiber artists, historical reenactments, and more on the sprawling lawn of this historic estate.
Independent Film Festival Boston
When: Wednesday 5/1-Wednesday ⅝
Where: Theaters around Boston
Cost: Free+
Info: Attend the largest film festival in New England screening Indie films at theaters around Boston for a full week. Some screenings are free, others require a ticket purchase. You can also catch director Q&As, panels, and more.
Rhythm N' Spice Hot Sauce Fest
When: Saturday 5/4
Where: Kendall Square
Cost: $15-45
Info: Fortify your tastebuds for the inaugural Rhythm N’ Spice Hot Sauce Festival at The Cambridge Foundry. Dance to live music, enjoy performances, and and participate in workshops with local artists while tasting a wide variety of hot sauces from mild to wild.
When: Saturday 5/4-Sunday 5/5 & Saturday 5/11-Sunday 5/12
Where: Amesbury, MA
Cost: Free
Info: Stroll through the blooming tulip fields and orchards at Cider Hill Farm, visit hard cider bars, enjoy live music wafting across the property, attend family friendly and fitness events, and grab snacks from on-site food trucks at this delightful spring festival. Entry is free but paid tickets are required to pick tulips.
When: Sunday 5/5
Where: Dorchester
Cost: Free
Info: Dorchester Avenue between Ashmont Street and Linden Street will be shut down to car traffic for a pedestrian friendly party. This family-friendly romp will feature local businesses, food stands, performances, and live music.
39th Annual MayFair in Harvard Square
When: Sunday 5/5
Where: Harvard Square
Cost: Free
Info: Celebrate spring in all its glory at the annual MayFair festival in Harvard Square. Watch live performances, listen to music, shop local vendors, and hang out in beer gardens specially primed for the event. Keep your energy up by grabbing food from the huge market of international food vendors.
Watch City Steampunk Festival 2024
When: Saturday 5/11
Where: Waltham
Cost: Free
Info: For this unique festival the Waltham Common will be transported back to 1889. Interact with costumed performers, dance to the beats of live musicians, engage in family-friendly activities, and shop a vast marketplace of Steampunk-inspired goods.
When: Saturday 5/11-Sunday 5/12
Where: Somerville
Cost: Free
Info: If you love Greek food, this festival is for you. Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church is pulling out all the stops, serving up gyro, chicken kabob, spanakopita, baklava, and much more.
When: Saturday 5/11
Where: Somerville
Cost: Free
Info: On this beloved day every year, all of Somerville becomes a stage for performances by local musicians. Walking through town you can hear performers belting out songs and jamming on instruments on porches, sidewalks, in front of public buildings, and more. The whole town comes out to enjoy.
When: Sunday 5/12
Where: Boston Common
Cost: $35-40
Info: In celebration of the beloved children’s book ‘Make Way for Ducklings’ by Robert McCloskey, hundreds of children will parade through the Boston Common dressed like adorable ducklings. You can also enjoy kid-friendly performances, goodie bags, and a reading station.
Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum
When: Sunday 5/12
Where: Jamaica Plain
Cost: Free
Info: This festival of flowers is one of the most beautiful (and economic) ways to spend Mother’s Day. At this point in the season, the Arboretum’s 403 lilac plants are in full bloom providing beauty and natural fragrance to the park. This is also the only day of the whole year when picnicking is allowed in the Arboretum
New England Hong Kong Festival
When: Saturday 5/18
Where: Union Square
Cost: Free
Info: Attend the inaugural New England Hong Kong Festival and immerse yourself in all things Hong Kong. Shop a marketplace of goods by small businesses, sample authentic food, and enjoy live performances like Lion Dance, Cantonese Opera, and music by local bands.
When: Saturday 5/18
Where: Seaport
Cost: $37-60
Info: Stretch it out and prepare for an epic all day dance party at Harpoon Brewery. Eight different DJs will perform sets under the bright Seaport sunshine while you dance it out fueled by Dunkin’ Spiked Tea and Coffee. You can also play lawn games and fuel up at local food trucks.
Franklin Park Kite & Bike Festival 2024
When: Saturday 5/18
Where: Franklin Park
Cost: Free
Info: The Franklin Park Kite & Bike Festival at Franklin Park is an annual event celebrating a 50-year tradition. Attendees can participate in kite making or flying, enjoy food from local trucks, and young kids can try out bikes. The event also includes a bicycle repair station by REI and free helmet distribution.
When: Saturday 5/18-Sunday 5/19
Where: Downtown
Cost: $15-50
Info: Celebrate Boston’s diverse artists, entertainers, and culinary titans at this vibrant Night Market in City Hall Plaza. Saturday will feature the classic eclectic evening vibe of the market and Sunday will be a brunch theme. At both you can enjoy endless local eats, performances, and a marketplace of artists.
When: Sunday 5/19
Where: Dorchester
Cost: Free
Info: Polish Fest Boston is a celebration of the rich culture, traditions, and contributions of Boston’s Polish-American community. Guests will enjoy delicious food, lively music, cultural experience and the warm hospitality of the Polish-American community and its neighbors.
Boston Calling Music Festival 2024
When: Friday 5/24-Sunday 5/26
Where: Allston
Cost: $191+
Info: Boston’s renowned music festival is back for another season. Jam out to acts by Ed Sheeran, Leon Bridges, Hozier, The Killers, and many more. The festival features four performance stages, local food vendors offering specialty festival eats, a local arts market, a 100-foot ferris wheel, and more.
Caribbean American Heritage Festival
When: Saturday 6/1
Where: Roxbury
Cost: Free
Info: Celebrate National Caribbean American Heritage Month with a vibrant festival showcasing Caribbean food, music, arts and crafts, and more.
When: Saturday 6/1-Sunday 6/2
Where: Amesbury
Cost: Free
Info: Enjoy a whole weekend of performances, music workshops, and auditory activities from the local group Zach Field Drums & Music. There will be obstacle courses, contests, games, and food and beverages.
When: Friday 6/7-Sunday 6/9
Where: Salem
Cost: Free
Info: Arts of all kinds will take the spotlight during this weekend long celebration of visual art, music, performances, and more in Salem. Participate in art activities, watch murals being painted, shop local creatives, and more.
Boston Pride for the People Festival
When: Saturday 6/8
Where: Downtown
Cost: Free
Info: Celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community with a parade and festival built on inclusivity and joy. Since the new organizers took over in 2023, the celebration focuses on empowering, celebrating, commemorating, and educating. Party all day starting with the classic parade through downtown, a festival on Boston Common and a City Hall block party going into the night.
Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival
When: Saturday 6/8-Sunday 6/9
Where: Lexington
Cost: Free
Info: This outdoor celebration pairs all the best parts of spring and summer: BBQ, live music, craft beer, and sunshine. Grab a brew and start comparing BBQ sauces from local restaurants.
Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
When: Sunday 6/9
Where: Charles River
Cost: Free
Info: This is the oldest dragon boat festival in North America and one of the largest Asian cultural events in New England. Watch 68 teams in beautiful 40-foot-long Hong Kong style boats row along the Charles River in a spectacular performance of traditional and teamwork.
When: Saturday 6/15
Where: Amesbury, MA
Cost: Free
Info: Welcome strawberry season with live music, family-friendly activities, barnyard animals, play areas, and lawn games. For an additional cost, pick-your-own strawberries, enjoy a hayride, and sample food from local vendors.
Cambridge Arts River Festival 2024
When: Saturday 6/15
Where: Charles River along Memorial Drive
Cost: Free
Info: Celebrate arts of all kinds at this inclusive festival featuring music, dance, and theater performances, craft and creative vendors, local visual artists, and food from neighborhood restaurants.
