Where:
Boston
Surrounding areas
Boston, MA
Admission:
FREE
Categories:
Date Idea, Drinks, Festivals & Fairs, Food, Good for Groups, Meetup, Movies, Music, Outside, Party, Seasonal
Event website:
https://joyraft.com/collection/16-ways-to-have-fun-this-august-in-boston/cZ72r28o2v2hrjTEG6Ga
June and July passed too quickly, but summer’s far from over. This August, you can enjoy some of the very best experiences Boston has to offer and soak up the last of those summer rays. From North End feasts to outdoor movies to jazz performances, August is jam-packed with fun, so get outside and celebrate the season.
By Kenneal Patterson
View this roundup in our new app.
Pop-up Sipsmith Gin Cocktail Bar
When: Mo-Su
Where: Seaport
What: Grab a cool drink with a cooler view. This cocktail bar has one of the most beautiful patios in Boston, and you’ll be drooling after sampling the Strawberry Smash gin.
FREE Shakespeare on the Common
When: Tu, 8/1-Su, 8/6
Where: Downtown
What: It’s not too late to check out this season’s Shakespeare on the Common, with perhaps one of the city’s best productions of Macbeth! Grab a picnic blanket and some snacks and enjoy the summer show.
When: Th, 8/3-Su, 8/6
Where: North End
What: Kick off August with a colorful North End Feast! For four days straight, this famous Italian feast will feature amazing concerts, delicious food (cannoli anyone?) and fun raffles. Mama Mia!
When: Su, 8/6
Where: Brighton
What: Let’s be honest, we all miss elementary school Field Days. Good news: even adults can enjoy fun at the Speedway this summer. Highlights include the Super Mercado, Tie-Dye Station, Face Painting, Temporary Tattoo Station, and fun scheduled activities (hoola hoop contest, water balloon toss, and more!)
When: Fri, 8/11-Su, 8/13
Where: North End
What: Another historic North End Feast returns mid August for its 103rd year. Celebrate with delicious Italian cuisine, a beautiful procession, dance performances, live music, and so much more.
When: Sa, 8/12
Where: Somerville
What: You’ll never know the treasure trove of amazing Somerville art until you head to Yart Sale. Explore the beautiful art that lives in Somerville and wander through porches, driveways, and front yards to enjoy your neighbor’s creations.
When: Sa, 8/12
Where: Everett
What: It’s the dog days of summer, so celebrate with yummy hot dogs, creamy ice cream, top tier brews, and tons of furry friends. Make sure to catch the pup chug contest too!
Chinatown August Moon Festival
When: Su, 8/13
Where: Downtown
What: Welcome back to the 53rd year of the August Moon Festival, with some of the best cultural performances in the city. Join in with thousands of annual spectators and enjoy lion dancing, martial arts, Chinese music, arts and crafts, Chinese calligraphy demonstrations, and traditional food.
FarmFest at the Boston Public Market
When: Su, 8/13
Where: Downtown
What: Fun for the whole family? Check. The Boston Public Market will be hosting FarmFest, a celebration for all ages. Enjoy live music, food fresh off the grill, face painting, farm vendors, and so much more.
When: Su, 8/13
Where: Downtown
What: You’ve had your fun under the sun. Now, let’s go dancing under the moonlight! As the August Moon rises, enjoy its gentle glow and walk the Moonlit Labyrinth, enjoy delicious treats, and twirl and twist with live music from the Black Sea Salsa Combo.
When: Th, 8/17
Where: East Cambridge
What: Free outdoor concerts? Sign us up. Even better, CX Summer Nights feature delicious local brews, food trucks, lawn games, and family fun. Catch Julie Rhodes performing this August.
When: Th, 8/17-Su, 8/20
Where: North End
What: It’s Boston’s oldest continuous Italian festival, and it returns this August bigger and better than ever before. Catch cooking demonstrations (with fresh pasta and olive oil), the Italian American of the Year Award, live music, dance performances, and of course, the Famous Flight of the Angel, called a “spectacle” by National Geographic.
13th Annual African Festival of Boston
When: Sa, 8/19- Su, 8/20
Where: Downtown
What: The Annual African Festival of Boston celebrates Boston’s African community and their beautiful and diverse culture. Enjoy interesting arts, culture, fashion, music and more throughout this unforgettable two day experience.
Open Streets Boston: Allston and Brighton
When: Sa, 8/19
Where: Lower Allston
What: Open Streets Boston gives neighborhoods all over the city a chance to showcase their culture and public spaces. Communities thrive in these pedestrian-only, car-free celebrations, so come explore Allston and Brighton next!
When: Sa, 8/19
Where: East Boston
What: Head to the best block party of the summer! The ICA Watershed invites you to enjoy live music, yoga experiences, art activities, cool installations, and so much more. Pro tip: take a free water shuttle over from ICA Seaport!
Boston Women's Market at Assembly Row
When: Sa, 8/19
Where: Somerville
What: Shop til you drop at Assembly Row. During the Boston Women’s Market, 30 small businesses, makers, artists, ceramics masters, jewelers, and more convene in one place. Plus, enjoy riverfront yoga, kid (and pup) friendly activities, and delicious food pop-ups.
When: Sa, 8/19
Where: Jamaica Plain
What: For nearly a decade, JP Porchfest invites Bostonians from all over to appreciate the arts from locations all across Jamaica Plain. You can see performances on porches, green spaces, community hubs, and more. Enjoy the festival and explore the city while you’re at it!
When: Sa, 8/19
Where: Downtown
What: The title says it all. Urbanity Dance presents its annual free hip hop event, Beantown Get Town, outside of Boston’s City Hall Plaza. Get ready to shake it out!
When: Sa, 8/19
Where: Back Bay
What: Watch Saarang, a fascinating Indian Fusion band, showcase their fantastic traditional music, contemporary sounds, rich heritage, vibrant dance, and so much more— all under the beautiful summer sky at the Hatch Memorial Shell.
Boston Public Market at Tall Ship Boston
When: Su, 8/20
Where: East Boston
What: It’s the pop-up you didn’t know you needed. Check out this special market on Tall Ship, a 245 foot vessel turned floating oyster bar. You’ll be awed at both the ship and the range of amazing BPM vendors!
Bone Up Brewing Seventh Anniversary Festival
When: Th, 8/24-Su, 8/27
Where: Everett
What: Lucky number seven! It’s Bone Up Brewing’s long-awaited anniversary, and the bday festivities will include seventeen bands, amazing food trucks, adorable swag, a special collab beer release, an amazing beer garden, and more.
When: Fr, 8/25-Sa, 8/27
Where: Seaport
What: Get jazzy with it. Boston’s Jazz Fest features some of the best musicians in the city. Since its inception, it has presented almost 70 recording and performing artists, both paying homage to jazz’s African American roots and setting the stage for the next generation of contemporary jazz artists.
When: Fri, 8/25-Su, 8/27
Where: Chinatown
What: Nothing says summer like an outdoor movie, and Films at the Gate is not to be missed. This cultural festival simultaneously screens phenomenal movies while also highlighting the work of Asian and Asian-American filmmakers.
Boston Annual Ukrainian Festival
When: Sa, 8/26
Where: Longwood/Fenway
What: The Ukrainian Festival brings together thousands of people each year to enjoy artistic performances, live traditional music, traditional folk dances, art exhibits, mouthwatering food, and so much more. The entire festival will donate to support fundraising efforts for the victims of the war in Ukraine.
Gardening Together: Firefly Lights
When: Su, 8/27
Where: Jamaica Plain
What: The Loring Greenough House’s August Garden series will be like stepping into a magical pixie hollow. Picnic amongst the beautiful flowers, wander through the grounds, craft your own lantern to attract fireflies, make your own lightning bug, and read books about garden critters all night long.
Family Day at Aeronaut Cannery
When: Su, 8/27
Where: Everett
What: Kiddos and parents alike will have the time of their lives during Aeronaut Cannery’s Family Day! Exploration, fun, and creativity is encouraged for all, and you can even catch a Marionette Show. Parents can feel free to enjoy a brew after a few games with the little ones.
When: Su, 8/27
Where: South Boston
What: On your mark, get set, go! Build your own car from kits at Boston’sPinewood Derby, and compete against friends and foes. This racing event for unmanned, miniature cars, is simply too much fun (and you can grab a drink while you watch!)
Happy August from all of us at The Boston Calendar.
**
Roundup created by Kenneal Patterson
Photo by @bretclancy on Instagram
Tuesday, Dec 31, 2024 8:00p
The Liberty Hotel
Thursday, Dec 12, 2024 6:00p
Trillium Fort Point