Boston

Memorial Day Open House: Museum of Fine Arts - Boston

Museum of Fine Arts in Boston Massachusetts Open House free admission event for North Shore and  families

The Museum of Fine Arts will honor Memorial Day with an Open House and will waive all admission fees. Visitors can enjoy complimentary admission to the MFA's galleries, family activities and performances. This year, the MFA offers free admission—including access to the special exhibition “Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits”—for Massachusetts residents. Enjoy music, dance, art making, and more!

When: 
Monday, May 26, 2025 10am-5pm

"Lilac Sunday" at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

Educational Program for Families North of Boston Arnold Arboretum Harvard

Take part in a beloved Boston tradition! Of the thousands of flowering plants in the Arboretum, only one, the lilac, is singled out each year for a day-long celebration. Tours of the lilacs, dance performances, picnicking (allowed on this special day only), and family activities make for a memorable, family day.

When: 
Sunday, May 11, 2025 10am-3pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide

The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.

When: 
Saturday, April 19, 2025 to Sunday, September 1, 2025
Spring (April to June 20) 10 am to 4 pm
Summer (June 21 to Labor Day) 10 am to 5 pm
The Swan Boats are open every day, weather permitting. We cannot operate in rain, high winds or extreme heat.

MLK Day of Service at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum hosts a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Engage with and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, celebrating their lessons, creativity, and imagination with storytelling, impactful conversation, soundscapes and art-marking! On this free general admission day, artists and thought leaders will share reflections on social justice, equity, and empowerment.

When: 
Monday, January 20, 2025 11am-5pm

MFA Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Free Open House

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston celebrates Martin Luther King Day with free admission and an open house with great activities for families in Boston Massachusetts

Join us for our annual MLK Day Open House, presented in partnership with Citizens. This year, the MFA offers free admission—including access to “Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore”—for Massachusetts residents. Celebrate the legacy of Dr. King by surrounding yourself with art making, performances, and talks with members of our community!

When: 
Monday, January 20, 2025 10am-5pm

Indigenous Peoples' Day Open House at MFA

Free Admission for Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston Massachusetts

to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the MFA. This year, we’re offering free admission—including access to “Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore”—for Massachusetts residents. Enjoy gallery tours, engaging family art-making activities, and more! Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes and honors the heritage of Native Americans and Indigenous peoples and the histories of their many nations and communities.

When: 
Monday, October 14, 2024 10am-5pm

Bluey's Big Play

Boch Center Wang Theatre
When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag.
BLUEY'S BIG PLAY is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.
When: 
Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 11:00AM

The Boston Outdoor Expo

Boston Outdoor Expo

If your family loves adventure, join us for a 2-day outdoor expo that offers a full weekend of inspiration for outdoor enthusiasts, like you. You'll meet famous explorers and adventurers hundreds of brands, plus 20+ hands-on activities including Bushcraft Skills workshops.

See 30 speakers participate in activities, and shop the latest gear, tech, nutrition, and advice. It is a one-stop shop to prepare you for your next adventure.

If you love hiking, climbing, water sports, camping, mountain biking, trail running or just being outside, you don’t want to miss it.

When: 
April 27 – 28 2024
Saturday 10am – 6pm
Sunday 10am – 4pm

MFA Open House | Juneteenth

The Museum of fine Arts Boston hosts an open house with free admission for Juneteenth!

In partnership with Citizens, admission to the MFA—including access to “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence”—is free for all Massachusetts residents on June 19 in honor of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally observed commemoration of the ending of slavery in the US. Join us for performances, participate in art-making activities, catch a talk, and see “Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina,” a new exhibition honoring the work and legacy of the enslaved men, women, and children who crafted stoneware storage vessels in Old Edgefield for roughly 50 years before emancipation.

When: 
Monday, June 19, 2023 10am-5pm

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Summerquest Camp for kids aed 5-14 at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Thursday, January 22

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Owl Prowl Hike at Appleton Farms

Learn all about owls at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts for kids older than 12
Join us for a very special evening hike to see the owls who might be out and about in the dark winter woods and fields of Appleton Farms. This hike will take place along the trails of Appleton, known to have multiple species of owls. Before our hike, you’ll learn about wintertime nocturnal animals...
4:15 pm to 5:45 pm

Friday, January 23

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Winter Family Field Trip: Terrific Animal Tracking

Families will learn about identifying animal tracks at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts!
Mammals such as squirrels, rabbits and deer leave many signs that they are active in winter. Learn how to interpret the tracks and signs or clues of active animals in winter. Stay active and warm with a group challenge about hibernation. Conduct an experiment about snow insulation.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Kidleidoscope at Breakheart Reservation

Kidleidoscope is a program designed for preschoolers at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Come join our park interpreter for a story time and nature walk! Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately 1 mile, though not accessible for strollers. Appropriate for families with children 3-5 years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Unraveling Winters Wild Tales - Animal Tracking for Families

Kids will learn about tracks and signs and how they can tell a story at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!
Welcome to the wild world of animal tracking! Participants will learn how to identify animal tracks by focusing on key details such as number of toes, toenail impressions, and overall size of the print.
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Saturday, January 24

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
9:30 am to 11:30 am

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us this season. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place…
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Gloucester's So Salty 2026

Celebrate Gloucester Massachusetts recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions in the heart of downtown.
Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 5th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with Discover Gloucester! This annual event brings over 2,000 people to the downtown area each...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
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