It’s festival season!
Mark your calendars for these Boston-area events
Franklin Park Kite & Bike Festival 2024
When: Saturday, May 18, 12-4 pm
Where: Franklin Park
Cost: Free
Info: This beloved festival at Franklin Park has been bringing joy to the neighborhood for 50 years. Attendees can participate in kite-making or kite-flying and 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.
The crowd at BAMS Fest 2023. PHOTO: Olivia Grant
Boston Night Market 2024
When: Saturday, May 18-Sunday, May 19, 4-10 pm
Where: City Hall Plaza
Cost: $15-50
Info: This vibrant Night Market at City Hall Plaza showcases Boston’s diverse artists, entertainers and culinary titans. Saturday will feature the classic eclectic offerings of the market and Sunday will be a brunch theme. At both you can enjoy endless local eats, performances and a marketplace of artists.
Caribbean American Heritage Festival
When: Saturday, June 1, 12-7 pm
Where: Reggie Lewis Center
Cost: Free
Info: Celebrate National Caribbean American Heritage Month with a vibrant festival showcasing Caribbean food, music, arts and crafts, and more.
Boston Pride for the People Festival
When: Saturday, June 8, all day
Where: Boston Common
Cost: Free
Info: Celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community with a parade and festival built on inclusivity and joy. This new iteration of the celebration focuses on empowering, celebrating, commemorating and educating. Party all day, starting with the classic parade through downtown and a festival on Boston Common, with a City Hall block party going into the night.
Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
When: Sunday, June 9, 12-5 pm
Where: Charles River near the Weeks Footbridge
Cost: Free
Info: This unique festival 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 tradition and teamwork.
Juneteenth Festival
When: Saturday, June 15, 4-5:30 pm
Where: The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
Cost: Free
Info: Landmarks Orchestra and Castle of Our Skins will kick off this Juneteenth celebration with a live concert featuring the works of Black composers like Florence Price, William Grant Still and Jessie Montgomery.
Cambridge Arts River Festival 2024
When: Saturday, June 15, 11 am-6 pm
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.
BAMS Fest
When: Saturday, June 29-Sunday, June 30, 12-9 pm / 12-8 pm
Where: Franklin Park
Cost: $10-$50
Info: This massive local music festival features Black and brown artists playing R&B, funk, soul, hip-hop, house and more. This year, Grammy-nominated rapper Rapsody and singer-songwriter BJ the Chicago Kid headline the festival.
There’s outdoor fun for all at Neponset Day. PHOTO: Courtesy Neponset River Watershed Association
Neponset Day
When: Saturday, August 3, 9 am-1 pm
Where: Neponset River and Greenway Trail
Cost: Free
Info: Take to the water with free canoeing and kayaking in celebration of Neponset Day. Kids can enjoy a spray deck and live music, environmental exhibitions, and food trucks and ice cream will cap off the festivities.
Jollof Festival
When: Saturday, August 25, 3-8 pm
Where: The Anchor
Cost: $20-55
Info: Dance to vibrant live music, meet local foodies and eat all the jollof rice dishes your heart desires at this culinary festival. VIP ticketholders have the opportunity to vote for the best dish.
