Boston Festivals and Fairs 2026
Popular Fairs & Festivals near Boston
Boston festivals are not only celebrations of art, culture and music, but also the local food, drink and charm that make this city so exciting. Whether it's favorite regional delicacies, authentic ethnic foods or local craft brews, there is a festival in Boston that is certain to please any palate, during any season.
Check out our robust List of renowned Boston Festivals that are fun for the whole family! Join in a neighborhood block party, listen and dance to Boston bands, celebrate the season, or experience live street performances and meeting of the minds.
From pizza, pickles, strawberries, and spicy jerk to unity, town pride, music and more; there is always something worth celebrating in Boston!
JANUARY
Belmont World Family Film Festival (January 19, 2026 | MLK Day Weekend)
Enjoy enchanting films from around the world you won't see anywhere else for children age 3-12! Embark on a world adventure as Belmont World Film presents its annual Family Film Festival, a four-day celebration of culture.
With 3 different venues, the lineup includes a carefully curated mix of animated and live-action feature length and short films, offering something for every age group.
➡️ View more January Events
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
Japan Festival, Boston (April 25-26, 2026)
The Japan Festival Boston features booths offering delicious foods and goods, games, and activities typical to traditional Japanese festivals, as well as music and performances by local artists on multiple stages. There is also a kid's corner on both days.
This year's festival will feature various performances on the Main Stage and at the Gazebo. There will be cultural workshops, kids games and activities; vendors, and cultural groups, such as Ikebana, Tea Ceremony, martial arts groups, and so much more!
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MAY
Linda Plaut Newton Festival of the Arts* (May 9, 2026)
Celebrate Newton's talented musicians, singers, bands, poets, story tellers & more! Free and open to all at multiple locations around town. This sprawling Linda Plaut Newton Festival of the Arts takes place across four villages in the town of Newton, showcasing more than 20 musical performances by local and national musicians.
In addition to music you can also catch dance performances, slam poetry, classical guitar, opera, jazz, and Baroque instrument demonstrations.
The Festival has been a showcase of Newton's talent and Newton Cultural Council grant recipients for many arts organizations and artists since 2015.
Boston Kite & Bike Festival (May 16, 2026)
When the weather starts to get warmer it's time to celebrate by biking and flying kites at the Boston Kite & Bike Festival at Franklin Park! Kites are for sale, starting at just a few dollars. Bring a picnic or enjoy fare from Boston food trucks.
Harvard Square Mayfair (May 24, 2026)
The Annual Mayfair in Harvard Square features music, dancing, food, crafts, street art, beer gardens, Theatre, Artisans, Food, Vendors, Crafts, and Patios! This annual celebration of Spring will present four stages of live music featuring an eclectic array of genres including Reggae, Indie, Pop, Americana, R&B, Jazz, Rock, Soul, Folk, Hip Hop and more. The festival is delighted to welcome reggae-rock stars, Roots of Creation to the MayFair Main Stage.
➡️ View More May Events and Things to Do
☀️ Ultimate Guide to Summer Fun in Boston and Beyond
JUNE
The Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl (June 2-4, 2026)
Join the fun at the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl, the nation's largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival and the unofficial kick-off of summer in Boston. Historically, this event has taken place at City Hall Plaza. Be a part of the Jimmy Fund fundraising mission in the sweetest way possible.
The Boston Pride Festival and Parade (June 6, 2026)
Celebrate unity at the Boston Pride Festival & Parade in Boston. Enjoy the free family-friendly event that welcomes everyone and features activities that promote inclusivity! Spend the day with family and friends and take in the live entertainment, activities in the family fun zone, great food, and shop the wide array of vendors.
World Oceans Day* (June 7, 2026)
Head over to Central Wharf to celebrate World Oceans Day with New England Aquarium. Participate in hands-on activities for kids, informative presentations, and interactive opportunities to learn more about one of the ocean's most pressing issues. Celebrate our oceans with lots of fun activities to help you learn about our blue planet!
Boston Dragon Boat Festival (June 14, 2026)
Celebrate the sport, history and culture of Boston's Dragon Boat Festival. Gather at the Weeks Footbridge on Memorial Drive in Cambridge and enjoy the races on Saturday and a vibrant free festival on Sunday with arts, crafts, food, martial arts and more.
Festival by the Lake - Wakefield (June 14, 2026)
Be sure to check out the Festival By the Lake for a day of fun for the whole family in Wakefield! Peruse the annual Craft Festival on the Wakefield Commons while gazing out at the shoreline of picturesque Lake Quannapowitt. The youngest visitors can take part in games, bouncy houses and pony rides.
Strawberry Festivals (June)
There is nothing more refreshing and satisfying than fresh picked strawberries. Luckily, there is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy the juicy red sweetness in the Boston area. Celebrate the succulent strawberry at one of our favorite local Strawberry Festivals this June!
Bite into strawberry season at Wilson Farm's Annual Strawberry Festival! Held at the height of strawberry season, you’ll find kids activities, a chocolate covered strawberry dipping station, a strawberry shortcake. Enjoy lots of New England farm fun for the whole family! 
Head over to the Topsfield Annual Strawberry Festival sponsored by the Topsfield Historical Society. Enjoy crafts, games, music, food rides, 4-H, and even a demonstration of stone wall building and a juried craft show and tours of 17th century Parson Capen House.
Pick strawberries, visit the farm animals, frolic on a hayride and indulge in strawberry shortcake with a visit to the Marini Farm Strawberry Festival in Ipswich. Experience the joy at this great free family event filled with hours of activities to keep everyone in the family engaged and smiling.
Honor the local strawberry crop at peak season with pick your own in fields at Strawberry Festival & Dessert Fest at Verrill Farm in Concord. Enjoy strawberry shortcake and a wide array of family activities and entertainment. There is even a Strawberry Dessert contest for adults and kids which adds to the perfect day!
Gather strawberries and bask in some fun at the farm at the annual Strawberry Festival: Connors Farm in Danvers. Experience the best of strawberry picking and indulge in decadent fresh Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, BBQ delicacies and much more.
Visit the barnyard animals and hop in the Hayrides, Cow Train, Grain Train, Jumping and Pillow for loads of fun for all ages. Spend the day at the Strawberry Festival at Russell Orchards in Ipswich! Fill your baskets with fresh strawberries. Enjoy hayrides, music and good old fashioned farm fun!
Cambridge Dance Party* (Late June)
Celebrate summer with an evening of community and music! Join thousands of Cambridge residents and visitors at the end of June as they gather in front of Cambridge City Hall for the annual Cambridge Dance Party extravaganza. After dark, colorful lights will be launched, adding to the magic of the evening. Attendees are strongly encouraged to utilize the MBTA for transportation to the event.
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JULY
Boston Harborfest (July 2 - 4, 2026)
Boston Harborfest is a proud tradition celebrating Boston’s maritime and revolutionary history. With hundreds of activities over Independence Day weekend at Boston’s most iconic historic landmarks, this family-friendly event is one of the country’s largest Fourth of July festivals.
Boston 4th of July (July 4, 2026)
Enjoy the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and a spectacular display of fireworks over the Charles River. This year maestro Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra are set to entertain at Boston’s annual Fourth of July celebration.
Boston Jerkfest (July 10-12, 2026)
Immerse yourself in Caribbean culture at the Annual Boston JerkFest at Harvard Athletic Fields | Ohiri Soccer Field, 95 North Harvard Street, Allston. Delight in a family-friendly Caribbean style food festival that features Jamaican jerk spiced food and all things spicy and jerk hot! Enjoy two days of spicy good fun for the whole family as the sounds of live reggae music fill the air and Jamaican jerk tantalizes your taste buds!
Lowell Folk Festival (July 24-26, 2026)
The annual Lowell Folk Festival returns to downtown Lowell on July 24-26, 2026, for three days of free music and culture from around the world.
With nearly 150,000 attendees annually, the Lowell Folk Festival is one of the largest and longest-running free folk festivals in the country. This year's festival is also part of Lowell's Bicentennial celebration.
2026 Performers
Boston Puerto Rican Festival (July 24-26, 2026)
The Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts is one of the largest in the country. This vibrant celebration features a parade of cultural organizations and art institutions in the city, live music, and delicious pasteles and tostones from local restaurants.
This multi-day event is held at Playstead Park and honors the history, values, traditional music, typical Puerto Rican food, and local arts and crafts for the entire family.
➡️ View More July Events & Things to Do in Boston
AUGUST
The Bolton Fair (August 14-16, 2026)
The quintessential New England Fair with fun for the whole family. Great entertainment, animals, midway, live music, craft village, tractor pull, demo derby and monster trucks. The Bolton Fair will be open three full, fun-filled days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) with a Midway preview on Thursday night.
North End Boston Festivals 2026
August is the season for North End Festivals that are filled with pomp and circumstance as well as delicious food. Stroll through the decorated streets of Saint Anthony's Feast, sampling the best Italian street foods from sausage peppers & onion, quahog clams, calamari, lots of pizza, to pasta specialties.
Enjoy musical performances throughout the day on a multitude of neighborhood stages. Finish off the day with a sweet treat of zeppole, cannoli, and gelato, or why not a sampling of all of them! Boston's North End is a unique and vibrant neighborhood worth a visit.
Throughout August, you can enjoy a festival each week, including the Fisherman's Feast, and more. Don't forget to browse the wide selection of souvenirs and mementos which are sure to please.
Chinatown August Moon Festival (August TBD, 2026)
Chinatown’s August Moon Festival is a day-long event filled with cultural performances as well as Chinese calligraphy, arts and crafts, and various vendors of Chinese food and merchandise.
The Festival not only celebrates an important Chinese holiday, but also highlights what the CCBA and Chinatown have to offer and educating visitors on Chinese culture through lion dancing, Chinese opera, music, folk dance, and martial arts.
Be sure to enjoy a Mooncake! These round Chinese desserts, typically filled with lotus bean paste and an egg yolk representing the moon, are a symbol of familial unity and are shared between family and friends as part of the celebration.
➡️ View More August Events
🍂 Ultimate Guide to Fall Fun in Boston and Beyond
SEPTEMBER
Illuminate the Harbor - Labor Day Fireworks* (September 3, 2026)
Each year, Boston Harbor Now sponsors a fireworks display over Boston Harbor to celebrate Labor Day Weekend and the beginning of fall. Fireworks are launched from barges anchored off the North End and Seaport engaging in a fireworks "battle" that will light up the sky in the annual Illuminate the Harbor - Battle of the Barges
Best places to view: Christopher Columbus Park, North End | Piers Park, East Boston | Fan Pier, Seaport District
Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival (September 12, 2026)
The annual Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival is a feast for the eyes. Stroll along the beach viewing astounding sculptures crafted from sand, enjoy live entertainment, watch a fireworks display, and chow down on food from local vendors.
Come on down to America's first public beach and enjoy the magnificent sand castle competition, delicious Food Trucks, and lots of amusements and fun for the whole family!
Boston ähts (Arts) Festival (September 12-13, 2026)
The Boston Arts Festival features more than three dozen juried visual artists showing and selling original paintings, sculpture, pottery, woodwork, jewelry, glasswork, photography, and mixed media works at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park.
This free art and music festival features more than 70 juried local visual artists, craftspeople, and local musicians performing on the Waterfront Stage throughout the day, including painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry and sculpture, and much more.
The Big E (September 18 - October 4, 2026)
Join the best of New England at The The Big E! Bring your appetite and prepare to graze the unique and spectacular foods at the ninth largest fair in North America! There's no better place to enjoy the sights, sounds and taste-tempting aromas of the fall season than at The Eastern States Exposition (The Big E).
South Boston Street Festival (September 19, 2026)
The Annual South Boston Street Festival features two stages with live musical acts, over 100 neighborhood merchants, restaurants, artists and more. A fun-filled day for the entire family! Live performances will take place on two stages providing festival goers with live entertainment throughout the day.
Children's activities include face painters, balloon twisters, and street performers. Over the years, the festival has grown significantly and has become South Boston's most highly anticipated annual event, attracting over 10,000 residents and visitors.
Boston Pizza Festival [** DATE NEEDS CONFIRMATION ]
Bring your appetite to the Boston Pizza Festival and discover for yourself who is 'best in pie' in Boston! Bring along your family and friends and relish in a 2-day outdoor festival featuring live music, fantastic food and giveaways. What could be better than an event that brings the best pizza makers together for a celebration of pizza!
Boston Local Food Festival (September 20, 2026)
Boston Local Food Festival is a deliciously free outdoor event on the Greenway that connects Massachusetts and New England eaters of all backgrounds with the abundance of fresh, nutritious local food choices available close to home.
This fun outdoor festival showcases farmers, local restaurants, food trucks, specialty food producers, fisher folks, and organizations focusing on healthy food and fitness from New England.
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OCTOBER
Topsfield Fair (October 2-12, 2026)
Enjoy a day at the Topsfield Fair, America's oldest and finest agricultural fair, with New England's largest carnival midway, cool demos (ranging from beekeeping to miniature trains), a Grange Museum, pumpkin weigh-offs, live entertainment and the 4-H Agricultural/Arts and crafts exhibits.
Harvard Square Oktoberfest & HONK! Parade (October 11, 2026)
The Annual Oktoberfest and Honk Festival features six stages of live entertainment, over 40 restaurant vendors, outdoor beer-gardens, sidewalk sales, and HONK bands from around the country! Come be a part of this unique, irreverent, family-friendly annual tradition where musicians & spectators "reclaim the streets for horns, bikes and feet"!
Head of the Charles Regatta (October 16-18, 2026)
Take in the sounds and sights of autumn at the Head of The Charles Regatta in Cambridge! Watch intently as the rowing teams compete from all over the country in Boston's most picturesque setting. Admire and cheer on the more than 11 thousand elite athletes competing in the world's biggest 2-day rowing event right here in Boston!
Cambridge Science Festival* (TBD for 2026, typically October)
Be Curious! Join scientists, engineers and more at the Cambridge Science Festival. The week-long celebration combines all the magic and mayhem of modern science in an action-packed program of events, demonstrations, workshops and performances.
Every October, this electrifying pop-up festival lights up the Open Space in the heart of Kendall Square and across the city of Cambridge. The Festival makes science accessible, interactive, and fun, highlighting the impact of STEAM in all our lives.
Pumpkin & Jack o' Lantern Festivals (Fall)
The Greater Boston area is brimming with fall festivals, but kids are particularly enamored with events celebrating the humble pumpkin: the symbol of autumn and Halloween. Whether you stick close to home or make a day or weekend trip out of it, going to an annual pumpkin festival in MA is a season-defining event.
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NOVEMBER
America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade Celebration (November 21, 2026)
The Annual America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration will be held this year as it is each year at the birthplace of Thanksgiving, Plymouth, Massachusetts on the weekend before Thanksgiving. For over 25 years, hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life have traveled to the historic Plymouth Harbor and Waterfront to experience a bounty of authentic Americana.
New England Christmas Festival (November 6-8, 2026)
Offering everything a holiday shopper could desire under one magnificent roof at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo Center, the New England Christmas Festival makes preparing for the holidays a breeze by bringing together 400+ Art, Craft & Specialty Food American Artisans from all over the country that come to display and sell their unique products, all made by hand.
➡️ View more November Events and Things to Do in Boston
DECEMBER / JANUARY
Boston Tree Lightings & Holiday Lights Displays
The holiday season in Boston is nothing short of magical — twinkling lights, festive events, and time-honored traditions light up the city and surrounding suburbs from mid-November through New Year's. Whether you're planning a family outing, a date night, or a holiday photo adventure, there's a glowing holiday lights event near you!
Boston Holiday Shows & Performances
From the twinkling lights, festive concerts, shows, & celebrations taking place throughout the city, Boston really comes alive during the holidays and Boston Holiday Shows are a big draw. Here's a roundup of many cherished holiday traditions and festivities.
Boston First Night First Day (December 31, 2026 - January 1, 2027)
Since 1975, Boston’s First Night has been a New Year’s Eve celebration of artistic performances, the wonders of the December events season, and the beginning of a new year. In keeping with this fantastic Boston tradition, the First Night celebration continues to be free and open to all.
Entertainment and special attractions will be focused in Copley Square and Back Bay, and generally feature ice sculptures, fireworks, light displays against the Boston Public Library and lots more.
❄️ Ultimate Guide to Winter Fun in Boston and Beyond
TBD / DATES NOT YET CONFIRMED
Boston Calling Music Festival (*On Hiatus 2026*)
Boston Calling Music Festival is taking a year off! We look forward to returning in 2027 for a new and improved three-day, two-stage festival featuring some of the biggest and best acts in live music! The musical celebration takes place at the Harvard Sports Complex, with easy access to stages, food, services and more. VIP tickets are available as well as 3-day and 1-day options.
This concert event generally takes place over Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial kickoff to Boston's summer concert season.
Eurekafest! - Cambridge* (TBD for 2026)
Celebrate Entrepreneurship and Invention at EurekaFest! Get inspired by high school and collegiate inventors and innovators from across the country who showcase their inventions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology! Talk to inventors and observe how they met an everyday challenge with innovative ideas and critical thinking skills through invention.
CranFest - Plymouth* (Date TBD)
Cranfest is a two-day festive celebration of the cranberry, its enduring history in the Commonwealth and role in the culture, livelihood, and culinary traditions of the region. Come enjoy all the fun seasonal activities that will take place on the grounds of Plimoth Patuxet Museums. Live music sets a festive mood all weekend long and each day has a different theme!
For more ideas for seasonal festivals in the Boston area, check out our guide to Boston Pumpkin Festivals in the fall; or our guide to Holiday lights displays in Boston during the winter.
You can find lots more family-friendly Boston events each week on the BostonCentral calendar and our popular things to do this week newsletter.
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Stacey Sao has been the Managing Director of the family-friendly events and activities website, BostonCentral for over 25 years. She continues to enjoy discovering and exploring new places to visit in the Greater Boston area.