14 Outdoor Summer Events + Series for Families
I don’t know about you, but despite being fully vaccinated I have still not done much in the way of indoor activities, and I can’t remember the last time I brought my 10-year-old into an indoor public space. The world is just, well, so people’y and I feel very protective of Violet.
That means with the summer weather, outdoor activities have been the name of the game. We still keep our distance but I have been grateful for the normalcy that has accompanied the return of things like live music, open studios (outside, fair-style), and more. To that effect, here’s a roundup of 14 outdoor summer events for families. A few are one-day events; the remainder are multiple days or extended runs. If there’s a great festival that we have missed, drop a note in the comments!
Enjoy the great outdoors and cross your fingers for clear skies! And of course, check websites in advance of your visit for any changes.
1. July 22-August 8 (Boston)
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company returns to live performance this summer with their 25th anniversary production of Free Shakespeare on the Common. This year’s staging of The Tempest requires registration in advance due to limited seating for safety.
2. July 22, 27, 28 and August 12 (Medford)
The Condon Shell plays host to four free family-friendly outdoor live concerts featuring Krush Faktory, Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys, The Velvet Dirtmunchers with a HONK! Festival-style concert, and Jen Kearney.
3. July 23 - October 11 (Boston)
Boston Lights: A Lantern Festival offers more than 60 enormous displays of hundreds of colorful lanterns at Franklin Park Zoo. Luminous animal and ocean scenes, glowing corridors of lotus and sunflowers, a towering 87-foot-long Tyrannosaurus Rex tunnel, traditional Asian lantern displays, a stunning 164-foot-long phoenix, and more will dazzle and delight guests of all ages each night from 6-10:30 PM.
4. July 24, August 28 (Boston)
With stunning views of the Boston skyline and harbor for a backdrop, Sabores de Nuestra Cultura: Family Festival is not to be missed. Celebrate food, culture, and family at Piers Park in East Boston with free treats, music, games, and creative crafts.
5. July 24-August 21 (Boston)
Each week, kids can sing songs, dance to music, and enjoy story time led by trained Boston Music Project teaching artists during Saturdays at Stoneman, a summer-long, interactive music program at the Stoneman Playground.
6. July 30-August 8 (Newburyport)
Newburyport Yankee Homecoming is a weeklong celebration of New England’s history and heritage that includes road races, waterfront concerts, drive-in movies, and more. In particular, don’t miss Family Day at Maudslay State Park or the Olde Fashioned Sunday lineup of midway games, pony rides, ice cream, cornhole, pets on parade, and an antique car show. The festival culminates with fireworks and a parade.
7. August 6-8 (Revere)
Watch professional sculptors create amazing works of sand art at the annual Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival.
8. August 7 (Walpole)
Be sure to stop by the Francis Bird Park Ice Cream Festival. Enjoy bubbles and songs by DJ Nate, fun games and activities, Jimmy’s famous pizza, and, of course, delicious ice cream with all the toppings!
9. August 12-15 (boston)
Boston’s oldest continuous Italian festival, Fisherman’s Feast, offers delicious food, live music, processions, children’s activities, and more.
10. August 14 (Worcester)
Celebrate the 14th Annual Butterfly Festival at Broad Meadow Brook, where butterflies fly free in their natural habitats. Participate in naturalist-led walks and workshops, up-close encounters with live caterpillars, children’s activities, butterfly garden tours, and butterfly art--making.
11. August 15 (Boston)
The August Moon Festival returns for its 50th year in Chinatown, with live performances of Asian folk dance, lion dance, Chinese opera, and other entertainment, plus food, gifts, and souvenirs.
12. August 20-22 (Boston)
Enjoy live music and dance performances, an eco-fashion show, electric vehicles, interactive exhibits, robots, art, fitness, games, lots of STEM activities, and more at the eco-friendly Boston GreenFest
13. August 20-29 (Marshfield)
The Marshfield Fair is a traditional, American country fair that has taken place at the end of August every year since 1867. This year’s event features live music, 4H demonstrations, scavenger hunts, an array of kids’ programs, demolition derby, and more. (Marshfield)
14. August 26-29 (Boston)
Stroll along beautifully decorated streets in the North End sampling the best Italian street foods from 100 push carts offering arancini, sausage peppers & onion, quahogs, calamari, pizza, pasta and of course zeppole, cannoli, and gelato at St. Anthony’s Feast. The highlight is a ten hour procession of the Statue of Saint Anthony that includes numerous marching bands and floats, with the confetti and streamers cascading from rooftops when the Statue returns to its home.
