This event will be held on Saturday, August 22, at 10:30 a.m.. The location of this event is at Gourdin Park, 2405 Washington St, Roxbury.

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Join the City of Boston and friends to celebrate and experience the power of play on June 11, for the annual International Day of Play! Flyers in multiple languages can be found here. 

This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Guests will be able to celebrate and experience the power of play! 

 The day will be filled with sports, biking, pickleball, board games, bubbles, ping pong, arts and crafts, dance and music, and many more fun powerful play opportunities. 

Interested in hosting International Day of Play at your organization? Learn more here

Organizations and partners celebrating with us at The Boston Common include:

Join us for a free, hands-on workshop! We do all basic bike repair including: patch tires, align brakes, and adjust gears and shifters. The event is first come, first serve, no sign up required.

These events take place monthly on a Tuesday from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. 

The Golf Course Concert Series is part of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s ParkARTS program. They are held in July and August. Shows begin at 6 p.m.

About Katherine Winston: 

Whether you discovered her on Season 14 of American Idol, in a club across the country, or in an intimate listening room, Katherine leaves a lasting impression with every impassioned melody and heartfelt lyric.  Wherever you may hear Katherine, you can expect a genre-bending sound pulling influences from indie-pop, country, rock and folk music.  Her album, Something Special, Nothing Fancy is out and available everywhere now!

Learn more about Katherine Winston

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department will host the annual Copley Square Tree Lighting starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 30, presented in partnership with the Friends of Copley Square, BXP, Sasaki, and Fairmont Copley Plaza.

This free event is sponsored by H.P. Hood LLC with additional support from Drake’s Cakes. The celebration will feature guided tour of the newly renovated Copley Square, arts & crafts, appearances by Santa Claus and Rudolph along with musical performances by vocalist Joelle James, the Boston Children’s Chorus and Symphonic of Emerson College. After the event attendees are invited to enjoy cookies and pictures with Santa in Fairmont Copley Plaza at 6 p.m.

Other 2026 holiday celebrations hosted by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department include the 24th annual holiday lighting of the trellis at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End on November 23, the lighting of the ship in Martin’s Park at the Children’s Wharf Harborwalk on November 28, and the Boston Common Tree Lighting followed by the lighting of the trees on Commonwealth Avenue Mall on December 3.

The arrival of Boston’s official 2026 Christmas tree from Nova Scotia will be celebrated on Boston Common at approximately 11 a.m. on November 17. The 45-foot white spruce was donated by Ronald and Claire Feener of Lunenberg County, Nova Scotia.

Visit the tree lighting events page or call 617-635-4505 for more information. To stay up to date with news, park improvements, and events, sign up for our email list and follow our social channels @bostonparksdept on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park will host the 24th annual holiday lighting of the signature trellis at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End.

Boston’s historic waterfront, will be transformed into a beautiful holiday display when the park’s 260 feet of trellis are illuminated with lights near the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel and throughout the park. 

Other festive activities include: 

• Musical performances
• Special guest appearance from Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. 
• Eggnog from H.P. Hood
• Hot chocolate and cookies from the Boston Marriott Long Wharf
• Clam Chowder courtesy of Joes Waterfront

The celebration is sponsored by H.P. Hood LLC and the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park.  Additional support is provided by Meet Boston.

Visit the Parks events page or call (617) 635-4505 for more information.

The Fall-o-Ween Children’s Festival is presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the Skating Club of Boston. Key sponsor is HP Hood LLC. Additional support is provided by New England Dairy Council and Polar Beverages. 

Adults and children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and participate in a wide range of free, fun, and spooky family-friendly activities. Test your courage in our Haunted Zombie Maze and try the Jumpin’ Pumpkin or Scarecrow Slide. 

A “monster mash” of activities will include music, arts and crafts, treats, rides on the trackless train and field games facilitated by Knucklebones  Visit the New England Dairy displays to enjoy both the Mobile Dairy bar and the Mobile Dairy Experience.  Enjoy live entertainment at the Parks Department Stage with music, magic and a ventriloquist.

Don't miss out, it's going to be frightfully fun! We hope to see you there!

A special children’s celebration will be held on Saturday, November 28, at 5 p.m. at the Smith Family Waterfront in the Seaport District and Fort Point neighborhood when the Friends of Martin’s Park and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department host the fifth annual holiday lighting of the ship in Martin’s Park. Additional support provided by Nan Fung Life Sciences Real Estate, Caffe Nero and HP Hood.

Martin’s Park will be transformed into a beautiful holiday display when the ship, surrounding beach fencing, and pedestrian bridge are illuminated with over 1,500 feet of blue and white tube lights. 

Other festive attractions include: 

• Santa will arrive by boat with the Boston Police Harbor Unit at the Harborwalk
• Entertainment will be provided by Berklee School of Music artists Sofia Sunshine, duo Skye & Jo and singer/songwriter Mia McIntosh performing a selection of holiday classics
• Holiday beverages provided by Hood and Caffe Nero
• Meet the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit and explore the Boston Fire Department's Touch Truck
• Holiday arts and crafts lead by a local artist

For more information, visit the Martin's Park page or call 617-635-4505.