Boston Family Days
Our program provides students who live in Boston and their families free access to many of the City's world-class cultural institutions.
Boston Family Days is an extraordinary public-private partnership between the City, corporate and philanthropic partners, and 23 of our City’s leading cultural institutions to help Boston school-aged children feel at home in places that can expand their learning and show them the world.
Through Boston Family Days, all students who live in Boston (grades K-12 and Boston Pre-K) and two guests can explore many of the City's cultural institutions for free on the first and second Sunday of each month until December 2026.
In addition, Boston students and their families also have free access to live performances at Boston’s premier venues. Students who are registered for Boston Family Days will receive ticket reservation links and instructions from the City before the performances.
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Partners
This program is made possible with the generous support of the following funding partners: Amazon, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, Barr Foundation, Bob and Michelle Atchinson, and Jim and Cathy Stone.
Sign Up
Participating Institutions: 1st and 2nd Sunday of Each Month
Boston's Children's Museum
Sunday Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. *Pre-Registration Suggested*
Interactive play-based learning designed for young minds with age-appropriate creative exhibits.
Franklin Park Zoo
Sunday Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Last Entry 3 p.m. *Pre-Registration Suggested*
Wildlife from around the world with conservation education and up-close animal habitat experiences.
Institute of Contemporary Art
Sunday Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. *Pre-Registration Suggested*
Cutting-edge contemporary art with innovative exhibitions and interactive installations.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Sunday Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. *Pre-registration suggested*
A Venetian-style palace filled with art, gardens, and mystery. Enter code ISGMBFD in the upper right hand corner of the page before selecting your tickets.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Sunday Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Last Entry 3:30 p.m.
Landmark honoring JFK's legacy with exhibits on his life, presidency, and vision for a better world.
MassArt Art Museum
Sunday Hours: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. *Pre-Registration Suggested*
Contemporary artworks and unexpected programming showcasing innovative creativity
The Museum of African American History
Sunday Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Rich heritage and powerful stories of African American history fundamental to Boston's identity.
Museum of Fine Arts
Sunday Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
World-class art from ancient civilizations to contemporary masterpieces in stunning galleries.
Museum of Science
Sunday Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. *Pre-Registration Suggested*
Hands-on STEM discovery with interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, and science theater.
New England Aquarium
Sunday Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Explore underwater worlds, marine life from around the globe, and ocean conservation in action.
Old North Illuminated
Sunday Hours: 12:30 - 5 p.m.
Historic church where "one if by land, two if by sea" signal launched America's fight for independence.
Paul Revere House
Sunday Hours: 11/ 1 – 4/14: 10:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. 4/15 – 10/31: 10:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Step into Revolutionary War history at the home of the patriot famous for his midnight ride.
Revolutionary Spaces: Old State House & Old South Meeting House
Sunday Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Birthplace of American democracy where the Boston Massacre trials and Tea Party planning took place.
USS Constitution Museum
Sunday Hours: Museum: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Ship: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Explore "Old Ironsides," the world's oldest commissioned warship, with hands-on naval exhibits and historic ship tours
Passports are Here!
In February, we started rolling out these fun Boston Family Days Passports to students and to our arts and culture partners. On the 1st and 2nd Sunday of each month, Boston students and their families can collect new stamps for the Passport by visiting one of 14 participating cultural institutions!
Participating Institutions: Performances
American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.)
The A.R.T. at Harvard University is a leading force in the American theater, producing groundbreaking work.
Arts Emerson
International performances featuring experimental theater and culturally rich arts
Berklee College of Music
The world’s preeminent college for the study of music
Boch Center
Broadway-caliber musicals, plays, and cultural performances in historic venues
Boston Ballet
Photo: Artists of Boston Ballet in Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty by Liza Voll.
Cherished classics and contemporary show-stopping ballet performances by renowned dancers.
Boston Lyric Opera
Grand opera combining music, drama, and visual spectacle in stunning productions
Boston Symphony Orchestra
World-renowned classical music performed in one of the world's most acoustically perfect halls.
The Huntington
Professional regional theater featuring thought-provoking drama, comedy, and new works
Wheelock Family Theater
High-quality theater productions created specifically for children and family audiences
How To Sign Up for Tickets to Performances
To ensure as many families as possible can participate, families register their interest for the shows and spaces are allocated using a lottery system.
Here’s is how it works:
- Families enrolled in Boston Family Days will receive emails when tickets for upcoming performances become available. Boston Public Schools (BPS) students are automatically enrolled in the program. Families who are not yet enrolled can register online.
- Ticket announcement emails will be sent on: January 9, January 16, February 18, and April 22.
- Because tickets are limited, families will be asked to rank the performances they are most interested in. Ticket selection will be determined through a lottery.
- Keep an eye on your email inbox! Families selected through the lottery will receive a follow-up email within 10 days after the submission form closes, with instructions and a link to claim their tickets.
- Once we contact you, you will have 24 hours to book your tickets.
- Attend the show, and share your experience with others! Use #BostonFamilyDays on social media to join the conversation.
If you are no longer able to attend, it’s OK! Please reach out directly to the Box Office at the presenting venue to return your tickets as soon as possible so additional families can benefit.
Winter / Spring 2026 Performances
| DATE |
SHOW and PRESENTING ORGANIZATION
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RECOMMENDED FOR
|
LOCATION
|
DESCRIPTION
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
January 8, 2026, 7:30 p.m. |
Vanessa (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Ages 7+ | Symphony Hall | Andris Nelsons leads a brilliant ensemble of opera’s foremost stars in Samuel Barber’s Vanessa – the 1958 Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that stands as a pinnacle of American opera. Presented in Symphony Hall’s legendary acoustics, with Gian Carlo Menotti’s poignant libretto and Barber’s achingly beautiful score, this mid-century masterpiece explores the illusions of love through music of extraordinary emotional power. |
|
January 24, 2026, 3 p.m. |
Dancing With The Stars: Live! - 2026 Tour (Boch Center) |
All ages |
Wang Theatre, Boch Center |
Straight from Hollywood, See DANCING WITH THE STARS, LIVE! See the glitz, glam and breathtaking performances of America’s favorite dance show in a city near you with this all-new show starring your favorite pros Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Britt Stewart, Daniella Karagach, Emma Slater, Ezra Sosa, Jenna Johnson, Pasha Pashkov, Val Chmerkovskiy, Hailey Bills and special guests to be announced. |
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January 30, 2026, 7:30 p.m. |
Good News Mass (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
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Ages 9+ |
Symphony Hall |
BSO Conductor Thomas Wilkins leads the Boston premiere of Good News Mass, a new co-commission by Composer Chair Carlos Simon that includes narration by librettist and spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph and vocal contributions by tenor Zebulon Ellis, gospel choruses, and others. |
| February 3, 2026, 8 p.m. |
Tap Club: Wing It! (Berklee) |
Berklee (Berklee Performance Center) |
All Ages | Boston Conservatory (BoCo) Tap Club presents a showcase of live music and tap dancing. The BoCo Tap Club is dedicated to celebrating tap dance as an art form, career path, culture, and community. Through classes and performance opportunities for Boston Conservatory and Berklee students, the club honors the founders of tap, preserves its history, and uplifts the art form—fostering a strong, joyful tap community. |
| February 5, 2026, 8 p.m. |
Signature Series presents 40th Annual Berklee International Folk Festival Featuring Arooj Aftab, (Berklee) |
Berklee Performance Center | All Ages | The Berklee Annual International Folk Festival, directed by Christiane Karam and Vessela Stoyanova, unites Berklee’s vibrant community of students, faculty, and alumni in a compelling celebration of global musical traditions and cross-cultural performance. Serving as a platform for intercultural dialogue, the festival illuminates the remarkable contributions of Berklee’s international artists to the world stage. This milestone 40th anniversary edition will feature a curated retrospective highlighting memorable moments from across four decades, and will feature Grammy Award–winning alumna Arooj Aftab and her band, the acclaimed Pletenitsa Balkan Choir, and an array of distinguished guest artists from around the globe. |
| February 7, 2026, 1 p.m. |
Circle Round (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Symphony Hall | All Ages | WBUR's award-winning family folktales podcast Circle Round returns to Symphony Hall to record new live episodes! Host Rebecca Sheir and composer Eric Shimelonis will be joined by Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast of actors as they bring exciting, engaging folktales to life. |
| February 7, 2026, 8 p.m. |
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
All Ages | Symphony Hall | Joining BSO Assistant Conductor Anna Handler is concertmaster Nathan Cole making his Symphony Hall debut as a concerto soloist. Principal Viola Steven Ansell is Cole’s solo partner in Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante, a vivacious masterpiece. American composer Gabriella Smith’s Bioluminescence Chaconne uses the natural world as a metaphor for musical structure and process, or vice versa — part of a multi-season programmatic focus exploring artists’ responses to our environment. Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet score Swan Lake, for all its supernatural, fairytale narrative, is also very much in the realm of nature pieces. Its lush, romantic music is some of the most familiar in the repertoire. |
| February 8, 2026, 2 p.m. |
SUPERKIDS (New England Conservatory) |
All Ages | Jordan Hall | SUPERKIDS is a family concert that celebrates the extraordinary “superpowers” every child carries within. When these gifts are nurtured with care and encouragement, they shine in ways that inspire us all. This event invites our youngest audience members to dream boldly, reach higher, and believe in their limitless potential. At the same time, it gently reminds parents, caregivers, and all adults of the profound joy and responsibility of lifting up the next generation. SUPERKIDS rekindles the wonder, imagination, and playfulness that live inside each of us, no matter our age. It’s a heartfelt reminder that when we support our children and keep our own sense of magic alive, we all thrive. |
| February 13, 2026, 7:30 p.m. | We Had a World (The Huntington) | Grades 8-12 | Huntington Calderwood | A dying woman calls her grandson and asks him to write a play about their family. “But I want you to promise me something,” she says. “Make it as bitter and vitriolic as possible.” In this searing, funny, and deeply personal play, the author of Prayer for the French Republic recreates thirty years of family fights, monstrous behavior, enduring love, and unexpected dishes of home-cooked spaetzle. |
| February 28, 2026, 8 p.m. |
Beethoven 6 and the Hadelich Ades Concerto (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
All Ages | Symphony Hall | 2025-26 BSO artist in residence Augustin Hadelich performs longtime BSO collaborator Thomas Adès’ kaleidoscopic violin concerto Concentric Paths with the composer conducting. The recent orchestra work Aquifer joins other Adès works in depicting the dynamism of the natural world, here referencing geological structures that store and release water. The piece reflects the static, flowing, and surging properties of water. As with love and spirituality, artists throughout history have responded to nature through their art. Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastoral, is the composer’s joyous response to a day spent in the countryside. |
| March 5, 2026, 7:30 p.m. |
Winter Experience (Boston Ballet) |
Grades 8-12 | Citizens Opera House | Winter Experience is a program that will take you to a dreamlike realm filled with sense and stimulation. With themes of the natural and supernatural worlds, the program is comprised of two powerful ballets that have made an impact on dance history. Crystal Pite’s The Seasons’ Canon is a powerhouse ballet featuring 54 dancers on stage dancing in synergy as though they are one living being. Set to Max Richter’s rendition of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Pite’s choreography draws on human emotion from her own life experiences. Jorma Elo’s Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) is set to Stravinsky’s iconic score and returns for the first time since 2009. The original version of the ballet was choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky and made its groundbreaking debut in 1913 in Paris with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. |
| March 7, 2026, 2 p.m. | Dead as a Dodo (ArtsEmerson) | Ages 7+ | Cutler Majestic Theatre | An uplifting musical odyssey into the heart of friendship (and the underworld) with your tour guides: an extinct dodo and a skeleton boy. Deep within the underworld, a skeleton Dodo and boy dig daily for fresh bones to replace their deteriorating ones, desperately trying to keep from disappearing. But one day, the Dodo miraculously sprouts feathers–and everything changes. |
|
March 12, 7:30 p.m. March 13, 2026, 7:30 p.m. March 14, 2026, 2 p.m. March 19, 2026, 7:30 p.m. |
WinterWorks (Berklee) |
All Ages | The Boston Conservatory Theater | WinterWorks is a Dance Division annual concert featuring the mainstage debuts of first-year contemporary dance majors performing new works created for them by alumni choreographers currently working in the field. This year’s guest choreographers include Joe Gonzales, Maggie Costales, and Christopher Kinsey. The program also will feature works by current student choreographers. |
| March 14, 2026, 12 p.m. |
Something Borrowed, Something True (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
All Ages | Symphony Hall | What is American music? Our national soundscape is rich in diversity: diversity of style, of language, and of cultural contexts. It is indeed this diversity that makes something "American." Together, we observe the beauty of unity as opposed to uniformity. The winner of the 2026 High School Concerto Competition will also perform with the orchestra. |
| April 1, 2026, 8 p.m. |
Eguie Castrillo & The Berklee All Stars Big Band: Tribute to Eddie Palmieri (Berklee) |
All Ages | Berklee Performance Center | Berklee Professor Eguie Castrillo will be presenting his highly anticipated concert with a Big Band composed of our institution's most outstanding students and some faculty members. This year, the concert will pay tribute to the "Sun of Latin Music" Eddie Palmieri. Our special guest will be Latin Grammy Award winner, Berklee alumnus, composer, arranger, and orchestra conductor Humberto Ramirez. This promises to be a very special night for lovers of Salsa and Latin Jazz music. |
| April 3, 2026, 2 p.m. |
Charlotte's Web (Wheelock) |
All Ages | Wheelock Family Theatre | Step into a bustling barnyard where an extraordinary friendship changes everything. Based on E.B. White’s timeless novel, Charlotte’s Web follows Wilbur, a gentle pig with a big heart and an even bigger problem—he’s destined for the dinner table. Enter Charlotte: a brilliant, compassionate spider who hatches a daring plan to save her friend. With a few carefully spun words in her web, Charlotte transforms Wilbur from “ordinary” to unforgettable, captivating the humans and turning the farm upside down. Filled with humor, warmth, and wonder, this beloved story comes to life as a joyful celebration of loyalty, bravery, and the quiet power of kindness. As the seasons turn, audiences of all ages are reminded that true friendship can be found in the most unexpected places—and that even the smallest voice can make a lasting difference. |
|
April 10, 2026 April 12, 2026 |
Handel's Water Music (Handel + Haydn Society) |
Symphony Hall | April showers bring bouquets of Baroque delights blossoming with energy and grandeur! “Music that crackles with life and color” (The Boston Globe) will sweep you off your feet as the H+H Orchestra brings new life to the sparkling charm of Lully’s Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, the magnificence of Handel’s Water Music, and the genius of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. There is simply no substitute for the vivid authenticity, energy, and exhilaration that blooms when you hear this music played on the instruments it was made for. |
Past Performances
| SHOW & PRESENTING ORGANIZATION | DATE |
RECOMMENDED FOR |
LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Concert for the City (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Wednesday, September, 17 @ 7:30 p.m. Pre-concert performances begin at 4:30 p.m. |
All ages | Boston Symphony Hall |
Celebrate community and music with the BSO, Boston Pops, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and special guest artists. |
|
Music’s Next Generation: A College Showcase (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Thursday, September 18, 7:30 p.m. |
All ages |
Boston Symphony Hall |
Experience the future of music as ensembles from Berklee College of Music, Boston University, Harvard University, New England Conservatory, Northeastern University, and Tufts University take the stage. |
|
The Music of Lin-Manuel Miranda! One Night Only with Mandy Gonzalez (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Saturday, September 20, 7:30 p.m.
|
All ages | Boston Symphony Hall |
Experience the electrifying music of a contemporary Broadway titan like never before in an extraordinary symphonic event featuring one of his earliest and closest collaborators. This dynamic, world-premiere production pairs Gonzalez’s powerhouse voice and emotive prowess with a full accompaniment, creating an unforgettable celebration of Miranda’s iconic works. |
|
Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons (Boch Center) |
Sunday, October 5, 7:00 p.m. |
Ages 8+ | Boch Center Wang Theatre |
Join us on a musical journey from your first day in the valley all the way to your arrival to the summit, with the brand-new Stardew Valley concert Symphony of Seasons! Curated by ConcernedApe, Symphony of Seasons features a 35-piece orchestra performing the most memorable music from the game, and a screen above the stage playing gameplay footage plus original content created exclusively for this tour. Concert-goers can look forward to hearing the game's most cherished songs as they watch their farm grow throughout the seasons and explore some of the valley’s most memorable locations, from Pelican Town to the Skull Cavern, Ginger Island to Calico Desert, the Submarine to the Wizard's Tower and much more. |
|
Macbeth (Boston Lyric Opera) |
Friday, October 10, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 12, 3:00 p.m. |
Upper Middle School/High School | Emerson Colonial Theatre | Power. Prophecy. Paranoia. Verdi’s Macbeth grapples with fate—and pays the price. Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy becomes a psychological battleground examining the catastrophic consequences of war. Seduced by ambition, a power-hungry couple claw their way to the throne—only to find their aspirations twisted into madness. Giuseppe Verdi’s career-defining music underscores their ruthless ascent. This is opera at its most thrilling: a blazing struggle with fate’s cruel grip. |
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Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster (Wheelock Family Theater) |
Monday, October 13, 10:30 a.m. | Pre-K - 3 | Wheelock Family Theater |
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster uses hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs to bring Mo Willems’ books to life. Manual Cinema wanted to re-create the experience of holding one of Mo’s book pages, which are big, bold, colorful, and full of visual rhythm, with a playful use of scale. Like all Manual Cinema productions, you’re invited to watch the big screen like a traditional movie, or to watch the artists below as they create the story in real time. (There is no wrong way to watch the show!) |
|
Behind the Curtain: A Community Celebration (Boch Center) |
Saturday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. | All ages | Boch Center Wang Theatre | Join us for a family-friendly Open House celebrating the Wang Theatre’s 100th birthday! Step behind the curtain and explore this historic landmark with activities, performances, and surprises for all ages. |
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Sneak Peak: Daughter of the Regiment (Boston Lyric Opera) |
Saturday, October 18, 3:00 p.m. | All ages | Midway Artist Studios, 15 Channel Center Street | Join Boston Lyric Opera at Fort Point Open Studios for a sneak peek at a new all-ages performance. “Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment” is a one-act English-language adaptation of Donizetti’s beloved comic opera about a girl who grows up in a military regiment. Two singers, an actor, and a pianist will bring the entire story to life with singing, staging, and narration that will engage audiences in an interactive introduction to opera. Stay afterwards to share your thoughts with BLO staff as we develop this piece for spring tours to Boston-area schools, libraries, and cultural organizations. |
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Boston Pops: Day of the Dead with Veronica Robles (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Saturday, November 1, 7:30 p.m. | All ages | Boston Symphony Hall |
A Mexican tradition comes alive again as the Boston Pops returns to celebrate Día de Muertos – The Day of the Dead. Join us for an evening filled with music that honors this rich cultural heritage where life and death intertwine in a beautiful tapestry of remembrance and reverence. |
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Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! (Boch Center) |
Sunday, November 4, 4:00 p.m. | Ages 2-8 | Boch Center Wang Theatre |
Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! brings to life an exciting original story featuring unique puppets, dynamic staging, and favorite songs including “Sprinkle Party”, “Hey Gabby”, “Music In You”, “You Can’t Spell Meow Without Me” and many others that will have audiences singing and dancing along, from beginning to end. |
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Watching the River Flow: A Roots Salute to Bob Dylan (Berklee College of Music) |
Wednesday, November 5, 8:00 p.m. | Grades K - 12 | Berklee Performance Center | In this genre-spanning concert, students from across Berklee honor the legendary singer-songwriter through bold, original arrangements of his timeless songs, as well as the songs he was influenced by. From stripped-down acoustic old-time and bluegrass renditions and electrifying rock 'n' roll to imaginative jazz, gospel, and classical interpretations, this performance celebrates Dylan’s enduring influence across musical styles and generations. Each piece reflects the creativity and versatility of Berklee’s emerging artists, led by Berklee American Roots Music Program Artistic Director Matt Glaser. |
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Jewels (Boston Ballet) |
Thursday, November 6, 7:30 p.m. | Upper Middle School/High School | Boston Opera House | George Balanchine’s Jewels showcases three distinct styles of neoclassical ballet in one brilliant program. Choreographed in 1967, it was inspired by Balanchine’s visit to Claude Arpels’ jewelry showroom in New York City. The costumes were designed by legendary New York City Ballet costume designer Madame Karinska and showed the essence of each jewel. Each ballet reflects a chapter of Balanchine’s career: Diamonds honors his early years at the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia, Emeralds nods to his time with the Ballets Russes in France, and Rubies celebrates his lasting impact on American ballet with New York City Ballet. |
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A Cappella Showcase (Berklee College of Music) |
Monday, November 10, 8:00 p.m. | Pre K - 12 | Berklee Performance Center | This concert, hosted by Upper Structure, will feature premier a cappella groups from Berklee College of Music and surrounding colleges. |
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Fun Home (The Huntington) |
Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 21, 7:30 p.m. |
Grades 7 - 12 | The Huntington Theatre | Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Fun Home is a beloved, groundbreaking, and emotionally rich story of seeing your parents through grown-up eyes. Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, the musical traces Alison through childhood, college, and adulthood, as she unravels her complex relationship with a brilliant, volatile, and closeted father. How have the mysteries of her father’s life shaped her own understanding of love and self-acceptance? With a soaring score by Jeanine Tesori and a sharp, heartfelt book by Lisa Kron, Fun Home is a beautiful, can’t-miss theatrical experience, directed by Logan Ellis. |
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The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. | All ages | Boston Symphony Hall |
The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra makes its Symphony Hall debut! This concert is honoring the diverse voices that shape our nation’s musical heritage, and will include works by Angélica Negrón, Roberto Sierra, and a selection of Puerto Rico’s rich popular musical traditions. |
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Sierra Saxophone Concerto (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Saturday, November 15, 8:00 p.m. | All ages | Boston Symphony Hall |
Puerto Rico-born Roberto Sierra composed his effervescent, jazz- and Latin-tinged concerto specifically to showcase James Carter’s lyricism and technical prowess on both the soprano and tenor saxophones. |
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Singers Night: The Show Must Go On – The Music of Queen (Berklee College of Music) |
Tuesday, November 18, 8:00 p.m. | Grades K - 12 | Berklee Performance Center | Each semester, 250 talented Berklee vocal students audition for a coveted spot in Singers Night, one of the Voice Department’s most prestigious showcases. This semester, we present the music of Queen—celebrated for their groundbreaking music videos, powerful vocals, and genre-blending sound. With elements of hard rock, heavy metal, glam, and pop rock, Queen’s music continues to inspire generations. Join us for a tribute to one of the most iconic bands of all time. |
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Hansel and Gretel (Berklee College of Music) |
Thursday, November 20, 7:00 p.m. | Grades K - 12 | Berklee Performance Center | Hansel and Gretel is a musical written by faculty member Rene Pfister for young audiences, featuring 14 actors and a seven-piece band. |
|
Little Women Opera (Berklee College of Music) |
Thursday, November 20, 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 21, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 23, 2:00 p.m. |
Grades K - 12 | Boston Conservatory Theater | With lyrical beauty and emotional depth, Marc Adamo’s acclaimed opera brings Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel to vibrant life. Following the spirited March sisters as they come of age during the American Civil War, Little Women explores love, loss, and the bonds of family. Adamo’s lush, contemporary score captures the depth of their journey with soaring melodies and intimate detail, making this opera a modern classic since its premiere in 1998. Featuring evocative period costumes and a cinematic set design, this production is directed by David Gately and conducted by Tiffany Chang. This performance has been selected as part of Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s 2025–2026 Center Stage collection. |
|
Annie (Wheelock Family Theater) |
Saturday, November 22, 2:00 p.m. | All ages | Wheelock Family Theater | Set in 1930s New York City during the Great Depression, Annie is the heartwarming story of a young orphan girl with unwavering optimism and a belief that brighter days are always ahead. Living under the harsh care of the bitter Miss Hannigan, Annie dreams of reuniting with her parents. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she is invited to spend Christmas with billionaire Oliver Warbucks. |
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SpaceBridge (Arts Emerson) |
Saturday, November 22, 8:00 p.m. | Ages 12+ | Paramount Center | SpaceBridge brings together Russian refugee children—who fled to the U.S. due to their families’ anti-war stance and now live in NYC shelters—with American peers to build a more welcoming world where their new friendships can thrive and grow. Created by Irina Kruzhilina, the piece centers children we seldom consider: Russian youth affected by the war in Ukraine. It follows their efforts to integrate into American society, where they often encounter suspicion, bullying, and a lack of empathy. |
|
Twas The Night Before by Cirque du Soleil (Boch Center) |
Friday, November 28, 7:30pm Sunday, December 7, 2025, 12:00 p.m. |
All ages | Boch Center Wang Theatre |
‘Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil's first holiday show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore. Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspired Cirque’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. A festive flurry of love and cheer created especially for families, ‘Twas the Night Before… features thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters - and a soundtrack including holiday classics re-invented by Cirque du Soleil. Tickets drop on 11/19/25. |
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Handel's Messiah (Handel + Haydn Society) |
Saturday, November 29, 3 p.m. |
8+ | Boston Symphony Hall |
It’s as Boston as Fenway Park. For the 172nd consecutive year, H+H presents Handel’s iconic Messiah, the greatest story ever told in song. This majestic music will rekindle joy and hope at Symphony Hall with the incomparable H+H Orchestra and Chorus under the “expert direction” (Boston Globe) of Artistic Director Jonathan Cohen with renowned soprano Lauren Snouffer who’ll bring this soul-stirring music to life with “a lustrous tone" (Cincinnati Business Courier). Tickets drop on 11/19/25. |
|
Wonder (American Repertory Theater) |
Friday, January 2, 7 p.m. | 9+ | American Repertory Theater |
Based on the novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio and the Lionsgate and Mandeville film Wonder, this uplifting new musical follows the Pullman family as they navigate change, identity, and what it means to belong. Auggie Pullman has been homeschooled his entire life, often retreating to outer space in his imagination. But when his family decides it’s time for him to start going to school, Auggie must take off the space helmet he has used to hide his facial difference. As Auggie navigates a world filled with kindness and cruelty, his parents and sister go on their own journeys of transformation and discovery. Featuring a driving, pop-inspired score, Wonder celebrates empathy, resilience, and the power of choosing kindness. Tickets drop on 11/19/25. |
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Black Nativity by Langston Hughes (National Center of Afro-American Artists) |
Friday, December 5, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, December 6, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 11, 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 12, 8:00 p.m. |
All ages | Emerson Paramount Center |
Black Nativity welcomes ALL people, far and wide, into our circle of light. This is the Nativity story told through the lens of the African American experience, but its message belongs to everyone who has ever needed hope, ever sought home, ever dreamed of a world where love wins. For 55 years, we have been a gathering place where differences dissolve and humanity unites under the universal language of joy, resilience, and peace. Tickets drop on 11/19/25. |
|
Anthony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker (Boch Center) |
Saturday, December 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 18, 2025, 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2025, 7:00 p.m.* (LGBTQ+ inclusive show) *Note: On Friday, December 19, Urban Nutcracker will present its lively LGBTQ+- inclusive version of the production for its fifth year, featuring Boston drag artist Patty Bourrée. |
Ages 3+ | Boch Center Shubert Theatre |
Anthony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker, the modern Boston-centric holiday classic, returns to the Shubert Theatre for the 2025 holiday season! Celebrating its 25th year, this classic dance theatrical showcase will showcase winter scenes set in present-day Downtown Boston, blending the rhythms of Duke Ellington with the classical music of Tchaikovsky. Anchored by classical ballet, the performances also feature a broad range of dance forms, including tap, hip hop, flamenco, and jazz. Tickets drop on 11/19/25. |
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Holiday Pops (Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
Monday, December 22, 11:00 a.m. | All ages | Boston Symphony Hall |
Gather your loved ones and join us for these dazzling concerts, including a special visit from Santa. Let Holiday Pops bring sparkle and joy to your festive celebrations. The concerts feature a mix of traditional holiday music, popular classics, and new arrangements, ensuring a varied and engaging experience for all. Tickets drop on 11/19/25. |
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQsAll students who live full-time in Boston and are enrolled in grades K-12 or Boston Pre-K are eligible. This includes students attending:
- Boston Public Schools
- Independent Boston charter schools
- METCO programs
- Boston-based parochial and independent schools
- Home school programs
- Private schools outside Boston (as long as the student lives in Boston)
Each eligible student can bring up to 2 guests.
BPS Families: If your child is enrolled in Boston Public Schools or Boston Pre-K, you are automatically signed up! You'll receive your Boston Family Days pass directly through BPS. Make sure your email address is updated in the BPS system.
Non-BPS Families: You must register online with the City. After signing up, you'll receive your Boston Family Days pass via email before each program weekend.
Boston Family Days occurs on the first and second Sunday of every month through December 2026.
Each participating institution has specific Sunday hours that may vary. Check individual institution details for exact operating hours on Family Days weekends.
It depends on the institution:
- Reservation Suggested: Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of Science (families can call 617-723-2500), Boston Children's Museum, Franklin Park Zoo, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, MassArt Art Museum
- Walk-ins Welcome: Most other institutions
These institutions are popular and frequently reach capacity, so we encourage planning ahead by checking each institution's policy and pre-registering when possible.
Performance tickets work differently from museum visits:
- When: Dates and times vary based on each performance
- How to get tickets: Enrolled families receive email notifications when tickets are released for specific shows
- Reservation: All performance tickets must be reserved in advance directly through the venue - no tickets available day-of-show
- Limited availability: Each show has a limited number of free tickets available
Yes! Your Boston Family Days pass doesn't expire, so you can use passes from previous months. However, you'll receive a fresh pass via email before each Family Days weekend with the most current information.
Simply show your Boston Family Days pass at the institution entrance. You can display it on your mobile device or bring a printed copy. The pass is your student's personal entry pass and cannot be transferred to another person.
Each eligible Boston student can bring up to 2 guests. So a maximum of 3 people total (1 student + 2 guests) can enter for free with each pass.
Boston Family Days specifically occurs on the first and second Sunday of each month. If you miss one weekend, you'll have another opportunity the following weekend, and then again the next month.
Unfortunately, the free admission only applies during designated Family Days weekends and cannot be used on other days.
Yes! Your Boston Family Days pass works at all participating institutions on both Family Days Sundays each month. You can visit as many institutions as you'd like on the same day, time (and energy!) permitting.
Just remember that some institutions require advance reservations, so plan accordingly.
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Who's Involved:
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Partners
This program is made possible with the generous support of the following funding partners: Amazon, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, Barr Foundation, Bob and Michelle Atchinson, and Jim and Cathy Stone.
