Free Events

Beantown Jazz Festival

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View of Columbus Avenue during the 2016 Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival

Boston’s biggest block party, the 2017 Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2017 on Columbus Avenue, west of Massachusetts Avenue, for six blocks to Burke Street.

This free, annual, outdoor public concert delights music lovers and features world-class music on three stages including jazz, Latin, blues, funk, and groove performances. The festival is held every year on the last Saturday of September.

To learn more and browse the schedule of performers, visit the Beantown Jazz Festival website.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (right) and Berklee President Roger H. Brown (left) welcomed attendees at the 2016 Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival.

2017 Dorchester Beach Festival

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Mark you calendar! The 2017 Dorchester beach Festival will be held at Malibu Beach in Savin Hill on Saturday, August 26. The event is free.

Activities for children include arts and crafts, face painting, games, and more. Children’s activities start at 5:30 pm. At 7:30 pm the film “Jaws” will be shown. See the poster below for details and list of event sponsors.

Bring a blanket, picnic, chairs. Enjoy an end-of-the-summer event with your friends, family, and neighbors at the beach!

Image of flyer for the 2017 Dorchester Beach Festival

Event flyer. 2017 Dorchester Beach Festival

Free Family Films In Dorchester

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Today’s post is fifth in a series about free events in Dorchester.

First, Mayor Walsh’s Movie Nights will show “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” on Thursday August 17 in Savin Hill Park. To see the complete schedule of free events and activities around Boston, download the 2017 Summer In The City Guide (Adobe PDF) by the Boston Parks & Recreation Department.

Second, WBZ-TV and the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) provide free family films throughout the summer. The following films will be shown in Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester:
August 10: Moana
August 17: Lego Batman
August 24: Doctor Strange
August 31: Star Wars Rogue 1
See the Massachusetts DCR site for the complete schedule (Adobe PDF) for films in other locations.

Free Events For Bicycle Riders In Dorchester

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Today’s post is 4th in a series about free events.

The Boston Neighborhood Bike Ride Series has two free events coming soon. The Neighborhood Ride Series (#IBikeBoston) welcomes riders (ages 16+, under 16 with parent present) of all abilities for a group ride exploring Dorchester streets and paths. During the rider you will see and learn about cultural and historical sights, plus parks and other favorite destinations.

The next group ride in Dorchester:
When: Saturday, August 5
Where: Starts in front of Ashmont Cycles in Peabody Square (Directions)
When: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Prizes are available for riders who complete 5 or more group rides. For more information, see the Dorchester event page, join the Boston Neighborhood Bike Ride Series group on Facebook, or follow the group on Twitter.

The next group ride scheduled is September 23 in Mattapan. Group riders in other areas of Boston are also planned.

Through its Boston Bikes program, the City of Boston seeks to “make bicycling fun, safe, and accessible.”

More Free Things To Do In Boston This Summer

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Today’s post is the third in a series listing free activities this summer in Dorchester or in nearby parts of Boston. Below are activities sponsored by the Franklin Park Coalition:

Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park
Tuesday, June 18th:
11:00 am: OrigiNation – interactive dance
6:00 pm: E-Water Band
The playhouse stage is located between the zoo and White Stadium on Pierpont Road. Park rules: no alcohol, no smoking, and no BBQ.

Saturday Mornings
8:00 am: walking group. Meet at the Golf Clubhouse
9:15 am: Yoga with Linda the Wellness Warrior. Meet on Schoolmaster Hill, midway along the park road. Look for signs.

Mondays & Wednesdays
6:30 pm: Line dancing with Mz. Rhythm. Meet at Refectory Hill across from the clubhouse overlooking Blue Hill Ave.

More Free Summertime Events In Boston

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A prior post listed several free events this summer both in Dorchester and around Boston. Today’s post provides more:

Girls’ Night At Franklin Park Zoo
Free admission for girls ages 6 to 18
July 15 – 11:00 am
Advance registration required

Pilgrimage to Huế
Fields Corner Branch, Boston Public Library
Daily from July 13 to 31
Description: Of Spirits, Rituals, and Trances showcases an annual festival called Điện Hòn Chén in Huế, Việt Nam. The festival is considered one of the largest gatherings to celebrate Đạo Mẫu, a religion indigenous to Việt Nam that centers around the worship of a Mother Goddess. The photographs featured in this exhibition helps connect us with a world beyond the grave as spirits converge in central Việt Nam. And: a tale of escape, loss, and the afterlife.
Artist Bio: Ngoc-Tran Vu is a Vietnamese American transnational and multimedia artist, organizer, and healer. She was born in Sài Gòn, Việt Nam and raised in the Dorchester and South Boston,

2017 Free Shakespeare on the Common
“Romeo & Juliet” By William Shakespeare
Directed by Allegra Libonati
July 19 to August 6
At the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common
Performances start promptly at 8:00 pm. There will also be a 3:00 pm matinee performance on Saturday, August 5. To learn more, visit the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company website.

Author Talk: Matt Tavares
Codman Square Branch of the Boston Public Library
July 20 at 1:00 pm
Children’s author and illustrator Matt Tavares, creator of “Growing up Pedro,” “Zachary’s Ball,” “Becoming Babe Ruth,” and more visits the Codman Square Branch. Recommended for ages 5 to 17. Note: this event is limited to 25 children. Each child will receive one copy of “Growing Up Pedro.” Advance registration required. Call the branch to register: 617-436-8214.

Girls Night At Boston Bowl
Boston Bowl, 820 Morrissey Blvd.
July 25 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Free bowling for girls ages 6 – 18
Advance registration required

Historic New England: Summer In The City
Fields Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
August 7 at 10:30 am
Description: Historic New England invites students to explore the diverse architecture of Boston this summer from a modern glass skyscraper to a seventeenth century wooden house. Join us as we explore all the unique shapes, styles, and materials that create a city. Using Historic New England properties and city buildings, students will identify geometric shapes, discuss design and building techniques, and use a paper shape to make a cityscape to take with them. This program also encourages students to think about what a city needs in relationship to the environment and growing population.

Mayor Walsh’s Movie Night
Town Field, 1545 Dorchester Ave
August 10 at 7:30 pm
Film: “Shaun The Sheep”
Description: This event is presented by the Boston Parks & Recreation Department and Northeastern University, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment. Learn more.

Free Summer Activities Available Locally

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Looking for free activities to do this summer? There are several within Boston:

Summer concerts in Franklin Park
The nonprofit Franklin Park Coalition produces free concerts at the Elma Lewis Playhouse from July 11 to August 15. See the website for location, parking, and related information; or to sign up for e-mail updates.

WBZ Free Family Movies
WBZ-TV and the Department of Conservation & Recreation provide free family films throughout the summer at various locations in and near Boston, including Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester:
August 10: Moana
August 17: Lego Batman
August 24: Doctor Strange
August 31: Star Wars Rogue 1
See the Massachusetts DCR site for the complete schedule (Adobe PDF) for all locations.

Summer In The City events at Rowes Wharf
The Boston Harbor Hotel produces free concerts and films downtown on the waterfront. Events start at 6:00 pm. The lineup includes R&B on Tuesdays, big band/swing on Wednesdays, Blues on Thursdays, and classic movies on Fridays. See the website for additional information and the list of musicians (Adobe PDF). The best transportation option is the MBTA: take any Red Line train to South Station and walk 3 blocks to the hotel. See map.