2026 Watertown Dam Herring Festival

Each spring, the Charles River becomes a vital spawning ground for diadromous fish species such as the Alewife, Blueback Herring, American Shad, and Rainbow Smelt. These fish are key players in the local ecosystem and are a historical representation of Indigenous food sovereignty and cultural ways of life. Join us for our annual celebration of fish migration to honor the herring with an afternoon of free, family fun!  This year, we are also premiering a community artwork titled “River Run”, developed in collaboration with muralist <a href="https://sophytuttle.com/">Sophy Tuttle</a>. This piece is inspired and informed by the Indigenous experience with dams, including Watertown Dam, and the negative impacts they caused. Additionally, it is shaped by the community contributions from Herring Festival 2025, and the fish scales attendees decorated and installed on the large-scale Herring poster. The project was made possible by <a href="https://www.watertown-ma.gov/1572/Expert-Pairings">Watertown’s Edible Watertown Grant - Expert Pairings program</a>, and we look forward to sharing it with you all! Enjoy the spring weather, watch the fish migrate up the fish ladder, participate in a community art project, and eat from local food vendors! This year we also encourage you to bring a cotton t-shirt, tote bag, or other clothes to make your very own print design at one of our art booths! ACTIVITIES:<ul><li>Performances and talk from the Wampanoag singers and dancers </li><li>Print your own clothes (Please bring cotton or canvas clothing to print on!) </li><li>Make your own fish hats</li><li>Face painting</li><li>Fishing demonstration</li><li>Local food from farmers’ market vendors</li><li>Dam tours, hosted by CRWA River Restoration Director Lisa Kumpf, speaking to Watertown Dam and the challenges it faces.</li></ul>SEEKING VOLUNTEERS: We are seeking volunteers to help set up (morning shift) and break down (afternoon shift) the herring festival! Interested in volunteering? <a href="https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/381175652026/false#/invitation">Click here</a>, scroll down to the May 17 date, and sign up for your preferred time slot. Thank you to our partners, Watertown Helps Out. PLEASE NOTE: We encourage patrons to walk or bike to the event as parking may be limited. To enter the Festival space, please navigate to DCR’s Dealtry Memorial Pool Parking.  ACCESSIBILITY: This area is partially accessible with paved primary walking paths and some stalls being on uneven ground or packed earth.

64 Pleasant St

Ilana

Nandini

Mercy

Maruka

Kali

Vilma

Elsie

Deivid

Heidi

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Where

2026 Watertown Dam Herring Festival

Website

Where?