Downtown Boston Holiday Market

Get your holiday shopping done right in the heart of Downtown Crossing! We have curated a great lineup of artisan vendors to offer a wide variety of offerings on Summer Street Plaza. You can expect a rotation of diverse vendors and a fantastic selection for friends, family, coworkers, and more! The market is held each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm from November 29 to December 22. Those interested in applying to be a vendor, please visit <a href="https://marketspread.com/market/21394/downtown-boston-holiday-market/">here</a>. Please note this event is weather dependent.

Summer Street Plaza

Free Visits with Santa

Santa is stopping in Downtown Boston for the holiday season! Come by Summer Street Plaza with your friends and family to share those holiday wishes! Santa will be greeting visitors every Saturday &amp; Sunday from 12-2 &amp; 3-4 pm through the holiday season. Saturday, November 30 through December 22 on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-2pm and 3-4pm: Santa returns to the Summer Street Plaza!

Harvard University Band Holiday Performance

Join us Downtown for the FREE annual energetic performance of the Harvard University Band during the holiday season! Dozens of the students will perform on Summer Street Plaza Sunday, December 8 at 11:30 am to play a collection of festive music tunes. Then at 12 pm you can watch them march towards Faneuil Hall.

Boston Tuba Christmas

Tuba Christmas returns to Downtown Boston on November 30th at noon with over 100 regional brass instrument players offering classic holiday favorites！ Every Christmas season, tuba and euphonium players of all ages gather to pay respect to Harvey G. Phillips and William J. Bell, and all the great artists/teachers who represent their heritage. Come Downtown and join the herd of magnificent Tuba players! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this holiday tradition!

The Steps at Downtown Crossing

Doggone Halloween Parade

Come to Downtown Crossing for Boston's most beloved Halloween dog costume parade! There will be a dog-themed vendor village, a photo booth, face painting, beer garden, free treats for all, and more! There will be grand prizes for winners of: Best Costume, Cutest Costume, Scariest Costume, Best Dog &amp; Human Duo, Best Dog &amp; Child Duo. This FREE event will take place on Saturday, October 26th, from 12-3 pm in Downtown Crossing. Please use the event website link attached to find more info about the event and register your dog(s) for the parade!

Downtown Crossing

Downtown Boston Arts Market

The Downtown Boston Arts Market delights the public with a great variety of local artisans. Every Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, the public is invited to Summer Street Plaza to browse small businesses offering handcrafted products in the vibrant pedestrian zone in Downtown Crossing.   *This event is weather permitting and subject to cancellation on select days. Events are rarely cancelled unless conditions are extreme.

The&nbsp;Downtown Boston Arts Market&nbsp;delights the public with a great variety of local artisans. Every Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, the public is invited to Summer Street Plaza to browse small businesses offering handcrafted products in the vibrant pedestrian zone in Downtown Crossing. &nbsp; *This event is weather permitting and subject to cancellation on select days. Events are rarely cancelled unless conditions are extreme.

Tailgate on Temple Place

Join us for food, drinks, lawn games, and watch-party for the Sunday NFL games at our FREE Tailgate on Temple Place! It's FALL so what's better than 12 hours of FOOD, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FOOTBALL? If you answered 'nothing': join us this Sunday for a FREE day-long event on Temple Place in Downtown Crossing for live football game viewing coupled with an open-air food and cocktail environment provided by Temple Place's 13 great restaurants! Attendees can&nbsp;order food and cocktails to-go from Downtown Boston's "Restaurant Row" on Temple Place and enjoy them on the closed street, or enjoy outdoor seating at expanded restaurant patios, all while catching your favorite football team! The FREE inaugural&nbsp;Tailgate on Temple Place&nbsp;will see gates open at 8am (ahead of the 9:30am game from London!) and will wrap up at 8pm. You can enter the event on Temple Place between Washington and Tremont Streets in Downtown Crossing, just steps from Boston Common and Red, Orange, Green, and Silver train and bus lines. Throw on your favorite jersey and getting ready to join us for all the FUN! RSVPs recommended; If capacity is exceeded, please be aware that your registration will not guarantee you access to the event. RSVP using this link: <a href="%20https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tailgate-on-temple-place-tickets-1041224970917?aff=oddtdtcreator">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tailgate-on-temple-place-tickets-1041224970917?aff=oddtdtcreator</a> Stay tuned to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/downtownbostonbid/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/downtownboston/">Facebook</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DTownBostonBID">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for updates!

Temple Place

Climate in the City

Come and watch forward-thinking companies showcase their new, cutting-edge technologies aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change. This event serves as a platform for investors, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers to come together and share ideas on how to drive real-world impact. Afterwards, come to Downtown Boston and enjoy a drink at the beer garden and dance the night away as there will be live music playing.

Boston City Hall Plaza

Independence Day Parade

As a part of Boston's annual Harborfest, the parade starts off with various musical performances and a flag raising ceremony at City Hall Plaza. Followed by a parade through Downtown Boston, passing the Granary Burial Ground and ending at the Old State House.

CITY HALL PLAZA

Reading of the Declaration of Independence

As a part of Boston's Harborfest, The Declaration of Independence will be read from the balcony of the Old State House by the current Captain Commanding of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. This will be read just as it was back in 1776 to honor the tradition.

THE OLD STATE HOUSE

Downtown Boston Beer Garden

Come enjoy a cold drink during the Boston Harborfest celebrations in Downtown! We are thrilled that neighborhood favorite, Democracy Brewing, will be providing a great selection of brews and more! All alcohol must be purchased and consumed in the enclosed garden, for those 21+

SUMMER STREET PLAZA

Shore Leave: U.S. Navy Week Public Block Party

Come welcome the members of the United States Navy to Boston with a drink as they celebrate Boston Harborfest in Downtown. All alcohol must be purchased and consumed in the enclosed space. Entry is 21+

10 Summer St

Macy's Great American Fashion Show 

As a part of Boston's annual Harborfest, Macy's Boston will be styling a selection of local models who will be modeling in the latest patriotic styles and trends from the team at Macy's Boston. It will be an action-packed event with music, fashion, and great energy at the stage on Summer Street Plaza.

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

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

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 🚨

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.

downtownbostonbid

Experiences

Downtown Boston Holiday Market

Free Visits with Santa

Free Visits with Santa

Harvard University Band Holiday Performance

Boston Tuba Christmas

Doggone Halloween Parade

Downtown Boston Arts Market

Downtown Boston Arts Market

Tailgate on Temple Place

Climate in the City

Independence Day Parade

Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Downtown Boston Beer Garden

Shore Leave: U.S. Navy Week Public Block Party

Macy's Great American Fashion Show