Useful Plant Walk

There are helpful and even edible plants all around us, especially in springtime. Learn how to identify and use helpful plants that grow in the wild on a leisurely stroll along the Emerald Necklace with Pam Kristan, author and wild food practitioner. Find out what is growing, where, when, which parts are edible or useful for other purposes, and preparation techniques.   Note: This event is for educational purposes only, no plants will be harvested or eaten. Ages 8 and up. Registration required; sign up at the link below.

Franklin Park

NOW 4/25 Bilingual Wildlife Conservation Adventure (English/Espa

Join us for an exciting, hands-on learning experience where young explorers will dive into the world of wildlife conservation and ecosystems! Through storytelling, movement, and park exploration, children will discover how animals rely on their environment and how changes—both big and small—impact nature. Space is limited, register below: ¡Únase a nosotros para una emocionante experiencia de aprendizaje práctico donde los jóvenes exploradores se meterán de lleno en el mundo de la conservación de la vida silvestre y los ecosistemas! A través de la narración de cuentos, el movimiento y la exploración del parque, los niños descubrirán cómo los animales dependen de su entorno y cómo los cambios— tanto grandes como pequeños— afectan a la naturaleza. Espacio es limitado, registrarse aquí: <a href="https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/event/bilingual-conservation-adventure/">Bilingual Wildlife Conservation Adventure - The Emerald Necklace Conservancy</a>

Franklin Park, Shattuck Picnic Grove

National Honey Bee Month Celebration

Celebrate all the hard work of bees in the Emerald Necklace! Come see live bees in a <a href="http://www.classroomhives.org/">Classroom Hives</a> observation hive and tickle your taste buds with a honey taste test. The Back Bay Fens will become the backdrop for family fun at the Shattuck Visitor Center, Kelleher Rose Garden, Fenway Victory Gardens and more!

Shattuck Visitor Center

Raptor Report- LIVE Birds of Prey Presentation

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy invites you and your family to see live birds of prey including a red-tailed hawk, a peregrine falcon, owls and more! Learn about the raptors that call the Emerald Necklace and New England their home from Wingmasters' raptor experts at the Conservancy's headquarters in the historic James Michael Curley House. All birds will be handled by Wingmasters’ licensed raptor rehabilitators. Ages 6 and up, pre-registration required.

Curley House

There are helpful and even edible plants all around us, especially in springtime! Learn how to identify and use helpful plants that grow in the wild on a leisurely stroll in Franklin Park with Pam Kristan, author and wild food practitioner. Find out what is growing, where, when, which parts are edible or useful for other purposes, and preparation techniques. Meet at Valley Gates Parking Lot in Franklin Park, registration required at the link below. Note: This event is for educational purposes only, no plants will be harvested or eaten. Ages 8 and up.

Pond Exploration in Franklin Park!

Explore the wonderful world of ponding with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Mass Audubon! Families with children of all ages are invited to Scarboro Pond for a hands-on exploration of pond life and water quality. Search for the insects, amphibians, and waterfowl that all make Scarboro Pond their home, and learn about their role in the ecosystem. See registration page for precise location, linked below. All equipment will be provided. All ages welcome, pre-registration encouraged, open now!

Wildlife Tracking

Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for the first community education event of the season! Learn how to identify and interpret signs of wildlife with licensed guide and naturalist Bob Metcalfe and explore your local park with a group of community members. This is a great experience for park regulars and first-time visitors! Group meets at the tennis courts adjacent to Shattuck Hospital in Franklin Park. Registration is required and limited to individuals 16+; sign up on the Emerald Necklace Conservancy website linked below. Space is limited so reserve your spot today!

Brookline Community Parkfest

<a href="https://brooklinecommunity.org/">Brookline Community Foundation</a>, in partnership with The Emerald Necklace Conservancy, is hosting the first-ever Brookline Community Parkfest at Olmsted Park. Join us for a fun-filled day outdoors featuring free performances, family-friendly activities, vendors, games and more! This event is free and open to all. (Rain date: Sunday, July 30)

Allerton Overlook

Tour: Historic Treasures of the Back Bay Fens

What do a 17th-century Japanese Temple Bell, a bridge made of Roxbury puddingstone, and a tree once thought extinct have in common? They all reside in the Back Bay Fens. Learn about these and other treasures on a guided walking tour of the Back Bay Fens that is sure to bring out the history detective in you! Registration is required! Please sign up on our website: <a href="https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/event/historic-treasures-7-15/">Tour: Historic Treasures of the Back Bay Fens - The Emerald Necklace Conservancy</a>

President’s Walking Tour of the Emerald Necklace

** This event will be occurring on the rain date: Sunday, June 18th** Lace up your walking shoes and join us for our annual walk through Frederick Law Olmsted’s entire linear park masterpiece! Conservancy President&nbsp;Karen Mauney-Brodek&nbsp;will lead a 5.5-mi&nbsp;walk from Franklin Park to Charlesgate Park. Take in the sights, sounds and the sheer scale of the Emerald Necklace on this special annual walk. We will make brief stops along the way to take in the scenery and learn about this historic parkland and the Conservancy’s current work to restore, maintain and improve these greenspaces while championing better parks access for all. Registration required; sign up on our website. What to Bring: – Refillable water bottle with water – Lunch and/or snacks – Hat – Sunscreen Important Info: – Dress in layers – Wear comfortable walking shoes – This is a “light rain or shine” event. In case of extreme weather, it will be rescheduled to Sunday, June 18. In the event of cancellation or postponement, notification will be shared via email on Friday, June 16. – There will be brief stops along the way for lunch, snacks, water and restroom breaks. Most time will be spent walking. Google maps linked to starting location: <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/7oqY2VV6vz8dZBGM7" target="_blank">https://goo.gl/maps/7oqY2VV6vz8dZBGM7</a>.

Shattuck Picnic Grove

Emerald Necklace Parkfest 

Celebrating Parks &amp; Community  Frederick Law Olmsted’s Bicentennial inspires this day-long celebration of shared use, shared health and shared power along Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace linear park system. Join neighbors and friends to enjoy what makes you most grateful for YOUR parks! Come together for a special program of picnicking, dancing, creating, learning, relaxing &amp; connecting. Parkfest features: <ul><li>FREE performances</li><li>Kids’ activities</li><li>Pop-up art making</li><li>Storytelling</li><li>Ribbon-cutting</li><li>Learning with local community groups</li></ul>Explore the parks with <a href="https://www.atrikecalledfunk.com/">DJs on trikes</a>, scavenger hunts, bike decorating and riding, walking tours, doggy meet-cutes, selfie destinations and more. Extra restrooms, signage, food trucks and volunteers will be on site. Look for treats and surprises throughout the parks. When: 1-6pm, Saturday, September 24. Rain date: Sunday, September 25 Where: All 5.5 miles of the Emerald Necklace, including Charlesgate Park, Back Bay Fens, Riverway, Olmsted Park, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park This event is part of <a href="https://olmstednow.org/parks-as-platform/">Parks as Platform</a>, a program of <a href="https://olmstednow.org/">Olmsted Now: Greater Boston’s Olmsted Bicentennial</a>.

Emerald Necklace 

Parks as Platform: JP Porchfest by Dunamis Boston at Jamaica Pond

Porchfest has been a pillar to the JP community since 2014, bringing together performers and community members for a day of music, dance, theatre and more on porches throughout JP’s central streets. Originally founded by Mindy Fried and Marie Ghitman, Dunamis had the pleasure of taking over the festival in 2021. Dunamis as an organization is geared towards serving as a nexus of transformation and agency for artists and arts-managers of color, through internal programming, community arts events and fellowships.    Porchfest aims to bring joy and exuberance not only to the Jamaica Plain neighborhood, but to artists and art lovers alike, who yearn to experience live art in a way they have been missing during the pandemic, and to experience the strength of the JP community. Since 2014 this event has managed to bring strangers together to share in the joy of art, and this year that connectivity is more vital than ever. Rain date: Sunday August 21, 12pm - 6pm.

Jamaica Pond Boathouse 

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

S19: interest based

WBUR’s 75th birthday celebrations 💫

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

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.