Living in the Dark

Thursday, March 13 @ 7:00 pm What was life like before the electric light?&nbsp;Find out on an evening visit to the 1806 mansion at Gore Place. You’ll see the graceful Great Stairs, the lovely Oval Withdrawing Room, the Peacock Parlor, the Great Hall, bed chambers, sitting rooms, and more. Along the way, your guide will tell stories about living by candlelight and point out the many devices used to light the house in the early 1800s. The style and quality of the furnishings, the many Boston-built pieces, and the personal touches make this one of New England’s best historic house tours. Tickets are $21 general admission, $16 members, $5 Card to Culture.

Gore Place

In the Words of Austen and Roberts

Join a guide for&nbsp;an evening tour of the 1806 mansion at Gore Place in Waltham. You'll see the graceful Great Stairs, the lovely Oval Withdrawing Room, Peacock Parlor, Great Hall, bed chambers, sitting rooms, and more. Along the way, your guide will use the words of authors Jane Austen and Robert Roberts to bring this elegant home to life! ﻿The style and quality of the furnishings, the many Boston-built pieces, and the personal touches make this one of New England's best historic house tours. Space is limited. Advance tickets may be purchased at goreplace.org.

Chamber Pot and Hygiene Tour of the mansion at Gore Place

Join an expert guide for a moonlight tour of the 1806 mansion at Gore Place. You’ll see the graceful Great Stairs, the lovely Oval Withdrawing Room, the Peacock Parlor, the Great Hall, the bedchambers, sitting rooms, and more. The theme will be&nbsp;“Chamber Pots and Hygiene in the early 19th century,”&nbsp;a quirky but fascinating subject! The style and quality of the furnishings, the many Boston-built pieces, and the fabulous personal touches make this one of New England’s best historic house tours. Parking is free. TICKETS: <a href="https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?actions=4&amp;p=2">https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?actions=4&amp;p=2</a>

John Muratore Concert

Acclaimed guitarist John Muratore will perform a concert of music arranged for classical guitar in the beautiful 1793 Carriage House at Gore Place. The Boston Globe has called John's playing "...aural iridescence..." and the Boston Musical Intelligencer has called him "one of greater Boston’s most gifted guitar virtuosos." Tickets are $21, $19 members, $16 students. Parking is free.

Gently Used Book Sale

Friday, March 7, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Book lovers can buy gently used books at bargain prices ($2 for paperbacks, $5 for most hardcovers) during the sale. The event will be held in the Carriage House at Gore Place. You can donate books too! We can accept donated books from March 1 through March 7. To arrange a drop-off time, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:events@goreplace.org">events@goreplace.org</a>.&nbsp;No CDs or DVDs, please!

Looking for Robert Roberts: Moments and Mysteries

Feb 22 @ 2pm With the 1827 publication of his House Servant’s Directory—while employed as a manservant for the elite Bostonians Christopher and Rebecca Gore—Robert Roberts became America’s first commercially published Black author. A leader in Boston’s free Black community, he was a church deacon, a businessman, an abolitionist, and a fighter for civil rights. In this talk, we’ll highlight news from our ongoing research into the lesser-known side of Roberts’ life and the writing of his Directory. Admission is $10. Free to members and Card to Culture. Get tickets at <a href="https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=265907">https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=265907</a>

Gore's Almost Duel

After criticizing a fellow American for his lack of diplomatic skill, Christopher Gore got word the man was threatening to seek satisfaction for the insults. Though nothing came of it, Gore took to carrying a pistol, just in case. Historian Dan Breen will give a talk about this period in Christopher Gore’s life and the impact it had on Gore, his friends, and his family. Talk takes place in the 1793 carriage house. Free parking.

The New Grown-ups

Taking a modern twist on American roots music, The New Grown-ups blend traditional blues, country, old-time, originals, and bluegrass into a heady blend of contemporary music. Fiddle, banjo, cello and bass, the winners of the 2024&nbsp;Thomas Point Beach Festival Band Contest bring their unique take on traditional American music.&nbsp;This concert takes place in the beautiful, airconditioned 1793 Carriage House. The venue is ideal for acoustic music. Capacity is 50. tickets on sale now.&nbsp;Free parking.

Mrs. Wilberforce

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 @ 7:00 pm The duo of Kyra Davies, fiddle, viola, vocals; and Sean Smith, guitar, bouzouki, tenor banjo, vocals; play music from Ireland, Scotland and Cape Breton – but also further afield, like Shetland, Brittany and Galicia, among other places, bringing out the distinctive qualities of each tune or song for the enjoyment of their audiences. This program takes place in the Carriage House at Gore Place. Parking is free. TICKETS: <a href="https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=258846">https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=258846</a>

Growing Up in the Gore Family

Christopher Gore grew up in a family on the verge of entering Boston’s genteel class. The Gores were active in the Revolutionary resistance—organizing protests at Liberty Tree, hosting spinning bees for Daughters of Liberty, even being hurt in a riot before the Boston Massacre. But as that conflict heated up, Christopher’s father chose to side with the royal government and left America in 1776. This talk explores the difficult choices that one family worked through. Join us for a lively and entertaining look at this fascinating piece of history followed by a walk through the fabulous mansion. Tickets are $10, free to Gore Place members. Visit goreplace.org for details. The image is The Gore Children by John Singleton Copley, Boston, Massachusetts, c. 1755, Winterthur Museum. ﻿J. L. Bell maintains the Boston 1775 website, providing daily servings of history, analysis, and unabashed gossip about Revolutionary New England.

Music for the Holly Days

Waltham's own Moody Street String Band will offer traditional tunes to ring in the holidays! Don't miss what has become a Gore Place tradition! The concert will take place in the 1793 Coach House. $21 General Admission, $19 Gore Place and Card to Culture Members (for Card to Culture purchase “Member” ticket), $16 Students (all students and ages 16 and under.) Parking is free.

John Muratore Holiday Concert

Acclaimed guitarist John Muratore will perform a special holiday program in the beautiful 1793 Carriage House at Gore Place. The Boston Globe has called John's playing "...aural iridescence..." and the Boston Musical Intelligencer has called him "one of greater Boston’s most gifted guitar virtuosos." $21 General Admission, $19 Gore Place and Card to Culture Members (for Card to Culture purchase “Member” ticket), $16 Students (all students and ages 16 and under.) Parking is free.

The Jane Austen Smackdown

Over the past few years, two colleagues&nbsp;in the English Department—Rebekah Mitsein, who teaches a course on Jane Austen at Boston College, and Paul Lewis, who teaches a course on Poe and the Gothic—have argued which of these authors is more interesting. Now, they bring the debate to Gore Place. On&nbsp;Sunday, November 17, at 3 pm, the gloves will come off in this no-holds-barred rumble in which Elizabeth Bennet will finally meet her match in Madeline Usher and ravens will fly over Pemberley! $25 General admission; $20 Members and Card to Culture

New England Harp

The Irish harp is the original instrument of Irish traditional music and has a beautiful, etheric quality. This wonderful group of harpers, fiddlers, flutists, and singers performs traditional Irish tunes. The group is led by Regina Delaney, an Irish harper, singer, and dancer. This concert will take place in the beautiful 1793 Carriage House. Parking is free.

Frightful Fridays

Friday, October 11, 18 and 25 @ 6:30 and 7:45 PM Enjoy spooky tales, but nothing too scary! The 45-minute program features stories told by four storytellers in four different rooms. Our friendly witches will lead you from room to room and make sure you aren’t troubled by ghosts! This program is designed for adults and children ages 6 and up. We recommend you bring children to the earlier session. Capacity is limited. Advance tickets are available now. $21 general admission, $16 members, $5 Card to Culture.

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

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

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.