Family Movie Night at the New England Aquarium: Finding Nemo

The New England Aquarium invites guests to experience Disney and Pixar's Finding Nemo like never before on the Simons Theatre's five-story giant screen. This family-friendly evening on the Saturday after Thanksgiving offers audiences the chance to revisit the ocean adventure that introduced millions to the wonders of marine life, from clownfish and blue tangs to sea turtles and white sharks. The screening provides an opportunity to connect beloved animated characters with the real animals and conservation work that visitors can explore throughout the Aquarium. Concessions including hot dogs, popcorn, candy, assorted beverages, and themed cocktails will be available for purchase. A holiday gift shop popup in the theater lobby will allow guests to complete their seasonal shopping while supporting the Aquarium's mission. Doors open at 5:30 p.m and the movie begins at 6:00 p.m.

New England Aquarium

Secrets of the Octopus: A lecture with Sy Montgomery

WHAT: The <a href="https://www.neaq.org/engage/events-and-programs/aquarium-lectures/">New England Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series</a> welcomes bestselling author and National Book Award Finalist Sy Montgomery for a talk about octopuses and insights from her work studying these fascinating animals. Starting with the welcoming touch of a giant Pacific octopus named Athena at the New England Aquarium, these intelligent cephalopods helped open the ocean to Montgomery. The result was a slew of watery adventures, leading to more than half a dozen marine-themed books, helping to inspire a golden age of octopus research and appreciation. In the space of a decade, our views of octopuses have transformed from monsters to superheroes—and the latest research has shown that many species of these mollusks are far more varied, emotional, and socially complex than previously imagined. In her talk, Montgomery will share personal insights from her extensive study of octopuses and new scientific findings from her latest octopus book, Secrets of the Octopus. WHEN: Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with a cash bar available. WHERE: In person at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre, 1 Central Wharf, Boston. The lecture will also be livestreamed via Zoom.   HOW: <a href="https://support.neaq.org/site/Calendar?id=109648&amp;view=Detail">Register here</a> for in-person and virtual attendance to the event. Advance registration is required. This New England Aquarium Lowell Lecture Series event is free to the public and presented through the generosity of the <a href="https://www.lowellinstitute.org/">Lowell Institute</a>. WHO: Researching articles, films, and her 39 books for adults and children, nationally bestselling author Sy Montgomery has been chased by an angry silverback gorilla in Rwanda, hunted by a tiger in India, and swum with piranhas, electric eels, and pink dolphins in the Amazon. Her work has taken her from the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea (for a book on tree kangaroos) to the Altai Mountains of the Gobi Desert (for another on snow leopards). For The Soul of an Octopus (a National Book Award finalist) she befriended octopuses at the New England Aquarium and scuba-dived and snorkeled with wild octopuses in Mexico and French Polynesia. Her work has been honored with dozens of awards, including the 2024 Cook Prize Gold Medal, the 2021 Sarah Josepha Hale Award, the 2017 Henry David Thoreau Prize for Literary Excellence, and Montgomery is the recipient of four honorary degrees.

Aquarium to screen documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

The Lowell Lecture Series at the New England Aquarium and National Geographic present the documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster movie that shocked and excited the world. From Peter Benchley’s epic novel to Spielberg’s film, Jaws continues to influence pop culture, cinema, and shark conservation. In Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, Steven Spielberg offers an exclusive look inside the making of the film, with interviews from Hollywood’s most influential directors and shark scientists, including <a href="https://www.neaq.org/person/john-mandelman/">Dr. John Mandelman</a>, vice president and chief scientist at the New England Aquarium’s <a href="https://www.neaq.org/conservation-and-research/anderson-cabot-center-for-ocean-life/">Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life</a>. Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story was directed by Laurent Bouzereau for National Geographic, in partnership with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Documentaries, Nedland Films, and Wendy Benchley and Laura Bowling. At the start of the screening, Dr. Mandelman will provide opening remarks on the legacy of Jaws and how it has contributed to shark conservation.

New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre

Health, Wellness, and Healing Forum

The Reggie Lewis Track &amp; Athletic Center (the Reggie) at Roxbury Community College (RCC) will host its Health, Wellness, and Healing Forum on Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. -3p.m., as part of the center's 30th Anniversary celebration. The Forum is a day for the entire community to prioritize physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing. It will bring together community leaders, health professionals, residents, and advocates to engage in critical conversations about mental health, discover sustainable routines and practices for healthy living, address health equity challenges and solutions in Roxbury and Greater Boston, and encourage the community to get moving.  The event will feature:<ul><li>Panel Discussions: There will be multiple panel discussions focused on mental health, community health, and addressing health inequities in the Roxbury area. Panelists include experts such as:</li><li>Petrina Martin Cherry, Vice President of Community Engagement and External Affairs, Boston Medical Center Health System</li><li>Dr. Michael Curry, Esq., President &amp; CEO, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers</li><li>Juan Lopera, Chief Community and Health Impact Officer, Beth Israel Lahey Health</li><li>Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health, City of Boston </li><li>And more</li><li>Day of Play: Every square inch of the Reggie will be utilized to give the community the opportunity to play. From the field house, 200m track, gym, fitness studio, and weight room, there is something for everyone to get moving. </li><li>Wellness Row and Resource Fair: Getting access to the right information and resources and navigating health systems can feel daunting. Wellness Row will provide an overview about the health resources in Roxbury’s backyard.</li><li>Nutrition Demos: Christine Sinclair from Stop &amp; Shop and Tracy Skelley from Little Cocoa Bean will conduct live demonstrations and share insights into kick starting or maintaining healthy cooking, eating, and grocery shopping habits.</li></ul>The event is free and open to the public. A full agenda for the event can be found <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/health-wellness-healing-forum-tickets-1591437044039">here</a>.

Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center

Classic film Jaws returns to the giant screen at New England Aquarium for film’s 50th anniversary

As the film marks its 50th anniversary, Jaws will return to the giant screen at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre with nightly screenings Sept. 4-6. The film tells the story of a massive great white shark that terrorizes a summer resort town where a police chief, a grizzled fisherman, and an intrepid marine biologist battle the bloodthirsty animal. Experience the fully restored classic film on the Simons Theatre’s giant screen, nearly five stories high with wrap-around digital surround sound. Tickets are $10 each. Themed concessions will be available for purchase, including specialty cocktails. Visitors can also pair a film with a visit to the Aquarium, grab dinner and drinks at Dockside Beer Garden on Central Wharf, and create a special evening with friends and family. Thursday, Sept. 4 through Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Simons Theatre at the New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA. <a href="https://buy.acmeticketing.com/events/577/detail/6894b221a4f3741ce01d7b89">Purchase tickets here.</a>

Simons Theatre

Here, Now exhibition at Smith College Museum of Art

For his first-ever North American exhibition, Moroccan contemporary artist Younes Rahmoun created <a href="https://scma.smith.edu/art/exhibitions/younes-rahmoun-here-now">Here, Now,</a> a multi-disciplinary, sensory experience at <a href="https://scma.smith.edu/visit">Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA)</a> with two outdoor art installations on the college grounds, one in the Botanic Garden conservatory gallery, and more sculptures, drawings, and other artworks inside the museum’s galleries and windows. Fifteen works, created over the last 25 years, are on view through July 13, 2025 at the museum – which is open and free to the public year-round. Younes Rahmoun: Here, Now encourages visitors to walk – and drive – between the site-specific installations. Ghorfa #13 (Al-Ana/Huna) is a small, unusually shaped room, a remote place to offer stillness and reflection after walking through the forest at the college’s Ada and Archibald MacLeish Field Station in West Whately, Mass, a short drive from the museum. Rahmoun created Chajara-Tupelo along the banks of Paradise Pond and near the college’s Japanese Garden on its campus in Northampton. There, he planted a swamp-growing tupelo tree during a performance in September 2019. A video installation called Habba is located in the college’s Lyman Plant House, reminding visitors of the regeneration of seeds from trees to seeds again. The main exhibition of Here, Now features the other works inside the museum at 20 Elm Street in Northampton. Several events are planned in response to Younes Rahmoun: Here, Now: The Miller Lecture in Art History with Dr. Hannah Feldman on Friday, March 28 at 4:30 p.m., and an online program and conversation between Emma Chubb and Sarah Loomis, Associate Director of Education and Interpretation at the Botanic Garden, on Friday, April 4.

Smith College Museum of Art

We Move in Color: See and Feel the Journey immersive musical performance comes to the New England Aquarium

WHAT: In honor of Juneteenth, the New England Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series presents <a href="https://www.neaq.org/engage/events-and-programs/aquarium-lectures/">We Move In Color: See and Feel the Journey</a>, a dynamic and immersive musical revue performance that brings the African American story to life through music, poetry, dance, and visual art. Designed to educate, empower, and inspire, this family-friendly production encourages audiences to engage with history in a profound and impactful way.  WHEN: Thursday, June 19 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a cash bar available.  WHERE: In person at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre, 1 Central Wharf, Boston.  HOW: <a href="https://support.neaq.org/site/Calendar?id=109568&amp;view=Detail">Register here</a> for in-person attendance to the event. Seating is limited, and advance registration is required. The Lowell Lecture Series at the New England Aquarium is presented free to the public through the generosity of the <a href="https://www.lowellinstitute.org/">Lowell Institute</a>. WHO: We Move in Color features the visual art of world-renowned painter Paul Goodnight and the award-winning photography of Lou Jones. The revue’s soundtrack is produced by GRAMMY Award winner Gen Rubin. It features recording artist Anita Faye and the poetic voice of writer Robby Thomas. The revue, recently performed at the John F. Kennedy Center, is brought to life by Emmy Award winner, performer, and story designer Wyatt Jackson.

Science Communication in a Loud World: A Conversation with Meteorologist Eric Fisher About Weather Forecasting and Reporting

The New England Aquarium’s <a href="https://www.neaq.org/engage/events-and-programs/aquarium-lectures/">Lowell Lecture Series presents meteorologist Eric Fisher</a>, who will discuss the changing landscape of communicating weather forecasts and climate data. Fisher is an award-winning science communicator and chief meteorologist for Boston’s WBZ-TV News. The 20-year veteran of broadcast television and author will explain how he interprets large amounts of complex data to deliver weather predictions that aim to inform, entertain, and in cases of extreme weather, prompt action to preserve lives and property. He will also share what resonates with viewers and offer insights into how WBZ-TV forecasts and tracks weather. WHEN: Wednesday, June 11 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with a cash bar available. This event has been rescheduled from May 22, 2025. WHERE: In person at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre, 1 Central Wharf, Boston. The lecture will also be livestreamed via Zoom. HOW: <a href="https://support.neaq.org/site/Calendar?id=109588&amp;view=Detail">Register here</a> for in-person and virtual attendance to the lecture event. Advance registration is required. The Lowell Lecture Series at the New England Aquarium is presented free to the public through the generosity of the <a href="https://www.lowellinstitute.org/">Lowell Institute</a>. WHO: Eric Fisher is chief meteorologist at WBZ-TV News and a frequent contributor to CBS News at the national level, reporting on breaking severe weather across the country for the CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings. He has won multiple New England Emmy awards for his work as a meteorologist and been named Boston’s “Best TV Weatherman” by Boston magazine. Fisher joined WBZ from The Weather Channel in Atlanta where he also provided severe weather reports for the Today show and NBC Nightly News. Fisher is the author of “Mighty Storms of New England,” a look back at the region’s most infamous storms. A supporter of science and learning, he is a member of both the Mount Washington Observatory and the Blue Hill Observatory. He also serves on the Ambassador Board of the New England Aquarium. Fisher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in atmospheric science and a minor in mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany.

Project Bread’s 57th Walk for Hunger

The Walk for Hunger, Project Bread’s flagship community fundraiser, is seeking walkers to mobilize their neighbors and join the celebration. The one-day event is set for Sunday, May 4 on the Boston Common, and will feature family-friendly activities, food and entertainment along the 3-mile loop. In its 57th year, Project Bread invites you to help raise more than $1 million to support the leading statewide food security organization’s approach to ensure food access for all children and families in Massachusetts. Likeminded anti-hunger organizations can enroll in the nonprofit’s co-fundraising program, The Commonwealth, forming teams to raise money to support their own work, while also furthering Project Bread’s statewide effort. Ready to walk? To register for the event and create a personal or team fundraising page for the Walk for Hunger or to make a donation, visit <a href="https://projectbread.org/walk-for-hunger/about">projectbread.org/walk</a> or email <a href="mailto:walk@projectbread.org">walk@projectbread.org</a>.

Boston Common

A Lifetime of Water Advocacy: A Conversation with Sarah Kauss

The New England Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series presents entrepreneur Sarah Kauss, who will discuss her journey as an advocate, innovator, and ocean steward. Kauss is the Founder of S’well, a reusable water bottle and insulated products company. As a lifelong conservationist, Kauss launched a new product category and a well-loved brand with S’well. In the process, she helped make the sustainability movement more mainstream and replaced more than four billion single-use plastic bottles. Learn how this environmental champion became a purposeful entrepreneur and what elements she finds critical to creating an enduring impact. This New England Aquarium Lowell Lecture Series event is free to the public and presented through the generosity of the Lowell Institute. Advance registration is required. Doors open and cash bar available at 6:00 p.m. The lecture begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Lanterns & Luminaries Kicks Off Patriots’ Day Weekend 

BOSTON – To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the iconic “two if by sea” lantern signals that heralded the American Revolution, Old North Illuminated will kick off Patriots’ Day weekend with a special event, Lanterns and Luminaries. Set for Wednesday, April 16 at Old North Church &amp; Historic Site, the annual event will honor award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns with the prestigious Third Lantern Award. This recognition celebrates individuals who exemplify the values symbolized by Old North Church’s legendary lanterns—leadership, courage, hope, tenacity, and active citizenship. The award ceremony precedes a preview event for Burns’s eagerly awaited film, The American Revolution, that evening in Boston. The event will feature a seated program from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. including a dramatic reading of “Paul Revere’s Ride” in celebration of the anniversary, along with inspiring remarks from Burns, a short clip from his new documentary, festive music, and a look ahead at the Patriots’ Day festivities in the North End. Tickets to the program are available for purchase in advance for $40. For more details and to register, visit <a href="http://www.oldnorth.com/250th">www.oldnorth.com/250th</a>.

Old North Church & Historic Site

Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center 30th Anniversary Road Race

Help Roxbury Community College (RCC) celebrate and raise money for the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center (the Reggie) at the <a href="https://www.rcc.mass.edu/reggie-lewis/30th-anniversary-road-race.html">30th Anniversary Road Race</a> April 5! The event at Franklin Park features a 4.2-mile run, or 2.1-mile walk, along with other family-friendly activities, to bring the community together in support of health, wellness, and athletic excellence. Just like the Reggie, Franklin Park is in the heart of Roxbury and is a beloved location for the greater Roxbury community, making it the perfect place to host this 30th Anniversary kickoff event. Parking is available nearby and the Park is easily accessible by public transit. Thanks to the generosity of Abbott, the top two male and female finishers will receive bibs to the BAA 5K. One additional donated bib will be raffled off on race day. &nbsp;The Road Race is also made possible through donations from State Street and the Lewis Family Foundation, and in-kind sponsorships from New Balance and AK’s. &nbsp; Every step you take will help raise essential funds for facility enhancements and programming at the Reggie. Whether you're a seasoned runner or a casual walker, there's a place for you at the starting line. Lace up your sneakers, invite your friends, and be part of a movement that strengthens our community. Learn more about the route and register <a href="https://raceroster.com/events/2025/100516/the-reggie-lewis-track-and-athletic-center-30th-anniversary-walk-and-run">here</a>.

Shattuck Picnic Grove

Curatorial Tour with Dr. Jessica Orzulak: Sovereign Memory: Photography, Remembrance, and Displaced Histories

Free and open to the public Join Dr. Jessica Orzulak, Associate Curator and Curatorial Affairs Manager at the Asheville Art Museum, to learn how contemporary artists are using photography to challenge the colonial gaze that cameras helped to form. Limited to 20 people, sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curatorial-tour-sovereign-memory-with-dr-jessica-orzulak-tickets-1138467951289">here.</a>

Davis Museum at Wellesley College

Sharks and Communities: Insights from Honduras and Indonesia with marine scientists Gabriela Ochoa and Rafid Shidqi

The New England Aquarium’s <a href="https://www.neaq.org/engage/events-and-programs/">Lowell Lecture series presents marine scientists Gabriela Ochoa and Rafid Shidqi</a> to discuss their work protecting sharks in Honduras and Indonesia. Their work is supported in part by the Aquarium’s <a href="https://www.neaq.org/conservation-and-research/marine-conservation-action-fund/">Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF),</a> a small grants and fellowship program that provides support for community-based projects spearheaded by local conservation leaders in low- and middle-income countries around the world. Ochoa and Shidqi run nonprofit conservation organizations dedicated to safeguarding sharks in their communities. Ochoa is founder of <a href="https://www.ilili.org/">Ilili</a>, a nonprofit based in Honduras that focuses on marine conservation of large marine wildlife. Shidqi is the co-founder of <a href="https://threshershark.id/en/people-and-partners/">Thresher Shark Indonesia</a> where he is also working to protect the species while respecting community livelihoods. Ochoa and Shidqi partner with a wide range of stakeholders including fishers, policymakers, and citizen scientists in their respective countries to help balance the need to preserve food sources and livelihoods with conserving ocean habitats. In their lecture, they will discuss how they are working with local communities to combine scientific research with regional knowledge, protecting marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them. WHEN: Thursday, March 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with a cash bar available. WHERE: In person at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre, 1 Central Wharf, Boston. The lecture will also be livestreamed via Zoom. HOW: <a href="https://support.neaq.org/site/Ticketing?view=Tickets&amp;id=109507">Register here</a> for in-person and virtual attendance to the lecture event. Advance registration is required. Virtual registration closes on March 20 at 2:00 p.m. The Lowell Lecture Series at the New England Aquarium is presented free to the public through the generosity of the <a href="http://www.lowellinstitute.org/">Lowell Institute</a>.

Empowering the Next Generation of Ocean Leaders: A Conversation with Dr. Nevada Winrow

The New England Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series presents&nbsp;<a href="https://blackgirlsdivefoundation.org/">Black Girls Dive Foundation</a>&nbsp;Co-Founder Dr. Nevada Winrow, a pediatric neuropsychologist, educator, and certified master scuba diver. Dr. Winrow co-founded the Black Girls Dive Foundation to help overcome the racial and socioeconomic achievement gap and cultivate the next generation of social conscious divers, scientists, conservationists, and planetary stewards. Black Girls Dive offers young girls and women aquatic-based programs that integrate a STREAMS-based curriculum (science,&nbsp;technology,&nbsp;robotics,&nbsp;engineering,&nbsp;arts,&nbsp;mathematics, and&nbsp;scuba diving) through five chapters located in Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Georgia. Participants become PADI-certified scuba divers and engage in shark research and conservation, coral restoration, collaborative oyster restoration and education, and national parks preservation projects.&nbsp; In her talk, Dr. Winrow will share the genesis of this nonprofit organization, its progress over the past eight years, its impact on participants and partnering organizations, and what’s next. Join us for a fascinating look at this all-volunteer program that is helping to advance the next generation of ocean leaders. &nbsp; This New England Aquarium Lowell Lecture Series event is free to the public and presented in partnership with the Lowell Institute. Advance registration is required. &nbsp; Virtual registration closes at 2:00 p.m. on February 13.

New England Aquarium Simons Theatre

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.

Where

joyraft.host1278

Experiences