Nowruz

Join us to celebrate the ancient festival of Nowruz, which signals the beginning of spring! Observed by over 300 million people for more than 3,000 years in places including the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Black Sea Basin, the Middle East, and the Balkans, Nowruz is a beloved holiday that is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Stop by the Museum on Thursday, March 14, to discover unique Nowruz traditions from around the world, revel in magnificent works of art, enjoy lively dance and music performances, and much more.

Museum of Fine Arts

Priya Parker: Gathering to Create Belonging

In modern, diverse workplaces where work is remote and hybrid, a “belonging” crisis is intensifying. When people are not in the same room as their colleagues and the workforce is drastically changing, how do organizations and leaders create a sense of meaning, belonging, and purpose for their teams, while honoring individual differences? In this provocative moderated&nbsp;conversation, conflict resolution facilitator and author Priya Parker provides candid, practical, and lens-shifting advice on vital 21st-century leadership skills. Parker breaks down the anatomy of sincere connections and gives audiences the skills needed to create meaningful shared experiences, one gathering at a time. In conversation with&nbsp;Darcy-Tell Morales,&nbsp;Patti &amp; Jonathan Kraft Chief of Learning and Community Engagement, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Of Congregated Waters Deep: John Akomfrah and the Sea

Join us as we welcome celebrated artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah, whose iconic three-channel film installation Vertigo Sea (2015) is on view in <a href="https://www.mfa.org/exhibition/deep-waters-four-artists-and-the-sea">“Deep Waters: Four Artists and the Sea.”</a> The film explores humanity’s tumultuous relationship with the sea and its creatures, and the ocean’s role in the history of slavery. Hear from Akomfrah about his life and work, which is often characterized by investigations into memory, post-colonialism, temporality, and aesthetics, and often explore the experiences of migrant diasporas globally.

Guided Sake Tasting

Come learn about and drink good sake with the MFA and the Koji Club! Taste three different styles of sake to find the glass (or bottle, or style, or category) you like best. Invite friends and join us for a 60-minute guided sake tasting with light bites. Afterward, explore art in the galleries—the Museum is open till 10 pm! <a href="https://www.thekojiclub.com/">The Koji Club</a> is a community of sake enthusiasts who love to sip sake together all over the world. It has won numerous accolades since opening its brick-and-mortar location in Boston, New England’s only Japanese sake bar, in 2022.

Alan Michelson on ‘The Knowledge Keepers’

Join acclaimed artist Alan Michelson (Mohawk member of Six Nations of the Grand River and School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University alumnus) as he discusses his multivalent practice and unveils&nbsp;The Knowledge Keepers, his site-specific sculptures created for the MFA’s inaugural&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mfa.org/exhibition/huntington-avenue-entrance-commission-the-knowledge-keepers">“Huntington Avenue Entrance Commission.”</a>&nbsp;His installation honors local Indigenous presence and is, in part, a challenging response to Cyrus Dallin’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mfa.org/collections/art-americas/appeal-to-the-great-spirit">Appeal to the Great Spirit</a>&nbsp;(1909), a sculpture that has occupied the entrance plaza since 1912. Michelson works in a varied range of media and materials, and his work has been recently exhibited at the Tate Modern, MoMA PS1, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Gwangju Biennale.

Marinette

Directed by Virginie Verrier (France, 2023, 95 min.). French with English subtitles. This lauded biopic tells the story of pioneering French female soccer star Marinette Pichon, tracing the athlete’s battle to earn her homeland’s respect after achieving success in the United States. Join us after the screening for a special conversation between filmmaker Virginie Verrier and MFA Director of Public Programs Kristen Hoskins.

MFA First Fridays

Looking to relax and have fun at the end of a long week? Unwind with MFA First Fridays, an exciting evening of music, dancing, art making, and more on the first Friday of select months. See art, meet new people, purchase cocktails and delicious bites, and let your hair down as you welcome the weekend at the MFA. Tickets include general admission to the MFA and are free for members. First Fridays sell out fast, so plan ahead and purchase tickets in advance.

Looking to relax and have fun at the end of a long week? Unwind with MFA First Fridays, an exciting evening of music, dancing, art making, and more on the first Friday of select months. See art, meet new people, purchase cocktails and delicious bites, and let your hair down as you welcome the weekend at the MFA. Tickets include general admission to the MFA and are free for members. First Fridays sell out fast, so plan ahead and purchase tickets in advance. Limited time slots are available for art making. Reserve free timed art-making tickets at the event on a first-come, first served-basis.&nbsp;

MFA Late Nites

Kick off your weekend on Friday, October 25, at MFA Late Nites! This after-hours party features dancing and DJs, pop-up performances, exploring the galleries, art-making activities, and more. Guests of all ages are welcome; visitors wishing to consume alcohol must be 21+. Valid ID with proof of age is required to purchase alcohol. Food and drink will be available for purchase; no outside food or beverage allowed. No reentry. All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks and large bags are not permitted. All other smaller bags are strongly discouraged, and may need to be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. The MFA has a strict no smoking policy; this includes vaporizers. The MFA reserves the right to deny entry or to ask guests to leave at any time. All&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mfa.org/visit/plan-your-visit/tips-visitors">Museum policies</a>&nbsp;apply to after-hours events. Please follow guidance of Museum staff regarding permitted areas for food and drink and other safety measures.

Free Admission to the MFA on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Join us to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the MFA. This year, we’re offering free admission—including access to “<a href="https://www.mfa.org/exhibition/georgia-okeeffe-and-henry-moore">Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore</a>”—for Massachusetts residents. Enjoy gallery tours, engaging family art-making activities, and more! Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes and honors the heritage of Native Americans and Indigenous peoples and the histories of their many nations and communities. Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the MFA is part of the <a href="http://www.fenwayculture.org/">Fenway Alliance’s</a> Opening Our Doors festival, a celebration of the Fenway Cultural District.

MFA Latinx Heritage Night

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, join us for an evening celebrating Latinx heritage and culture, presented in partnership with Amplify Latinx and Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción. Catch live music, dance performances, and talks in the galleries; see works of art by Latinx artists; and network with friends and family! Events and Activities Drop-In Art Making: Mini Painted Tote Bags 5–9 pm (last entry at 8:45 pm) Druker Family Pavillion, Linde Family Wing Auxiliadora da Silva’s Chuva Sobre São Paulo (Rain over São Paulo) (1971) is a whimsical painting depicting a rainy day in the city. Get inspired by this work of art on view in gallery 335 in the Art of the Americas Wing, then use fabric paint to create your own narrative scene on a miniature tote bag. Resource Fair 5–9 pm Shapiro Family Courtyard Meet representatives from the Museum and our community partners and learn about the resources and programs they offer. Partners include Amplify Latinx, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, Hyde Square Task Force, and The Teachers' Lounge. DJ Montro 5–6 and 8:15–9:30 pm Shapiro Family Courtyard Take the celebration to the next level with DJ Montro, who hails from the Dominican Republic and always keeps the dance floor full with his unique blend of Latinx music across genres. He’s second to none when it comes to providing a Latin party wherever it’s needed. Three in 30 5:30 (English-language tour) and 7 pm (Spanish-language tour) Meet in Sharf Visitor Center Take 30-minute tour exploring three objects in the MFA collection that highlight and connect to Latinx heritage. The 5:30 tour ends in LG33 in front of the object featured in the 6 pm Spotlight Talk. The Folk Music of Puerto Rico 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 pm Gallery 168 Enjoy music from Fabiola Méndez, a Puerto Rican cuatro player, singer, educator, and Emmy-nominated composer. Fusing genres such as folk, Afro-Caribbean, and jazz, Méndez’s artistic vision and original music focus on the exploration of culture, ancestry, and identity, inviting listeners to embrace how the power of music and storytelling can unify us. Voter Registration 6-8:30pm Shapiro Family Courtyard Register to vote with Spark Boston! Spotlight Talk: Llamas and Inca Art 6 and (English-language tour) and 6:45 pm (Spanish-language tour) LG33 Delve into the cultural, symbolic, and artistic significance of llamas within the Inca Empire by looking closely at a llama effigy vessel in the MFA’s galleries. Ricano 6:15–7 pm Shapiro Family Courtyard Experience an original Afro-Caribbean performance combining Puerto Rican and Dominican rhythms with a potent contemporary sound. Saxophonist, composer, and culturist Jonathan Suazo offers a captivating Afro-Caribbean experience that presents themes of exploration, integration, and self-acceptance. Ricano combines the words “Puertorriqueño” and “Dominicano,” highlighting Suazo’s two heritages in a unique fusion that creates a new sound within the world of Latin jazz. The City Talks: The Storytellers 7–8 pm Riley Seminar Room Join Boston-based artists as they share how their Latinx identity is used as a source of inspiration, world building, and story telling in their practice and work. Panelists include Silvia Lopez Chavez, artist; Anthony Febo, poet and one half of Adobo-Fish-Sauce; and Paloma Valenzuela, founder of Palomita Productions. Moderated by Marcela Di Blasi, assistant professor, Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies, Dartmouth College. BOMBAntillana 7:15–7:45 pm Shapiro Family Courtyard Sing and dance as part of a live bomba experience with BOMBAntillana. A musical project led by multi-talented artist and bomba practitioner Eli Pabon, BOMBAntillana brings together professional percussionists, singers, and dancers with participants of all kinds to build community. Bomba is an Afro-Indigenous music and dance genre created more than 400 years ago in Boríken (the island today known as Puerto Rico). Having originated on sugar cane plantations and kept alive through oral history and secret gatherings, bomba, like many Afro-Indigenous art forms, was and continues to be a powerful means of creative expression, healing, resistance, community building, and celebration. SambaViva 7:55–8:15 pm Shapiro Family Courtyard Experience the color, movement, and energy of SambaViva’s bold choreographies and contagious rhythms. SambaViva is a Brazilian dance ensemble dedicated to authentically promoting Brazilian culture through dance and music. Obra en Marcha 8–8:30 pm Riley Seminar Room Although the MFA collects and presents art from all over the world, Latinx artists are still underrepresented in our galleries. Join Nadirah Mansour, assistant curator of Islamic Art; and Layla Bermeo, Kristin and Roger Servison Curator of Paintings, Art of the Americas; for a conversation about strengthening our collection of Latinx art, including Muslim Latinx artists.

International Dot Day

Join us for free activities to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the International Dot Day, a global celebration of the children’s book The Dot, which inspires all to believe in themselves and find the courage to “make their mark.” Author Peter H. Reynolds, is a New York Times best-selling children’s book author and illustrator. All ages and abilities are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. See <a href="https://mfa.org/visit/plan-your-visit/kids-and-family">Visiting with Kids and Family</a> for more information. Weather permitting, outside activities are free for all; indoor events are free with a general admission ticket. No registration required. International Dot Day is a project of the non-profit Reynolds Center for Teaching Learning &amp; Creativity (TLC).

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Celebrate Pride at the MFA with a drag story reading, art making, music from DJ Dayglow, and more. Looking to relax and have fun at the end of a long week? Unwind with MFA First Fridays, an exciting evening of music, dancing, art making, and more on the first Friday of select months. See art, meet new people, purchase cocktails and delicious bites, and let your hair down as you welcome the weekend at the MFA. Tickets include general admission to the MFA and are free for members. First Fridays sell out fast, so plan ahead and purchase tickets in advance. Members Free Nomembers $27.00

The City Talks: Korean Standards and Stigmas

Join Boston-area thinkers, professors, and entrepreneurs as they unpack the standards and stigmas surrounding mental health in Korean communities locally and abroad. How are they challenging taboos and making efforts to break cycles of silence around mental health? Panelists Josephine Kim, PhD, LMHC, NCC, faculty, Harvard University Gloria Yoonseung Lee, EdM, Harvard Graduate School of Education Joon Son, owner, KimchiPapi Kitchen Moderated byHyeouk Chris Hahm, professor and associate dean for research, Boston University

Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago

Edward H. Linde Gallery (Gallery 168) Included with General Admission Experience the richness and vibrancy of traditional Korean performing arts. Founded in 2013 as a drumming program for youth, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago (KPAC) now hosts a slate of projects including instruction in a variety of percussion, wind, and string instruments; artist residencies; performances; workshops; and lectures to more than 50,000 people annually in Chicago and beyond. Presented in partnership with Korean Cultural Society of Boston.

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.