This tour of Boston's Historic Beacon Hill District will highlight the architectural prowess of renowned architect Charles Bulfinch. The tour will be led by the Boston Landmarks Commission's Director of Design Review Joseph Cornish.

Reservations are required! Email Mr. Cornish.

 Join the Boston Landmarks Staff for a not-so-scary graveyard scavenger hunt in some of Boston's oldest cemeteries! Stops on the scavenger hunt include:

• Copp's Hill Burying Ground
• King's Chapel Burying Ground
• Granary Burying Ground

Staff will be (a)live tweeting throughout the event and will have a special surprise at the last graveyard stop.

Registration is encouraged! Contact us at 617-635-3850 for more information.

Started in 1969, the Kite and Bike Festival is a Boston tradition that gathers more than 1,000 people at Franklin Park each May to enjoy picnicking, kite flying, bicycles, and music.

One resident describes the Kite and Bike Festival as, “My favorite day ever in the 20 years I’ve lived in Boston!” Picture endless blue skies dotted with colorful kites and children and families running and laughing across bright green fields. This event is not to be missed.

(Rain date: Sunday, May 19, from 1 - 5 p.m.)

Kick off the paddling season with the 36th Run of the Charles: Boston's premier paddling race.

Run of the Charles, the Charles River Watershed Association's signature annual event, is the largest flat-bottomed boat race in New England and a major event in Greater Boston. The event draws 1,500 racers and thousands more spectators each year!

The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by several cities in greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. It is always held on Patriots Day, the third Monday of April.

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has organized the Boston Marathon since the event’s inception in 1897. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's most prestigious road racing events. The event attracts 500,000 spectators each year, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event.

For the latest information on safety and transportation updates, visit the BAA's website.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the City of Boston will once again honor Boston's resilience, generosity and strength on April 15, now known as "One Boston Day." The day serves as an opportunity to recognize the good in our community, celebrate one another, and reflect on the spirit and resilience of the people of Boston that was exemplified in response to the loss and tragedies of April 15, 2013.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to share their plans for One Boston Day on the official website and on social media using the hashtag #OneBostonDay.

"One Boston Day" encourages random acts of kindness and spreading goodwill, and activities across the City will encourage individuals to give back to their community. The tradition came together in 2015 based on the desire expressed by many survivors to pass on the kindness, generosity, and support they received following the 2013 Boston Marathon.

For more information, please visit the Swan Boats of Boston website, call 617-522-1966, or email info@swanboats.com.

About the Swan Boats: 

Launched in 1877 by Irish immigrant and shipbuilder Robert Paget, the Swan Boats continue to be owned and operated by the Paget family. Mr. Paget designed the Swan Boats after attending the opera Lohengrin in New York City. At the end of the opera, the hero crosses a river in a boat drawn by a swan.

2025 marks the 148th season for the Swan Boats. The oldest and smallest boat in the fleet just celebrated its 115th season, while the newest was launched in 1993. The swan on today’s boats is made from either copper or fiberglass, depending on the age of the boat, and encloses a paddle mechanism that is used to foot propel the boat through the water.

Fully loaded, each Swan Boat weighs three tons and is powered by the driver using a foot-propelled paddle wheel. The Swan Boats are built on oak framed pontoons sheathed in copper just as they were initially constructed in 1877. After being stored in a safe place for the winter, the boats are returned to the Public Garden Lagoon each spring.

Boston's grand boulevard, Commonwealth Avenue, provides an enduringly popular stroll. The tour parallels the 19th-century filling and development of the Back Bay from its origin at Arlington Street down the seven blocks along the tree-lined, grassy Mall. See how careful effort over 150 years has preserved the "grandness" of the Avenue.

Prior registration is encouraged. Space is limited so make sure you RSVP!