On July 14, August 25, and September 15, 2019 shoppers, diners and pedestrians can explore new restaurants, local boutiques, and international brands — or rediscover your favorite Newbury Street gems on a street transformed and free of cars. Find meaning in the melodies of local musicians, challenge your friends to an outdoor game, or simply stroll along enjoying the festive atmosphere of Open Newbury Street. Celebrate Newbury Street, a uniquely treasured place in the heart of Boston.

There are multiple MBTA stations in the vicinity of Newbury Street including Arlington, Copley and Hynes on the Green Line and Back Bay Station on the Orange Line and commuter rail. Ride your bike to Newbury Street and lock it to bike corrals stationed throughout the event. Take BlueBikes and dock at stations located throughout Back Bay. Multiple parking garages are located in the Copley Square area south of Boylston Street.

Newbury Street will be car-free from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue. The intersections of Exeter Street, Fairfield Street, Gloucester Street and Hereford Street will be car-free with the remainder of the intersections open to traffic for public safety access. Parking will be restricted beginning at 5 am.

The City of Boston encourages all businesses to take part in Open Newbury Street by activating outdoor spaces and taking advantage of the reclaimed public space. All outdoor activations are restricted only to those businesses that have brick and mortar locations on Newbury Street. If you are representing a business that is located on Newbury Street and would like set up an event outside, please fill out the online form or contact Jacob Wessel at jacob.wessel@boston.gov or 617-635-0025. We are excited to hear about what you're planning and look forward to helping make this year's Open Newbury Street days successful for your business!

• Join us on Tuesday, August 22, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Franklin Park (Playsted Field) for our Boston Children’s Rec Fest! Hosted by Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department in partnership this is the perfect school vacation event for kids of all ages.
• This year's festival will feature music, giveaways, various attractions, treats, crafts, and much more! This event is FREE and open to all. 

Presented by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, join us Saturday, May 30, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., as bubbles fill the air with fun over Boston Common.

The celebration will include giant floating bubble demonstrations from various bubble performers, a DJ, live entertainment, giveaways, and more.

For more information, please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505. This event is weather dependent.

Boston’s National Bike to Work Day Festival celebrates National Bike to Work Day and is our way of saying, “Thanks for riding your bike today.” We think it’s important to celebrate everyone who rides in Boston, and we want to make it fun for experienced and new bike commuters.

On Bike to Work Day, you can join a commuter convoy as it rides through one of dozens of locations throughout the Boston metro area. These convoys are guided by experienced ride leaders and follow a fixed schedule and route. Everyone finishes together at City Hall Plaza! Because you rode your bike, you’ll get a free breakfast and coffee amid an expo at City Hall Plaza. Join a convoy, or just show up for the fun at City Hall Plaza. Going to work after the event is optional.

Registration is free and encouraged so we know to expect you. It will also help us ensure that we have enough food and free t-shirts for everyone. Breakfast is only for cyclists, so please be prepared to show us your bike, helmet, or Bluebikes key.

Register now

Want to help out as a convoy leader? Want to exhibit at the event?

Bike To Work Day details

WHAT ARE FAIRY HOUSES?

Fairy houses are small structures for fairies and woodland creatures to live in. These whimsical habitats are build by children, families, gardeners, and nature lovers alike. 

Fairy house building is a fun and creative activity for children that encourages kids to go outside and connect with the natural world, in an environmentally friendly way. 

Not sure how to make a fairy house? Don't worry, members of the Mayor's Mural Crew have come up with step-by-step instructions of how to create your very own fairy house. 

This free, family event will feature:

• outdoor nature play
• storytelling, and
• Fairy House Building.

Children are invited to wear their favorite fairy and elf costumes to encourage their tiny guests to alight in Franklin Park. Natural materials will be provided, but everyone is  welcome to explore their surroundings to find natural elements, including sticks, stones, and leaves to adorn their fairy houses.

Schoolmaster Hill is located on Circuit Drive between the William Devine Golf Course Clubhouse and Shattuck Hospital. For more information, please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505, or visit the Parks website.

Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and title sponsor The Province of Nova Scotia will host Boston’s signature holiday celebration, the 83rd annual Boston Common Tree Lighting, on Thursday, December 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Boston Common, adjacent to the Visitor’s Information Center at 139 Tremont Street. 

The event is supported by title sponsor Province of Nova Scotia, presenting sponsor Amazon, signature sponsors JetBlue and Meet Boston, community sponsors Bank of America and Constellation, and media partners WCVB Channel 5 and The Boston Globe. A sampling village will feature giveaways and refreshments from JetBlue, H.P. Hood, New England Coffee, Harry Potter, The Exhibition, and Raising Cane’s while supplies last. Sponsors of the “Make the Common Glow for the Holidays” who make the lighting of the Common and Public Garden possible include The Lynch Family Foundation, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, the Friends of the Public Garden, and Gilbane Building Company.

WCVB Channel 5’s Chronicle co-anchors Anthony Everett and Shayna Seymour will host Channel 5’s live broadcast of the event beginning at 7:00 p.m. American Authors, 5x platinum recording artists, and 2x Grammy nominees who got their start in Boston at Berklee College of Music, will headline with hit songs like “Best Day of My Life” and “Christmas Karaoke”. This year’s entertainment includes Halifax pop singer-songwriter Ria Mae, songs from A Christmas Carol performed by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, the soulful melodies of Mi’kmaq folk artist and fiddler Morgan Toney, the legendary vocals of Boston-based jazz and gospel icon Renese King, a heartwarming performance by the Boston Children’s Chorus, and more.

The holiday lights throughout both parks will light up in sequence shortly before 8 p.m. when Mayor Wu is joined onstage by Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

A sampling village will feature a photo-op, giveaways, and refreshments from several companies while supplies last.

Immediately following the celebration on the Boston Common, Mayor Michelle Wu, the Friends of the Public Garden, and the Committee to Light Commonwealth Avenue Mall will  flip the switch to light up Commonwealth Avenue Mall. 

Please call (617) 635-4505 or visit our tree lighting page for more information about the festivities. To stay up to date with news and events in Boston parks, sign up for the email list  and follow the social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.