Free events in Boston, MA

Farmers Market Fridays brings a weekly open-air marketplace to The Row at Assembly Row. Browse locally sourced foods and goods from close to 30 New England farmers and producers set up along the stretch between Shake Shack and Caffè Nero. Find a changing mix of in-season fruits and vegetables, breads and pastries, dairy and eggs, meat and seafood, local honey, jams, specialty items, and more. It is a convenient spot to stock up for the weekend, discover local favorites, or simply enjoy a fresh Friday outing. Look for updates soon with weekly vendor lineups and opening day highlights.

Union Square Main Streets and over 60 local food producers come together for the 22nd annual farmers market. Explore stands filled with locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats and other proteins, fresh bread, jams, hot sauce, pickles, and more, with ready-to-eat food and beverages available as you browse. Meet farmers, chat with producers, and connect with community groups at the market, which has been voted the Best Farmers Market in Somerville by readers of The Somerville Times. Through a partnership with The City of Somerville and the Somerville Farmers Market Coalition, SNAP matches are offered. For the most up-to-date details and to see which vendors accept SNAP, check the market webpage.

Experience a free riverfront yoga session beside the Mystic River, presented by Mass General Brigham Health Plan and led by YogaSix. Bring a yoga mat and water, and register in advance, as sign-ups open each week and are required for attendance. If weather cancels the class, registered participants will be notified ahead of time. Mass General Brigham Health Plan partners with Yoga in the Park at Assembly Row to promote mindful movement and support healthier living.

Boston’s Charles River Jazz Festival returns to the Hatch Memorial Shell for a day filled with live music, food, and community. A larger stage and added space make room for more artists and vendors while preserving the familiar vibe. The main stage showcases Ghost-Note, Tyreek McDole, Seba Molnar, Zahili Zamora, BT ALC Big Band, and Roella Oloro. Grounded in Boston, the festival blends world-class performers with leading voices from the local jazz scene for a free and family friendly celebration of creativity and connection.

A Food Not Bombs effort at James P. Cronin Park focuses on preparing meals and sharing them with the community. Organizers are seeking participants and donations to grow a mutual aid network and support people in the area. The schedule features a period of kitchen work followed by community distribution. Stickers are available in person for those who want to help put them up, and they can be found around the Harvard and Central Square area.

Settle in for a story hour with Joy Nelkin Wieder, highlighting Rosh Hashanah Square-Circle-Star. Admission is free, and advance sign up is requested.

Experience a free outdoor yoga gathering in Cambridge Common park, offering an accessible all-levels flow and restore practice beneath the shade of mature trees. Afterward, spend relaxed time connecting and resting in community. Bring water, a mat, a towel, sunglasses, and any props you enjoy. Refreshing iced tea will be available from collaborators at Cambridge Naturals.

The Longfellow Summer Arts Festival offers an afternoon of poetry on the front lawn of the Longfellow House with a reading by Marie Howe, recipient of the 2026 Golden Rose Award for Poetry. Presented in partnership with the New England Poetry Club, this free public event spotlights the author of New and Selected Poems from W. W. Norton in 2024, a volume that brings together work from her four earlier books. Howe served as Poet Laureate of New York State from 2012 to 2014, is poet in residence at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, and is a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Her debut, The Good Thief, was chosen for the National Poetry Series by Margaret Atwood and later received the Lavan Younger Poets Prize from the American Academy of Poets. She has taught at Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia University, and New York University, coedited the anthology In the Company of My Solitude: American Writing from the AIDS Pandemic, and has been awarded fellowships from the Bunting Institute at Radcliffe, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Academy of American Poets, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. The festival brings music, poetry, and community together on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer.

Enjoy an outdoor gathering filled with dancing, community, laughter, and nonstop rueda energy. A free Rueda de Casino lesson welcomes dancers of every level, then the music keeps going with social dancing until sundown. No partner or prior experience is required, just come ready to move, learn, and have fun. Expect great music, ruedas of all sizes, familiar faces, new friends, and that unmistakable summer dance vibe. For any weather related changes or cancellations, updates are posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Saborcito brings salsa and bachata to The Anchor Boston with a free dance class and lively social hosted by The Anchor Boston, Sabor Latino, Salsa y Control, and DJ Hernan. The gathering unfolds on The Anchor’s open air courtyard patio, featuring comfortable lounge seating, freestanding tables, and a bar, with views of Boston from the Charlestown Naval Yard. There is no cover and street parking is available. Registration is requested on Eventbrite and RSVPs are encouraged. Outside food and drinks are not permitted, including water bottles. Only small crossbody bags are allowed, and a complimentary bag check is provided.

Matt Heaton leads a singalong at the West Branch, playing guitar and encouraging children to laugh, move, and add their voices. Expect an interactive music session where kids are invited to dance and sing along.

This free stand-up open mic at The Jungle Community Music Club features newer and professional comedians testing fresh material. For performers, sign-up is show and go. Sets are four minutes, or five minutes with a food purchase, and the list caps at 35.

Hannah Judson appears at Zuzu inside The Middle East in Cambridge for a laid-back evening. Dinner and drinks are available, and admission is free.

The Davis Sq Farmers Market is back. Updated vendor lists and a market map are available.

The East Boston Farmers Market brings fresh food and community programming to Central Square Park. Operated by NeighborHealth since 2008, it focuses on increasing access to local food in East Boston and supporting the local food system. Shoppers can find produce from local farms, raw honey, fresh bread, coffee, tea, and prepared favorites such as Mexican elotes. Each week also features local handcraft vendors and community organizations offering free resources, along with kid-friendly activities like POP Club and Summer Eats, which provides free meals for children. Opening day includes a cooking demonstration with complimentary samples and live music, alongside a variety of food and craft vendors. The market aims to be a welcoming place for everyone.

Music Bingo brings a lively twist to bingo at CanalSide Food + Drink in CambridgeSide. There is no cost to play, and prizes are awarded in each round. A DJ cues up familiar songs and artists, players mark off matching squares on their unique cards, and five in a row wins. Expect two to three quick rounds that keep the pace upbeat and the room involved from start to finish. It is a friendly pick for casual music fans, competitive players, and groups of friends, and no music expertise is required to have a great time.