Boston is one of those cities where there's always something going on. If you spend a few minutes in North Station, you can follow the crowds to a sporting event. Walking the perimeter of Boston Common, you can look for a play to attend nearby. I recently went to a free concert and only turned down invitations to three events happening that same night because I already had tickets to the Boston Pops.
If you want to plan trips around more than the Red Sox schedule or what's playing at the Emerson Colonial Theater, here are five dates that might pique your interest and activities to go with them.
April 19: The Shot Heard 'Round the World
For history buffs, you can do the Freedom Trail year round, but drive 30 minutes in mid-April and you can see a reenactment of the birth of revolution. This is where the "shot heard 'round the world" rang out and minute men fought off British forces.
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the battle, but April 19 includes a faceoff between the Lexington Minute Men Company and His Majesty's Tenth Regiment of Foot. There's an arms demonstration and many of the local historical sites have special events, but there are plenty of activities for people who aren't as interested in the minutiae of what happened at Lexington Green. Check out the Lexington Historical Society for more details.
Third Monday in April: Boston Marathon
"The world's oldest annual marathon" started in 1897 and draws runners from across the world. The 26.2-mile race carves a path through cities and towns from Hopkinton to Boston and locals turn out all along the route to cheer on runners and hand out water and snacks to help them keep their strength up.
If you don't feel like standing on a sidewalk to yell yourself hoarse in Natick, there's a lot more to enjoy. The weekend includes a Fan Fest and the Mile 27 Post-Race Party at City Hall Plaza. Details of everything about the race can be found at www.baa.org.
December 31: First Night
This is a city-wide party that's been going on since 1976. There are fee performances, art displays, and family-friendly activities. There are some staples, like the Emancipation Proclamation Concert or the First Night City Hall Countdown, but you can find something from morning to midnight.
Last year's programs included figure skating showcases at the Boston Common Frog Pond, fireworks nearby, and cultural arts and crafts at City Hall. Plan in advance and you could even buy a ticket for the Boston Pops' New Year's Eve concert and get out before the countdown.
July 4: Patriotism and the Boston Pops
Hear me out: the concert is worth the amount of sunscreen you should apply. On Independence Day, the Boston Pops put on a concert that features a wonderful orchestra, guest artists, and show-stopping musical favorites. The thing is, seating is first come, first served and the people of Boston take that seriously.
People start showing up in the early morning to mark off space for family and friends and typically take turns holding down the fort. It's in the heart of the city, so you can walk or take the subway to enjoy other parts of the city. They have food vendors if you didn't bring your own. But once the sun sets, you can sit back and listen to The Stars and Stripes Forever and The 1812 Overture with cannons on the Charles River and bells ringing from Old North Church. And then keep your seat for the best fireworks of the night.
Fall: Become one with nature.
Every autumn, people across New England smile indulgently at the sight of tour buses unloading their passengers. People pile out with cameras ready to enjoy the fall colors. We tend to take it for granted that the trees are gorgeous no matter where you go, but it's something that we are happy people travel here to enjoy.
Following the fall theme, come for the colors and stay for the activities. Pick some apples or buy a jug of cider. Walk around Walden Pond and consider what it means to "live deliberately" as Thoreau described it. And definitely use the last of the warm weather to walk the Freedom Trail through all of those tree-lined neighborhoods.