Summer’s here and Boston is so ready. From concerts and floral displays to community gardens and Fourth of July celebrations, summer is when Boston comes alive.
Enjoy the warm weather vibes with our guide featuring 20+ summer events — including ideas for the Fourth of July — happening between May and August.
Concerts or live music
Tim McGraw, May 10, TD Garden
Supporting his latest studio album, “Standing Room Only,” the smooth-voiced country singer comes to Boston “Just to See You Smile.” Tickets are available now and you can grab a pre-show performance upgrade ticket with special guest Carly Pearce.
Diana Ross, May 16, Boch Center Wang Theatre
The legendary singer presents her “Beautiful Love Performance- Legacy Tour,” which is guaranteed to bring the house down. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $74.
Boston Calling, May 24-May 26, Harvard Athletic Complex
Ed Sheeran, Tyler Childers, and The Killers will headline this year’s edition of the Memorial Day weekend festival. The three-day festival has a stacked food and drink line-up, too. Tickets are on sale now and start at $194.
Fenway Park Summer Concert Series, June-August
Head to America’s Most Beloved Ballpark to see concerts take on the outfield, including Hootie and the Blowfish on June 21, Noah Kahan on July 18 + July 19, blink-182 on July 23, and Def Leppard and Journey on Aug. 5.
Gillette Stadium Summer Concerts, May-August
Journey to Foxborough to rock out with the Rolling Stones on May 30, “Fade to Black” with Metallica on Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, “Get the Party Started” with Pink on Aug. 21, and watch the sun go down with Kenny Chesney on Aug. 23-Aug. 25
Justin Timberlake, June 29 + June 30, TD Garden
Dance along with the former boy band member at this Garden concert for his new album featuring “Selfish.”
Usher, Aug. 27 + Aug. 28, TD Garden
Break out your roller skates and relive the Super Bowl halftime spectacular at the Garden with the “Burn” artist.
Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood Concerts, June-August
See one of the world’s most beloved music festivals with over 350,000 visitors for performances, recitals, and seminars across 500 acres and nestled between Lenox and Stockbridge this summer. Performers include Trey Anastasio with the Boston Pops, Jon Batiste, and Brandi Carlile.
Find this view at the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden in Back Bay Fens.
Photo by @erin_iocco
Flower and garden displays
Kelleher Rose Garden, 73 Park Dr.
Head to Back Bay Fens to stop and smell the ~1,500 roses. Dating back to 1931, the garden was designed by landscape architect Arthur Shurcliff, who later worked with Frederick Law Olmsted.
Boston Public Garden, 4 Charles St.
Separated by Charles Street, this Boston Common on one side and Public Garden on the other always has plenty of flora and fauna for garden enthusiasts. The Public Garden’s array of flowers, plants, and trees are a welcome oasis in the hustle and bustle of downtown.
Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway
Spend Mother’s Day taking a scenic stroll among the lilacs during Lilac Sunday on May 12.
Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Ave., Amesbury
About 45 miles north of Boston, this farm’s Tulip Fest 2024 will be held over two weekend dates, May 4-May 5 and May 11-May 12. Pick your own bouquet of tulips and enjoy plenty of food and drink.
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 900 Washington St., Wellesley
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society hosts “A Spring Affair,” the Noannet Garden Club’s Spring Horticulture Show on May 7. Displaying springtime flowers and plants grown by garden club members, select planter and garden tools will be available for purchase.
Community gardens
The Trustees of Reservations manages 56 gardens across eight neighborhoods in Boston, including Dorchester, East Boston, Fenway, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Mattapan, Mission Hill, and the South End. This organization is known as caretaker of Boston’s green spaces, plus the team helps to coordinate activities related to all of the city’s approximately 200 community gardens and ~18,000 individuals and families each year.
The City of Boston Community Gardens and Urban Farm Directory features gardens and farms throughout the city’s neighborhoods. You can pay a fee to purchase your own garden plot or visit one of the urban farms and learn where to buy their flowers, produce, and plants.
Berkeley Community Garden in the South End grows herbs, edible plants, and produce, welcoming visitors during daylight hours. Eager to get growing? They hold a lottery every spring to fill potential vacancies.
Pride events
Boston Pride for the People Parade and Festival, June 8
Boston’s Pride Parade returns with festivals at Boston Common + City Hall Plaza — it all kicks off at 11 a.m. in Copley Square. Register for the parade if you’d like to participate. If you’re there to watch, the party continues for all ages at the Boston Common Festival, or head to City Hall Plaza’s Block Party for a 21-years-and-older afterparty.
MFA First Friday, June 7, 6-9 p.m.
Celebrate Pride at the MFA with art making, music, and more.
Love Conquers Ale at Sam Adams Brewery
Since 2022, the local brewery has offered this special release, this year a wheat ale with yuzu and prickly pear, to celebrate Pride month and support GLADD.
Can’t miss Boston events
Seaport x Black Owned Bos. Market, May-October
The monthly Seaport market will feature 45 Black-owned businesses in fashion, beauty, wellness, giftware, food, art, and more from May to October.
Tom Brady Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, June 12
Gates open at 5 p.m. to see Tom Brady become the 35th person to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. This is the first time the Hall of Fame ceremony will be hosted inside Gillette Stadium from 7-9:30 p.m.
Harborfest, July 1-July 4
This four-day festival celebrating the area’s revolutionary and maritime history features loads of the creamy soup at Chowderfest, historical reenactments, and plenty of activities for the whole family.
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, July 4
The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is a Boston staple every year. Coming from the Hatch Shell and televised, the concert’s highlight is a performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture over a colorful fireworks display.
Shakespeare on the Common, July 16-Aug. 4
This summer the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will bring “The Winter’s Tale” to the Boston Common. The free performances will share the parable of betrayals, renewed hope, and the transformative power of time.
