21 Best Boston Festivals to Attend in 2025

Updated for 2025

Boston’s best festivals in 2025 bring art, music, and culture to life. From music fests to street markets, these 21 events across the city are must-sees for locals and visitors. Dive into the festival scene!

PAST:

Boston Calling Music Festival
Boston Dragon Boat Festival
Boston Early Music Festival
Woburn Greek Festival
Greek Festival Boston

Boston Harborfest

(July 2nd–4th)
Celebrate Boston’s maritime heritage at Boston Harborfest, a major Fourth of July festival. Held at Downtown Crossing, Christopher Columbus Park, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway, it features reenactments, concerts, Chowderfest, and fireworks on July 2nd. Free and family-friendly.

Find more summer fun in our Top 10 Summer Events guide.

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

(July 4th)
Embrace patriotism at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, a free concert at the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. Conducted by Keith Lockhart, it starts at 8 PM, with fireworks at 10:30 PM, broadcast on Bloomberg TV and Channel 7 WHDH.

Boston Little Saigon Night Market

(July 13th)
Explore Vietnamese culture at the Boston Little Saigon Night Market in Fields Corner, Dorchester. From 4 PM to 9:30 PM, enjoy crafts, games, a beer garden, bubble tea, and street food. Free admission.

Lowell Folk Festival

(July 25-27)
The Lowell Folk Festival is the longest-running and second-largest free folk festival in the U.S., featuring three days of traditional music, dance, craft demos, street parades, and global cuisine across six outdoor stages in Lowell, Massachusetts. Originating from the National Folk Festival, which Lowell hosted from 1987–1989, the city has continued the tradition annually since 1990. It takes place the last full weekend of July and is produced in partnership with local and national cultural organizations.

Puerto Rican Festival

(July 28th–30th)
Celebrate Puerto Rican heritage at the Puerto Rican Festival on City Hall Plaza, featuring music, carnival rides, and vendors from July 28th (2 PM–10 PM) to July 30th (noon–10 PM). The Grand Parade on July 28th starts at Franklin Park at noon. Free admission.

Boston Jazz Festival

(August 29th–30th)
Groove to jazz at the Boston Jazz Festival in the Seaport District’s Maritime Park. Running Friday (5 PM–10 PM) and Saturday (12 PM–10 PM), this free festival features local and international artists, a food court, and a marketplace.

Seisiún: 2 Days of Irish Music, Arts & Cultural Festival

(Sept. 6-7)
Seisiún, a two-day Irish music and cultural festival, takes over The Stage at Suffolk Downs on September 6–7, 2025. This outdoor celebration features legendary and rising Irish and American acts, with headliners The Pogues and Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys. The lineup also includes Glen Hansard, The Hold Steady, The Waterboys, Cardinals, The Rumjacks, and Lisa O’Neill.

Boston Arts Festival

(September 6 & 7)
Immerse yourself in Boston’s art scene at the Boston Arts Festival, “ähts,” in the Seaport District. This free event showcases local artists and live music, typically in early September. 2025 dates are pending—check MeetBoston.

Boston Comedy Festival

(Aug 23rd, Sept 27, Oct 11, & Nov 29)
Laugh out loud at the Boston Comedy Festival, showcasing comedians across city venues. Featuring established and emerging talent, it typically occurs in September. 2025 dates are pending.

Mystic River Celebration

(September 20)
Celebrate the arts at the Mystic River Celebration, a lively festival along the Mystic River showcasing local talent. Typically in September, 2025 details are pending. Check local event calendars.

HONK! Festival

(October 9-12)
Join the brass band extravaganza at the HONK! Festival in Somerville and Harvard Square. This three-day event features street bands, parades, and activism, typically in early October. 2025 dates are unconfirmed—check the HONK! website.

Boston Book Festival

(October, TBA)
Celebrate literature at the Boston Book Festival in Copley Square. This free event features author talks, workshops, and kid-friendly activities. Typically held in late October, 2025 dates are pending. Check the festival’s website for updates.

Boston International Kids Film Festival

(November, TBA)
Spark creativity at the Boston International Kids Film Festival, showcasing independent films for children at venues like the Somerville Theatre. Typically in November, this family-friendly event inspires young audiences. 2025 dates are pending—check the festival’s website.

Snowport Winter Holiday Market

(November 10th–December 31st)
Embrace the holiday spirit at the Snowport Winter Holiday Market in the Seaport District. This European-style market features 120+ vendors selling art, jewelry, and gifts, plus food, drinks, iceless curling, and a tree lighting. Open daily, free admission.

Conclusion:

Boston offers an incredible array of experiences for everyone to enjoy. From music enthusiasts to food lovers and art aficionados, these 20 festivals scheduled for 2025 promise unforgettable memories. So mark your calendars, and get ready to have a blast!

Explore more with our guide to 20 Unique Things to do in Boston!