From free waterfront concerts to outdoor movies on Boston Common make your summer unforgettable with the best things to do in Boston this August. Whether you’re enjoying a relaxing swan boat ride in the Public Garden, catching a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, or experiencing the vibrant North End feasts and festivals, there’s something for everyone. These August activities are as refreshing as that first sip of iced coffee in the morning, ensuring your summer days are filled with excitement and joy before they come to an end.
1. Attend a glorious Candlelight Concert
Have a Mamma Mia summer with the special Queen Meets ABBA Candlelight Concert! Enjoy hits like Dancing Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody. Check out these other Candlelight Concert options:
2. Get ready for Dine Out Boston, round two
Our favorite time of the year is here- Dine Out Boston! Over 100 menus to choose from, enjoy a two or three course lunch for just $25 at some of Boston’s best establishments! Dine Out Boston will run from August 4-17 and include favorites like Limani and Parm!
3. Enjoy a relaxing dinner by the waterfront
As a seaside town, Boston has no shortage of waterfront dining. There’s no better plan for a summer evening than to spend the evening cooling off by the water at one of the many beautiful waterfront spots the city has to offer, so check out our list of seaside eateries for your evening plans.
4. Take a picnic…a mystery picnic
If you like scavenger hunts and picnics, you’ll love this mystery picnic that combines the best of both worlds! Play in a group of 2 to 8 and solve clues, puzzles, and games to take yourself through a pre-organized tasting and stunning picnic spread featuring curated artisanal cheese, meats, crackers and local produce.
5. Cool down with a scoop of Boston’s best ice cream
If it’s hot out in Boston, there’s one thing you must have at hand at all times–an ice cream! Our mapped-out list has everything from Emack & Bolio’s cool cones to Eataly’s gourmet Italian gelato. Check it out!
6. Enroll in a guided walking tour of Harvard
Sure you might live in Boston or a neighboring hub like Cambridge, but have you seen Harvard? As one of the strictest and most exclusive campuses in the state, unless you’re a student the most access permitted is a passing through the yahd.
This walking tour will take you through the square, campus, art museums, Memorial Hall, and make a necessary visit to the John Harvard Statue. August is a fun time to be on campus as new and returning students trickle into Harvard Square.
7. Harmonize at Summer in The City with the Boston Harbor Hotel
The 25th annual Summer in the City series is back through August 29! Enjoy free waterfront beats Tuesdays through Fridays at Rowe’s Wharf. August welcomes 17 different entertainers! Check them out here.
📍Boston Harbor Hotel
8. Attend a free Shakespeare play in the park
Boston’s most popular outdoor theatre is back this summer with free productions of Shakespearean classics like The Winter’s Tale. Running until July 16-August 4, you don’t wanna miss these lovely performances in an even lovelier location: Boston Common! Shows are nightly at 8 PM on the Common. On Saturday, August 3, the show will be at 6 PM.
9. Take a wild ride at a local theme park
Warm summer weekends call for city escapes and adventure — and what better place to find both than at a theme park? From the North Shore to the further-flung Lake Compounce, our list of theme parks near Boston are some of the best to pay a visit to this summer.
10. Cruise around the city’s parks on a bicycle
A bike ride around Boston is a simple yet enjoyable summer activity for locals and visitors alike. There’s a bike path for everyone – whether you’re looking for a beginner-friendly path, Instagrammable views of the city, or historical landmarks. You can bring your own bike or rent a Blue Bike from one of the many docking stations around the Hub.
11. Board an 80-foot schooner for a Boston Harbor sail
Take 90 minute to 2-hour sail around Boston aboard this timeless ship originally dating back to the 1890s! You’ll see everything from Castle Island to the Long Island Head Light on this sail. Reserve your adventure here!
12. Lounge around at one of Boston’s beautiful parks
From Fenway to the South End to the Back Bay, Boston’s green spaces are a perfect backdrop for a lazy summer afternoon. For all your lounging and picnicking needs, check out our picks for some of the best parks in Boston.
13. Seal the summer with a Seaport cruise
There’s no better way to close out the summer than on a boat with friends. Bring some old ones and make some new ones on this Seaport Summer Cruise! Enjoy panoramic city views and watch the sunset on the Provincetown II Boat launching from Seaport.
14. Take part in a historic stand-up paddle challenge
The Cape Cod Bay Challenge is the Northeast’s oldest and most recognized stand-up paddle challenge! Participants can partake in a 5- or 16-mile paddle and later celebrate at the Levitate Backyard and Rexicana Surf Cantina from 12 PM until 4:00 PM! The proceeds from the Cape Cod Bay Challenge will benefit Christopher’s Haven, a non-profit helping family whose children have cancer secure housing adjacent to MGH.
Over the last 16 years, Christopher’s Haven has raised more than $1 million with the Cape Cod Bay Challenge.
Find the Cape Cod Bay Challenge on August 3 from 6:30 AM until 5 PM
Duxbury Beach Park 260 Gurnet Road Duxbury, MA 02332
Afterparty from 12 PM until 4:00 PM at 1871 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA
15. Get colorful at a drive-in nighttime laser concert
The hot air balloon and laser show returns, this time with an epic drive-in spectacular! While there won’t be balloons soaring this August, you can head to Topsfield for live entertainment melded with an exciting laser show! Find it August 16 and 17, 2024 in Guilford, Connecticut.
16. Take your canine for Dog Yoga at Sea Green Park
Enjoy free dog yoga in Seaport every Sunday this August! Bring your dog, mat, and best downward dog for a great yogi class. Classes are free for all.
📍 Every Sunday in August from 10-11 AM at 21 Stillings St, Boston MA 02210
17. Channel your inner Olympian at The Whitney Hotel
In celebration of the Olympics, The Whitney Hotel offers guest an immersive athlete-inspired stay for a limited time! Enjoy an overnight stay, wellness basket, Hydrow Swag, and breakfast of champions with The Whitney Hydrow Package. Rooms are complete with an advanced hydro-rowing machine so you can test your skills at one of the toughest Olympic sports, crew!
18. Check out this ‘pay-what-you-can’ history meets humor comedy show
Hub Theatre makes herstory with the Boston premiere of 46 Plays for America’s First Ladies, directed by award-winning local favorite IIyse Robbins. The comedy talks about being a woman in the White House and the challenges faced. Learn more!
📍Performances Thursday-Saturday at 7 PM now through August 3 at Club Café, 209 Columbus Ave.
19. Celebrate National Oyster Day
Monday, August 5 is National Oyster Day—shell-ebrate that! Tons of Boston establishments serve up shucking good deals, find some below:
- $2 oysters at Abe & Louie’s
- $1 oysters fresh, fried and Rockefeller from Atlantic Fish Co.
20. Enjoy the second annual STARS of the Spectrum Music Festival
The largest live musical event in America from autistic artists returns this August. Over 15 performers ranging from singers to dancers and even America’s Got Talent Winner Kodi Lee will perform in Quincy, raising funds for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation.
📍Saturday, August 3 from 2-9 PM at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium 850 Hancock St. Quincy, MA
21. Jam out on the island of ACK with Nantucket Crisps
Still not over Whale Jam at Roadrunner in Boston earlier this year? Have no FOMO, Nantucket Crisps introduces the Whale Jam Summer Series on the island of Nantucket this summer! All concert proceeds go to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation.
All August, enjoy rotating artists at Cisco accompanied by incredible chips and limited-edition summer flavors like South Wharf Cocktail Sauce and Hummock Hot Honey! Plus, make sure to swing by the new Nantucket Crisps shop in downtown ACK!
Upcoming shows include Ryan Miller of Guster on Sunday, August 18 and Jonathan Russell of Head and the Heart on Friday, August 30!
📍Concerts at 5 Bartlett Farm Rd, Nantucket, MA 02554
📍Shop Nantucket Crisps in-person at 0 India Street, Nantucket, MA
22. Indulge at Puritan & Company’s 11th Annual Julia Child Tribute Dinner
“People who love to eat are always the best people,” said Julia Child. Join those people on August 14 for a fabulous dinner where 7 local chefs will put their spin on famous Julia Child recipes. Tickets are $130 for this annual dinner celebration.
📍Saturday, August 14 at 6 PM at 1166 Cambridge Street in Cambridge
23. Enjoy a one-night-only free screening of THE GOONIES on Boston Common
Alamo Drafthouse & Commonwealth Shakespeare Company join forces to host a free screening of the 1985 adventure-comedy film. Bring your own snacks and seating and come prepared for a GOONIES-inspired scavenger hunt on the Common featuring a grand prize!
📍Saturday, August 10 at 8 PM on Boston Common
24. Enjoy free outdoor yoga with CorePower
Experience the stress-relieving, clarity-boosting, and mood-enhancing benefits of outdoor yoga with Boston’s premiere yogi studio, CorePower! All classes are free! August classes in Cambridge at Urban Park are full, but waterfront classes at Atlantic Wharf are still available!
📍Wednesday August 7 and 21 from 6-7 PM at 290 Congress Street Boston, MA 02210
25. Choose-your-own-adventure at the Museum of Science’s new exhibit
Innovation: Earth, part of the Museum’s Year of the Earthshot, a yearlong exploration of climate action and sustainable solutions, introduces a new interactive exhibit explores life in a carbon-neutral world. Learn about trailblazing innovations and climate solutions at Boston’s Museum of Science.