From free waterfront concerts at Rowe’s Wharf’s Summer in the City 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 Bach to The Beatles Candlelight Concert! Enjoy hits like The Four Seasons from Vivaldi and Here Comes the Sun. Find all of the upcoming 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 3-16 and include favorites like El Barco and Geppetto!
3. Check out this awesome journey through space with Tom Hanks before its gone for good
The Moonwalkers—an immersive journey to outer space narrated by Tom Hanks transports you to another planet with groundbreaking storytelling and visuals. The exhibit takes place inside Back Bay’s historic The Saunders Castle! Learn more and reserve tickets.
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 26th annual Summer in the City series is back through August 29! Enjoy free waterfront beats Tuesdays through Fridays at Rowe’s Wharf. August welcomes dozens of 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 As You Like It. Running until July 23-August 10, 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 2 and 9 there will be a daytime show at 1 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 4 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 18 years, Christopher’s Haven has raised more than $1 million with the Cape Cod Bay Challenge.
Find the Cape Cod Bay Challenge on August 9 from 6:30 AM until 5 PM
Duxbury Beach Park 260 Gurnet Road Duxbury, MA 02332
Afterparty at Levitate Backyard from 12:30 PM until 4:00 PM at 1871 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA
15. Shell-ebrate National Oyster Day
Monday, August 5 is National Oyster Day—shell-ebrate that! Tons of Boston establishments serve up shucking good deals for the special day, or you can get festive on your own with these evergreen $1 oyster deals.
16. Jam out on the island of ACK with Nantucket Crisps
Nantucket Crisps returns its second-annual 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:
- 8/3: Smallpools
- 8/14: Trousdale
- 8/25: Futurebirds
- 8/28: Moon Taxi
📍Concerts at 5 Bartlett Farm Rd, Nantucket, MA 02554
📍Shop Nantucket Crisps in-person at 2 Broad St, Nantucket, MA 02554 or in Boston Seaport
17. Indulge at Puritan & Company’s 12th Annual Julia Child Tribute Dinner
“People who love to eat are always the best people,” said Julia Child. Join those people on August 7 for a fabulous dinner where local chefs will put their spin on famous Julia Child recipes. Tickets are $150 for this annual dinner celebration.
📍Saturday, August 7 at 6 PM at 1166 Cambridge Street in Cambridge
18. Go with the flow at 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!
📍Wednesday August 6 and 20 from 6-7 PM at 280 Congress Street Boston, MA 02210
19. 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.
20. Groove out at one of the world’s most intense dance competitions
Red Bull Dance Your Style, the international all-styles street dance event with a one-of-a-kind battle format, returns to Boston on August 9 at Roadrunner! The dance-off begins at 8 PM MC’d by legendary Boston Celtics host and movement coach Melisa Valdez! Competitors must groove their style to whatever song the Super Smash Broz decide to spin. Learn more and reserve your ticket here.