The weather is still warm, the leaves will soon be changing colors, and the possibilities for outdoor and indoor activities are endless! Check out our list for the best things to do and see all throughout the month:
1. Celebrate the last days of summer on a Seaport Boat Cruise
Embrace the last days of summer by sailing on a 3-hour Seaport boat cruise. Witha fully stocked bar and two DJs playing the best hits from the 90s and 00s, you’ll have a blast partying on this cruise and taking in the sights of Boston’s harbor. This cruise set sail again on September 9th and 10th, so make sure you snag those tickets soon!
2. Do back to school right with our ultimate student guide
There’s no better city on earth to be a student. With 64 colleges in the Boston area, the city floods with students from all over the world in September. If you’re one of them, check out our handy student guide to make the most of your years studying in Boston.
3. See fields of sunflowers in full bloom
In New England, the best time to see sunflowers in full bloom is late August until early September. That’s why you don’t want to wait to catch these natural beauties in action! Before autumn rolls around, enjoy the last moments of the summer by stopping by a sunflower field in full bloom, snapping some pics, and maybe even taking some home with you. It’s the perfect seasonal activity to drive outside the city and have some fun in the sunflowers!
4. Catch a candlelight performance of classical music
Calm your mind and experience classical music in a new light with these sensational concerts in some of Boston’s most magical locations. Coming in September are dozens of concert series in two venues. Soothing melodies play at Arlington Street Church and Temple Ohabei Shalom, two historic and architecturally beautiful venues that elevate the music to even higher levels. Read more about each event here:
5. Watch the sky dazzle with this popular DroneArt Show
The previously sold-out show returns to Allston! DroneArt is a world-renowned drone show featuring hundreds of synchronized drones creating art in the sky! Learn more and reserve your tickets here.
6. Experience breathtaking tricks at the Theater of Magic
Boston’s Theater of Magic presents “an exclusive evening of wonder, illusion, and elegance” this fall. Australia’s celebrity magician, Christopher Wayne will make an appearance after 5 months Off-Broadway, leading you to question reality as you know it. And to compliment the evening, you’ll find themed cocktails and delicious bites at “Clink” — their on-site restaurant.
Winner of the 2025 Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award and ranked among the top 10% of activities in the world by Trip Advisor, Boston’s home of magic and illusion offers an enchanting experience you won’t catch anywhere else. Get tickets for a tasteful evening in Boston!
7. Catch a WaterFire lighting event
WaterFire, Providence’s very own arts, music, and bonfire event, is a lovely event that runs from summer through late fall! This year will be the 27th anniversary of Providence’s iconic tourist attraction, and there will be plenty of music, food, and arts vendors in the area to check out as well! Check out the lighting on September 27 from 5:30-11 PM!
8. Catch a flick the old-fashioned way at a drive-in theatre
Drive-in theaters have been seeing a renaissance over the last year. When actual theaters closed, the 50s tradition of “driving in” to the movies became a perfectly COVID-safe and vintage alternative to seeing the latest flicks as well as old classics. There are many options around New England for catching a drive-in showing—some with more of a drive than others—but all will provide an unforgettable movie experience!
9. Attend the Boston Local Food Festival
On Sunday, September 14, the 15th annual Boston Local Food Festival will be held at the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway in Boston. With food and produce vendors spanning four city blocks, you’ll be delighted to find bounties of local food and restaurants downtown. This free event will run from 11 AM to 5 PM, so get ready to eat, shop and discover local food from across New England!
10. Go glamping on the Cape
AutoCamp offers one of the best glamping retreats near the city! Its just a 90-minute trip from Boston and boasts gorgeous marsh views, starry skies, access to the Shining Sea bikeway and local beaches, plus much more!
11. Take a ride on a beautiful city bike path
A bike ride around Boston is a simple and peaceful activity for locals and visitors alike to enjoy while the weather is still nice. 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.
12. Soak up the last of the summer sun on a hiking trail
What better way to appreciate September’s changing leaves and temperate weather than to take a walk on a gorgeous hiking trail? It’s safe to say Boston’s one of the best and most beautiful cities in the country, but our beloved Boston is also surrounded by some absolutely stunning wilderness. From the more urban Emerald Necklace to the hilly paths of World’s End, explore the great outdoors at these ten gorgeous spots, perfect for hikers of all levels. Don’t forget to bring your camera with you because these gorgeous trails serve some equally gorgeous views!
13. …Or challenge yourself to this advanced hike at an acclaimed national park
Acadia National Park is home to one of the “13 most iconic attractions” in the country according to Fodor’s Travel. The Beehive Loop as it is called, is a one-way trail that involves rungs and ladders.
The trail is advanced and strenuous. Because it is one-way there is no turning back once you commit. But the views at the top are unmatched!
14. Buff up your culinary skills at a cooking class
If you’re looking for a delicious food experience that you can recreate again and again, why not try a cooking class? Whether you attend in-person or online, a variety of cooking classes offered in Boston right now are sure to elevate your kitchen skills to a whole new level.
15. Learn all about sailing at New Bedoford’s Whaling Museum
The Whaling Museum showcases exhibitions about sailors and whalers, offering an inside look to life at sea.
16. Go pumpkin picking at a local patch
Bring out the gourds! Hoards and hoards of pumpkins and squash will decorate local patches all around the city. Grab some pumpkins for decorating, painting or carving!
17. And grab some apples while you’re there
Apple picking is the quintessential fall activity in Massachusetts. After all, America’s first apple orchard was planted on Beacon Hill in 1625!
Most pumpkin patches also offer apple picking. Check out this guide for a specific list of apple-picking farms near Boston. Tougas Family Farm, about 1 hour from Boston, was recently picked as the best apple picking farm in America.
18. Warm up with hot apple cider donuts
And for the cherry on top, kick off September with apple cider donuts. Whether stopping by a donut shop in the city or fresh from the farm, taste September in this sweet confection.
19. Get inspired at CineFest Latino Boston film festival
The third annual CineFest Latino Boston film festival runs from September 24 through September 28! The festival features captivating narrative, documentary, and short films in addition to Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. To kick off this year’s festival, CineFest will host a free community screening on Thursday, September 18 at Zumix in East Boston, featuring a series of shorts.
Tickets for the CineFest Latino Boston festival go on sale in September.
20. Celebrate National Yoga month and these yogi studios in Boston and beyond
September marks Nationa Yoga Month, an ideal time to chaturanga into the fall season and slow down. Visit a Boston favorite yoga studio like Corepower Yoga or Asana Charlestown. Or visit luxury wellness escape, Miraval Berkshires, to delight in a yoga class grounded in nature.
Check out the last of Seaport Sweat to enjoy some free outdoor movement in the city.
21. Enjoy a taste of India in Boston
Authors Jyoti Mukharji and her son Auyon are coming to Boston to promote their unique cookbook Heartland Masala, with a dinner event at Pagu on Wednesday, September 3, and a book talk at Brookline Booksmith on Friday, September 5 at 7 pm. Heartland Masala, on sale September 9, 2025, blends traditional Indian recipes and rich cultural essays, drawing from Jyoti’s acclaimed Kansas City cooking classes and Auyon’s creative touch as a member of the local indie-folk band Darlingside.