At long last, it’s summer in Boston! And that means there’s plenty of activities and events to enjoy. Below are some of our top picks for things to do this June in Boston.
From food festivals and music festivals to parades and outdoor movie nights, read on to find the best activities in Boston this June. For even more summer recommendations, check out our 50 count summer bucket list!
1. Enjoy a soothing performance of classical music by candlelight
Calm your mind and experience classical music in a whole new light with these sensational concerts located in historical Boston venues. Throughout June, the Candlelight Concert series will feature a wide variety of themed repertoires, from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to a limited-edition celebration of 100 Years of Warner Bros.
A Candlelight Gift Card also makes a great gift for those summer birthdays!
2. Cruise on a sightseeing day ride around the Boston Harbor
Take a 90 minute to 2-hour sail aboard the beautiful Adirondack III! The 80-foot beauty will whisk you around the Boston Harbor! Sail past Boston Seaport, Castle Island, Fort Independence, Spectacle Island, and Long Island Head Light. Enjoy the fresh saltwater breeze on a hot summer’s day. Book your sailing adventure here!
3. Watch cliff divers jump into the Boston Harbor
As you sail ahead, another fun adventure in the Boston Harbor is watching Olympic-level divers jump into the harbor! Part of the international Red Bull Cliff Diving Series, top athletes will jump from a 66-foot-high platform extension off the top of the ICA in Seaport.
4. Treat yourself to the best of both worlds at this comedic magic show
Award-winning magician Matt Roberts oscillates between laughter and astonishment as he brings his one-man show to Boston! Roberts will practice levitation, “mindreading” and even whip out a Houdini classic while keeping the tone of the evening a little lighthearted and humorous through some funny tricks at this family-friendly show.
Find it June 24 at 7 PM at Peabody’s Black Box Theater
5. Celebrate Pride in the city
June is pride month, and while Boston celebrates all-year long, we can’t help but love the season of love. From annual festivals to marches and more, there are over 10 unique Pride festivals to celebrate at this June!
6. Go on a self-guided foodie adventure with clues and mystery picnics
Enjoy the lovely springtime weather and go on an adventurous culinary experience! This mystery picnic date includes solving puzzles and riddles sent to your smartphone to figure out the location of your stunning secret picnic spot. You can go on this 3-hour picnic extravaganza with a date or a group of friends—it’s up to you!
7. Take a trip to the beach
New England has some of the best beaches in the country! It’s why celebs flock to the Vineyard, Rhode Island is “the Island State,” and why our Cape traffic is so darn atrocious. If you want to skip the traffic, hop on the CapeFLYER, a train servicing Boston to the Cape Friday-Sunday through Labor Day.
You can also take this $10 train to 32 different Massachusetts beaches, or visit one of these award-winning beach resorts:
8. Take an educational and delicious Pizza Tour in the North End
Whether you’re looking to entertain out-of-towners or want to learn some pizza history yourself, you can enjoy a pizza-powered guided tour around Boston’s historical North End. On the tour, you’ll visit five history-laden Freedom Trail sites and snack on pizza as you go along. Get your tickets to the experience here.
9. Celebrate at the Bunker Hill Day Parade
10. Attend a music festival in Massachusetts
At long last, music festivals have returned to Massachusetts, and they’re back in full swing. Who needs Coachella when you’ve got stellar festivals with world-class acts right here? In June, check out the Green River Music Fest. Hosted at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in western Massachusetts, the festival takes place on over 28 acres of land starting June 23, and will feature St. Paul and the Broken Bones and Miko Marks.
11. Check out summer markets and workout series in Seaport
Seaport is the place to be this summer! With daily events and activities, here are some that we’re most looking forward to this June:
12. Watch a movie in the great outdoors
The perfect summer evening activity is back! One of the most nostalgic and entertaining ways to spend a summer night is definitely enjoying an outdoor movie. Whether you want to go to the drive-ins or walk to a local screening, check out these outdoor movie screening spots on a warm summer night.
13. Or catch a new movie on the big screen (indoors, with AC!)
We can’t wait to see the newest movie releases on a screen larger than our laptops! Plus, you can’t beat that movie theater AC on a hot June day. This summer, there are plenty of anticipated films, like The Super Mario Bros Movie and Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse. Get your tickets to the hottest films in Boston here with an exclusive discount.
14. Cheer on the Red Sox
With plenty of home games this June, it’s a great time to get out and cheer on the Sox! Can’t snag a ticket? No worries – check out our favorite sports-adoring restaurants in Boston to cheer from your seat!
15. Grab a slice at the annual Boston Pizza Festival
Over 30 pizzerias will showcase their famed slices at this festival happening at City Hall Plaza on Saturday June 24, 2023 and Sunday June 25, 2023! Vegan and gluten-free options will be available to snack on as well. While the festival is free, tickets are required for each slice, you can skip the line of 20,000 guests by pre-ordering your slice tickets here.
16. Visit a new boutique for your summer wardrobe
- Newburyport: The first LEALLO boutique just opened at 15 State Street in Newburyport, Mass. With an emphasis on timeless quality and maintaining a low carbon footprint- LEALLO offers Mass. residents easy access to cashmeres, Pima cotton, and eco-friendly dyed clothing.
- Nantucket: Charleston’s favorite boutique, Beau & Ro, is now open at 4 Federal Street in downtown Nantucket. A jewel box destination for upbeat and effortless dressing, Beau & Ro features apparel, bags, accessories, and gifts. The boutique will showcase Beau & Ro’s apparel, an exclusive collection of unique designs created in the retailer’s own fair-trade factory, Olive Workshop.
- Also on Nantucket: Alice Walk has opened the company’s first brick & mortar shop at 18B Federal Street, Nantucket. With the motto “fabric-first design,” the company is founded on the belief that pairing classic silhouettes with beautiful, unique fabrics is the key to creating a fresh-yet-timeless wardrobe.
- Seaport: New to The Current, Boston’s hottest retail incubator is RANDOLPH, a Mass. born and based company handcrafting premium sunglasses since 1973. Now in its 50th year, RANDOLPH celebrates with an in-person activation at The Current. Go find your new pair of summer shades through September 2.
17. Catch a magical CORTEO Cirque Du Soleil show
The international favorite, Cirque du Soleil returns to Boston at Agganis Arena, where acrobats will fly and audiences will transport into a world of magical fun! In a Cirque du Soleil first, the stage is central in the arena and divides the venue, with each half of the audience facing the other half, giving a unique perspective not only of the show, but also a performer’s eye view of the audience.
18. Awe at a live, darkly funny phantasmagoria
Written and directed by celebrated Ukrainian playwright and director Sasha Denisova, THE GAAGA will be an immersive one-of-a-kind production telling a heartfelt story of a Ukranian refugee, in a witty and inspiring manner. The show will run June 8-18 at BEAT BREW HALL located at 13 Brattle St, Harvard Square. There will also be virtual showings and tickets and more info are available online.
19. Celebrate and honor Juneteenth in the city
Juneteenth, named after June 19, the date marking the federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas. The historic moment dates back to 1865 Galveston, Texas where Union soldiers formally announced the abolishment of slavery. It became an official Massachusetts state holiday in 2021 and is now honored every year.
Boston Juneteenth will celebrate on June 19 with a special flag ceremony, parade, museum tour, and emancipation program.
20. Catch The Real Housewives of New York City’s Dorinda Medley at Tanglewood
Boston Symphony Orchestra shared the news that The Real Housewives of New York City’s Dorinda Medley will be appear at NPR’s oddly informative news quiz program Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 8 PM at The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA!
The Peabody Award-winning series offers a fast-paced, irreverent look at the week’s news, hosted by Peter Sagal along with Official Judge and Scorekeeper Bill Kurtis. Medley is a Berkshire native, who worked with Princess Diana when she had her own cashmere company!
21. Check out Boston’s new 3-story sky-high observatory
View Boston opens on June 15! The first-of-its-kind observatory will offer panoramic views of Boston both indoors and outdoors. Located atop the Prudential Center, it will also be home to three skyscraper restaurants and lounges where you can enjoy a meal with unmatched views! Make sure to check out our 11 favorite rooftops for more stunning city views.
22. Rent your own private electric boat
Bye, bye boat envy! You know those boats cruising along the Boston Harbor making a splash and having a good time? Well, now you can be in one of them! Boston Electric Boats is one of our must-do experiences this summer! Take a 2-hour private boat rental that fits up to 12 people for $499 (that divvies out to $42 per person). The best part- you get to be your own captain and there are no carbon emissions.
23. Celebrate pops this Father’s Day
Sunday, June 18, 2023, is Father’s Day! Taking him out for a boat ride is always a great option. You can also check out some of these amazing restaurants, local gift shops, or take him out to Fenway Park for the Yankees at Red Sox game at 7:10 PM on Father’s Day- you know it’s going to get heated!
- Buy him some delicious Father’s Day-themed chocolates from local Artisan, Choc Allure
- Take him to Cremieux in Seaport for impeccably crafted men’s clothing
- Treat him to hand-crafted American made sunglasses from local brand, Randolph – new at The Current and celebrating its 50th anniversary, with recent celebrity fans of the brand including Boston natives John Krasinski and Mark Wahlberg
- Stop by Puttshack for some mini golf fun and all day dining
24. Relax and reset at a local spa Haven
Summer is the best season-we don’t make the rules! But as we all know the sun, sand, surf, and salt can have some implications and sometimes require a little extra care for da body. Haven Beauty is your one-stop-shop this summer for tipping back on anything you might have overdone, whether it be sun or fun. You can get a cooling facial, hair refresh, or massage as you sip on their icy cold complimentary beverages.
25. Put your ‘pinkies up’ at a dazzling tea party
Broken Cup Teahouse will present a fabulous tasting with local Formaggio Kitchen cheesemonger, Calif Trinh. Take a deep dive into 5 styles of cheese and 5 styles of tea. You will get to experience the flavors of each tea and each cheese on its own as well as explore them in pairings, and hear about the history, processing, and culture behind each one. The tea party is on June 24 in Cambridge, MA. Find more info and times and prices here.
26. Take an oyster farm tour and culinary workshop on the Cape with AutoCamp Cape Cod
Head down the Cape to kick off summer with AutoCamp Cape Cod, Gozney, Sea State, and James Beard nominated Chef Sarah Glover for a weekend of cooking, community, and endless beach days! From June 16-18 you can enjoy these exclusive culinary experiences. Spend the day at sea with an oyster farm tour and explore new flavors with some recipe sampling from Chef Glover’s new cookbook, Open Skies. It’s the perfect way to chime in the long weekend and celebrate Father’s Day!
27. Catch a live segment of the beloved relationship podcast, U Up? at The Wilbur
U Up? is the definitive modern dating podcast presented by Betches co-founder Jordana Abraham and comedian Jared Freid, where they discuss their take on the ebbs and flows of the crazy dating world we live in. U Up? Live Presented by Faux Pas features a night of Dating App Makeovers presented by Maybelline, fan-favorite Red Flag Deal Breaker presented by Faux Pas and so much more. U Up? Live will take place in Boston takes place on Thursday, June 22 at The Wilbur and you can reserve a seat starting from $40.