Events
Waterfront For All Summit
Waterfront for All Summit: a free, one-day gathering on the future of access, equity, and resilience on the regional waterfront.
For five years, a coalition of community groups, public agencies, and advocates has worked to make the waterfront open to everyone. The Waterfront for All Summit marks that milestone and sets the course for what comes next.
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront and Boston Harbor Now will co-host a free, one-day gathering at Boston Children's Museum. Come for new data you can actually use, skills you can put to work, and connections you can call on long after the day ends. This is where the next chapter of the waterfront's future begins, and who gets to be part of it.
We hope you will join us.
Check out upcoming events from our partner organizations!
BIPOC Birding Cruise
Welcome autumn in with open arms and closed hands around your favorite pair of binoculars: we're going birding!
Join Boston Harbor Now, Mass Audubon, and the National Park Service on a 2-hour birding excersion on the Boston Harbor. This cruise will be open anyone who identifies as a BIPOC/person of color and their friends and family. What to expect:
Light breakfast fare and coffee prior to boarding
Boat departs promptly at 9am
2-hour cruise w/ narration
Vessel has indoor and outdoor viewing areas and restrooms
Moakley Park Cleanup
MAKE MOAKLEY YOURS by joining a cleanup at the park this season!
Join Boston Harbor Now, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and Boston Cares at Moakley Park to give back to your community and enjoy the beauty of the city's biggest waterfront park!
The event will run rain or shine, however may be canceled due to severe weather conditions.
When cleanups are: Cleanups occur on the third Saturday of the month from March through October.
What is provided: All necessary tools, including gloves, pickers, bags, and safety instructions + BREAKFAST
What to expect: A volunteer session is 2 hours long, beginning at 9:30am and will require picking up litter and natural debris. We’ll give you everything you need to keep you safe. Just bring a positive attitude as you help make a difference in this City of Boston Park.
What to bring: Make sure you wear work clothes and close-toed shoes (that you don't mind getting wet or dirty). Depending on the weather, you may want to bring a hat, sunscreen, raincoat, or jacket. Don't forget a water bottle!
Directions: Please meet in the park near the picnic tables by the basketball courts near Saunders Stadium (see image below).
*Note*: If the event of your choice is full but you are interested in participating in future Moakley Park Cleanups, please contact volunteers@bostonharbornow.org.
Charlestown Navy Yard: 174 Years of Naval History and Shipbuilding
Join the Friends of Boston Harborwalk on a Guided Walking Tour
Please join Mike Manning of the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk for a walking tour of the Charlestown Navy Yard (CNY). The CNY was one of the original six navy yards constructed in the early 1800s for the US Navy. We will explore the history of the yard from 1800 to 1974 and discuss dry dock construction, warship building, shipyard architecture, and many related topics. The tour will begin at Gate 1 and end the USS Constitution Museum.
The Friends of the Boston Harborwalk is a volunteer group affiliated with Boston Harbor Now. The group meets monthly to promote awareness, public enjoyment and local stewardship of Boston’s 43-mile Harborwalk. For more information on joining the group, please contact Mike Manning, Chair, at mmanning@bostonharbornow.org
Reel Fun Fishing Day at Deer Island
Join us for a day of fishing and fun at Deer Island!
Come to Deer Island for a day of fishing, food, and fun!
Learn how to fish for and identify striped bass and winter flounder with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Two fishing sessions will be available: 10:00am - 12:00pm and 12:00pm-2:00pm. Rods and other supplies will be provided!
Meet National Park Service Rangers and be sworn in as an *official* Boston Harbor Islands Junior Ranger
Play games, color, and learn "what not to flush" from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)
Learn about Boston Harbor's biodiversity and meet *real crabs* with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Bring your own picnic blanket and lunch to enjoy with a view!
Explore the trails of Deer Island on your own
Discover other exciting Boston Harbor Islands events coming this season!
Walk-up registrations are available!
DIRECTIONS & PARKING
It is highly recommended to take public transportation, bike or carpool as parking at Deer Island is *extremely* limited.
MBTA:
Take the Blue Line T to Orient Heights Station
Transfer to the 712 Bus toward Point Shirley and get off at Tafts Ave. @ Otis Street
Walk south on Tafts Ave. until you reach the pier (about 8 minutes).
Driving: Navigate to 190 Tafts Avenue, Winthrop, MA 02152, and follow parking signs to one of two small lots: https://www.mwra.com/03sewer/html/sewdi_access.htm
This program is presented by the National Park Service, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), Boston Harbor Now, , and Save the Harbor, Save the Bay, with generous support from the National Park Foundation.
The Artist’s Voice: Lucy Raven with Ruth Erickson
Raven’s work explores the physical and mythical landscapes of the American West, as seen in her mesmerizing film installation—Murderers Bar. Witness the transformation of a landscape and embrace the subsequent release of energy and force through the largest dam removal project in North America. Join Raven and Ruth Erickson, Barbara Lee Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the ICA, in East Boston’s Watershed for a morning conversation about her ongoing work centering industry and the American landscape. Coffee and breakfast snacks will be provided, as supplies last.
ICA Water Shuttles from Seaport to East Boston will not be operating from 10-11AM. Learn more about other transportation options here.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
Adams Farm Day
Celebrate the Season at Adams Farm Fall Day!
Join NepRWA and the Friends of Adams Farm for a fun-filled day of music, food, and activities!
Visit NepRWA’s table to learn how you can protect local water resources and wildlife in Walpole.
Pride in the Park Community Cruise
Come celebrate Pride on the harbor with an afternoon of music, games, drag performances, and community on Spectacle Island!
Join us to celebrate the vibrant and diverse queer community on Spectacle Island for an evening of art activities, health resources and drag performances!
Pride in the Park includes
A round-trip scenic ferry ride from Boston to Spectacle Island
Drag performances hosted by Mizery McRae
Music by DJ Lady Ly
Field Games
Hammocks
Crafts
Health Resources
Sunset views of Boston Harbor and the city skyline
After-hours access to Spectacle Island
Check out the artists at the event on social media:
This is a rain or shine event!
Directions: Guests must arrive at Fan Pier *by 3:00pm* to board the ferry to Spectacle Island. It will depart promptly at 3:30pm and will not wait for late arrivals.
The return ferry will depart Spectacle Island at 6:30 pm, with an 7 pm scheduled return to Boston. *Please note that the Harbor can be busy in the evening which can occasionally result in a delayed return.*
Other important information
Outside alcohol is strictly prohibited, and any alcohol purchased on the boat must be left on the boat.
No pets (except service animals) are allowed.
We offer no parking validation.
If you or your group is interested in tabling or an exhibition, please email jmeakem@bostonharbornow.org.
Pride in the Park Community Cruise is presented by Boston Harbor Now and the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park. Programming has been curated by LGBTQIA2S+ staff of Boston Harbor Now and allies.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
Seaport District: Innovation or Inundation
Join the Friends of Boston Harborwalk on a Guided Walking Tour of Boston’s Newest Neighborhood
Please join Mike Manning of the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk (FBHW) for a guided walking tour of Boston's newest neighborhood - the South Boston Seaport/Waterfront. The tour will begin at Martin's Park at the base of the Evelyn Moakley bridge. We'll then cross Seaport Boulevard and wind our way through the Seaport beginning at the Barking Crab restaurant and ending at the Boston Fish Pier (circa 1914) at Northern Avenue near D Street.
I'll discuss the history of this neighborhood of Boston and how it has more recently evolved over the last 25 years. I'll also mention building density, climate change and sea-level rise, resiliency, the positives and negatives of the new development, and all that was lost during the recent building boom (which continues to today).
The tour will end at the Fish Pier sometime between 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM.
The Friends of the Boston Harborwalk is a volunteer group affiliated with Boston Harbor Now. The group meets monthly to promote awareness, public enjoyment and local stewardship of Boston’s 43-mile Harborwalk. For more information on joining the group, please contact Mike Manning, Chair, at mmanning@bostonharbornow.org
Monarchs, Milkweeds & Climate Change
Join us for a family-friendly afternoon celebrating Monarch butterflies, milkweed, science, art, and community!
Learn about Monarch butterflies, milkweed, and climate change
Plant milkweed seeds to create Monarch habitat
Enjoy children’s story time, a butterfly book giveaway, and crafts
Explore the connections between science, reading, art, and environmental stewardship
Enjoy refreshments
Free and open to all ages. No registration required. Families are especially welcome. Parents/guardians must stay with children.
Questions? Email Maria Lyons at marialyonsdot@gmail.com
Organized by Maria Lyons in conjunction with the Neponset River Watershed Association, the Resilient Neponset Program, and MassDCR.
The Artist’s Voice: Tony Oursler with Susan Goldberg, Meghan Clare Considine, and Nora Burnett Abrams
Member presale starts Wed, Sep 9 at 11 AM. Nonmember tickets available on Wed, Sep 16 at 11 AM.
What does access to art look like? Today, anyone with an internet connection can explore art from around the world in seconds. But long before streaming and social media transformed how we can experience culture, a collaboration in Boston was already imagining a new way to bring contemporary art into people’s homes.
Beginning in 1983, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (ICA) partnered with WGBH’s New Television Workshop and a group of artists to launch the Contemporary Art Television Fund (CAT Fund). Their goal was bold: commission and co-produce experimental video art and support its distribution, including broadcasting it directly to living rooms. The CAT Fund challenged expectations—expanding both the possibilities of the medium and the meaning of access.
Join us for a conversation revisiting this pivotal moment in contemporary art and Boston’s key role in the history of video art, while exploring current debates around public broadcasting and cultural access. This discussion features pioneering video artist and former MassArt faculty Tony Oursler, Susan Goldberg, president of GBH, and Meghan Clare Considine, ICA Curatorial Assistant, and moderated by Nora Burnett Abrams, ICA’s Ellen Matilda Poss Director. Together, they’ll explore how artists, institutions, and public media reshaped the landscape of art—and what that legacy means for audiences today. This program is offered to accompany the ICA’s 90th anniversary of championing contemporary art and artists.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
Moakley Park Cleanup
MAKE MOAKLEY YOURS by joining a cleanup at the park this season!
Join Boston Harbor Now, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and Boston Cares at Moakley Park to give back to your community and enjoy the beauty of the city's biggest waterfront park!
The event will run rain or shine, however may be canceled due to severe weather conditions.
When cleanups are: Cleanups occur on the third Saturday of the month from March through October.
What is provided: All necessary tools, including gloves, pickers, bags, and safety instructions + BREAKFAST
What to expect: A volunteer session is 2 hours long, beginning at 9:30am and will require picking up litter and natural debris. We’ll give you everything you need to keep you safe. Just bring a positive attitude as you help make a difference in this City of Boston Park.
What to bring: Make sure you wear work clothes and close-toed shoes (that you don't mind getting wet or dirty). Depending on the weather, you may want to bring a hat, sunscreen, raincoat, or jacket. Don't forget a water bottle!
Directions: Please meet in the park near the picnic tables by the basketball courts near Saunders Stadium (see image below).
*Note*: If the event of your choice is full but you are interested in participating in future Moakley Park Cleanups, please contact volunteers@bostonharbornow.org.
Gallery Talk: Meghan Clare Considine on Cynthia Daignault: Valley
Baltimore-based artist Cynthia Daignault meditates on this question in her monumental, multi-panel installation featured in the exhibition Cynthia Daignault: Valley. Join Curatorial Assistant Meghan Clare Considine for a conversation about this never-before-seen work and learn more about Daignault’s practice of “long-form painting.”
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
Pumpkin Parade
Bring your best Halloween costumes and decorated or carved pumpkins to win a special treat!
This is a FREE event with music, games, candy, and more! Candles are provided, no pre-registration is required.
For more information, email Suzanne Hinton at hinton@neponset.org
Presented by the Nponet River Greenway Council, NepRWA, and DCR
Fall Teen Night and Fashion Show
Join the ICA Teen Arts Council for an unforgettable Teen Night! Organized by teens for teens, this evening features art-making activities, performances, and a dance party, plus free snacks and giveaways. This event will feature a fashion show organized by ICA Teen Exhibitions Program in collaboration with Boston Caribbean Fashion Week. The first 50 people to arrive get a surprise.
Calling all teen performers! Apply to perform by September 15. Each act will receive $100 for their performance.
Calling all fashionistas and designers ages 14-24! Apply to showcase your original runway looks by October 2.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
Columbia Point: One Peninsula, Many Stories
Join the Friends of Boston Harborwalk on a Guided Walking Tour of Boston’s Newest Neighborhood
Please join Jan Engelman, Steve Landrigan and Liz Nelson Weaver for a 2-mile walking tour along the shore of Columbia Point—one of the most beautiful stretches of Boston’s Harborwalk. Discover how the area was formed and gain insights into the lives of the Neponset people. Who has had a role in shaping Columbia Point’s history? Why is UMass Boston here? What do you see across the bay or close to shore?
To get there:
Public transportation: A free shuttle runs regularly between the Red Line JFK/UMass stop and the university campus. We’ll meet inside on the ground level of the Campus Center, right where the shuttle stops. If you drive, parking info at https://www.umb.edu/transportation/
The Friends of the Boston Harborwalk is a volunteer group affiliated with Boston Harbor Now. The group meets monthly to promote awareness, public enjoyment and local stewardship of Boston’s 43-mile Harborwalk. For more information on joining the group, please contact Mike Manning, Chair, at mmanning@bostonharbornow.org
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
The Artist’s Voice: Leilah Babirye with Ruth Erickson
“Reusing materials is important to me, as a person who comes from a background where the LGBTQ community is looked at as trash still today. As an artist, I find beauty in using found materials to showcase and reclaim my community.” -Leilah Babirye
Bicycle chains, gears, and tire tubes are some of the unexpected elements in Leilah Babirye’s latest sculptures at the ICA. Her art, celebrating a one-of-a-kind queer wedding, depicts attendees of this special life event through ceramic and carve wood sculptures. . Join Babirye and ICA’s Barbara Lee Chief Curator Ruth Erickson as they reflect on the artist’s unique practice that proudly reclaims space, identity, and community through art. This program explores Babirye’s many creative influences from African sculpture to found object art and addresses cultural and political systems of oppression embedded in Uganda, including the Anti-Homosexuality Act (2014/2023) that endangers and criminalizes many lives.
Make the most of your ICA visit! Explore Leilah Babirye’s ICA exhibition and stop by Art-Making After Dark for a hands-on activity designed by the artist and enjoy a drink and light bite in the waterfront Wine + Coffee Bar after the talk.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
Gallery Talk: Max Gruber on 90 YEARS
Founded in 1936, the ICA is one of the oldest museums dedicated to contemporary art in the United States. On this special anniversary, 90 YEARS revisits nine exhibitions and initiatives from the ICA’s history, tracing the museum’s evolution alongside the ever-changing landscape of contemporary art. Join Curatorial Assistant Max Gruber for a conversation about pivotal moments in the ICA’s history with a focus on the landmark 1941 exhibition Modern Mexican Painters.
Gallery Talk: Ruth Erickson on Leilah Babirye: Embaga ya Naki ne Naki (Wedding of Naki and Naki)
Inspired by the idea of the queer wedding, artist Leilah Babirye debuts a new body of sculptures, each embodying a role in a wedding ceremony and adorned in headdresses and jewelry. Join Barbara Lee Chief Curator and Director of Public Affairs Ruth Erickson for a conversation on Leilah Babirye: Embaga ya Naki ne Naki (Wedding of Naki and Naki) and learn about Babirye’s vivid installation and inventive use of debris, wood, and ceramics.
Walking Tour of the Wharf District
Discover the Wharf District with a New Year's Eve afternoon walking tour by the Friends of the Harborwalk.
On New Year’s Eve day, join the Friends of the Harborwalk for a one-hour walking tour of Boston’s historic wharves led by Liz Nelson Weaver. Meet at 1:00 PM at Harbor Islands Visitor Center on the Greenway before proceeding to Long, Central, India, and Rowes wharves where you'll discover their rich history.
All are welcome, but please only RSVP if you plan to come, as space is limited. Registering for the event also allows us to contact you in case of inclement weather.
The Friends of the Boston Harborwalk is a volunteer group affiliated with Boston Harbor Now. The group meets monthly to promote awareness, public enjoyment and local stewardship of Boston’s 43-mile Harborwalk.
For more information on joining the group, please visit bostonharbornow.org/friends or contact Mike Manning, chair, at mmanning@bostonharbornow.org.
Gallery Talk: Erika Umali on 90 YEARS
Founded in 1936, the ICA is one of the oldest museums dedicated to contemporary art in the United States. On this special anniversary, 90 YEARS revisits nine exhibitions and initiatives from the ICA’s history, tracing the museum’s evolution alongside the ever-changing landscape of contemporary art. Join Curator of Collections Erika Umali for a conversation about pivotal moments in the ICA’s history with a focus on the ICA Archives.
The Artist’s Voice: Njideka Akunyili Crosby with Ruth Erickson
Member presale starts Wed, Aug 12 at 11 AM. Nonmember tickets available on Wed, Aug 19 at 11 AM.
Internationally acclaimed artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby has been selected to create the first official portrait of President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama for the Obama Presidential Center opening in Chicago in summer 2026. Audiences familiar with Crosby’s captivating works, including “The Beautyful Ones” Series #7 on view in the ICA’s galleries, recognize the artist’s exquisite and densely layered surfaces that incorporate painting, drawing, collage, photo, and printmaking to reflect on the importance of the dailyness of life. Join ICA’s Barbara Lee Chief Curator Ruth Erickson for an engaging conversation with Crosby, as the artist reflects on her creative process, her ongoing exploration of hope and optimism in The Beautyful Ones series, and the significance of her latest historic commission.
Make the most of your ICA visit! Explore the galleries and re-visit Njideka Akunyili’s “The Beautyful Ones” Series #7 and Facets: Screen Wall. Enjoy a drink and light bite in the waterfront Wine + Coffee Bar.
Basin Loop Harborwalk Community Gathering #2
Boston Harbor Now invites you to join the South Boston elected officials, Massport and city officials for our second hybrid community gathering as we begin planning to complete the Harborwalk loop around the Reserved Channel in South Boston! Our goals are to ensure that community interests and desires are prioritized in the design process for expanding this area of the Harborwalk, and that future amenities and improvements to public spaces along this waterfront respond to local needs.
Funding for the planning of this important project was secured by Senator Collins and Representative Biele as part of the FY25 Fair Share Supplemental Budget.
We are hosting an in-person discussion on September 24th from 5:30-7:00 PM at the South Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library, at 646 E Broadway, South Boston. Community members can also attend the meeting virtually over zoom using this LINK.
Refreshments will be provided, and childcare and interpretation services are available upon request during registration. These requests must be made before September 15.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
Waterfront For All Summit
Waterfront for All Summit: a free, one-day gathering on the future of access, equity, and resilience on the regional waterfront.
For five years, a coalition of community groups, public agencies, and advocates has worked to make the waterfront open to everyone. The Waterfront for All Summit marks that milestone and sets the course for what comes next.
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront and Boston Harbor Now will co-host a free, one-day gathering at Boston Children's Museum. Come for new data you can actually use, skills you can put to work, and connections you can call on long after the day ends. This is where the next chapter of the waterfront's future begins, and who gets to be part of it.
We hope you will join us.
Gallery Talk: Erika Umali on To My Best Friend
Take a closer look at To My Best Friend in this conversation with Curator of Collections Erika Umali. Learn more about the art and artists who make up ICA’s dynamic contemporary collection.
Erika Umali is the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston’s first Curator of Collections. She leads strategy around collection development and practices, and highlights the ICA’s collection through focused exhibitions and programming. She has contributed to several ICA exhibitions, including Portraits from the ICA Collection, Wordplay, and An Indigenous Present. Previously she served as the inaugural Assistant Curator of Collections at the Brooklyn Museum where she supported collecting strategies, shepherded thousands of acquisitions, and co-curated Jeffrey Gibson: When Fire Is Applied to a Stone It Cracks. Her work focuses on cross-cultural exchange, accessibility within cultural institutions, engaging local and source communities, and decolonizing practices.
Umali received her B.A. in anthropology from Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts, with a focus on the art and material culture of Native North America, and an M.A. in museum studies from New York University.
Neponset River Walks: Squantum Point Park, Quincy
This walk takes us to the mouth of the Neponset River, where it meets Dorchester Bay. We’ll follow a loop trail to observe where the River’s freshwater meets the tidal flow and, depending on the tide, explore a nearby sandbar.
Did you know? Squantum Point has a long aviation history. Before becoming a waterfront park, it was home to Naval Air Station Squantum, which operated from 1917 to 1961 and played an important role in the early development of naval aviation.
Expect to see both resident and migratory birds preparing for their southward journey. You’ll also have the chance to observe coastal plants and wildlife unique to this part of the watershed.
Distance: Approximately 1–2 miles, depending on spur trails.
What to bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, hats, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes (no sandals).
Max participants: 20 | Adults only
Free
For any questions, please email: NepRWA Outreach & Communications Director Nancy Fyler at fyler@neponset.org
Soulful Bliss Sunset Island Vibes
Join Boston Harbor Now and AfroDesiaCity for Soulful Bliss Sunset Island Vibes, an unforgettable evening on the breathtaking shores of Spectacle Island. Curated by and for communities of color, this immersive experience celebrates Boston's incredible creative talent while inviting everyone to reconnect with nature, culture, and one another.
As a proud member of the Boston Harbor Now Advisory Board, AfroDesiaCity is honored to host an event that encourages more communities to discover and enjoy one of Boston's greatest hidden treasures.
From the moment you board the ferry, your journey begins. Sail across Boston Harbor to Spectacle Island, where you'll spend the afternoon surrounded by panoramic harbor views, soulful music, vibrant energy, delicious food, interactive games, and an unforgettable sunset overlooking the Boston skyline.
Ferry
Departure Location: Fan Pier Marina
Guest Check-In: By 2:00 PM
Ferry Departs Promptly: 2:30 PM
The ferry cannot wait for late arrivals.
Return Ferry Departs Spectacle Island: 7:00 PM
Estimated Arrival Back in Boston: 7:30 PM
2026 Neponset River Fall Cleanup
Multiple cleanup sites across the Watershed. Choose your site when you register.
Each year, hundreds of volunteers come together to clean up parks and shorelines throughout the Neponset River Watershed—and we’d love to have you join us!
There’s a role for everyone—from hauling debris, removing invasive plants, and picking up litter to greeting volunteers, snapping photos, and sorting out the “treasures” we uncover. Whether you’re looking for a challenge or a light task, we’ve got you covered. You can choose the site you wish to be at when you register.
Gather your friends, family, scout troop, green team, or coworkers and make a difference together! Kids under 15 must be with an adult.
For any questions about the cleanup, please email NepRWA Environmental Science Fellow Paloma Silva-Navarro at silva-navarro@neponset.org.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
ICA Free Thursday Night
The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. Free tickets are required.
Check-in for Free Thursday Nights begins at 5 PM. Last entry to the museum is at 8:30 PM. On-site reservations are not guaranteed.
Black Joy Java
Join us at the ICA for Black Joy Java, a collaboration with visionary Thaddeus Miles – acclaimed photographer, passionate community leader, and the heartbeat behind the Black Joy Project; James ‘Jimmy’ Hills – host of Boston’s number one community driven platform, Java With Jimmy, media personality and community advocate; Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront – an alliance of diverse non-profit organizations focused on bringing the pressing issues facing Boston’s harbor, harbor islands, and rivers to the forefront of the public conversation, and co-sponsor, for a celebratory outdoor concert for the seventh annual Black Joy Day in the City of Boston.
Black Joy Java will feature poet and artist Amanda Shea, R&B vocalist Aric B., comedian Jonathan Gates; and soulful and joyful DJ sets from TROY Frost and Jeff 2Timez.
More than just an evening of art, food and fellowship, this year’s Black Joy Java continues to stand tall as a continual beacon of resistance. Through the harmony of Black music, the depth of poetry, some comedic joy and profound dialogues on restorative justice, we aim to amplify the empowerment and resilience of Black voices worldwide.
Summer Training Series
Your race. Your pace.
Join us on Saturday mornings from 8:45 AM – 10 AM all summer long and train for FREE with a team of professional coaches.
Register for the 12th Annual Road to Wellness 5K Run or 2-Mile Walk on Saturday, September 12, 2026, and make sure to check “I want to sign up for the Summer Training Series” when completing your race registration.
Harborwalk Sounds
Free advance ticket required / All ages
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Tickets for July events are available for members on 6/17 and nonmembers on 6/24.
Enjoy the best and brightest musicians from Berklee College of Music during the ICA’s free summer concert series on the waterfront.
Bodies of Water, Bodies of Memory
Bodies of Water, Bodies of Memory is a free, bilingual, intergenerational community dance and storytelling series at Carson Beach. Rooted in Danza Orgánica’s socially engaged creative practice and its Dance for Social Justice™ framework, the series invites community members of all ages and abilities to experience the beach as a space of belonging, cultural memory, and collective joy.
Movement activities are inspired by the rhythms of the ocean, everyday gesture, and participants’ personal and ancestral stories of migration, displacement, resilience, and connection to place. Creation begins in the first gathering and continues to develop each month, culminating in a final community movement presentation on the beach during the third gathering.
Live bomba drumming and song serve as the musical foundation of the work, supporting both the movement explorations and final public sharing. Bomba, an Afro–Puerto Rican tradition rooted in collective memory and communal dialogue, provides both entertainment and cultural grounding.
Together, the series transforms Carson Beach into a living cultural space of creativity, healing, and shared community life.
Eastie Pride Day
Our 36th Annual Eastie Pride Day Celebration at Piers Park is on August 16th, and we hope you can join us for a day of fun and festivities! This event has always been a great opportunity for us to gather with our neighbors and support the small businesses and organizations within East Boston. Eastie Pride Day is free to the public and will include activities for all ages.
¡Nuestra 36o Celebración Anual de Eastie Pride es el 16 de agosto en Piers Park! Esperamos que pueda reunirse con nosotros para un día de diversión y festividades. Este evento siempre ha sido una gran oportunidad para reunirnos con nuestros vecinos y apoyar a las pequeñas empresas y organizaciones de East Boston. El día de Eastie Pride es gratis para el público e incluirá actividades para todas edades ¡Te veremos allá!
Bomba By The Sea: Birthday Bombazos
By popular demand, Bomba By The Sea returns as an expanded, free outdoor summer series of immersive gatherings featuring Bomba, the AfroIndigenous Puerto Rican folkloric tradition, bringing the community together by the ocean to celebrate life, ancestry, and collective joy. Historically, Bomba gatherings marked significant moments in community life, including births, birthdays, marriages, rites of passage, communal labor, and mourning. These gatherings affirmed life, processed grief, and strengthened bonds through music, movement, and collective presence. The birthday theme draws from this lineage while reflecting a contemporary practice of celebrating life and honoring one another with care, particularly in a time of widespread disempowerment. Each event will feature live participatory Bomba music, community wellness vendors, a community altar and art-making inspired by our ocean and ancestral traditions. Building on successful 2024 and 2025 events, the series will transform the beach into an accessible, joyful space for connection and belonging.
Sunday Jazz featuring Liam Backhoff
Relax to the sounds of jazz standards and original music performed by Berklee College of Music ensembles.
Liam Backhoff is a young tenor and soprano saxophonist from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Perfect Memory
Free with museum admission
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Visit the Bank of America Art Lab to see Perfect Memory, an installation by Boston artist crystal bi. This installation draws inspiration from the ICA, a place surrounded by water that shapes Boston’s past and future. Perfect Memory invites us to reflect on the question: How can water, and the memory it carries, guide us as we practice imagining and creating something new?
Beachdrift
This event is a full day of diverse community-led programming, including workshops, music, games and food. Program will include a number of inspiring workshops that build on South Asian traditions across different mediums such as:
- Writing and poetry workshops
- Movement based workshops (belly dance and yoga)
- Sound meditation with traditional instruments
- Collaborative community art and poetry pieces
- An interactive singing circle
- Kho kho, an ancient South Asian game similar to capture the flag
- Chai, Kulfi, and Falooda from independent South Asian vendors
Sunday Funday | Georges Island
Dive into the living history of the Civil War with historic lawn games and other hands-on activities.
*NOTE: Ferry tickets must be purchased to attend this event. Events may be effected by weather. Please ask the Boston Harbor Welcome Center for updates.
Sunday Funday | Spectacle Island
Embrace the season and your time on the islands with great games and activities. Enjoy volleyball, badminton, lawn games, and kite flying for endless fun!
*NOTE: Ferry tickets must be purchased to attend this event. Events may be effected by weather. Please ask the Boston Harbor Welcome Center for updates.
Boston Harbor Distillery on the Greenway
A new Boston tradition begins on The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway in the heart of the city. The Boston Harbor Distillery Beverage Garden showcases exceptional cocktails featuring Putnam Whiskey varieties, Lawley’s fresh botanical Gins, 100% molasses Rums and Vodka, Demon Seed Whiskey and decadent Maple Cream, Coffee Liqueurs and Espresso Martinis. All are handcrafted at the distillery located in historic Port Norfolk, in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood.
Complementing our cocktail program will be a carefully selected selection of beer and wine from other local Boston producers — all celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship and character of our city. Come raise a glass with us. Cheers!
Food is available and can be delivered to the Beverage Garden from The Palm Restaurant and/or Door Dash / Uber Eats.
Hours of Operation:
Monday (closed except holiday weekends)
Tuesday – Wednesday 3 – 10p
Thursday – Saturday 12 – 10p
Sunday 12 – 6p
Greenway Artisan Market
The Greenway Artisan Market is a vibrant open-air market run by Somerville Flea featuring talented area artists, crafters, and independent designers. Visitors will find exceptional art, locally produced products, and much more! Explore the parks, stroll tree-lined promenades, take in the city sights, soak up the sunshine, play in the Rings Fountain, grab a bite to eat at a food truck, and shop local at over 50 vendors at the Greenway Artisan Market. It’s truly an original Boston experience!
The Greenway Artisan Market will operate on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm in May, June, September, and October (only Sundays), and from 11am to 6pm in July and August.
Get Healthy at the Beach
"Sunday Morning Yoga on the Beach with Pete Sacco" - every Sunday all summer starting June 14. Winthrop Shore Drive at Cutler Street entrance to the beach, 9 -10AM weather permitting.
Hung Ching Children’s Lion Dancing
Schedule: 6/14, 6/28, 7/12, 7/26, 8/16, 8/23 9:00am-12:00pm
Watershed Block Party
Come join the party! Fun for all, the Watershed Block Party, a free event at the ICA’s Watershed featuring music, art, games and more!
Stay tuned! More information coming soon.
Please note, Water Shuttle transportation from the ICA in Seaport will not be running during the Watershed Block Party.
Spectacle Summer Nights
Enjoy a spectacular summer night on Spectacle Island with music, games, views and more!
Boston Harbor Now is excited for the return of our sold out series, Spectacle Summer Nights!
Spectacle Island will stay open for an after-hours experience – an evening of relaxation, fun, and music in partnership with 67 Brewing and Zaz restaurant.
Sit on the porch and enjoy live music, set up a picnic, grab a beer from 67 Degrees Brewing and delicious food from Zaz restaurant, hike the trails, roast some s’mores on the beach or relax with a view.
Spectacle Summer Nights with DJ Brad Zati
Venture out to Spectacle Island for an after hour evening experience with incredible views, live music, food and fun for all!
Boston Harbor Now is excited for the return of our Spectacle Summer Nights series every Saturday starting July 18th, through the end of August!
Start your journey with a 30 minute ferry ride, cruising through the Boston harbor, sit back and relax as you embark on an unforgettable experience. Join us for an evening of incredible city skyline views, beaches, hiking trails, live music, food and drinks in Boston's hidden gem!
What to expect:
Exclusive after-hours island access including to the beaches & trails.
Bring a swimsuit and take a dip!Round trip ferry ride from Boston to Spectacle Island
*Cash bar availabile en route to Spectacle IslandBreathtaking sunset views of Boston
Live music
Hikes with a Park Ranger
S'mores on the beach
Food & drink available for purchase
Diversity Matters Fest
The Diversity Matters Festival is a family-friendly cultural celebration held in Lynn, Massachusetts, designed to honor and uplift the diverse communities that call the city home. Organized by the North Shore Juneteenth Association, the festival brings together residents from across the North Shore for a day of cultural exposure, entertainment, and community connection rooted in inclusion and equity.
The festival features live performances on a main stage, including music, dance, and spoken word. Attendees also enjoy multicultural food vendors, local artisans, and small businesses, alongside informational booths hosted by community organizations and service providers. Interactive components such as youth activities, art-making stations, and cultural demonstrations ensure engagement for all ages.
Together, elements foster understanding, celebrate a variety of cultures, and strengthen community pride.
Perfect Memory
Free with museum admission
Add to Calendar
Visit the Bank of America Art Lab to see Perfect Memory, an installation by Boston artist crystal bi. This installation draws inspiration from the ICA, a place surrounded by water that shapes Boston’s past and future. Perfect Memory invites us to reflect on the question: How can water, and the memory it carries, guide us as we practice imagining and creating something new?
