If you are looking for Boston events to keep your family entertained this May, we’ve got you covered! Our monthly events guides are on hand to be sure you don’t miss a thing happening around the Boston area. We know you are looking for ideas for family fun all the time. We have been through the April showers, so it’s time to enjoy May’s flowers! Check out some great outdoor events, ideas to celebrate Mother’s Day, and more!
We’ve also included links to area libraries and recurring events. This is, by no means, a comprehensive list. If you know of any fun family activities we missed, please let us know in the comments.
Oh, and be sure to join our Community & Conversation Group to meet other moms near you!
May 1 :: Preschool Impressionism Workshop :: Franklin :: Calling all parents and children (ages 3-5) with a knack for art history! This workshop will focus on the Impressionist style of Monet. Children and families will explore the general style, discuss, then begin working on two pieces (one 2D and one 3D) in the Impressionist style. Working together with cardboard, foil, tape, and plaster wrap, children can construct a 3D water lily sculpture followed by a 2D watercolor piece complete with a collage.
May 1 :: Get Outside! :: Weymouth :: Hosted by Boston Moms Blog, this is an informal meetup for local moms and kiddos. Join in for a walk at Webb Memorial State Park, a hidden treasure of the South shore. Located just off Rt. 3 and 3A, this park has full harbor and skyline views, a small, flat beach area where kids can explore, and an easy loop that is good for sure footed children, children in carriers, or all-terrain strollers. Meet at the trailhead toward the end of the parking lot, where you can find the trail map and a water fountain. Hope you can join in!
May 1 :: Art of Meteorology :: Needham Heights :: Some weather watchers like to rely on the prognostications of the Farmer’s Almanac to predict short and long range weather patterns! WCVB’s Storm Team 5 Meteorologists combine experience, education, and science to perfect the “art” of meteorology! Go behind the scenes and watch a newscast from inside WCVB Studios in Needham, hear how Storm Team 5 uses computer models to track major storms, and observe the process of creating computer graphics for the weather forecast. Visit with meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon and watch her create computer weather graphics for the midday weather forecast and as part of the news. Event is limited to 15 people, so register early!
May 2 :: Kaleidoscopes: See the World Differently :: Boston :: Spectators of all ages will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to construct their own kaleidoscopes, featuring a variety of colorful mirror systems, creating fascinating and intriguing visual moments! Peek inside the specially featured “teleidoscope” — tel means far — that turns Boston cityscapes into kaleidoscopic images. Educational posters will pave the way as you go, providing background and history. Explore the link between the Boston Lighthouse and the invention of the kaleidoscope! This STEAM-friendly, educational, individualized opportunity was especially created for ArtWeek.
May 5 :: Greenway Food Truck Festival :: Boston :: Come celebrate your favorite Greenway Food Trucks and Carts as you kick off spring on The Greenway! Meet on Rowes Wharf Plaza at Atlantic Avenue and High Street for this spring food truck festival! While getting a taste of Greenway cuisine, stroll through the opening day of the Greenway Open Market, a vibrant open-air artisan market featuring talented area artists, crafters, and independent designers.
May 5 :: Spring Celebration & Goat Gala :: Belmont:: Come get your season’s worth of Massachusetts-grown annual and perennial herbs and vegetables. Come early to get the best selection! Proceeds from this sale are used to fund Habitat Intergenerational Program projects. Directly following the herb sale is the Goat Gala! Get your goat on by interacting with and learning about a friendly herd of Nigerian dwarf goats. Bring your kids to meet our kids, does, and wethers; join in games, entertainment, and raffles; and sample goat-related products.
May 5 :: Fairy Festival at Farrington Nature Linc :: Lincoln :: Calling all fairies, elves, gnomes, and other magical creatures! The Farrington Nature Linc will feature a fairy post office, where you can write to the fairies and they will write back! Join a guided hike through the enchanted woods to meet the fairy queen, and make a fairy house in the pine forest! And, of course, you can create and take home three small fairy crafts.
May 5 :: Drumming It Up! :: Lexington :: A fun and engaging family percussion workshop for all ages and experience levels is being offered just for ArtWeek. Learn about rhythm and teamwork through games and exercises, call-and-response activities, and playing rhythm patterns from different countries. Participants can bring in an instrument if desired but there will be plenty available for all.
May 6 :: STEMsational :: Norwell :: Join for an exciting day of science explorations while meeting with local women scientists and engineers. Through hands-on activities, learn about the cool things they do at work! This is a drop-in program for ages 3 and up.
May 6 :: Harpoon Sunday :: Boston :: This is an informal meet-up event hosted by the Boston Moms Blog Community Group. Grab a beer, a cider, or pretzel (or one of each!) and enjoy the company of other moms as we take over a table at Harpoon Brewery in Boston’s Seaport. Harpoon is kid friendly on Sundays, so if you wish to bring your child you may. If you want to fly solo for a couple hours you may do so as well!
May 6 :: Greenway Open Market Season Opener :: Boston :: Head to the Rose Kennedy Greenway for the Open Market Season Opener! Open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., the Greenway Open Market brings an eclectic mix of hand-made art, music, and locally produced products to Boston. Look for the sea of white vendor tents and get ready for some fun shopping, plus good eating at the gourmet food trucks. With a different mix of vendors present each week, you never know what treasures you’ll find!
May 8 :: The Puppet Free Library :: Boston :: The Puppet Free Library is a library of giant parade puppets. It is open on Tuesdays from 2–7 p.m. for the public to see, play with, and borrow giant puppets for any purpose.
May 11 :: Floral Head Piece Making :: Easton :: Looking for a unique way to celebrate Mother’s Day? Look no further! We’ve got a fun and creative way to spend quality time with the special ladies of the season. Create gorgeous floral headpieces with fresh flowers! Under the expert direction of Momma Marisol from Alice’s Table, mommies, nanas, grammies and more can work side-by-side with your child to make special memories and this beautiful keepsake.
May 11 :: National Public Gardens Day :: Sandwich :: Get outside and get to know the plants that make Heritage one of New England’s top public gardens during this annual celebration organized by the American Public Gardens Association.
May 12 :: Unbirthday Party :: Burlington :: Just to celebrate all the days of the year that aren’t your birthday, the zany unbirthday party is a fun-filled morning with activities, dancing, crafts, games, giveaways, ShotCakes cupcake, little bites, and more for the whole family. With each donation, one child will get entry into the party and receive a party favor bag (while supplies last) filled with neat stuff. All proceeds will be split evenly to benefit Susan G Komen and Simon Youth Foundation.
May 12 :: #Realmediagirl Workshop :: Wellesley :: This is a half-day workshop teaching middle-school girls how to use social media to feel strong and positive! See the website for full schedule of events.
May 12 :: Cherry Blossom Festival :: Brookline :: The Genki Spark and the Brookline High School Japanese Program have worked together on this dynamic Japanese festival which draws audiences from as far away as Canada to Western Mass., from Rhode Island to Newburyport. Loud and thunderous, in addition to featuring food, games, and music, the festival’s artistic draw is the region’s only public taiko drumming showcase featuring taiko groups throughout New England.
May 12 :: Wake Up the Farm! :: Norwell :: The annual “Wake Up the Farm” spring festival is a fun, family-friendly, free event! Farmers will be selling organically grown seedlings, and the educational staff will be on hand to offer free advice and demonstrations to help you get your home garden up and running for the season.
May 12 :: Native and Wildflower Plant Sale :: Norwell :: Just in time for Mother’s Day! Choose from native species, wildflowers, plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, drought tolerant species, and more. Don’t miss the beautiful spring ephemerals in the Wildlings Garden, kids activities in the children’s garden, and opportunities to learn from the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association.
May 13 :: Duckling Day Parade :: Boston :: A beloved tradition for more than 30 years, Duckling Day celebrates the children’s classic book, “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey. Every year, over 1,000 people meet up and parade through Boston’s most picturesque parks, dressed like characters from the story. Led by the Harvard Marching Band, the parade will begin on the Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand and end in the Public Garden near the famous Make Way for Ducklings sculpture. Bring your camera – the parade is possibly the most adorable thing you’ll ever see!
May 13 :: Mother’s Day Picnic at Weir River Farm :: Hingham :: Enjoy live music, yard games, and beaucolic view with your family. Stroll down the hill to explore the farm and visit the barnyard with your family. Sign up for a photo session with a professional portrait photographer at our outdoor photo station. Tea, coffee, and pastries will be provided and you are welcome to BYOP (bring your own picnic).
May 17 :: Doggy Days: Work Like a Dog :: Acton :: As a Therapy Dog, it’s Abby’s job to make people feel good. We’ll visit with Abby, and read stories about other jobs that dogs can have. Abby is a certified Therapy Dog from the Pets & People Foundation, which means she’s happy to meet both enthusiastic dog-lovers and anyone who’s curious but might be shy. Enjoy this program and more at the all-NEW Discovery Museum! In our new, 16,000sf building we’ve re-created the best hands-on STEAM exhibits from our original two museums—for little kids, big kids, and their grownups—and added many exciting new ones, including water, air, making/tinkering, and more! Come play!
May 19 :: South Shore International Festival :: Hingham :: Join us for our premier community event! Celebrate with dance, food, music, arts from cultures around the world. The festival is free, open to the public. Attendees of the festival will be entertained all day with live music, entertainment, food vendors, raffles and free children’s activities! Stay tuned to this event for more details about performers and food vendors!
May 19 :: Kids Obstacle Challenge :: Lancaster :: Kids Obstacle Challenge is an adventure and obstacle course race series for kids ages 5-16, with 12-15 fun and challenging obstacles and mud. Register your adventurers for a 1.5-2 mile course where they can rope swing into a mud pit, army crawl through tough terrain, scale up rugged cargo nets, and slide into a muddy paradise. Give your kids the chance to release their inner beast and push themselves, all while getting covered in mud! Prepare to Brave Your Adventure and have some family fun!
May 19 :: Marshfield Safety Day :: Marshfield :: Safety plays a role in our everyday lives whether on land, in the air, or at sea. This event will showcase some of the equipment, agencies and personnel that work 24/7 to keep us safe and assist us when needed. Safety Day will include: K-9 demonstrations, child finger-printing, interactive safety training,
May 19 :: Teddy Bear Tea :: Manchester-by-the-Sea :: Join Manchester Historical Museum, Manchester Library, and Early Childhood Partners for Teddy Bear Tea. The museum is taking out the good blue and white china for this event. This event is free but pre-registration is required.
May 19 :: Kite & Bike Festival :: Boston :: The Annual FPC Kite & Bike Festival is held on the Franklin Park Golf Course. From 11am until 4pm, come fly kites, “rent” children’s bikes (they’re free for the day) or bring your own (we have mechanics on site!), and enjoy food from one of Boston’s food trucks!
May 19 :: Touch a Truck Day :: Weymouth :: It’s another fun year with trucks at the fourth annual touch-a-truck event! Enjoy magnificent trucks while supporting the SSCM. Your child can climb on and explore each vehicle in a safe, controlled setting with knowledgeable volunteers on hand. Plus, enjoy many more activities, such as a DJ, a child’s concert, an animal touch center, face painting, and balloon hats.
May 19 :: Opening Day for Boston Harbor Island Service :: Boston :: Hop on a ferry at Boston’s Long Wharf (near the Boston Marriott Long Wharf) for a 15-minute cruise to Georges or Spectacle Island. Join a free tour led by the park rangers, or enjoy a day of exploring historic sites, photographing birds, enjoying a picnic, hiking, swimming, wading in tidal pools, or simply enjoying the scenery. Check Boston Harbor Islands for current ticket costs. You can buy your tickets at Long Wharf ticket booth.
May 20 :: Memorial Day Parade :: Somerville:: The Somerville Veterans’ Memorial Parade parade honors veterans, active duty military, guard, and reserves, and police, firefighters, and first responders. The parade kicks off from City Hall at 3 p.m., marches along Highland Ave. to Davis Square, continues along Holland Street, and ends at the corner of Holland and Broadway.
May 20 :: Revere Beach Kite Festival :: Revere :: Celebrate spring by heading to Revere Beach, America’s oldest public beach for the annual kite festival. The first 300 kids under the age of 12 to arrive can build their own kite, or feel free to bring your own kite. You’ll see plenty of people of all ages flying kites, having a great time, and enjoying this lovely two-mile long expanse of sun and water.
May 20 :: Young Childrens’ Concert Series :: Newton :: Josh & the Jamtones are an interactive, ultra-powered dance party. We make music for kids and their grownups. This music’s got swagger — infectious, ska-centric jams run into stadium-sized monster rock choruses, which blend into a cappella sing-a-longs fueled by slick beat boxing and massive four-part vocal harmonies, all packed into a ball of frenetic dance party craziness!
May 26 :: Rhododendron Festival :: Sandwich:: Thousands of world-famous rhododendrons in over 100 varieties offer an explosion of spectacular blooms throughout Heritage. Enjoy a peaceful walk surrounded by walls of flowers, learn more about Heritage’s storied rhododendron legacy, participate in activities with horticulture experts, and take home one of these signature plants from the special plant sale. All programs included with museum admission.
May 27 :: Neighborhood Tidepools :: Dorchester :: Children of all ages and their families are invited to join us to meet live tidepool animals and learn about the ocean with Aquarium educators. Touch a snail or a hermit crab, make an ocean-themed craft and practice your science skills in this drop-in program. These activities are completely free and non-members are invited to join by checking in at the membership desk.
May 28 :: Free Admission at Museum of Fine Arts :: Boston :: Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts offers free admission on Memorial Day (Monday) from 10 a.m.–4:45 p.m. Lots of special family activities will be on display, as well as plenty of special exhibits, including a quilt display, the last few days of a popular Impressionism exhibition, and an exciting display of 60 contemporary Latin American works.
May 31 :: Annual Greek Festival :: Arlington :: Enjoy Greek food, beer, wine, music, dancing, and kids’ activities at St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church in Arlington. This is a free event.
Baby-Friendly Monday Matinees at the Capitol Theatre :: Arlington :: Mondays, 12–2 p.m. :: The Capitol Theatre features a baby-friendly movie every Monday afternoon. Please check the theater’s Monday schedule to see what feature has been selected for parents and their infants.
Kids’ Art Club :: Dorchester :: Tuesdays, 4:30–5:30 p.m. :: This club has a new art project at the library every Tuesday. Projects include collage self-portraits and artist’s books. Art Club projects are showcased in rotating displays in the library children’s room.
Nature Time at Blue Hills Trailside Museum :: Milton :: Thursdays, 10:30 – 11:30am :: Introduce your pre-school aged child to nature with this fun program. Programs may feature a story, nature games, crafts, short walks outside, or meeting one of the museum’s animal residents. Meet, play, and learn with other area families. Each program runs for 45 minutes and meets most Thursdays. Museum admission is included with this program. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
JFN Free Friday Playgroup :: Natick :: Fridays, 9:30–11:30 a.m. :: Bring the little ones and come join other parents and caregivers in the Metrowest area for a fun-filled morning of play and socializing. There are plenty of songs, activities, toys, snacks, and laughter, as both the children and their grown-ups build connections and lasting friendships.
Backyard and Beyond: Forest Fridays :: Acton :: Fridays, 10–11 a.m. :: A great way for the whole family to enjoy time outdoors, the Forest Friday program is held outside, no matter the weather. Every Friday morning there is a nature-based activity based on the weather and season, either in Discovery Woods or out on the adjacent conservation land. All ages are welcome but activities are designed for 2- to 6-year-olds. Please note that the conservation land trails are not ADA or stroller accessible; please wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
StoryTime at the Curious George Store :: Cambridge :: Fridays, 10:30–11 a.m. :: Small children and their caregivers are welcome at these weekly storytimes, running throughout the year.
SaturPLAY :: Rose Kennedy Greenway – Chinatown :: Boston :: Saturdays, 1 – 3p.m. :: The Asian Community Development Corporation’s youth program, A-VOYCE, hosts a placemaking event monthly to activate and bring children to The Greenway’s Mary Soo Hoo Park. Each month features a different theme with games, activities, crafts, and more. Youth volunteers are on hand to engage children. SaturPlay is subject to weather conditions.
Family Show :: Cambridge :: Saturdays, 4–5 p.m. :: Improv Boston’s improv and music extravaganza is completely made up on the spot every week based on your suggestion. No two shows are alike! Best of all, children who want to participate have opportunities to be on stage and take part in the fun! Our show is ideal for family outings, birthday parties, and school field trips. The Family Show is fun for the whole family and best for children ages 4-12.
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