If you are looking for Boston events to keep your family entertained this August, 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. It’s hard to believe there is only one more month left of summer! Make the most of it!

In addition to our Getting-Out Guide, be sure to check out our Guide to a Boston Summer and our 2018 Summer Bucket List for awesome ideas for summertime fun in Boston! 

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!

August 1–4 :: Yankee Homecoming :: Newburyport :: Head north of the city to Newburyport for a week of music, food, art, family activities, and more — all capped off by fireworks on the waterfront on Saturday and a parade on Sunday. Featured events include sidewalk sales on August 2–4, U.S. Coast Guard open house on August 2, family day at Maudslay State Park on August 4, parade on August 5 at noon, and fireworks on August 4 at 9:15 p.m.

August 3 :: Harry Potter Festival :: Marshfield :: Calling all Hogwarts students and fans of the boy who lived! Pay tribute to everyone’s favorite school of witchcraft and wizardry. Don’t worry, the Triwizard tournament here will be much safer (sorry, no live dragons this time) and everyone will be able to participate. Cost is $5 per child.

August 3–5 :: Salem Heritage Days :: Salem :: Celebrate the past and the present during the annual Salem Heritage Days. Featuring food, fun, and activities for all ages, highlights include the Essex Street Fair, Tour-A-Truck at the Salem Willows, the Ice Scream Bowl on the Common, and the car show on Chestnut Street.

August 4 :: Rosalita’s Puppets :: Boston :: Rosalita’s Puppets will charm children and adults alike with new productions each week. Find the show at 10:30 a.m. on South Market Street (outside Wagamama). Rosalita’s Puppets will move inside to the rotunda in the event of rain.

August 4 :: Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival :: Boston :: Come in early and grab dinner or snacks to enjoy during the movie! Picnic blankets and beach chairs are welcome. Spend just $10 and receive discounted parking in the Prudential Center Garage. The August 4 movie is The Incredibles. Closed captioning will be provided for all movies.

August 4–5 :: Salem Maritime Festival :: Salem :: Celebrate ships, sailors, sawdust, and song at this annual free family festival. Hosted by the National Park Service, the festival features live music, historical re-enactors, tall ships, demonstrations, and interactive programs and crafts for families. Harbor cruises will be free by lottery on Saturday and Sunday. People may also visit vessels at the dock.

August 4–5 :: Scituate Heritage Days :: Scituate :: Head to the South Shore for this fun annual event. See the works of artisans and crafters, including handmade jewelry, pottery, seaside home décor, and many more. Historic sites including Old Scituate Light and The Maritime and Mossing Museum are open for tours. Kids events include art projects, baby animal petting zoo, character visits with Ariel and Belle, carnival rides, swashbuckling fun with Captain Jay and his Pirate Camp, Toe Jam Puppet Band, SALT (the 43-foot inflatable humpback whale), and more.

August 5 :: SomerStreets :: Somerville :: SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally-renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity. Through SomerStreets, the city and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.

August 5 :: Boston Seafood Festival :: Boston :: This family-friendly event brings together seafood tastings, chef demos, educational events, all day lobster bake, Battle of the Shuckers, a fish cutting contest, Harpoon Garden, and the traditional Blessing of the Fleet.

August 5 :: Run + Ride at CambridgeSide :: Cambridge :: Compete in the seventh annual kids-only duathlon with biking and running in and around CambridgeSide! Run + Ride at CambridgeSide is for kids ages 5-13 years old. Race with your friends and make new ones! Sign up for Run + Ride at CambridgeSide today! Get ready to enjoy a fun-filled outdoor event with prizes, giveaways, entertainment, and more!

August 6 :: Free Cruise to Spectacle Island :: Boston :: Join Save the Harbor/Save the Bay on a free Share the Harbor cruise to the Boston Harbor Islands! On Monday, August 6, Save the Harbor will set sail to Spectacle Island for a day of fun, art on the shore, fishing, swimming, and crabbing. Cruises are free and open to the public, and will begin boarding at 10 a.m. at the World Trade Center Dock for a 10:30 a.m. departure. Please RSVP here.

August 6–12 :: Salem Heritage Days :: Salem :: Celebrate the past and the present during the annual Salem Heritage Days. Featuring food, fun, and activities for all ages, highlights include live music, free movies on Salem Common, the Essex Street Fair, the Ice Cream Bowl, and the Car Show on Chestnut Street.

August 7 :: Storytelling at Faneuil Hall :: Boston :: Professional storytellers perform free shows that are kid-tested and parent-approved. Find the fun on South Market Street outside Wagamama. The August 7 storyteller is Alan White

August 7 :: Kidleidescope :: Spectacle Island :: Take the ferry and head to Spectacle Island for fun activities designed for kids ages 3–8. Activities include nature walks, beach exploration, storytelling, or arts and crafts. 

August 8 :: Summer Concert Series: Karen K & the Jitterbugs :: Allston :: The Harvard Ed Portal is proud to present the 2018 Summer Concert Series! Bug out with Karen K and her imaginary friends, the Jitterbugs. Best known for Karen’s award-winning, well-crafted, and totally catchy tunes, the Jitterbugs deliver one of the most entertaining live musical experiences on the East Coast. All concerts are rain or shine, family-friendly, free, and open to the public. No RSVP is required. 

August 9 :: Story Hour on the Farm :: Lexington :: What better place to learn about the very hungry caterpillar or wiggling worms than in the learning garden at LexFarm? Kids pull up a seat for stories, crafts, and a visit to the goat yard.

August 9 :: Neighborhood Nights Block Party: Cosmic Cycle :: Boston :: Everyone’s invited to the Gardner for Neighborhood Nights, a series of fun and free interactive evenings for you and your family. Enjoy music, performance, food trucks, cash bar, gallery games, and hands-on creative experimentation inside the museum and out.

August 10 :: Free Fun Friday : Institute of Contemporary Art :: Boston :: The ICA opens its doors at no cost to visitors all day long thanks to the eighth-annual Free Fun Fridays program sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation. Activities for the whole family will take place throughout the day.

August 11 :: Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival :: Boston :: Come in early and grab dinner or snacks to enjoy during the movie! Picnic blankets and beach chairs are welcome. Spend just $10 and receive discounted parking in the Prudential Center Garage. The August 11 movie is Mulan. Closed captioning will be provided for all movies.

August 11 :: Second Saturday Story Telling :: Boston :: Connect with family and friends at the ICA Watershed through the art of storytelling. Look, listen, and participate while making connections to artworks through movement, music, poetry, and readings. Get ready to share your art-inspired stories with others! Activities recommended for children ages 3–8.

August 11 :: Downtown Playdates Lego Challenge :: Boston :: Drop in for a LEGO challenge during the Downtown Playdates series using your imagination and an extensive collection of LEGO bricks. Each week participants will face a different design challenge, including creating the tallest tower, reimagining a Boston neighborhood, designing a new neighborhood, or picturing buildings resilient to sea level rise. Join BSA Space’s design team for a brick ton of fun while envisioning Boston’s future using your favorite design tool.

August 12 :: Open Newbury Street :: Boston :: Newbury Street will become a pedestrian-only walkway, closing to vehicles to allow pedestrians the opportunity use the full width of the street. Newbury Street will be pedestrian-only from Arlington Street to Massachusetts Avenue. 

August 12 :: Pupsicles Pawty Benefiting Missing Dogs MA :: Lynn :: Savor the dog days of summer with a fun Pupsicles Pawty! Enjoy an afternoon of cool beers and cool pupsicles for a great cause. Keep busy with brewery tours, doggy pools, and a dog training demo. Don’t have a dog? No worries — come hang out and pass out treats to all the furry friends in attendance. Kids and polite dogs welcome!

August 13 :: Free Cruise to Spectacle Island :: Boston :: Join Save the Harbor/Save the Bay on a free Share the Harbor cruise to the Boston Harbor Islands! Save the Harbor will set sail to Spectacle Island for a day of fun, art on the shore, fishing, swimming, and crabbing. Cruises are free and open to the public and will begin boarding at 10 a.m. at the World Trade Center Dock for a 10:30 a.m. departure. Please RSVP here.

August 14 :: Storytelling at Faneuil Hall Marketplace :: Boston :: Professional storytellers perform free shows that are kid-tested and parent-approved. Find the fun on South Market Street outside Wagamama. The August 14 storyteller is Nicolette Nordin Heavey.

August 14 :: All About Bees at the Discovery Museum :: Acton :: Join researcher Rachael Bonoan from Tufts University as she shares her work studying honey bees! Test out your bee vision, taste test honey from different locations, and make a candle out of beeswax while learning all about the importance of pollinators and what you can do to help honey bees.

August 17 :: Pinocchio! Presented by Kaleidoscope Children’s Theatre :: Beverly :: An amazing series of adventures awaits Pinocchio in his quest to become a real boy. Will he take the Blue Fairy’s advice and listen to the smart little cricket? Or will he end up as a donkey on the Isle of Joy? It’s a show the whole family will enjoy, no strings attached. All seats $12.

August 18 :: Fido Fest 2018 :: Arlington :: It’s Arlington’s Annual Dog Video Festival and Dog Pageant! Watch everyone’s dog video submissions on a large screen at sunset in Spy Pond Field. Activities before the showing include the dog pageant and an obstacle course for kids. There is free popcorn!

August 18 :: Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival :: Boston :: Come in early and grab dinner or snacks to enjoy during the movie! Picnic blankets and beach chairs are welcome. Spend just $10 and receive discounted parking in the Prudential Center Garage. The August 18 movie is Tarzan. Closed captioning will be provided for all movies.

August 18 :: Downtown Playdates Lego Challenge :: Boston :: Drop in for a LEGO challenge during the Downtown Playdates series using your imagination and an extensive collection of LEGO bricks. Each week participants will face a different design challenge, including creating the tallest tower, reimagining a Boston neighborhood, designing a new neighborhood, or picturing buildings resilient to sea level rise. Join BSA Space’s design team for a brick ton of fun while envisioning Boston’s future using your favorite design tool.

August 19 :: Quincy August Moon Festival :: Quincy :: Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. (QARI) is proud to partner with the City of Quincy to host the 2018 August Moon Festival. For the first time, the August Moon Festival will feature a beer garden! Play over-sized backyard games like giant Jenga. There will be hip-hop, rap, and rock performances, cultural performances, a kids’ zone with petting zoo and pony rides, food trucks, and food vendors galore!

August 19 :: Imagination Playground :: Boston :: Imagination Playground lets kids’ creativity soar as they build and design their own structures. Visit the lawn next door to the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center, close to the intersection of State Street and Atlantic Avenue.

August 21 :: Storytelling at Faneuil Hall Marketplace :: Boston :: Professional storytellers perform free shows that are kid-tested and parent-approved. Find the fun on South Market Street outside Wagamama. The August 21 storyteller is Tony Toledo.

August 22 :: Everyday Engineering: Kites! :: Acton :: Engage in some everyday engineering as you construct and create with repurposed and recycled materials. Put your engineering skills to the test by designing and building simple kites out of a variety of materials. How high will your kite fly?!

August 24 :: Willy Wonka Junior presented by NSMT’s Summer Program Students :: Beverly :: Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Junior follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats, but the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory — or suffer the consequences. All tickets are $12.

August 24 :: Heritage Museum and Gardens Free Fun Friday :: Sandwich :: Head down to Heritage to walk through the gorgeous gardens and grounds. Bring a picnic and a ball to further enjoy the day. Admission is free thanks to a partnership with the Highland Street Foundation.

August 24 :: Summer Music Series : Say Darling :: Lincoln :: Enjoy the warm summer air, great tunes, and time to relax at Drumlin Farm Summer Music Series concerts! Bring a picnic dinner, blankets, chairs, and an outdoor game. Farm fresh snacks, sweets, and non-alcoholic beverages will be for sale to round out your meal. Each performance will feature a different Boston-area band. Join on August 24 (no rain date) for Say Darling! 

August 25 :: Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival :: Boston :: Come in early and grab dinner or snacks to enjoy during the movie! Picnic blankets and beach chairs are welcome. Spend just $10 and receive discounted parking in the Prudential Center Garage. The August 25 movie is A Wrinkle in Time. Closed captioning will be provided for all movies.

August 25 :: End of Summer Bash :: Boston :: Atlantic Wharf is hosting the 5th Annual End of Summer BASH on Saturday, August 25, from 12–2 p.m. outside on Waterfront Plaza. This event will finish off the Downtown Playdates series for an afternoon of live music with The Stacey Peasley Band, face painting, activities and games, food, and more! Picnic blankets and chairs are welcome.

August 26 :: Archery at the Museum :: Waltham :: Participate in the live archery range that will be open from 10:45 a.m.–1:40 p.m. inside the Museum’s historic 1901 Engine House. All equipment is provided. The $20 class enrollment fee includes museum admission. Participants must be age 9 or older to shoot on the range.

August 28 :: Storytelling at Faneuil Hall Marketplace :: Boston :: Professional storytellers perform free shows that are kid-tested and parent-approved. Find the fun on South Market Street outside Wagamama.

August 30 :: Mega Musical Chairs :: Boston :: Participate in an epic round of Mega Musical Chairs in front of Quincy Market. Don’t miss this free, one-of-a-kind Mega Musical Chairs event with live music provided by Cocek Brass Band. Elimination rounds and a “Champions’ Circle” will offer plenty of opportunities to win prizes from Faneuil Hall merchants! The fun starts at 6 p.m.! 

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, 10:30–11:30 a.m. :: Introduce your preschool-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 :: Select Saturdays, 1–3 p.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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Emily Fahle
After an illustrious career in politics (including stints on Capitol Hill and on a presidential campaign) and then reinsurance (yeah, that was a career change), Emily decided to once again make a bold move and stay at home after her first daughter was born. Daughter number two came shortly thereafter, and when daughter number three made her debut it became an official girl tribe! The Fahle girls keep super busy and active exploring their beloved town of Scituate and all that Boston and the South Shore have to offer! Emily is currently experiencing getting along with an infant who believes mom is a Holstein, a preschooler who is smarter than her, and a 2-year-old who has drama in her veins. Emily never knew coffee and wine would be such an essential part of her day.