Boston's Best 2014 Summer Festivals
Boston Pride
Boylston St. and Clarendon St.
Boston, MA 02115
www.bostonpride.org
Date: June 14, 2014 at 12 p.m.
Every year, the Boston Pride parade heads through Boston so supporters of the LGBT community can come out, spread awareness of rights and just have a good time. The parade ends at City Hall Plaza, which is when and where the festival will take place. Expect family-friendly areas for kids and parents with activities like pet an animal from a local zoo or face painting. There is also a 21+ area for revelers who want to have a drink. There will be many vendors and plenty of entertainment. One new addition to the festival is free massages at the rest and massage area.
Boston Harborfest
City Hall Plaza
City Hall Ave.
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 635-4500
www.bostonharborfest.com
Dates: July 2-7, 2014
Boston Harborfest is a yearly event that surrounds the Fourth of July. Festival events include musical performances, such as the Boston Pops show at the Hatch Shell, and food fests, such as the Chowder Fest at the end of the festival. Every year, vendors and performing artists come out of the woodwork to entertain and feed the massive crowds that come to see fireworks, reenactments and much more in the city where the American Revolution began. Events and activities are virtually everywhere in the city, so be sure to go for a walk and see what is going on.
FIGMENT Boston
Rose Kennedy Greenway
Boston, MA 02115
www.boston.figmentproject.org
Date: July 26-27, 2014
FIGMENT is an annual community arts festival that takes a hands-on approach to public art. Those looking for something in which they can get involved, meet new people and even create a little themselves will enjoy this two-day festival. Guests are invited to bring along art supplies and everything else they need to spend a day on the Greenway. There are absolutely no sales at FIGMENT and participation is free. Therefore, you'll have to bring your own food and drink. Whatever you bring, make sure it leaves with you, so the Greenway stays as beautiful as it was when the festival began.
Chinatown Main Street Festival
Chinatown
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 350-6303
www.chinatownmainstreet.org
Date: June 22, 2014
Chinatown Main Street is a nonprofit organization that is focused on the beatification of this historic neighborhood. Similar organizations exist throughout Boston and other cities. In Chinatown, one of this organization's many annual events is the festival. Admission is free for everyone. Activities include martial arts performances and traditional dancing. Vendors will be there so guests can eat and drink while they enjoy the entertainment provided by Chinatown Main Street.
Boston Festival Of Bands
Faneuil Hall
1 Faneuil Hall Square
Boston, MA 02109
www.mws-boston.org
Date: June 14, 2014 at 11 a.m.
The Boston Festival of Bands, despite sounding like a battle of the bands, is actually more about the type of bands that sit to play. This free festival was founded by the Metropolitan Wind Symphony. Bands from all over the region participate. A new band will take over filling the building with music every hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guests can enjoy the sounds while having lunch, or they can choose to stand in Faneuil Hall to get the best view of the performances.
Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
