Juneteenth, Dads, and International Takeovers
It's a big weekend — Juneteenth celebrations are happening all over the city, from Franklin Park to Cambridge to Brookline. The zoo is offering free admission for dads and father figures on Sunday for Father’s Day. And with the World Cup in town, there are free watch parties and a fan festival running all week. Even a walk around anywhere is fun to see people sporting their country swag - Scotland and Norway were the most spotted fans this week when we were out and about.
Dragon Boat Festival this weekend near Harvard!
🌟 Pick of the Week
Franklin Park, Boston · Saturday, June 20 · Free · Drop-in · All ages
The City of Boston's annual Juneteenth Celebration at Franklin Park is free and open to all ages — expect live music, food, vendors, and community programming across the park. It's a big outdoor event so bring a blanket or chairs and plan to stay a while. No registration needed, just show up.
Downtown Waltham · Saturday, June 20, 10am–5pm · Free · Drop-in · All ages
Downtown Waltham comes alive along the Charles for RiverBeat — two stages of live music, a crafts marketplace, multicultural food, and activities on and around the river, plus a Parade of Pets the kids (and many parents) will love. It runs 10am–5pm Saturday and it's free, so you can wander in, grab lunch from the vendors, and let the kids run around and play.
❄️ Bad Weather Backups
East Branch, Somerville · Tuesday, June 23 · Free · Drop-in · Ages 5+
Museum of Science educators come to Somerville's East Branch on Tuesday June 23 to run an Artemis Mission: Earth and Mars Landers program — kids ages 5+ do the engineering activity. First-come, first-serve, capped at 25 kids.
☀️ Outside Adventures
City Hall Plaza & Boston Common · All week + Fri, June 19 · Free · All ages
The World Cup is in town and Boston's buzzing. The free FIFA Fan Festival at City Hall Plaza runs all week — 2–3 matches a day on a giant screen, plus food, live music, and family activities (grab a free pass in advance). And on Friday the city's free Boston Common watch party takes over the Parkman Bandstand for Brazil vs. Haiti at 9pm, with a big screen, face painting, and food vendors.
Franklin Park Zoo & Stone Zoo · Sunday, June 21 · Free for dads · Drop-in · All ages
Father's Day free admission for dads at both Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo on Sunday June 21 — all fathers and father figures get in free, regular admission for everyone else.
Riverside Press Park, Cambridge · Friday, June 19 · Free · Drop-in · All ages
Cambridge marks its 5th annual Juneteenth with a celebration and parade at Riverside Press Park on Friday — a "Roots, Culture & Community" theme with the parade plus music, vendors, and community programming. Free and open to all ages.
Ellsworth McAfee Park · Saturday, June 20 · Free · Drop-in · All ages
A free outdoor Bollywood concert by Din Check at Ellsworth McAfee Park on Saturday — live music, all ages, the kind of low-key evening where you can spread out a blanket and let the kids dance.
📚 Library Picks
Coolidge Corner, Brookline · Tuesday, June 23 at 2:30 PM · Free · Drop-in · Grades K-7
A beekeeper visits Brookline's Coolidge Corner Library on Tuesday June 23 to talk about honey and hive life with kids in grades K–7. Drop-in, free, two sessions offered.
Watertown Free Public Library · Wednesday, June 24 · Free · Registration required · Ages 8-11
Watertown Library's Danger Club for ages 8–11 on Wednesday June 24 — kids use matches to light candles and toast marshmallows, plus fire safety basics. Registration required, opens June 10.
🍺 Fun for the Whole Family
Stone Cow Brewery & Creamery, Barre, MA · Saturday, June 20 · Free · Drop-in · All ages
A bit of a hike, but the Massachusetts Cheese Festival at Stone Cow Brewery & Creamery in Barre is a one-day event where you can sample cheeses from local producers, walk the farm, and see where the milk actually comes from.
Boston Children's Museum, 308 Congress St · Friday, June 19 · Free · Drop-in · All Ages
Free outdoor dance party on the Children's Museum plaza for Juneteenth. A MC and DJ lead the dancing, open to the public, no museum admission required. Drop-in, Friday June 19.
The Shirley-Eustis House, Roxbury · Friday, June 19, 11am–5pm · Free · Drop-in · All ages
A free Juneteenth celebration of joy and community on the grounds of the historic Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury, 11am–5pm Friday. There's a vendor marketplace, live music, a free book fair, and mansion tours — plus plenty for kids, including lawn games, arts and crafts, and a sensory garden built for children with special needs.
Brookline High School · Friday, June 19, 12–4pm · Free · Drop-in · All ages
Brookline For The Culture throws its Juneteenth Carnival at Brookline High, noon–4pm Friday — music, food, and community vibes celebrating cultures and flags from across the diaspora. Free admission, free parking, all ages are welcome.
Cohasset Town Common · Friday–Sunday, June 19–21 · Free · Drop-in · All ages
The 71st South Shore Arts Festival takes over Cohasset Town Common Friday through Sunday — nearly 100 craft and art vendors, two stages of music, food trucks, and a dedicated kids' tent full of activities. It's free, there's a free shuttle from nearby lots, and it makes for an easy day trip down to the south shore.
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⚡ The Full Rundown
Thursday, June 18
Lego Club (ages 5+) — Youth Services Programming Room, Medford Public Library · Free · Ages 5+
Friday, June 19
Juneteenth Carnival: One Freedom, Many Flags! — Brookline High School · Free
6th Annual Newton Juneteenth Celebration 2026 — Bandstand at Hyde Community Center, Newton · Free
Saturday, June 20
Saturday Storytime (10:30 AM) — Children's Program Room, Newton · Free · Ages 0-5
Family Story Time — Youth Services Programming Room, Medford Public Library · Free · Ages 3-7
Sunday, June 21
Face Painting by FaceArt at The Boston Public Market — Boston Public Market · Free
Monday, June 22
Baby Sign at East! — East Branch, Somerville · Free · Ages 2 months-pre-crawling
Tuesday, June 23
Singalong with Matt Heaton at West! — West Branch Children's Room, Somerville · Free
Wednesday, June 24
My First Storytime (10:30 AM) — Children's Program Room, Newton · Free · Birth-23 months
Rainbow Wind Chimes for Teens! — Auditorium, Central Library, Somerville · Free · Ages 13+
See all 252 events this week → Browse the full calendar
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Have an awesome week. T signing off.
