Special note! A bunch of you were asking for a way to add these events to your google or apple calendar so I added some links to add the events highlighted in the newsletter right to your calendar! Let me know if they don’t work - first time adding this!

As far as this week goes, the Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts takes over Franklin Park (by the zoo) Saturday and Sunday (with the parade Sunday), and the North End feast season kicks off Friday with the Feast of Saint Joseph. Otherwise, there is a whole list of fun summer activities ready for your crew this week.

Hope you all are enjoying the summer as we are about halfway through!

Franklin Park, Boston · Saturday, July 25 · Free · Drop-in · All ages

The annual Puerto Rican Festival draws 20,000+ people to Franklin Park with live music, carnival rides, food vendors serving pernil (pork), pinchos, alcapurrias, and more — Saturday and Sunday, with a parade on Sunday. Free to attend.

North End, Boston · Friday, July 24 at 3:00 PM · Free · Drop-in · All ages

The Feast of Saint Joseph runs Friday through Sunday on Hanover Street in the North End — live entertainment, religious processions, and classic Italian street food. Free to attend. Parking is a nightmare in the North End on feast weekends (or any weekend tbh), so take the T (Haymarket), or find a garage and walk a bit.

Needham High School · Thursday, July 23 · Free entry · Drop-in · All ages

The Needham Carnival runs through Saturday at Needham High School with kid rides, family rides, thrill rides, midway games, and carnival food. Weeknights are less crowded than the weekend.

One tap adds the event with a reminder 1 day and 1 hour before. (Web only — open this edition in your browser.)

Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts — Google · Apple

Feast of Saint Joseph — Google · Apple

Needham Carnival — Google · Apple

YES STEM: Flotation Device — Google · Apple

Winnie-the-Pooh Escape Room — Google · Apple

Wingmasters: Birds of Prey — Google · Apple

Danger Club — Google · Apple

Barnyard Buddies at Powisset Farm — Google · Apple

Boston Birding with Family — Google · Apple

Farm Tales: Sheep Take a Hike — Google · Apple

DPW Visits the East Branch — Google · Apple

Edible Book Festival — Google · Apple

Curious Creatures Live Animal Program — Google · Apple

Mixed Media Arts — Google · Apple

Make Your Own Puppets — Google · Apple

Deck the Hulls — Boston Harbor — Google · Apple

Patriots Training Camp — Google · Apple

Pollinators of the Mystic — Google · Apple

Bonsignore Hall, Medford Public Library · Friday, July 24 · Free · Drop-in · Ages 5+

Kids ages 5+ engineer a flotation device designed to keep a toy dry — materials provided, inspired by a Museum of Science activity. Free, drop-in at Medford Public Library, Friday July 24.

Newton Free Library · Saturday, July 25 at 9:00 AM · Free · Registration required · All ages

Kids solve a Winnie-the-Pooh themed escape room — find Christopher Robin’s friends hidden around the Hundred Acre Wood before the picnic starts. Free, registration required at Newton Free Library, Saturday July 25.

Community Meeting Room, Main Library, Westwood · Tuesday, July 28 at 2:00 PM · Free · Drop-in · All ages

Wingmasters brings five live birds of prey — eagles, hawks, falcons, owls — right into the library for a presentation on raptors and their hunting adaptations. Free, drop-in at Westwood Public Library, Tuesday July 28.

Children’s Program Room, Watertown Free Public Library · Wednesday, July 29 · Free · Registration required · Ages 8–11

Kids ages 8–11 use water balloons to tie-dye t-shirts in this month’s Danger Club session. Free, registration required at Watertown Free Public Library, Wednesday July 29.

Powisset Farm, Dover · Saturday, July 25 at 9:00 AM · Free · Drop-in · All ages

Kids meet and interact with the barnyard animals at Powisset Farm every Saturday morning — staff-led and hands-on.

Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Mattapan · Saturday, July 25 · Paid – check website · Register ahead of time · All ages

Family birding walk at the Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Mattapan — binoculars and guidance provided.

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Lincoln · Sunday, July 26 · $15 · Register · All ages

Farm Tales: Sheep Take a Hike at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln — kids follow the sheep on a walk and learn about farm life. $15 registration required

East Branch Lawn, Somerville · Wednesday, July 29, 10:45 AM–noon · Free · Drop-in · All ages

A DPW truck parks on the East Branch lawn and kids can climb aboard — truck books, blankets, and bubbles on the grass too. Free, drop-in at Somerville East Branch, Wednesday July 29.

Story Hour Room, Milton Public Library · Thursday, July 23 at 3:00 PM · Free · Drop-in · Ages 6–12

Kids ages 6–12 create food inspired by their favorite books — think Green Eggs and Ham or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs — with help from a grown-up. Free, drop-in at Milton Public Library, Thursday July 23.

Lecture Hall, Beebe Library, Wakefield · Thursday, July 23 · Free · Registration required · Ages 6+

Kids ages 6+ only (no adults or little siblings) meet live animals up close in a curious creatures program. Free, registration required at Wakefield Beebe Library, Thursday July 23.

Craft Room, Parlin Memorial Library, Everett · Saturday, July 25 · Free · Registration required · Ages 5–12

Kids ages 5–12 try a new art medium each week with a guest art instructor. Free, registration required at Everett Parlin Memorial Library, Saturday July 25.

Children’s Program Room, Belmont Public Library · Wednesday, July 29 · Free · Registration required · K and up

Kids kindergarten and up make simple finger puppets out of craft materials with their grown-ups — all supplies provided by the Friends of the Library. Free, registration required at Belmont Public Library, Wednesday July 29.

Boston Harbor, Charlestown · Saturday, July 25 · Free · Registration required · All ages

A brand-new Boston Harbor tradition — a decorated-boat parade in the harbor. Free to watch from shore; boaters can register to join the flotilla.

Gillette Stadium, Foxborough · Saturday, July 25 at 10:30 AM · Free · Registration required · All ages

The Patriots host their 67th annual Training Camp on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium — watch the team practice up close, free with registration. A fun outing for young football fans.

DCR Wetland Boardwalk, Alewife Brook Reservation, Cambridge · Sunday, July 26 at 11:00 AM · Free · Registration required · All ages

A guided walk along the Alewife wetland boardwalk exploring the bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that keep the ecosystem going. Free, registration required, Sunday July 26.

Songs and Stories (Boudreau) (10:30 AM) — Boudreau Branch, Cambridge · Free · All Ages

Fairy Houses (ages 5+) — Youth Services Room, Medford Public Library · Free · Ages 5+

Melt the Ice Sensory Play (ages 3–7) — Hillside Patio, Medford Public Library · Free · Ages 3–7

Storytime at West — West Branch, Somerville · Free · All Ages

Our Stories: Spanish Bilingual Storytime (3:00 PM) — Children’s Program Room, Newton · Free · Ages 2–5

Little Groove Outdoor Music Classes at Lyrik Back Bay (10:30 AM) — Lyrik, Boston · Free · Babies/Toddlers

Black Owned Bos. Market (12:00 PM) — Harbor Way, Boston · Free

Sunshine and Storytime! — Children’s Program Room, Belmont Public Library · Free · Ages 3+

CRAFTernoon at East! — East Branch, Somerville · Free · School-age

Family Story Time — Youth Services Room, Medford Public Library · Free · Ages 3–7

See all 326 events this week → full calendar

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