Welcome to the FamilyFinds Boston List! Here you'll find a weekly list of things to do with your family around Boston. Some big events, some small ones, some free and some for a fee. Enjoy! Christine Koh is the founder and editor of Boston Mamas, the designer behind Posh Peacock, and writes a personal blog at Pop Discourse. She tweets about it all at @bostonmamas.
(Dates & times vary; see website for details) -- If you haven't yet made it out for a free round of bowling this summer, there still may be time via the Kids Bowl Free program. Check the website for participating locations and details; kids who meet a given location's age requirement are eligible to register for two free games a day. There are 19 participating locations in Massachusetts and the program at Boston Bowl runs until September 6. >>Locations vary; see website for details Read More...
(August 30; see website for hours of operation) -- I have yet to meet a kid who doesn't go bonkers when they see a carousel and Tuesday is the last day to take advantage of $2 Tuesdays at the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway carousel (normal rate is $3/ride). And after you've ridden the carousel to your heart's content, support local farmers with a visit to the Boston Public Market. I've collected many data points suggesting that when my 7-year-old daughter gets to pick out veggies and meet farmers, she'll actually eat the veggies too! >>Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Read More...
(August 31; 7pm) -- It's not often that you can enjoy professional classical music and the Boston Ballet for free, so if you love one or both of these performing arts, be sure to head to the Hatch Shell on Wednesday. The Boston Landmarks Orchestra will set the musical stage for members of the Boston Ballet, who will perform from Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. >>Hatch Shell on the Esplanade, Boston Read More...
(Now through September 5; see website for hours) -- If you haven't yet had a chance to visit the zoo this summer, now's a good time -- the weather is cooling off a bit and there's a deal in store. Clip and present the coupon on the Stone Zoo website to receive half off children's admissions. And during your visit, check out their free-flight interactive bird show; the show runs three times daily and access is included with general admission. >>149 Pond Street, Stoneham Read More...
(August 26; 11am, 12:30pm, 3pm, 4:15pm) -- Here's a fun and unusual way to kick off the weekend: on Friday, the American Travelling Morrice will share their English country tradition in Boston. If you see a group of white-attired men dancing, clashing sticks, and waving handkerchiefs in time to accordions and fiddles, you've found the show. >>Multiple Boston locations; see website for details Read More...
(August 27, 6:45pm) -- Sadly, summer is winding down, so there's no better time to head out for a relaxing night at the beach. Surfside Live! is offering two more events (this and next week) during which families can picnic on the beach, enjoy free live music, and -- if your kids can stay up that late -- enjoy fireworks. >>Salisbury Beach Read More...
(August 27, times vary) -- Spectacle Island is just a 15 minute ferry ride from Boston and the Massachusetts DCR and Boston Harbor Island Alliance are sponsoring a couple of wonderful free programs ending on Saturday. Make a day of your trip to Spectacle Island and enjoy Island Yoga (10:30am; 12pm), a leisurely lunch, then the Go Fly a Kite program (1:30pm). This free program allows kids to bring or make a kite (materials provided; one kite per family) and fly from the highest point in Boston Harbor. >>Spectacle Island Read More...