Outdoor Activities to do July 4th Weekend
4th of July Weekend Activity Roundup
We are starting to round up outdoor activities to take advantage of 4th of July weekend. We will keep updating this list as we learn about more Boston events!
1. Bites of Boston Sweet & Savory Tour (Saturday, July 3rd)
Picture curtsey Bites of Boston
If celebrations to you mean enjoying good food, sign up for Bites of Boston’s Sweet & Savory tour. The tour is run by local foodies who will show you the best spots in the South End. One of the guides, Laurel, is a fantastic artist and food illustrator. We are actually featuring her artwork on our artist spotlight display on Upton and Tremont Street for the next month! View her work the next time you are outside. There is still availability for the 1:00pm tour and we recommend booking in advance.
2. Kayak or Paddle Board on the Charles River
Don’t be like my sister - stand on the paddle board
Just because your in the city doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some water activities. Rent a kayak or paddle board on Charles River. The last board goes out at 7:00pm so you could plan to watch the sunset. There are a couple different outposts but the closest one to us is Brighton or Cambridge. This activity requires a quick 15 minute car ride and there is a parking lot at the Brighton location if you drive.
Saturday & Sunday 8:00am - 8:00pm
3. Go to a Beer Garden
Photo from Jess W. on Yelp
Beer maker Night Shift Brewing has several beer garden outposts in Boston. One of their locations, or “owl’s nests” is in Allston right near the kayaking and overlooks the Charles. You can enjoy 4th of July weekend with a 7:00pm evening kayak ride and then head to Owl’s Nest for a beverage. They also have a location in the Esplanade that is on the Charles that has classic string lights, scenic views, and the summer vibes perfect for a July day. We haven’t been to the Esplanade location but it looks bigger and features a food truck at certain times.
4. Experience Harborfest
Celebrate the history of Boston at Harborfest. Harborfest takes place from July 1st - July 4th and features reenactments, live music, parades, and fireworks. This is a family friendly event. We have never been, if you go, let us know how it is!
5. Go to an Outdoor Market
Check out Boston Open Market on Saturday and SoWa Farmer’s Market on Sunday. Boston Open Market takes place in Copley Square is an art fair with handmade goods. SoWa Farmer’s Market features vendors of all types (produce, retailers, restaurants, etc.) The two markets have different varieties of vendors and if you like outdoor markets, we recommend going to both!
6. Watch the Fireworks at Boston Commons
The Boston Pops July 4th Spectacular will take place at Tanglewood this year instead of the Esplanade. Tickets to the performance are sold out but you can watch the final of fireworks at Boston Commons at 10:30pm on Sunday.