21 Things to Do in Boston This Week · September 10–13, 2026

Festivals & Special Events

14th JP Music Festival

The beloved annual free outdoor music festival returns to Jamaica Plain's Pinebank Baseball Field for its 14th edition with local performers.

Saturday, September 12, 2026 12:00 PM · Pinebank Baseball Field, Jamaica Plain

Boston Arts Festival

Affectionately dubbed 'ahts,' the Boston Arts Festival features more than three dozen juried visual artists showing and selling original work over two days.

Saturday, September 12 – Sunday, September 13, 2026 · Boston

Food & Drink

Oktoberfest at Bow Market

Three-day Oktoberfest celebration at Remnant Brewing in Somerville's Bow Market with craft beer and festive fun.

Friday, September 11 – Sunday, September 13, 2026 · Remnant Brewing, Bow Market, Somerville

Free Events

French Library Fall Open House

The French Library / Alliance Française of Boston & Cambridge hosts its annual fall open house, free and open to the community.

Thursday, September 10, 2026 6:00 PM · French Library / Alliance Française, Boston

The Floor Lords' 45th Anniversary: Downtown Throwdown

Boston's legendary breakdance crew The Floor Lords celebrate their 45th anniversary with a free downtown performance and community gathering.

Friday, September 11, 2026 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM · Downtown Boston

Open Streets Boston – Mattapan

Open Streets transforms major Mattapan thoroughfares into car-free spaces filled with pedestrian fun, local vendors, live music, and community activities.

Saturday, September 12, 2026 10:30 AM · Mattapan

Arts & Culture

The Art of Fighting: Priya Parker on Harnessing Healthy Conflict

WBUR CitySpace hosts author and facilitator Priya Parker for a discussion on the power of healthy conflict and meaningful gatherings.

Thursday, September 10, 2026 · WBUR CitySpace, Boston

Music of Larry Thomas Bell (World Premieres)

Free concert featuring three world premieres of composer Larry Thomas Bell's piano works performed by Jennifer Elowsky-Fox, Larry Bell, and Geoffrey Burleson at Berklee.

Thursday, September 10, 2026 7:30 PM · David Friend Recital Hall, Berklee College of Music, Boston

Resonance of the Ordinary

Group exhibition at Copley Society of Art in Back Bay exploring the beauty found in everyday moments through visual art.

Saturday, September 12, 2026 · Copley Society of Art, Back Bay

Stories from the Stage: The Pursuit of Happiness

GBH invites audiences into its studio for an entertaining evening of live storytelling on the theme of The Pursuit of Happiness.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 6:30 PM · GBH Studio, Boston

Date Night

Boston Ballet presents Fall Experience

Boston Ballet presents its Fall Experience program at a Downtown venue for two consecutive evenings of world-class dance.

Friday, September 11, 2026 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM · Downtown Boston

Rachel Barton Pine at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

World-class violinist Rachel Barton Pine performs three Brahms sonatas with pianist Matthew Hagle in the intimate setting of the Gardner Museum.

Sunday, September 13, 2026 1:30 PM · Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Fenway

Women's Networking Night

BostonYPA hosts an all-inclusive women's networking evening at The Beehive in the South End, perfect for meeting new professional connections and friends.

Thursday, September 17, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM · The Beehive, 541 Tremont Street, Boston

Music & Nightlife

Rufus Wainwright – 2 Shows!

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright performs two intimate shows at City Winery Boston.

Sunday, September 13, 2026 · City Winery Boston, 80 Beverly Street

Aaron Larget-Caplan: Bach & Beer

Guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan performs Bach alongside world premiere works by Karl Henning and George Papajohn in an informal beer-friendly setting at the Lily Pad.

Sunday, September 13, 2026 2:00 PM · Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge Street, Cambridge

Family-Friendly

Chinatown Main Street Lantern Festival

Celebration of Boston's Chinatown featuring martial arts, Asian dance, crafts, health booths, and a stunning lantern display.

Saturday, September 12, 2026 · Chinatown, Boston

Live Well Boston! A Community Health & Wellness Block Party

Free community health and wellness block party at 515 Blue Hill Ave with fitness activities, health resources, and community celebration.

Saturday, September 19, 2026 11:00 AM · 515 Blue Hill Ave, Boston

Outdoors & Active

Seaport Sweat 2026 – Sweatapalooza

Free outdoor group fitness event at Harbor Way in the Seaport district, part of the Seaport Sweat 2026 series.

Saturday, September 12, 2026 10:15 AM · Harbor Way, Seaport, Boston

SoWa Open Market

Artisans, craftspeople, designers, and local farmers gather every Sunday in SoWa's open air market in the South End through November.

Sunday, September 13, 2026 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM · SoWa Boston, 530 Harrison Ave, South End

Recover Like You Train

Recovery masterclass for athletes led by Nicole Pichette of Live Well Collaborative at Backyard Boston in the Seaport.

Sunday, September 20, 2026 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM · Backyard Boston, 5 Necco Street, Boston

Sports

EBF HYROX Doubles Invitational

Competitive HYROX doubles invitational event at 25 Drydock Ave in Boston's Seaport for fitness athletes.

Sunday, September 13, 2026 1:00 PM · 25 Drydock Ave, Boston