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Fun & (Mostly) Free Outdoor Summer Entertainment

Last weekend when it was so gorgeous out, I was looking for something to do *outside* and realized there’s no one place that lists all the cool (usually free) outdoor entertainment we are so fortunate to have in and around Boston in the summertime. I started compiling info I found on various sites and then realized this might be useful to my readers as well, so here it is!

Starting in Cambridgeville of course…

Somerville has a whole lineup of summer entertainment including SomerMovie Fest with outdoor movies at various parks around the city every Thursday from July 11 – August 29. The City of Cambridge also has an outdoor summer movie series — Screen on the Green — where the films are supplemented with magicians, clowns, music, and other family-friendly entertainment every Wednesday through August 14. Here are also a few neighborhood-specific options:

Harvard Square has a full calendar of events that includes outdoor summer entertainment.

Concert Series @ Kendall Square (co-sponsored by Berklee College of Music) — on the plaza at 300 Athenaeum Street on Thursdays 12 – 1:30 pm, now through September 5.  Plus evening concerts 4:30 – 6 pm on July 16, August 6 and August 27.

And if you’re in the mood to cross the river, there are many more options, and most of them are FREE (yay for free!) — check it out…


Hatch Shell Concert Series — a varying schedule (but mostly Wednesday evenings) of orchestra performances, starting with the Pops on July 3 and running through August 28.

Free Friday Flix at the Hatch Shell — July 12 – August 23.

Berklee Summer in the City — free mid-day and evening music performed at at a variety of locations in the metro area — now straight into September.

Mayor Menino’s Wednesday Night Concert Series — July 18 – August 28. Shows start at 7 at City Hall Plaza.

Summer in the City Movies & Music at the Boston Harbor Hotel — June 13 – August 30 live music every Monday – Friday evening,  followed by a movie at dusk on Fridays. Download the brochure here.

Shakespeare on the Common — July 6 – 28 — this year’s production is Two Gentleman of Verona.

ICA Boston’s The Art of Summer — includes an pop up oyster bar on Friday evenings, family activities, and the Harborwalk Sounds music series every Thursday from July 11 – August 29.

MFA Concerts in the Courtyard — June 26 – August 28 with shows starting at 7:30 — unfortunately this one is not free, but might just be worth springing the $30 for…

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