Need weekend plans?
The best things to do around the city, delivered to your inbox.
Here’s how you can get involved in your Boston neighborhood this April
Stay connected to Boston's neighborhoods with this monthly guide.
Welcome to your Neighborhoods community bulletin board, a monthly guide to community events, civic engagement, and volunteer opportunities in Boston’s neighborhoods.
Do you have an event, session, or other ideas about what we should include in the community bulletin board? E-mail us at [email protected] or fill out the survey at the bottom of this page.
Things to Do | Civic Engagement | Volunteering | Share your event with Boston.com
Things to do
Take a musical interpretation class from the Boston Philharmonic
Experience Boston’s famous philharmonic orchestra at a morning music class. Hosted by conductor and master educator Benjamin Zander, young musicians will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of music interpretation and sharpen their understanding of their instruments. April 6 from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 700 Boylston St., Back Bay; Free
Gear up for baseball season at Red Sox opening day
Spring in Boston would not be complete without the Boston Red Sox. Come see the team’s 2024 season home opener in America’s oldest ballpark. Make sure to get your tickets early for the best seats, and don’t forget to get a Fenway frank and a Sam Adams while you’re there. April 9; first pitch at 2:10 p.m.; 4 Jersey St., Fenway; tickets start at $60
Take your first swan boat ride of the season
Check out Boston’s iconic swan boats for their 2024 opening day on April 13. For 147 years, the swan boats have been a popular attraction for visitors to Boston and an iconic emblem of the city, marking the beginning of the summer season. April 13 at 10 a.m.; 4 Charles St., Downtown Boston; $4.50 for adults and $3 for children
Cheer on runners at the 128th Boston Marathon
One of the biggest sporting events in Boston and the world’s oldest annual marathon, the Boston Marathon returns this month for the 128th year in a row. Over 22,000 runners have already registered to compete in the race, many of whom have shared their stories with us. April 15; Starts at East Main St. and Marathon Way, Hopkinton with finish line at 655 Boylston St., Back Bay; Free
Hike Allandale for Earth Day Hike
The coming of April means the coming of another Earth Day, and Boston is providing an opportunity for residents to enjoy and appreciate the city’s nature with a hike through West Roxbury’s Allandale Woods. Formal and informal discussions and tours will be provided by Boston park rangers, Urban Wilds staff, and parks employees during the hikes. April 22 from 2 to 3 p.m.; 19 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury; Free
Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month with the library’s special collections
Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month at the Boston Public Library. The library will host an open house showcasing collection items from Arab and Arab American creators, including new additions from The Very Reverend Solomon M. Fairneny collection, which were written in Boston’s Little Syria community. April 23 from 2 to 4 p.m.; 700 Boylston St., Back Bay; Free
Advertisement:
Civic Engagement
Join a Roslindale Wetlands Serve and Learn event
This spring, Urban Wilds and the Roslindale Wetlands Taskforce will host a learning session about local wildlife and how to care for our green spaces. Once you’ve got the lessons on tree and shrub planting techniques, and invasive plant management, you can put those skills to use by planting and weeding in Roslindale parks. April 6 at 9 a.m.; 25 Coniston Rd., Roslindale
Meet the library’s new chef-in-residence
The Boston Public Library’s first chef-in-residence, Glorya Fernandez, joined the Roxbury branch’s nutrition lab earlier this year. As she prepares her curriculum for the next year, she’s leading a community listening session to meet library visitors and hear what Boston residents want out of nutrition and food programming. Stop by the library to give your input. April 8 at 6 p.m.; 149 Dudley St., Roxbury
Give back during One Boston Day
In the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, the city’s residents showed strength, community, and resilience. In honor of that, the mayor’s office has named April 15 One Boston Day, a day dedicated to acts of kindness. This year’s community service opportunities include a Franklin Park community clean up, a blood drive, and trauma awareness activities hosted by The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation. If you have a One Boston Day event in mind, you can register it with the city here. April 15; Citywide
Attend a SPARK Boston social
If you love your community and want to meet Bostonians who feel the same, check out SPARK Boston’s West Roxbury social. The SPARK council advises Mayor Michelle Wu on city policies and programs of interest to 20- to 35-year-old residents. The social is an opportunity to meet its members and West Roxbury neighbors to discuss local issues, volunteer opportunities, and the future of Boston. April 15 at 6 p.m.; 1885 Centre St., West Roxbury
Learn about wage theft and your rights as a worker
This month’s workers’ rights fair will be hosted at the Asian Community Development Corporation in Chinatown and focus on wage theft. Learn your rights around this issue and how to stop it at this informative community session. Representatives from the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division, the Department of Labor, Greater Boston Legal Services, Justice at Work and Fair Employment Project, and local worker centers will be there to answer your questions. April 22 at 5 p.m.; 38 Oak St., Chinatown
Get help on your path to citizenship
The city’s Office for Immigrant Advancement and local nonprofit Project Citizenship are hosting Citizenship Day in Roxbury April 27. At this event, anyone eligible for naturalization can get free legal help with their citizenship application, as long as they are at least 18 years old, have been a lawful resident for at least five years, or married to a U.S. citizen for three years. Call 617-694-5949 to make an appointment before the event. April 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 1350 Tremont St., Roxbury
Volunteering
Participate in “Love Your Block” 2024
Every spring, Bostonians across every neighborhood come together to showcase their community pride and commitment to their community. By participating in “Love Your Block,” you can connect with neighbors, enjoy the outdoors, and witness the tangible impact of collective action. Volunteers can lead or attend cleanups in your neighborhood, and enhance streets, parks, and open spaces. April 6, 20, and 27; Citywide.
Guide Special Olympics young athletes through engaging activities
Special Olympics Young Athletes is an early childhood play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities, ages 2 to 7 years old. Young Athletes offers families, teachers, caregivers and people from the community the chance to share the joy of sports with all children. Coaches and volunteers will guide the children through a series of engaging activities, such as running, jumping, kicking, and throwing, with a focus on inclusivity and fostering a love for physical activity. April 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Sportsmen’s Tennis and Enrichment Center, 950 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester
Clean up the Muddy River in celebration of Earth Day
The Muddy River is a part of a system of brooks and ponds that run through sections of Boston’s Emerald Necklace and into the Charles River. The river snakes along the borders of and through several neighborhoods, such as Fenway-Kenmore and Brookline. Volunteers are needed for the Muddy River Cleanup, which is part of the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup throughout the Charles River Watershed. Volunteers can expect to be involved in ecological restoration work such as planting trees or wildflowers, controlling erosion, building trails, or managing invasive species. Tools and materials are provided. Register here. April 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Multiple locations in the Emerald Necklace.
Serve breakfast to individuals living with HIV and AIDS at the Boston Living Center
The Boston Living Center, located in the Back Bay neighborhood, focuses on nutrition that improves the health of individuals living with HIV and AIDS, and those who are experiencing other chronic illnesses and food insecurity. If you’re not available for breakfast, the organization also offers volunteer times for serving lunch and dinner. Over 80% rely on these meals as their primary source of food. They also benefit from the community aspects of congregate dining – connecting with other members and staff. Breakfast shifts are held on Wednesdays from 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.; 29 Stanhope St., Back Bay
Clean up Moakley Park and Carson Beach for Earth Week
Each year during Earth Week, the Department of Conservation and Recreations invites volunteers to Massachusetts state parks to take part in stewardship activities to prepare for the busy spring and summer recreation season. Volunteers are needed to help tend to Moakley Park and Carson Beach in South Boston by cleaning up, painting, or completing other restorative projects. April 20 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 165 HarborWalk, South Boston
Help the Boston Nature Center get in tip-top shape for spring
Volunteers are needed to get the Boston Nature Center, a 67-acre wildlife refuge of the Massachusetts Audubon Society located in Mattapan, ready for spring. Volunteers will help maintain trails, pick up trash, pick weed, reapply compost and mulch, and do light pruning. Anyone ages 5 and up is welcome to volunteer, NS there will be opportunities to beautify the butterfly garden and the Nature Nook children’s play area. Volunteers are asked to dress for the weather and a morning spent outdoors. After the work is done, volunteers can enjoy free admission to the sanctuary and spend the afternoon exploring the trails and observing the wildlife. This volunteer opportunity is part of Mass Audubon’s Statewide Volunteer Day. Register by April 25. Apr 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan
Volunteer at the Japan Festival Boston 2024
Japan Festival Boston is looking for volunteers to help out during this year’s two-day festival. After three years, the festival will finally return to the Boston Common in Downtown Boston and will feature Japanese food, music, performances, vendors, and more. There are two volunteer shifts per day: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5:30p.m. Volunteers can sign up for multiple shifts. If you volunteer for the whole day, lunch will be provided. Volunteer work includes arranging food booth lines, helping at the information desk, stage help, and security. Volunteers are required to participate in a Zoom orientation. Contact [email protected] with any questions. April 27 and 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Boston Common in Downtown Boston.
Have an event you want to share with your neighbors? Share with Boston.com.
Be civil. Be kind.
Read our full community guidelines.To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address