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Here’s how you can get involved in your Boston neighborhood this May
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.
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Things to Do | Civic Engagement | Volunteering | Share your event with Boston.com
Things to do
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an afternoon of music and dancing
The Consulate General of Mexico in Boston is hosting an afternoon of traditional Mexican music and dance in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. The festivities include Mexican folk music and dancing, an orchestra performance, and a performance by classical guitarist Zaira Meneses. There will also be an artisan showcase and craft fair, along with activation by Mexican mineral water brand Topo Chico. May 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; 9 Summer St.; Downtown Boston; Free
Spend the day at Dorchester Open Streets
Back for the third year, Open Streets Boston gives residents and visitors the opportunity to experience streets as public spaces. During this event, Boston’s streets transform into vibrant, pedestrian-friendly boulevards where people can dream, play, and explore. The first Open Streets of the year will take place in Boston’s largest neighborhood of Dorchester. May 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Dorchester Avenue between Ashmont Street and Linden Street, Dorchester; Free
Treat a mother in your life to a Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch
Treat your mom to a very special Mother’s Day experience with this jazz brunch at City Winery Boston. Featuring a live jazz performance from The Rubin Brothers, tickets will include brunch and wine pairing. Wine bottle reservations or a full bar for non-wine drinkers are also available. May 12 at 12 p.m., doors open at 11:00 a.m.; 80 Beverly St., West End; $20-$35
See the Arboretum in bloom on Lilac Sunday
What better way to spend Mother’s Day than taking a walk through the Arnold Arboretum’s famous lilac collection? Featuring over 400 lilac plants, the Arboretum also features tours with Arboretum experts, hands-on children’s programming, dancing, meditation, chalk art, and more. May 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain; Free.
Make way for ducklings on Boston Common
Experience this annual Boston Mother’s Day tradition on Boston Common with your kids. Duckling Day is a family-friendly Boston tradition, celebrating the children’s classic book “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey. Duckling Day features activity booths, lawn games, magic, and live music at Boston Common’s Parkman Bandstand. The event ends with a parade retracing Mrs. Mallard’s steps to the “Make Way for Ducklings” sculpture in the Public Garden. May 12 at 10 a.m.; 165 Tremont St., Downtown Boston; $35 per family.
Celebrate Polish culture at Polish Fest Boston
Celebrate the rich culture, traditions, and contributions of Boston’s Polish-American community at Polish Fest. The festival offers delicious food, traditional and modern music, dances and other cultural events, all with the warm hospitality of the Polish-American community and its neighbors. This year, the event will raise money for the Polish American Heritage and Community Foundation, which aims to support the Polish and Polish-American community and raise money for cultural and community initiatives projects. May 19 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; 82 Boston St., Dorchester; Free.
Have a music-filled weekend at Boston Calling
Boston’s most popular music festival returns to the Harvard Athletic Complex this Memorial Day weekend. Catch some of today’s biggest artists, such as Ed Sheeran, The Killers, and Hozier, for three days packed with music.
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May 24-26; 65 N Harvard St., Allston; $389 for 3 days, $194 for one day
Pay your respects at the Memorial Day Flag Garden tribute
Honor the veterans and service members who lost their lives in the line of duty by visiting the more than 37,000 American flags planted at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument this Memorial Day. The garden was built to remember the sacrifices made by fallen Massachusetts service members and to honor their families. May 23-27; 139 Tremont St., Downtown Boston; Free
Civic Engagement
Learn about a more accessible and inclusive Boston
Mayor Michelle Wu’s Commission for People with Disabilities and the Boston Disability Commission Advisory will host a community forum to discuss the city’s priorities around accessibility. Join in person at Suffolk University Law School or virtually to hear from local policymakers and ask your questions about the city’s disability accessibility initiatives. Registration for this event is required. May 1 at 2 p.m.; 120 Tremont St., Downtown Boston and virtual
Attend a “Creating Beautiful Cities” lecture
Ruben Hanssen, founder of The Aesthetic City, will discuss urbanism, architecture, and how we can shape Boston into a more livable city for future generations. This discussion will be hosted at the Boston Public Library’s Central branch and is organized by the New Vitruvians, a professional group of New England’s Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. May 1 at 5:45 p.m.; 700 Boylston St., Back Bay
LGBTQ youth: Share your experiences at a state listening session
The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth will host a listening session to share information about the work they do and get feedback from the communities they serve. If you’re under 25 or the caregiver of a young person in Boston, attend this event to learn more about the experiences of local LGBTQ community members “in the areas of education, housing, health, and more.” May 4 at 1 p.m.; 700 Boylston St., Back Bay
Hear Boston’s plans for historic preservation in Dorchester
The Office of Historic Preservation aims to “safeguard Boston’s rich cultural heritage while amplifying the voices of underrepresented Bostonians.” To do this, the office is holding neighborhood meetings to share their historic preservation efforts and how those initiatives will address environmental sustainability, social equity, and affordable housing. Register for the Dorchester Vision Session here. May 6 at 6 p.m.; Codman Square Public Library, 690 Washington St., Dorchester and virtual
Attend a neighborhood pop-up youth job fair
Young people across the city can connect with local youth employers at neighborhood pop-ups in Dorchester, Chinatown, Jamaica Plain, Allston, Mattapan, and Roxbury throughout the month of May. These fairs will help Bostonians ages 14 to 24 foster their professional development, complete their applications, and assist with the onboarding process. Registration is required. Multiple dates and locations
Bring your spring cleaning to the Zero Waste Day drop-off
Just in time for spring cleaning, the city will host a Zero Waste Day for Boston residents. Come with your unwanted items — plus ID and proof of residency — and dispose of your clothing and textiles, electronics, batteries, paint, kitchen items, and more. They’ll also offer paper shredding for up to 10 boxes of paper per resident. Check the city’s website for a list of items they won’t accept. May 18, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Central PW Facility, 400 Frontage Rd., Roxbury
Have coffee with your neighbors and Mayor Michelle Wu
The mayor’s coffee hour series is back with sessions in Mattapan, South End, Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, East Boston, and South Boston — plus, more to come in June. For one hour, you can enjoy free Dunkin’ coffee with fellow residents and ask the mayor about how Boston can improve on local parks, public areas, and other city services. And if you’ve got an idea, there will be a suggestion box at every listening session. Multiple dates from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., unless otherwise noted
Volunteering
Remove trash and debris from Sherrin Woods Urban Wild
The City of Boston manages and cares for 29 urban wilds across our neighborhoods. Sherrin Woods in Hyde Park, located between the MBTA commuter rail tracks and Austin Street, is the second largest urban wild site. Volunteers are needed to remove trash and debris from the urban wild to make sure the hiking trails and rock climbing areas are safe for all users. Volunteers are encouraged to bring sturdy, close-toed shoes and clothes that can get dirty. May 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 1 Marston St., Hyde Park
Maintain bicycles with Bikes Not Bombs
Wednesdays in May join Bikes Not Bombs’ volunteer night to help encourage social change and economic mobility for marginalized people Bostonians. All skill-levels and ages are welcome to help with bike maintenance, including help with shipping bikes, sorting parts, general cleaning, and other tasks. Pre-registration is required to attend and spots are guaranteed for up to 10 registrants. Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; 284 Amory St., Jamaica Plain
Set up and sell books at the French Library’s book sale
The French Library in Back Bay is a language and cultural education non-profit, that houses the largest private collection of French books, periodicals, and DVDs available in the United States. During the biannual book sale, you visitors browse hundreds of books in French, with prices starting at $1. Volunteers are needed to help set up, carry, and sell books at the book sale. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and fluent in English or French. Plus, volunteering with the French Library gets you points you can redeem for membership and classes. May 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 53 Marlborough St., Back Bay.
Volunteer at the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace
The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace was founded in 1996 by Chaplain Clementina Chéry, president and CEO of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. The Dorchester-based center organizes the annual event, which was created to give mothers of murdered children support and love from their neighbors. Volunteers are needed to be walk marshalls, assist with walker services, help with food and decoration preparation, first aid, merchandise, and setup and breakdown of the event. Volunteers can sign up here. May 12 starting at 8 a.m.; Town Field Park, 1520 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
Clean up Boston’s biggest waterfront park
Boston Harbor Now and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department are holding a cleanup event at Moakley Park in South Boston. A volunteer session is two hours long and will require picking up litter and natural debris. Tools and supplies are provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring snacks and water, and to wear work clothes and close-toed shoes. May 18 starting at 9 a.m.; Edward J. McCormack Bath House, 165 Day Boulevard, South Boston
Help an elderly neighbor at FriendshipWorks’ annual walk to end elder isolation
FriendshipWorks’ mission is to reduce social isolation, enhance the quality of life, and preserve the dignity of older adults in Greater Boston. The organization is holding their annual Elderbration and 9th annual walk to end elder isolation, with the help of Gay For Good, an organization that mobilizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally volunteers in twenty chapter cities. G4G volunteers will be at the walk to assist with check-ins and help direct people as teams of walkers arrive, distribute breakfast, cheer walkers, serve a sweet treat to returning walkers, and assist in clean-up. May 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; The Rogerson House, 434 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain
Put your green thumb to use at the Rose Kennedy Greenway
Every month from April through December, the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Chinatown holds “individual horticulture projects” on Wednesday mornings. Volunteers will be working with a group of other volunteers doing common gardening tasks such as weeding, raking, mulching, planting, and pruning. No previous experience is necessary. Volunteers are encouraged to wear clothes that can dirty and closed toed shoes. You will also be asked to sign a waiver before you get started. All training, tools, water and a snack will be provided by Greenway staff. May 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Location varies
Take photos of Boston’s African American National Historic sites
The National Parks of Boston manages and supports the collection of National Park sites in Boston: Boston National Historical Park (BOST), Boston African American National Historic Site (BOAF), and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park (BOHA). Volunteer park photographers are needed to capture shots of Boston’s African American National Historic sites, including Faneuil Hall, as well as Freedom Trail tours, Black Heritage tours, and Education Center programming. Volunteers should be able to complete a minimum of four hours per month on site. Previous experience with photography is helpful, but not a requirement.; 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Downtown Boston
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