Events

10 free things to do in Boston in January

From curling to bird watching to art exhibitions.

Check out free curling and lessons at Snowport. Snowport

4 minutes to read

With the season of giving behind us, chances are your bank account would like to take a break. Thankfully, embracing the beginning of 2026 doesn’t have to cost a fortune. When approaching the new year, the name of the game is chilling with friends and family — all without shelling out a dime.

Here are 10 things to do in Boston for free this January.

1. Watch a traditional cold plunge into the Bay

Head to Carson Beach/L Street Beach around 9 a.m. on New Year’s Day to
witness hundreds of L Street Brownies rush into the icy waters of the Boston
Harbor for their annual polar plunge. Founded in 1902 and the country’s second
cold water swimming club, the Brownies are based at the L Street Bathhouse,
where South Boston’s immigrants who lived in tenements without plumbing once bathed. A tradition since 1904, the plunge brings everyone together to brave the elements wearing everything from bathing suits with tutus to Viking helmets to full-on Santa suits. (Near 165 William J Day Blvd., Boston)

2. Go ice skating with fellow students on an iconic pond

Every Tuesday during the winter ice skating season, the Boston Common Frog
Pond hosts College Nights from 6-9 p.m. While most college students enjoy half-priced admission, there are special nights that offer free admission to students who attend certain schools. January’s colleges are: Boston University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, MassBay Community College, and Babson College on Jan. 6; Northeastern, Framingham State University, Endicott College, MassArt, and Pine Manor on Jan. 13; MIT, Regis College, Bunker Hill Community College, and Ben Franklin Institute of Technology on Jan. 20; and Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, and North Shore Community College on Jan. 27. Proof of a college ID is required. (Boston Common Frog Pond, Boston)

3. Enjoy a gallery opening with the artist

Gallery NAGA is hosting an opening reception of Richard Raiselis’ solo exhibition “DeerBuffet” on Jan. 10 from 1-3 p.m. Known for paintings of urban landscapes that have unusual vantage points of either extreme close ups or expansive views of the city, the artist will make remarks on his process and the exhibit’s works at 2 p.m. (Church of the Covenant, 67 Newbury St., Boston)

4. Be the early bird for birding

Explore the prime birding destination of Castle Island as you search for wintering alcids, loons and sea ducks, shorebirds, and Snowy Owls, and many more birds during a winter walk with the Mass Audubon. Dress warmly and meet up on Jan. 11 (there’s another one on Jan. 25) to stroll the grounds from 8-10 a.m. in seek of new feathered friends. Plan on getting your steps in, as this walk is two miles. (Castle Island, Boston)

5. Let your child be a storyteller

Enjoy some storytelling and improvisation during a playful, creative program at
The Museum of African American History on Jan. 11. Scheduled in two back-to-back sessions from 1 to 1:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 2 p.m., the event is designed for children ages 4-10 as an interactive workshop that brings storybooks to life through music. Your student will become a musical storyteller—using their voices and beginner-friendly instruments to express plot, character, and emotion in real time. (46 Joy St., Boston)

Gallery NAGA hosts artist Richard Raiselis’ exhibition “DeerBuffet.”

6. Give curling a whirl

Running Saturdays through Feb. 21, you can hit the ice for an outdoor game of
curling at Snowport. Reserve your lane at this bustling Seaport destination from 2 to 4 p.m. for 30-minute time slots that provide you with one curling lane for a group of up to eight people. Learn To Curl also offers free lessons taught by the North End Curling Club on Jan. 10 and Jan. 24 with registration on the app. (111 Harbor Way, Seaport Blvd., Boston)

7. Celebrate Poe’s birthday

In honor of the famed writer’s birth in Boston on Jan. 19, 1809, the Boston
Public Library will host “The Raven in the Frog Pond: Edgar Allan Poe and the
Boston Literati in 1845,” a talk with Paul Lewis, Professor Emeritus at Boston
College, on Jan. 17 from 2 to 3 p.m. Also celebrating the anniversary of “The
Raven,” there will be a celebratory group recitation of the haunting poem to
follow. Lewis is a past president of the Poe Studies Association and was
a driving force behind the square (and statue) at the intersection of Boylston Street and Charles Street South dedicated to Poe. Registration is required. (Central Library, Copley Square, 700 Boylston St., Boston)

8. Pay tribute to MLK, Jr.

In celebration of his eponymous day, the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert presented by Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Intensive Community Program is held on Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. In collaboration with the Museum of African American History and the City of Boston, this concert will feature classical and spiritual pieces performed by talented young musicians alongside distinguished leaders who will evoke the power and the promise of the civil rights hero through remarks, readings, and spoken word. This year’s keynote speaker is Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah, a Ghanaian American poet, educator, and librarian who was recently named Boston’s fourth poet laureate. While the event is free, you must reserve your spot. (1 Faneuil Hall Sq., The Great Hall, Boston)

9. Give back to your community

Honor Dr. King’s memory by participating in a service event on Jan. 19 from 10
a.m. to noon. through Boston Cares. Whether you’re making Valentine’s Day cards for seniors, assembling hygiene kits, creating activity baskets for kids, or crafting decorations for the Pine Street Inn, you’ll help make a better Boston by volunteering to help others. (Boston Latin School, 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur,
Boston)

10. Visit Boston’s renowned museums (and zoos) for free

Enjoy free admission on MLK Day at several of the city’s favorite institutions.
There will plenty of art activities, films, and performances to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Museum of Fine Arts, plus free admission to the ICA, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Franklin Park Zoo, and Stone Zoo. (Various locations around Boston)

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