The best things to do in every Boston neighborhood this spring

From Allston to West Roxbury, all neighborhoods are represented on this list of the best things to do in Boston this spring.

The Swan Boats are back in the pond at the Public Garden on April 13. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

9 minutes to read

Boston is full of things to do in the spring, and the adventures stretch far beyond the bustle of the city’s popular downtown.

While walking Boston’s iconic Public Garden or Freedom Trail is a great way to pass a city day, it’s worth noting that all of Boston’s neighborhoods are bursting with fun and interesting things to do. So why not explore a part of the city you haven’t visited in a while — or maybe ever?

Ahead, check out the best things to do in Boston during the next three months, with at least one pick for every neighborhood. Whether you’re looking for live music, family-friendly fun, or free activities, we’ve got you covered.

Events key:

🆓 = Free events

👪 = Family-friendly events

🍲 = Food events

🍺 = Beer events

Allston

Watch live music at Boston Calling

Enjoy the sounds of more than 50 artists at Boston Calling 2024, including headliners Ed Sheeran, Tyler Childers, and The Killers at the Harvard Athletic Complex. Hungry visitors can choose from dozens of food vendors and beer and wine is also served. (May 24-26; 65 N Harvard St.; $175-$2,799)

Newlyweds Marion Jeanne and Tom De Bruyn cross the finish line of a previous Boston Marathon. *– Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe*

Back Bay-Bay Village

Tap your feet at the 38th Annual International Folk Festival

Attend a performance by Berklee students and special guests featuring a medley of traditional musical cultures around the world during the 38th Annual International Folk Festival at Berklee Performance Center. (March 12 at 8 p.m.; 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston; $12 in advance, $17 day of show)

🆓 👪 Witness runners cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon

Find a spot among the festivities on Boylston Street and watch the runners cross the finish line of the 128th Boston Marathon. The iconic race attracts tens of thousands of runners from around the world to the 26-mile route. (April 15, 655 Boylston St.; free)

Beacon Hill

Tour private gardens

Peer into several Beacon Hill gardens during the 95th Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Annual Tour, courtesy of the Beacon Hill Garden Club. You’ll see 11 private gardens in the neighborhood and enjoy refreshments at King’s Chapel Parish House. (May 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 64 Beacon St.; $60)

Brighton

👪 Lace up for the Fast Feet for Phreedom 5K

Help raise money for Phenylketonuria or PKU, a rare metabolic disorder, by running or walking in the annual Fast Feet for Phreedom 5K at Artesani Park. The event also includes a Fun Run, music, food trucks, and more. (May 4 at 10:30 a.m., 1255 Soldiers Field Rd.; $25)

Charlestown

🆓 Meet a local author

Charlestown native Daniel J. Davies will talk about his 2023 thriller “Bombmaker” at the Charlestown branch of the Boston Public Library. (March 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; 179 Main St.; free)

Chinatown / Leather Dis trict

🆓 👪 Enjoy an evening of music, poetry, and visual arts

Co-curated with musician and songwriter Maddie Lam, “Dandelions in the Stardust” is a performance full of music, poetry, and visual arts taking place at the Pao Arts Center. (April 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.; 99 Albany St.; free)

Dorchester

🆓 Join a panel discussion with Black women literary professionals

Meet Lisa Stringfellow, Perpetua Charles, and Serina Gousby, all accomplished Black women in the literary world, during a panel discussion called “Empowering Voices: Black Women Shaping Narratives in Literature” at the Codman Square branch of the Boston Public Library. (March 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; 690 Washington St.; free)

Artist Max Streicher’s “Endgame (Nag & Nell)” clowns are part of the WINTERACTIVE artworks prepared for display in Boston.

Downtown Boston

🆓👪 Enjoy art on downtown streets

Search for 16 publicly accessible art installations scattered throughout Boston as part of Winteractive, courtesy of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District. Check out giant clown heads, a bird house, music box, and more. They are available through April 14. Here is a list of pieces on display and map. (Through April 14, various locations in Boston, free)

👪 Ride an iconic swan boat

The Swan Boats, a Boston tradition since 1877, open for the season on April 13. Board a 30-foot boat and take in the sights of the Public Garden. (April 13; 4 Charles St.; $4.50 for adults, $3 for kids age 2 to 15; children under age 2 are free)

East Boston

👪 🆓 Shop a farmers market

Buy seasonal, local produce and other products at the East Boston Winter/Spring Farmers’ Market, which hosts mini indoor markets every third Thursday of the month through June at the EBNHC Education and Training Institute. (March 21, April 18, May 16 from 2 to 6 p.m.; 250 Sumner St.; free)

Boston Red Sox’s mascot Wally the Green Monster with fans during a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, May 1, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) *– Charles Krupa / AP*

Fenway-Kenmore

Ship up to Boston for Dropkick Murphys

In what has become an annual tradition, The Dropkick Murphys will be shipping up to to Boston on St. Patrick’s Day weekend for a quartet of performances from Thursday through Sunday with the first taking place at longtime home House of Blues and the next three on the bigger stage at nearby MGM Music Hall. (March 13-17 at various times; 15 Lansdowne St., 2 Lansdowne St.; $59.50 and up)

👪 Watch a Red Sox game

Fenway Park, America’s oldest major league baseball stadium, will welcome fans for the 2024 season on Opening Day when the Boston Red Sox play the Baltimore Orioles. (April 9 at 1:30 p.m.; 4 Jersey St.; various prices)

👪 🆓 Help clean up the Charles River

Since 1999, volunteers have come together to clean up the “Dirty Water” of the Charles River, picking up trash from Hopkinton to Charlestown. The waterfront area needing the most help is the “Muddy River,” a section of the Emerald Necklace near the Esplanade and Storrow Drive, where volunteers will gather from 10 a.m. to noon. (April 20 from 10 a.m.-noon; Emerald Necklace; free)

Hyde Park

👪 Take the family to see Beauty & The Beast Jr.

The youth performers at Riverside Theatre Works present Beauty & The Beast Jr., based on the original Broadway production. (April 5-14 at 2 and 7 p.m., 45 Fairmount Ave.; $21.50)

Jamaica Plain

🆓 Go on a full moon walking meditation

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is hosting several full moon walking meditations, where guests can take in the sights and sounds of the arboretum beneath the light of the full moon. Facilitator Bob Linscott will lead the group, which should meet in front of the Hunnewell Building. (March 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 23 at 8 p.m.; 125 Arborway; free)

🆓 Attend a film screening

Join the Goethe Institut Boston and the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library for a free screening of “White Angel,” a documentary about the suffering in Ukraine weeks after the Russian attack. (May 11 from 1 to 4 p.m.; 30 South St.; free)

Mattapan

🆓 Take flight at the Mass Audubon Bird-A-Thon

May 11 is Mass Audubon’s annual Bird-A-Thon, when thousands of birders spend 24 hours trying to identify as many species as possible. Before the madness begins, swing by Boston Nature Center on May 10 for an evening bird stroll and unofficial kickoff to the event. (May 10 from 6-7:30 p.m.; 500 Walk Hill St.; free)

Mission Hill

Celebrate spring with the Gardner Museum’s ‘Hanging Nasturtiums’

A vernal fixture in the Gardner’s courtyard since 1903, the nasturtium blooms — meticulously cultivated along 20-foot vines year-round — typically blossom in April, and are resplendent for Easter weekend and for Isabella Stewart Gardner’s birthday on April 14. (April from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 25 Evans Way; $13-20)

Smell the flowers at the MFA’s Art in Bloom

Speaking of flowers and art, the MFA’s annual Art in Bloom weekend pairs its collection with floral arrangements designed by local garden clubs and designers. Enjoy free guided tours of the arrangements with museum admission, and visit the Garden Cart to take home your own flower arrangements or floral-themed gifts. (April 26-28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 20 Museum Rd.; $27)

North End

🆓 Chill out with Netflix and Knitting

On the first Tuesday of each month, join fellow knitting enthusiasts at Boston Public Market for some needle work and good conversation. Popular Netflix shows will be on TV nearby, but feel free to spin a yarn with your neighbor. (April 2, May 7 from 4-6 p.m.; 100 Hanover St.; free)

Roslindale

🍺 🆓 Sip beer from a pop-up brewery

Every Friday and Saturday through May 11, microbrewery 67 Degrees will be serving up suds at the Roslindale Substation, a multi-use community space that also hosts exercise classes, co-working areas, and more. Families can check out the space from noon to 7 p.m., but the space turns 21+ from 7 to 10 p.m. (Fridays and Saturdays through May 11 from noon-10 p.m.; 4228 Washington St.; free)

🍺 Build a sea glass canvas

Roslindale’s Distraction Brewing has a full calendar of events this spring, ranging from Taylor Swift and Star Wars-themed paint nights to frequent stand-up comedy showcases. One such event is a sea glass workshop on April 4, which will net you a few gorgeous sea glass canvases and (if you choose) a few delicious beers. (April 4 from 7-8:30 p.m.; 2 Belgrade Ave.; $41.50; 21+)

Roxbury

Celebrate National Cocktail Day at Bully Boy

March 24 is National Cocktail Day, and there’s no better way to celebrate than a cocktail-making class at Boston’s first distillery since the prohibition era. Mixologists at Bully Boy Distillers will teach you to mix and shake like a pro, and you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labors when the lessons are done. (March 24 from 3-4:30 p.m.; 44 Cedric St.; $60; 21+)

Seaport

Get your game on at PAX East

Tens of thousands of gaming enthusiasts flock to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center each for PAX East, which features hundreds of active exhibitions and tournaments devoted to board games, video games, role-playing games, and every other type of game at what one organizer has called “Woodstock for gamers.” (March 21-24; 415 Summer St.; $67-250)

Hear the twang of Cole Swindell at Leader Bank Pavilion

Bro country star Cole Swindell is all about having a good time, and he’ll be aiming to give audiences one at Leader Bank Pavilion with hits like “Chillin’ It” and “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey.” (May 30 at 7 p.m.; 290 Northern Ave.; $41-$283)

South Boston

🆓👪 Take to the streets for South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade

The streets of Southie will be filled with green at Boston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which typically brings around one million parade-goers to the sidewalks of Broadway starting at 1 p.m. For those celebrating at home, the parade will be broadcast live on NECN. (March 17 at 1 p.m.; Broadway Station; free)

Run the St. Patrick’s Day 5K Road Race

Before checking out the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, shake the lead out with a quick 5K road race through the streets of Southie. Since 1950, the South Boston Boys & Girls Club on Sixth Street has served as the start, finish, and event sponsor of the race, and proceeds from the registration will benefit teen programs at the club. (March 17 at 11 a.m.; 230 W Sixth St.; $35)

South End

🍺 Raise a glass at the Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival

You’ll have more than 40 local breweries to choose from at the annual Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival, which returns to Cyclorama on April 20. With breweries like Exhibit A, Lamplighter, and Tree House on tap, it will be tough deciding which beers not to try. (April 20 from 1-4:30 p.m. or 6-9:30 p.m.; 539 Tremont St.; $55; 21+)

🆓 👪 Celebrate the return of SoWa Open Market

During warmer months, more than 100 local vendors gather at 500 Harrison Ave. every Sunday for the SoWa Open Market. Browse fresh produce, handmade gifts, artisan goods, then enjoy lawn games, beer gardens, and more starting May 5. (May 5 from 11-4 p.m.; 500 Harrison Ave.; free)

👪 Enjoy an interactive experience from UNICEF USA

“Heart Strings: Creating Connection with the World’s Children” is the first interactive/immersive exhibit billing itself as an “experience for good.” UNICEF’s attraction spotlights children from around the globe telling stories of their families and their lives. (Starts May 16 at 6:30 p.m.; 539 Tremont St.; $19)

West End

Laugh along with Jo Koy at TD Garden

Forget his hosting failure at the Golden Globes: Comedian Jo Koy is a seriously funny guy, and he’ll have plenty of relatable jokes that aren’t about “Barbie” and weren’t written mere days (or hours) before his Friday night show at TD Garden. (March 8 at 8 p.m.; 100 Legends Way, $46-$66)

Enjoy the soulful tunes of Jeffrey Gaines at City Winery

His first big hit may have been a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” but singer-songwriter Jeffrey Gaines has more than 50 years of original material to pick from for his current tour. When he stops by City Winery in April, he’ll be totally acoustic. (April 13 at 7:30 p.m.; 80 Beverly St.; $25-$35)

West Roxbury

🆓 👪 Step back in time at Brook Farm National Historic Site

Explore several miles of walking trails and Charles River shoreline at Millennium Park, including a path to the former site of a Utopian community founded by author Nathaniel Hawthorne and other Transcendentalists in the 1840s. (670 Baker St.; free)

Wharf District

🍲 🆓 Feast on street food at the Greenway Food Truck Festival

The Rose Kennedy Greenway’s seasonal food truck program will be back in full swing come springtime, and will highlight its many rotating restaurants with a weekend showcase on May 4. Featured trucks include Cookie Monstah, Gogi on The Block, Moyzilla, Revelry, Papi’s Stuffed Sopapillas, and Vita Gelato. (May 4 from 11-4 p.m.; Corner of High Street and Atlantic Avenue; free)

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Daniel J. Davies’ last name. Boston.com regrets the error.

Be civil. Be kind.

Read our full community guidelines.