Summer Fun in 2024
Hooray! We've finally made it to summer!
For all the parents and caregivers out there, it was a long winter but we've made it to summe! The weather is finally warm enough to get outside and explore. Are you looking for ways to entertain the kids? Wondering what to do when the weather is too hot to be outside? The beaches are full? The ponds can't be used? We've got some ideas :)
20 Ideas for Summer Fun
The obvious choices, head to the beach or a local pool. When it's too hot? There are still plenty of ways to entertain the kids.
- Visit an Indoor Playspace
- Paint Pottery or take an art class
- Drop-in on a store event @ Lowes, Home Depot, Michaels, Lakeshore Learning
- Visit a local pool or splashpad
- Visit a farm
- Visit a local or new (to you) library
- Go to the movies: inside, under the stars, the drive in?
- Go to the beach
- Get a free/discounted passes from the Library and visit a new museum
- Go boating!
- Visit a Carnival
- Take a day trip
- Checkout a local amusement park
- Go to a concert
- Take a hike!
- Go ziplining
- Visit a DCR/Trustees/Mass Audubon property
- Get ice cream
- Story hour at a local bookstore or library
- Visit a playground worth driving to
Summer 2024 Movies
Looking for movies under the stars? Movie deals? Kids Matinee? Baby Matinee (yes it's a thing)!
Summer Movie Specials
- AMC Summer Movie Camp
- Baby Matinee @ Capital Theatre Arlington
- Atom Movies: Every day before 4pm, movie tickets are 25%
- Drafthouse Cinema, Seaport: $8.99 kids matinee
- Regal Summer Movie Experience: $1 Movies
Movies Under the Stars
- Woburn Village, Woburn
- Lake Quannapowitt, Wakefield
- WBZ Free Summer Friday Night Flicks, Hatch Shell Boston
- Summer Flicks @ The Prudential Center's South Garden
- Revere Beach Theatre Thursdays
- Southie: The Lot Movie Nights
- Somerville's Free Friday Flicks @ Boynton Yards
- Mayor's Movie Nights @ Various Boston Parks
- Summer Movie Series @ Lynch Park in Beverly
- Movie Nights @ Topsfield Fair Grounds
Summer Carnivals + Fairs
- Gloucester St. Peter’s Fiesta (June 26-30)
- Hopkinton Carnival (June 27-30)
- Lexington Lions Club Carnival (July 3-7th)
- Amesbury Days (June 27th-July 4th)
- Needham Carnival (July 18th-21st)
- The Bolton Fair (August 9th-11th)
- Gloucester Waterfront Festival (August 17-18th)
- Marshfield Fair (August 16- 25th)
Local family Concerts
- Wright-Locke Farm Family Farm Nights
- Outside Toys at Wrights Pond in Medford
- Jeff Jam (various)
- Music at the Blissful (various)
- Wakefield Jazz on the Plaza: Bebee Library Thursdays @ 6-8pm
- Lynnfield Concerts on the Common
- Stoneham Chamber Summer Concert Series on the Common, Thursdays
- Assembly Row, Every Friday on The Lawn
City Summer Concerts
Boston & Cambridge
- Pru's Berklee Summer in the City (Thursday)
- Concerts in the Courtyard @ BPL 12:30p Fri & 6p on Wed
- Sam Adams Park at Faneuil Hall (12p. on select Fridays)
- NEMPAC's Jazz in the Park
- The Anchor @ The Navy Yard
- South Boston Maritime Park (Tues+ Wed 12:00 p.m.–1:30)
- Summer Concerts at Kendall Center Tues @5p
outdoor story times
North of Boston
- Kidleidoscope: Fridays 10:30-11:30 @ Breakheart, Saugus
- Kidleidoscope: Fridays 11-12 @ Maudslay State Park
- Kidleidoscope: Wednesdays 10-11 @ Middlesex Fells @ 4 Woodland Road, Stoneham
- Community Read Aloud @ The Growing Center, Somerville: Select Wed 4-5, Sun 12-1
- Saugus Iron Works (through Saugus Library
Visit a Farm, Take a Hike, Explore a local beach
Local Beaches
Splash Pads + Pools
Splash Pads + Pools
Checkout our guide to local beaches, public swimming areas and more from Boston to Southern Maine.
Splash Pads + Pools
Splash Pads + Pools
Splash Pads + Pools
Our guide to the local pools and splash pads that are open to the public in the Greater Boston area.
Visit a Local Farm
Splash Pads + Pools
Visit a Local Farm
Looking to snuggle baby goats? Feed the animals? Take a pony ride? Visit our guide to all the local farms and what you can expect!
Kayak and Canoes
Zoo's and Aquariums
Visit a Local Farm
Get out on the water this summer at any of these local canoe and kayak rental locations from Eastie, to Southie, Cambridge to Newburyport.
Zoo's and Aquariums
Zoo's and Aquariums
Zoo's and Aquariums
A guide to local zoos, farms with petting zoo's, animal play, exotic animals, touch tanks, maritime adventures and attractions
Local Hikes
Zoo's and Aquariums
Zoo's and Aquariums
There are so many great local hikes that end near a lake, pond, the ocean or a waterfall. Checkout the guide to all the local fun here.