There are so many free and cheap things to do in Boston this summer, so you don’t have to break the bank to have fun! We’ve rounded up some of the best discounts, deals, and total freebies on summer fun around.
For your convenience, we’ve divided this guide into two sections: cheap events and free events.
Check out our list of free and almost free Boston summer activities:
Cheap Things to Do in Boston in the Summer
1. Water Country Water Park in Portsmouth is one of the best things to do in Boston this summer with the family. Hop on an innertube and float the wave pool or slide down exciting rides. Admission is normally $45 per person, but we’re bringing you general admission for just $30.99 with this special offer! (all summer long)
2. Miss Saigon is now on stage at the Citizens Bank Opera House. Find out whether Kim and Chris ever find each other again after the fall of Saigon. Tickets to this music run $79 and up but we have yours for just $49 each! (dates through June 30)
3. Musical theater isn’t known for its intellectual prowess but all of that is about to change. Pacific Overtures happening at the Lyric Stage Company is about two friends caught in the middle of the painful westernization of Japan. Admission is $51- $77 but we have your tickets for just $25.50- $38.50 per person! (dates through June 16)
4. Boston offers multiple awesome boat cruises around the harbor but not all of them are created equally! As part of the Seaport Summer Cruise Series, you can enjoy a yacht with three levels of entertainment, live bands, DJs, a cash bar, and more. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Make sure you get there early for boarding, ships will leave by 7 pm even if you’re not there. Admission to this Thursday evening cruise is $40 per person but we have them for half price or less! That’s just $10- $20 per person! (all summer long)
5. This 90-minute boating cruise takes you through Rowes Wharf on the Northern Lights Yacht. A delicious bbq buffet is included with your ticket and there will be a cash bar for drinks. You’ll also enjoy the narrated tour and games of cornhole. Admission to the Summer BBQ and Brews Cruise now more than 40% off- that’s just $35.91 per person {regularly $59.85}. (all summer long)
6. Nourished Fest is for anyone with food allergies, special diets, gluten-free, and more. With your ticket, gain general admission plus tons of samples, vendors, educational classes, family-friendly zones, coupons, and more. A one-day pass to this two-day event will run about $15 but we have admission right now for FREE! (July 20-21)
7. Ready for some Rosé? The Sangria & Rosé Wine Fest is here and nothing else says summer like it. There will be a live DJ, wine samples, interactive games, and prizes. Admission to the June 15 event starts at $79 but we have your tickets for $39.50- $49.50! (June 15)
8. Queen lovers, take note. The Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra is back with their adaptations of all of Queen’s best hits. Shows are going on June 14, 15, and 16 but admission is a whopping $42. Don’t worry, we found tickets on budget for just $22 each! (June 14-16)
9. If you’re ready to stop the presses for the Alexander Children’s Theatre School, this is the show for you. Enjoy this children’s adaptation of The Newsies about newspaper boys on strike in New York City. Tickets to the Disney musical are $21 per person but we have them for half-price. Get your tickets now for 50% off — just $10.50! (June 14-16)
10. The Levitate Music Festival is a home-grown rock concert spanning three days with dozens of bands. Tedeschi Truck Bands, Sublime with Rome, Common Kings, The Dip, Stick Figure, Surfliner, and more will be gracing the stage July 12- 14. Tickets to the concert run $80.55- $184.32 but we’re slashing prices at just $69- $159 per person! (July 12-14)
11. Finally, a fun fest just for kids! Enjoy Ice Cream and Music at the WGBH FunFest! All you can eat ice cream, awesome photo ops, your favorite PBS characters, and more! Admission to the July 13 event is $15 but you and the kids are getting in for $7.50 each! (July 13)
12. Bring the tweens for an awesome selfie- contest with wax figures! The Dreamland Wax Museum has over 100 famous figures and it’s open every day. Admission is a steep $25 per person but we have tickets for just $15 each! (all summer long)
13. Calling all movie lovers! You don’t have to watch movies at home any more. AMC Theatres are now offering a discount on their Yellow E-Tickets! Just purchase them online, print them at home, and redeem them at ANY box office on ANY date at ANY time! E-Tickets are usually $13.50 but for a limited time, you can get them for just $9 each! (all summer long)
Free Things to Do in Boston This Summer
1. Highland Street Foundation Free Fun Fridays with free admission to 10 attractions across Massachusetts every Friday for 10 Fridays this summer! (Fridays from June 28, 2019 to August 23rd, 2019.)
2. Free Outdoor Movies in Boston with Free Friday Flicks at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade on Friday nights this summer starting at dusk. (Fridays from June 21, 2019 to August 23, 2019, no movie July 5.)
3. Magic Family Film Festival at the Prudential Center Courtyard on Saturday nights at dusk this summer. (Saturday nights from July 6, 2019 to August 31, 2019.)
4. Free Movie Nights at Christopher Columbus Park on Sunday nights this summer. (Sunday nights from July 21, 2019 to August 25, 2019.)
5. After a much-beleaguered start, it turns out, Riverside Park will have free, outdoor movies this summer after all. Movies run starting June 12 at 8:30 pm every Wednesday night. (every Wednesday night)
6. Head to Coolidge on the Greenway for free screenings, all summer long. Shows start at sunset on the second Tuesday of each month through August. (second Tuesday of each month)
7. Enjoy a cinema at sunset at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The line up runs June 19 and July 11th at 7 pm, August 15 at 6:30, and September 12 at 6 pm. The outdoor event is free and open to the public! (June 19 – July 11)
8. Films at The Gate is back in Chinatown this August. There will be live music, live performances, and free movies. The event runs August 25- August 27.
9. Mayor Walsh’s Free Movie Nights in various Boston Neighborhoods on various nights. There are a limited amount of shows, starting in August:
- August 5- Fallon Field, Roslindale- The lncredibles 2
- August 12, Moakley Park, South Boston- Ralph Breaks the Internet
- August 14, Ramsay Park, Roxbury, Spider-man: Info the Spider-verse
- August 19, Rogers Park, Allston-Brighton- Dumbo
- August 20, Walker Playground, Mattapan- Black Panther
- August 21, Ronan Park, Dorchester- Spider-man: Info the Spider-verse
- August 22, Hynes Playground, West Roxbury-Wonder Park
- August 26, Noyes Park, East Boston- How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
- August 27, Winthrop Square, Charlestown- Dumbo
- August 29, Iacono Playground, Hyde Park- The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
- September 6, Frog Pond, Beacon Hill- Avengers Infinity War
10. Summer in the City at the Boston Harbor means a themed night each week. Enjoy Soulful Tuesdays with live music, Rat Pack Wednesdays with live music, Blues Thursdays, and Movie Fridays. Events are being held at either Rowes Wharf Sea Grille or The Harborwalk Terrace. Keep up with them for details. (dates throughout the summer)
11. Berklee’s Summer in the City is back with dozens of concerts throughout the city. Check out all of their upcoming events and locations. (dates throughout the summer)
12. Boston Public Library hosts free Concerts in the Courtyard several times a week throughout summer. Just head to Copley Square. Check their calendar for updates. (dates throughout the summer)
13. Every Tuesday and Thursday, enjoy free live music at Post Office Square Park. From 12 noon to 2 pm, June 11 through August 29, Midday Music is music to your ears. (Tues & Thurs through end of August)
14. Harborwalk Sounds is a free concert series every Thursday night at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. There will be live music and dancing, July 11 through August 29 at 6 pm. (Thursday nights through end of August)
15. The Boston Landmarks Orchestra at DCR’s Hatch Shell is one of the best music series in the area. The concerts are free and open to the public Monday nights at 7 pm, July 10th through August 21.
16. There are free indoor and outdoor fitness classes all over Boston this summer. Check out some of the classes at the locations below:
- Seaport Common- Boot camp, Yoga, Running Club, Pilates, and more {Monday thru Sunday}
- Harvard Stadium- Stair work outs of all kinds, every Wednesday at 5:30 am and 6:30 am
- Healthworks– This summer fitness series takes place at locations around town, usually Sunday through Wednesdays. Classes include tabata, Zumba, HIIT, and more.
- Rose Kennedy Greenway- Enjoy BollyX, Moonlight Yoga, Barre, Cornhole, OrangeCAMP, Parkour, Tango, and so much more. Classes run every day of the week.
17. The Street at Chestnut Hill– This mixed-use shopping center and outdoor space has awesome, free events for kids, adults, and families all summer long. Enjoy kids workshops, fitness classes, live music, yappy hour, and much more. (dates throughout the summer)
18. Cheer on the New England Patriots at Patriots Camp this summer. Each training session is free and open to the public! Dates and times are TBA.
19. Free Plays at Boston Common are going on July 17 through August 4. There are three plays going on this year. (dates throughout the summer)
20. The Lawn on D. is down for live music, games, and more all summer long. (all summer long)
21. Active Military can receive a free museum entry until Labor Day at Blue Star Museums. (all summer long)
22. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum provides free Neighborhood Nights on select Thursdays throughout summer. Enjoy live music, art making, food trucks, a cash bar, gallery games, and more. (dates throughout the summer)
23. Kids Bowl Free all summer long at over select bowling alleys across Massachusetts!
24. Don’t miss the totally free Home Depot workshops going on all year long. There are special workshops for kids, men, and women. (dates throughout the summer)
25. Story Time at the Curious George Store is going on weekly. The story starts at 10:30 am Fridays with a different theme each week. (Fridays throughout the summer)
26. Bring the little ones for an afternoon of free play! The Greenway Play Sessions are free and open to the public, just bring the kids in their bathing suits for the splash pads, and get ready for kid-friendly lawn games. (dates throughout the summer)
27. Head to the Boston Museum of Science for Astronomy After Hours. When the sun goes down, the stars come out and the astronomers will help you find your favorite constellations. Bring a picnic for a magical evening under the stars. The program is held on Friday nights only. This is a great Boston summer activity on a clear evening! (Friday nights throughout the summer)
28. Don’t miss Downtown Playdates for your chance at tons of fun, plus raffles and prizes! The events are going on at several public locations and include fun games and a variety of programming. (dates throughout the summer)
29. Bring the kids to a real, old-fashioned farm for Lettuce Turnip the Nights. The event is held on select Thursdays this summer and you can bring your own picnic. There will be popsicles, popcorn, and other goodies for sale, plus a cash bar and live music. It’s one of the most fun free things to do in Boston this summer with kids. (select Thursdays this summer)
30. Hanover Day is schedule for June 22 and there are plenty of free things to do! Admission to the carnival and the fireworks show is free. Wristbands for carnival games and rides start at $15! (June 22)
Did we miss another awesome, free event going on in Boston this summer? Tell us where to go in the comments:
