Summer is match time. Long days, no school pickup rush, and endless ways to make an afternoon with your Little feel like an adventure. From neighborhood festivals to a quick game of cornhole at the park, here’s a mix of local events and easy activities to keep the summer fun going.
Local Events Worth Checking Out
- Needham Carnival (July 23-26) A classic New England carnival with kiddie rides, a Ferris wheel, midway games, and carnival food.
- Lowell Folk Festival One of the largest free folk festivals in the country, with music, dance, and food from all over the world spread across downtown Lowell.
- Cambridge Jazz Festival (July 25-26) A free outdoor music festival hosted by the Cambridge Jazz Foundation. Bring a blanket and let the music do the entertaining.Â
- Drumlin Farm (Lincoln) Hands-on programs where kids can meet farm animals and explore the learning garden with a naturalist guide.
- Pick-Your-Own Blueberry Farms Several local farms across Eastern MA are running PYO blueberry season right now, often paired with live music, hayrides, and food trucks.
Celebrate the Culture: North End Feasts
Boston’s North End is in the middle of its summer feast season, and it’s one of the most festive (and free to attend) ways to spend an afternoon with your Little. Each feast fills the streets with live music, parades, games, and Italian food from neighborhood vendors:
- Saint Joseph Feast — Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26
- Saint Agrippina di Mineo Feast — Thursday, July 30 to Sunday, August 2
- Madonna Della Cava Feast — Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 9
- Fisherman’s Feast — Thursday, August 13 to Sunday, August 16, Boston’s oldest continuous Italian festival, capped off by the famous “Flight of the Angel”
- San Gennaro Feast — Friday, August 21 to Sunday, August 23
- Saint Anthony’s Feast & Saint Lucy’s Feast — Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30, known as the “Feast of all Feasts”
All feasts are free to walk around; food and games are pay-as-you-go from individual vendors. A great pick if your Little likes music, parades, or just people-watching in a lively crowd.
Craft & Activity Ideas for the Park or Library
Plenty of Eastern MA libraries and community centers run free, drop-in summer craft programs, a great option if you want a low-key, hands-on activity without needing to plan much:
- Library summer craft drop-ins — Most local branches run free, no-registration craft tables all summer; a librarian can point you to the day’s project.
- Sidewalk chalk art at the park — Pick a theme (favorite animal, dream vacation, a superhero version of yourselves) and turn a stretch of pavement into a canvas.
- Friendship bracelets — Embroidery thread is a couple of dollars at most craft or drug stores; make them together on a park bench or at a coffee shop table.
- Scavenger hunt in the park — Write a list of 10 things to find (a rock shaped like a heart, something yellow, a specific type of leaf) and race the clock.
Games to Play Anywhere
- Card games — Uno, Go Fish, or Speed are cheap to grab if you don’t already have a deck, and easy to restart if a Little loses interest halfway through.
- I Spy or 20 Questions — Zero setup, works anywhere you’re sitting or walking
- Charades — Works with any group size, any age, no supplies needed beyond imagination.
- Would You Rather — Endless variations, easy to keep age-appropriate, and a good conversation starter for matches at any stage.
BBBSEM Partner Perks to Use This Summer
Don’t forget, your BBBSEM membership card unlocks discounts and free access at a bunch of local spots. Here are a few worth checking out this season:
- Paddle Boston — 50% off canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals at any location. Just present your membership card and come with a signed waiver.
- Schooner Adventure (Gloucester) — A free 2.5-hour hands-on sailing trip out of Gloucester Harbor. Email [email protected] for a one-time access code.
- Urban Adventours (North End) — Full-day bike rentals for $15 (Big) and $10 (Little), plus 10% off tours and accessories. Call ahead with your Little’s height to reserve.
- Boston Duck Tours — Littles ride free with a Big’s ticket on weekdays. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Museum of Science location.
- YMCA of Greater Boston, Somerville, South Shore, Metro North & North Shore — Free entry for matches at participating branches, including splash pads and pools in season. Bring your membership card and photo ID, and check with your Match Support Coordinator to get set up.
- Launch Trampoline Park — Littles jump free with a paying Big at any of the five Eastern MA locations.
- Harvard Museums of Science & Culture — Free admission for matches to the Peabody Museum and the Harvard Museum of Natural History with a membership card and photo ID.
- The Clayroom (Brookline) — Free studio fee for matches; just cover the cost of the pottery piece you choose to paint.
Reach out to your Match Support Coordinator for membership cards, waivers, or questions on any of these.