Boston Event Calendar for May 2012

Fun Things to Do in Boston in May - BDG's Top Picks!

The Boston Event Calendar for May 2012 offers lots to do as days grow warmer and longer.  May is when Boston begins to truly blossom again after the long cold New England spring. 

The Duckling Day Parade, Boston Theatre Marathon, Mother's Day events, Art Walks, and Taste of the North End are just a few of the fun things to do in Boston in May. 

More top Boston events in May 2012 include Lilac Sunday on Mother's Day, Greenway Open Markets, the Return of the Swans, concerts, Memorial Day events, and plenty of concerts, performances, and shows.

Magnolia trees, tulips, and daffodils display spectacular blooms throughout the city and owners of Beacon Hill's "hidden gardens" welcome visitors for their annual tour. 

Tempuratures turn balmy, Duck Boats tour the city's streets, and everyone heads outdoors to a Red Sox game, a Boston Harbor cruise, or the nearest restaurant offering patio dining.  Check out the Boston activities for May 2012 for all these fun ways to enjoy Boston!

Add an event to the Boston Event Calendar for May 2012

Quick Links:  Boston events:  April   l  June  l  Other Months

 

Mother's Day Events in Boston

Mother's Day 2012 is on Sunday, May 13.

• Duckling Day Parade
• Lilac Sunday
• Where to Go for Mother's Day Brunch
• SoWa Open Market
• Fort Point Art Walk
• Around the World with Wine Dinner
• Theatre and Shows

 

Duckling Day Parade 2012

When:  Mother's Day Sunday, May 13 - parade begins at 12 noon
Where:  Boston Common and the Public Garden - Preregister at 10:30am on Boston Common at the base of the Shaw Memorial (on Beacon Street, just across from the Massachusetts State House), and enjoy the entertainment until the parade starts
Cost:  $35 ($40 on day of event) donation per family, which includes snacks, entertainment, and a small duckie toy for each child

For the perfect Mother's Day celebration, join Boston's annual Duckling Day Parade with your young children - and be sure to bring your camera!

You'll retrace the path taken by Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their own flock of 8 young ducklings in Robert McCloskey's beloved children's book, Make Way for Ducklings.  To really get into the spirit, dress your offspring in yellow to resemble their favorite Ducklings characters.

More about the Duckling Day Parade  

Are you interested in hotels overlooking the Public Garden are Boston Common?  Here are three with spectacular views to consider:

 

Boston Concerts during May

May 5-6 -  Trailer Park Boys @ Wilbur Theatre
May 7 - Red Hot Chili Peppers @ TD Garden
May 9 - Bernadette Peters @ Boston Symphony Hall
May 11 -The Cranberries @ House of Blues
May 11-12 - Boston Pops: Gershwin Spectacular @ Boston Symphony Hall
May 19 - James Morrison @ Royale Boston
May 23 - Sinead O'Connor @ House of Blues
May 15 - Ingrid Michaelson @ House of Blues
May 19 - Anjelah Johnson @ Wilbur Theatre
May 29-30 - Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers @ Boston Symphony Hall

Check for tickets at:
-  Ticket Liquidators
-  Ace Tickets

More Boston Concerts during May

 

Greenway Open Market

When:  Opening day: Saturday, May 26, 11am - 4pm
Where:   Rose Kennedy Greenway, near Rings Fountain (look for the Carousel and the vendors' white tents)
Nearest T station:  Blue Line/Aquarium, or Orange and Green Lines/Haymarket
Cost:  Free (but of course you'll probably be tempted to buy things

Greenway Open Market, sister market to SoWa Open Market held Sundays in the South End, brings an eclectic mix of crafts, art, and indie designs to Boston each Saturday through the end of October.  Look for the sea of white vendor tents - and get ready for some fun shopping.  With a different mix of vendors present each week, you never know what treasures you'll find!

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Where to Go for Mother's Day Brunch in Boston

Show your appreciation for all those tasty meals (even the slightly burnt ones) your mom cooked for you, and take her out for Mother's Day Brunch at one of these Boston restaurants offering special menus:

- Brasserie Jo - Look for Mother's Day Specials on the a la carte menu.  Hint to my family:  This is one of my personal favorites.  A la carte, 120 Huntington Ave at the Colonnade Hotel in Boston's Back Bay
- Scampo - Try famed Chef Lydia Shire's special Mother's Day a la carte creations on the lunch and dinner menu at this wonderful Italian restaurant in the Liberty Hotel.  215 Charles Street, Boston's West End; 617-536-2100
- L'Espalier - Enjoy the 3 course brunch in this top French restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.  $85/person; 774 Boylston St, Back Bay; 617-262-3023
North 26
- Top of the Hub - Choose from a special brunch (11am - 3pm) or dinner (3:30pm - 9pm) and enjoy the spectacular 52nd floor views.  $67/adults, $29/children under 12; 800 Boylston Street, Back Bay, 617-536-1775
- North 26 - Special Mother's Day Brunch menu (12 noon-3:30pm), $60 adults, $20 children 6-12; 26 North Street at the Millennium Bostonian Hotel; 617-557-3640

Forgot to make reservations?  Go for Dim Sum in Boston's Chinatown - but pretend that's what you were planning all along

Not sure where to find all these Boston neighborhoods?  Our Boston sightseeing map will help orient you:

 

Lilac Sunday - 2012 Mother's Day Event

The Arnold Arboretum's large lilac collection comes into its glory in May, putting on an exuberant show of color and intoxicating fragrance.  Visit on Lilac Sunday to enjoy family-oriented activities in honor of Mother's Day - or come any time during early-to-mid-May to experience the memorable scent of these gorgeous lilacs. 

Lilac Sunday is the only day of the year when picnics are allowed - so be sure to bring a tasty brunch or lunch and perhaps a blanket for sitting.

When:  May 13; activities and refreshments from 10am - 4pm; Arboretum open from dawn to dusk
Where:  Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Jamaica Way, Boston
Closest T station: Orange Line/Forest Hills; follow the signs to the Arboretum, about a 10 minute walk away.
Parking:  Street-side parking spaces are quite limited; don't count on finding any available on Lilac Sunday
Cost:  Free
More information:  617-524-1718; Arnold Arboretum website

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Boston Red Sox Schedule for May . . .

. . . and other useful information for fun at Fenway Park

Red Sox Schedule	Fenway Park Hotels	Fenway Sports Bars	Red Sox Hats & Shirts

 

Boston Theatre Marathon XIV

Even though the Boston Theatre Marathon stretches across a weekend filled with full-length play reading, the heart of this part-festival, part-race takes place from noon until 10pm on one special day when 50 New England theater actors, directors, and technicians present 50 new 10-minute plays, chosen from 400+ entries. 

To call this event "lively" is an understatement!  In one short 10-hour period, you'll see the wide diversity of Boston theater in this showcase for the local and New England theater community.

When:  May 19 (free warm-up readings) and May 20 (ticket needed)
Where:  Wimberly Theatre at the Calderwood Pavillion at the Boston Center for the Arts in Boston's South End neighborhood
Cost:  Tickets required for May 20; $25 if purchased by midnight on the 19th and $35 on May 20;  all net proceeds benefit the non-profit Theatre Community Benevolent Fund to provide financial help for actors in dire need
More information:  617-353-5443

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Boston Theater and Shows for May 

• Don Quixote - April 26-May 6; Boston Opera House
• Chita Rivera: My Broadway - May 5 - Shubert Theatre
• David Sedaris - May 6 - Symphony Hall - Get David Sedaris Tickets
• Boston Ballet: Fancy Free - May 10-20 - Boston Opera House
• Xanadu - May 11-June 9 - Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts
• Private Lives - May 25-June 24 - Huntington Theatre Company @ Boston University Theatre
• Disney's Beauty and the Beast - May 29-June 3 - Boston Opera House
• Avenue Q - May 11-June 9 - Lyric Stage Company
• Blue Man Group and Shear Madness - On-going - Charles Playhouse

Find Best Concert Tickets

 

Top Boston Tours for May

 

Street Performers Festival at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

When:  May 26 - 28
Where:  Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Downtown Boston on the Freedom Trail
Closest T station: Blue Line/State
Cost:  Free (although once you're here, it's hard to resist something good to eat and perhaps a little shopping

This 3-day festival brings together all the talented street performers who make shopping and dining in Faneuil Hall Marketplace, also known Quincy Market, so much fun.  You'll see jugglers, mimes, acrobats, stilt-walkers, musicians, magicians - and more!  More about the Boston Memorial Day Street Performers Festival

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Learn How To Make Your Own Trompe L'Oeil Rug!

If you need a great excuse to spend a weekend in Boston, look no farther! 

The North Bennet Street School in Boston's North End is offering a 2-day workshop on Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and May 6, in how to create mural and trompe l'oeil effects such as the stunning "rug" in the photo to the left - yes, that's paint, not a real rug!

The workshop runs from 10am - 2pm on each day, leaving you with plenty of time to explore Boston. 

To register, go to the school's calendar:  http://www.nbss.edu/calendars

To plan your weekend trip, use our Boston travel planning guide!

Photo courtesy of North Bennet Street School

 

Taste of the North End 2012

When:   May 4, 6pm-11pm
Where:   Steriti Memorial Ice Rink, 561 Commercial Street, North End, Boston
Tickets:   $79-99
Nearest T:   Orange and Green Lines/North Station
More info:   Taste of the North End Website

North End restaurants are renowned for being among the best in the city - so Taste of the North End is your chance to sample special dishes from 25+ of them in this annual tasting event/fundraiser to benefit the North End Community Health Center, schools, and recreation centers providing services to neighborhood children and seniors. 

The list of participating restaurants is too long to name . . . but just to whet your appetite, look for treats from Fiore, Mamma Maria, Taranta, Artu, Lucca, Massimino, Neptune Oyster, and Modern Pastry, as well as liquid refreshments from a number of neighborhood wine importers.

With Billy Costa hosting, and panoramic waterfront views to enjoy from the Steriti, this is sure to be a spectacular evening. 

Interested in staying in the North End?  Check rates at the waterfront Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel.

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EarthFest 2012 - Free Concert at the Hatch Shell

When:   May 19
Where:   Hatch Shell, Boston's Esplanade
Cost:   Free
Nearest T:   Green Line/Arlington
More info:   Event Website

EarthFest gives you the perfect excuse, if you need one, to spend a day outdoors enjoying music and activities at one of Boston's biggest free concerts at the Hatch Shell.  Sponsored by Whole Foods, Radio 92.9, and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, EarthFest showcases environmentally friendly products, information about local non-profit environmental organizations, and a day of terrific music by local and national groups.  This family-friendly event also features Kids' Planet, an interactive area with entertainment and music appealing to kids.

Photo courtesy of EarthFest

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Boston discount cards for attractions, tours, cruises

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Best way to save in Boston.  Save 50% or more when you take a Boston Harbor cruise or Duck Boat tour, visit Plimouth Plantation, the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Prudential Skywalk Observatory, Museum of Fine Arts, Fenway Park Tour, and more.   Compare to find out which one is best for you.

 

SoWa Open Market Opening Day 2012

A sea of white, blue, and even a few red tents await you at SoWa, Boston's biggest outdoor art and indie market showcasing artists, artisans, and designers in Boston's South End.  

Add in musicians, a farmer's market corner, and even antique and vintage dealers, and you have the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 

This is a juried market, so vendors are carefully chosen to avoid duplication - plus the mix of vendors is different every week, so you never know what you'll find.  

More information:   What to shop for at SoWa Open Markets

When:  Sunday, May 6, 10am - 4pm, and then every Sunday afternoon until the end of October
Where:  460 Harrison Ave, Boston's South End
Closest T station: Orange Line/Back Bay, or Silverline bus
Parking:  Look for signs to free parking 

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Half-price tickets for Boston events in May

These shows are from last year, but will give you an idea about what to expect in 2012.  Check back for updates soon!

Half-price Boston events in May (sign-up for free)

- Comedy of Errors at Boston University Theatre
- Spring Wine Fest at the Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts
- Sweet Honey in the Rock at Boston Symphony Hall
- Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp at Wheelock Family Theatre
- Motley's Comedy Club presents top stand-up comics

Find even more half-price events!

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Fort Point Open Studios

During this twice a year event, Fort Point artists open their studios to the public in this former warehouse district now housing one of New England's largest art communities.  You'll see paintings, sculptures, photographs, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, and more.  Talk with the artists, admire the art, and purchase something wonderful for your home or office directly from the artist.  Or come on Sunday, Mother's Day, with your mom and buy her a unique Mother's Day gift.

When:   Friday, May 11 4pm-7pm; Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13, 12 noon - 5pm
Where:   Fort Point area of South Boston Waterfront, across Fort Point Channel from South Station in Downtown Boston
Cost:   Free
Nearest T:   Red Line/South Station; walk across Fort Point Channel over the Summer Street or Congress Street Bridge
Parking:  Free (for event only) in large lot across from 249 A Street (enter on Binford Street)

Next Fort Point ArtWalk:  October 

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Around the World with Wine 2012

What:  21+ event
When:   May 12, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Where:   Boston Wine School, 1354 Commonwealth Ave, Allston
Cost:   $100 for wine tasting class and dinner
Nearest T:   Green Line/Griggs St (Outbound) and Warren St (Inbound)
More info:   617-84-7150; Boston Wine School website

Take a trip around the world - with wine, dinner, and if you're thinking ahead to Mother's Day tomorrow, your mom for a special evening to remember.

BWS offers lots of other wine-pairing classes and events - so if you're planning a visit and looking for something fun and unusual to do in Boston, check out the event calendar on their website.

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2012 Carousel Opening Day at the Greenway

When:  May 4
Where:  Rose Kennedy Greenway, more or less across from the Boston Marriott Long Wharf
Closest T station: Blue Line/Aquarium
Cost:  TBD

Ride the painted ponies on the Rose Kennedy Greenway when the seasonal carousel returns to provide amusement to children and grownups alike.  The brightly colored 1957 carousel provides a festive focal point to this part of the Greenway.  After your ride, stroll over to the North End or Faneuil Market for a treat.

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Return of the Swans, 2012

When:  May 1, at 11am  
Where:  Public Garden
Cost:  Free
Closest T station: Green Line/Arlington
If you drive:   Boston Common Garage
More information: 617-635-4505 (Boston Parks and Recreation Department)

Welcome the return of Romeo and Juliet, the Public Garden's resident swans, from the Franklin Park Zoo where they spend the winter. 

A brass band leads a parade departing at 11:30am from the corner of Beacon and Charles Street near the Make Way for Ducklings statue and ends up at the Lagoon 15 minutes later, for the official Return of the Swans ceremony presided over by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Parks Commissioner Antonia POllak, and Four Seasons Hotel General Manager Bill Taylor.

The Four Seasons Hotel provides refreshments, and other entertainment such as face painters and readings of Make Way for Ducklings by Boston Park Rangers round out the event - an annual ritual that truly marks the beginning of spring in Boston!

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2012 Opening Night for the Boston Pops

When:  May 9, 8pm
Where:  Symphony Hall, 301 Mass Ave., Boston's Fenway neighborhood
Tickets:  $41 - $125 (opening night only - tickets for most other concerts range from about $21 - $91, with even better pricing if you're under 40 years old or want to try to get last-minute $9 tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Closest T station: Green Line/Symphony
If you drive:   Parking garages in Fenway
More information:  website (look for Pops on the top menu bar); 617-266-1492  

Join Conductor Keith Lockhart and guest Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters, who will sing her signature songs such as Fever and Some Enchanted Evening when the Boston Pops Orchestra makes their eagerly anticipated return to Symphony Hall for their Spring 2012 season.

For over 125 years, the Boston Pops have rocked Symphony Hall with American popular music - jazz, blues, Broadway, Dixieland, country, bluegrass, Hollywood, and even sing along.   For extra fun, sit at the orchestra level tables, and order food, beer, and wine from the famed Pops Kitchen to enjoy during the concert.

The Pops' Spring Season is all too short - after their final concert on June 23, they give 2 spectacular free July 4th concerts in the Hatch Shell on Boston Esplanade, and then head out to Tanglewood in Western Massachusetts for the summer.

Interested in hotels near Symphony Hall?  Good choices to consider include the elegant Colonnade, popular boutique hotel Inn at St. Botolph, and Eliot Hotel. 

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Memorial Day Events in Boston

When:  Monday, May 28 - Memorial Day

Many Bostonians leave town on Memorial Day - so if you're visiting, you have the best of both worlds: plenty of things to do, and smaller crowds.

Memorial Day events in Boston range from somber ceremonies of remembrance to fun activities embracing summer weather, the city's waterfront location, and of course, the Red Sox, home again and playing at Fenway Park.  Find out about all the best Memorial Day events and activities.

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2012 Opening Day for Boston Harbor Islands

When:  Saturday, May 5
Where:  Long Wharf - North (ferry location)
Closest T station: Blue Line/Aquarium
Cost (round trip):  $14 adults, $8 children (ages 3-11), $10 seniors 65+, children under 3 free, family (2 adults, 2 children) $39 - you can buy your tickets at Long Wharf ticket booth
More information:  Park Rangers:  617-223-8666; Harbor Island Express: 617-222-6999

Hop on a ferry at Boston's Long Wharf (near the Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel) for a 15 minute cruise to Georges or Spectacle Island.  Join a free tour led by the Park Rangers, or enjoy a day of exploring historic sites, photographing birds, enjoying a picnic, hiking, swimming, wading in tidal pools, or simply enjoying the scenery. 

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Boston LGBT Film Festival at the MFA - 2012

When:  May 3 - 13
Where:  Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston's Fenway Neighborhood
Closest T station: Green Line/Museum
Cost:  $10 general admission (opening/closing nights are slightly higher); festival passes and matinee discounts also available
More information:   MFA website; 1-617-369-3907

The Museum of Fine Arts hosts the 28th annual LGBT Film Festival, showcasing an eclectic selection of LGBT cinema from around the world.  

Find more Boston film festivals

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Waltham Symphony Orchestra Presents
Spring Romance Concert

World-famous violinist Soran Sophia Lee performs with the Waltham Symphony Orchestra in their "Spring Romance Concert," including Tchaikovsky's hauntingly beautiful Violin Concerto and stirring Fifth Symphony as well as "Pastorale d'été," a terrific piece welcoming spring by Franco-Swiss composer Arthur Honegger.

When:  May 5, 2012, 8pm
Where:   Kennedy Middle School Auditorium, 655 Lexington Street, Waltham
Parking:   Free, on-site
Free admission:  Contributions accepted at the door
More information:  781-642-1050; Waltham Symphony Orchestra website

 

Ancient Fishweir Project on Boston Common

When: Early May - early June - 2012 dates TBD
Where:  Boston Common, near Charles Street and the baseball field
Cost:  Free
More information:  Fishweir website   

Excavations of Boston Common and Back Bay for the construction of the subway's Green Line almost 100 years ago uncovered ancient fishweirs. 

Native people built the fishweirs about 5,300 years ago to catch alewife, herring, smelt, and salmon in the tidal flats then covering the area.  Over 65,000 wooden stakes were used for the 4-foot high fence-like structures.

Each year, members of the local Wampanoag and Massachuset Nations collaborate with Boston school children to build a 150 foot fish weir sculpture on the edge of Boston Common.  The Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers perform at the sculpture in a special event each year.

Even though the temporary fish weir sculpture resides on the Common for only a month each year, it is Central Boston's only historical monument focused exclusively on the Native people who lived here for 12,000 years before the arrival of the Puritans, and maintained fish weirs similar to the one that you'll see on the Common for 1,500 years.  Remnants of these still exist, buried in layers of clay 28-35 feet under the citiy's streets.

Photo courtesy of Ancient Fishweir Project

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SoWa Art Walk in the South End

When:  Sunday, May 12-13, 11am-6pm
Where: Start on Harrison Ave in Boston's South End, with more studios on Wareham, Waltham, Plympton, Thayer, and Washington Streets
Closest T station: Orange Line/Back Bay; or Silver Line bus to E. Berkeley Street or Union Park
Parking:  500 Harrison Street, 38 Wareham, and 500 Albany
Cost:  Free
More information:  http://sowaartwalk.com

One of my personal favorites for May - Explore the fascinating artists' studios, and admire the paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, photography, and more in the South End's SoWa (South of Washington) neighborhood, home to the largest concentration of artists in the city.  Treat yourself to a nice meal at one of the many South End restaurants.  And don't forget to drop into SoWa Open Market while you're in the neighborhood!  

 

Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Special Tour 2012

When:  May 17, 9am - 5pm, rain or shine
Where:  Beacon Hill; hostess booths will be at the corners of Charles and Mt. Vernon, and Charles and Chestnut Streets
Closest T stations: Green and Red Lines/Park
Cost:  $30 advance reservations (see website for deadline), $35 day of the event
More information:  website

Once a year on the third Thursday in May, a dozen or so Beacon Hill Garden Club members open their gardens to the public for a special Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill self-guided tour.  Celebrate spring by spending a day exploring Boston's secret gardens.

More about Boston and Cambridge garden tours

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Continuing during May in Boston

Big Apple Circus

Noon Concerts at King's Chapel on the Freedom Trail

Grease at the Citi Performing Arts Center

First Fridays at Museum of Fine Arts

Independent Film Festival

Boston CyberArts Festival (through May 8)

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Looking ahead to June 

• Concerts
• Chinatown Festival
• Scooper Bowl
• Harborfest
• More June events for Boston

Photo courtesy R. Thiele

Best Boston Events All Year!

 

More Boston Events for May 2012

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