Boston Labor Day events offer the perfect combination: a spectacular fireworks show over Boston Harbor, lots of other fun things to do, tempting Labor Day sales, and (usually) warm, sunny weather.  

For 2025, Labor Day (always the first Monday in September) falls on Monday, September 1.

In this article, we've rounded up lots of special events and outdoor activities (plus a few interesting things to do inside in case of rain) during the long Labor Day weekend, including Red Sox games, concerts and shows, special cruises, and the big holiday sales. 

We include recommendations for lots of other fun water-related activities such as whale watching cruises, local beaches, and weekend excursions to Provincetown.

You can also enjoy relaxing at outdoor beer gardens, dining outdoors, and soaking up sun in Boston's many green spaces and parks.

And finally, you should know about two other local traditions that take place during Labor Day weekend:  "Allston Christmas" and (usually), "Storrowing."

So keep reading to find out what to do (and what to avoid) on this last glorious summer weekend.

Top photo: Boston skyline seen from Charles River, (c) Boston Discovery Guide

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Kick Off the Weekend with Labor Day Fireworks 2025

Boston Labor Day Events -Fireworks over Boston Harbor
Labor Day fireworks over Boston Harbor - Photo credit: Matthew Landers/Unsplash

Fireworks launched from a barge anchored between the North End and Seaport will light up the sky over Boston Harbor and kick off Labor Day Weekend and the beginning of fall.

The spectacular Labor Day fireworks show begins at 8:30 pm on Thursday, August 28.   (to be confirmed) Live music before the show features classic hits and starts at 7pm in Christopher Columbus Park.  Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner for the perfect start to the long weekend.

Looking for the best place to watch Boston's Labor Day fireworks?  Treat yourself to a fireworks cruise and watch from the Harbor:

This cruise always sells out early, so don't wait to book!


Best places to watch the fireworks from the shore:  Christopher Columbus Park and Long Wharf in the North End, the South Boston Waterfront (especially around Fan Pier/Seaport), the Downtown Waterfront, and Piers Park in East Boston.  

Take a Labor Day Weekend Sightseeing Cruise Around the Harbor

Boston sailing and yacht cruises
Downtown Boston, photographed from a cruise on Boston Harbor

Tour Boston by boat - the best way to see the city!  

Check out these fun sightseeing, music, and entertainment Boston Harbor cruises on the Yacht Northern Lights, Schooner Adirondack III, and Schooner Adirondack IV:

 Popular Cruises

  • Northern Lights Sunset Cruise - Grab a refreshments from the bar and then relax as you watch the sun set on this sail around the Harbor, just in time to catch the USS Constitution fire its cannons as the sun dips down past the horizon
  • Brunch Cruise on the Northern Lights - Savor a delicious 3-course brunch on this relaxing sightseeing cruise around Boston Harbor
  • Boston Harbor Cruise on Northern Lights - Soak up Boston's unique sites and rich history on this comfortable sightseeing cruise around the Harbor - perfect friends and family experience!  Food and beverages available for purchase at the bar

Sailing Cruises on the Adirondack III & IV:

  • Adirondack Day Sail - Enjoy cool breezes and the afternoon sun on this relaxing sightseeing sail around Boston Harbor and the Inner Harbor Islands - Starts May 1
  • Adirondack Sunset Sail - Relax as the setting sun turns the sky brilliant colors - Starts May 1

Mothers Day Cruise

Fun Book Your July 4th Cruises Now (because they sell out far in advance!)

Labor Day Cruise

More Fun Ways to See Boston

Tee Up at Puttshack

 Puttshack in Seasport
 Puttshack in Seasport

Looking for something fun and active to do indoors? 

Head to Puttshack in Seaport (58 Pier 4 Boulevard) for tech-infused mini golf, tasty brews, and good vibes. 

Try all four courses, summer cocktails, and DJs on the weekend. 

If you're in the suburbs, you'll find a second Boston area location in the Natick Mall.

More information:  Puttshack's website

Enjoy Labor Day Weekend Activities at Lawn on D

Boston Labor Day Events -Lawn on D
Relaxing at Lawn on D

Live music and DJs, lawn games, food and beverages, - the fun goes on all weekend at Lawn on D, located on D Street next to the Convention Center in the South Boston Waterfront neighborhood. 

Everything is free except for what you spend on food and drink.  Hours vary a bit by day - so check their website for details.

Take Advantage of Free Admission to ICA Boston

Boston Labor Day Events -Lawn on D
ICA Boston overlooking the Harbor

Soak up artistic visions on Labor Day (Monday, Sept 1) at ICA Boston (25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston's Seaport District) where free admission for the day will let you explore the Institute of Contemporary Art's gallery exhibits.  10am - 5pm.  All ages welcome.

After you've had your fill of art, enjoy a drink and small bites at ICA's Wine + Coffee Bar overlooking Boston Harbor or head to one of the many appealing Seaport Waterfront restaurants.

If you can't get there on Monday, keep in mind that you can also enter for free on other days when you have a Go Boston Discount Card.

Current (& Coming) Exhibits at Boston Museums

Check out the exhibitions in Boston's museums:

Museum of Science Boston Exhibit

MFA Boston - Current & Future Shows

  • Tha Sun Will Set: Contemporary Abstraction and the Body - Nine works by three generations of female artists from the Americas - Through April 6, 2025
  • Masterpieces of Egyptian Sculpture from the Pyramid Age - Ongoing
  • Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits - March 30 - Sept 7, 2025

Museum of Fine Arts Boston admission: $27; some special exhibits require a timed-entry reservation and/or additional fee; free entrance with a GoBoston Discount card or Boston CityPASS).  Free admission to U.S. military and veterans, Boston Public Schools students and up to 3 family members on certain days, and Massachusetts residents on several national holidays.  Open every day except for Tuesday.  More about MFA

Museum of African American History - Current Show

  • The Emancipation Proclamation: A Pragmatic Compromise - A close look at this important American document that changed the course of the Civil War, freed enslaved people in the Confederacy, and allowed men of African descent to join the fight for freedom

Admission: $15 adults.  More about Museum of African American History

Harvard Art Museum - Current & Future Shows

  • Joana Choumali: Languages of West African Marketplaces - Explore the multinational economy of second-hand t-shirts through the artist's mixed media photographs - Through May 11, 2025

Admission: Free to all visitors on all open days.  Closed on Mondays and major holidays.  Open 10am - 5pm.  More about Harvard Art Museums

Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston - Current & Future Shows

  • Stanley Whitney: How High the Moon - Retrospective featuring Whitney's small paintings and other works - Through Sept 1, 2025
  • Charles Atlas - An immersive multimedia exhibit - Through March 16, 2025

Admission: $20 adults, 18 and under free; free entrance with a GoBoston Discount card and Boston CityPASS, and on Thursday evenings (tickets available at 10am on the day of your visit).  Closed on Mondays.  Free admission on several national holidays, and Thursdays from 5-9pm.  More about ICA Boston

Find more Boston museums focused on art, sports, history, science, & more

Find More Museums in Boston

Shop Boston's Big Labor Day Sales

Sale at Calypso on Newbury Street
Sale at Calypso on Newbury Street

Labor Day Sales attract bargain seekers and back to school shoppers throughout the weekend.

You can find great deals throughout the city (look for tantalizing discounts at the trendy boutiques on Newbury Street), but to take advantage of reductions on already discounted prices at outlet stores, head to Boston-area Assembly Row or Wrentham Village.

For more in-city shopping, check out sales at Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Prudential Center.

See the Best of Boston on a Cruise or Tour during Labor Day Weekend

Odyssey Cruise Ship on Boston Harbor
The Odyssey, leaving Boston for an evening dinner cruise

Want to combine sightseeing with a memorable Boston experience?  Try these special cruises and tours on Labor Day Weekend:

Boston Harbor 3-hour Dinner Cruise aboard the Odyssey - Enjoy a gourmet meal, dancing, and a romantic evening under the stars.  Find out more

Day Trip to Martha's Vineyard - You'll feel like you're in another world when you experience the beauty of Martha's Vineyard.  This day trip gives you an easy way to get there - relax while a mini-coach whisks you to the ferry for the 35-minute ride to the island, and then either explore on your own or choose the optional mini-coach tour of the island.  Find out more

Boston's North End Walking Food Tour - Explore Boston's Italian North End and sample the delicious pizza, pastries, meats, and cheeses that make this neighborhood such a popular destination.  Find out more

Boston Harbor 2-hour Lunch Cruise aboard the Spirit of Boston - Enjoy a buffet meal, live DJ and dance party, and sightseeing along the Boston skyline.  Find out more

Get Tickets for a Labor Day Concert

Top Concerts - Dates and Ticket Information:

Top concerts in Boston in September 2025 include Eric Clapton, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie NElson, Bob Dylan, and Waxahatchee, My Chemical Romance, Alabama Shakes, Dua Lipa, and more:

Find more concerts and shows in Boston in September.

Find Fun Things to Do with Kids on Labor Day Weekend in Boston

Photo from Boston whale watching tour
Watching the whales frolic near Boston

Family-oriented activities to do with kids in Boston on Labor Day weekend include:

Whale Watching Cruises

Convenient Downtown Boston Waterfront departures, and guaranteed sightings - Bring your camera! 

Book a whale watching cruise. 

Find out more about Whale Watching cruises

Swan Boat Rides

Head over to the Public Garden to ride on Boston's famous swan boats.

Make Way for Ducklings Statues

While you're in the Public Garden, pay a visit to the nearby Make Way for Ducklings statues.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Interactive Adventure

Immersive exhibits at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum let you experience the Boston "tea party" rebellion that triggered the Revolutionary War. 

Find details and tickets

GoBoston Card for Attractions, Tours, Cruises

Best way to save over 45% when you take a Boston Harbor cruise, see the city skyline from View Boston, visit Plimouth Plantation, Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, Fenway Park Tour, and more. 

Find out more about the GoBoston card

Catch a Red Sox Game at Fenway - Labor Day Weekend 2025

Watching the Red Sox at Fenway Park
Watching the Red Sox at Fenway Park

Catch an exciting Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park on Labor Day Weekend.  This year, they playing the Pirates throughout the weekend:

Enter DISCOVERY10 to save 10% on TicketLiquidator & TicketNetwork tickets.  Good for purchases made through 12/31/26.


Find more Red Sox tickets for August

Find more Red Sox tickets for September

Want to Stay Nearby?

Hotels near Fenway Park:

If you're coming to a Red Sox game, spend the night or the weekend at one of the nearby hotels:

Check out more hotels near Fenway Park

Visit Cape Cod on the Fast Ferry

Small boat on Provincetown beach

Small boat on Provincetown beach

Labor Day Weekend is a fantastic time to spend a day (or longer) in scenic Provincetown at the eastern tip of Cape Cod. 

The easiest and fastest way to get there is on the "Fast Ferry" - a sleek and luxurious passenger-only catamaran that whisks you to this charming village in only 90 minutes.

Explore Provincetown's many art galleries, chic clothing boutiques, and picturesque lanes at your leisure. 

Watch the sun set as you feast on clam chowder and a lobster roll at one of the many restaurants overlooking the water.

But don't wait too long - the ferry books up fast on any holiday weekend.

Get Your Fast Ferry Tickets to Provincetown

Find out more about visiting Provincetown

Spend One More Weekend at the Beach 

Revere Beach on a sunny afternoon
Revere Beach on a sunny afternoon

Even though Labor Day doesn't really mark the end of beach season in Boston, this last weekend of the summer is the perfect time to squeeze in a few more hours at Castle Islandor a convenient city beach.  

Find out about Boston's best city beaches and how to get to them on public transportation

Tour the USS Constitution 

USS Constitution in Boston Harbor
USS Constitution doing her turn-around cruise in Boston Harbor on July 4th - Photo credit: Journalist 2nd Class Todd Stevens, US Navy photo, public domain

The USS Constitution, famous since the War of 1812 and the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat will be open for free visits throughout Labor's Day Weekend in the Charlestown Navy Yard.  

Active duty U.S. Navy Sailors conduct the tours and will answer your questions about "Old Ironsides" from 10am - 6pm. 

Please note:  Although the ship is usually closed on Mondays, it will be open for tours (free) on Labor Day.  Also please note:  If you are 18 or older, you will need to present a valid federal or state-issued photo ID or passport to board the ship.

Getting there:  Walk along the Freedom Trail (the USS Constitution is one of the Charlestown sites), take the MBTA Water Shuttle from Long Wharf (next to the New England Aquarium).  

You can also get close-up views of the USS Constitution on some Harbor Cruises

Dine Outdoors... While You Still Can 

Sidewalk dining on Newbury Street in Back Bay
Sidewalk dining on Newbury Street in Back Bay

Boston's outdoor dining season is short but sweet - so enjoy a few more al fresco meals before the city's sidewalk cafes go into winter storage.

You'll find sidewalk terraces all over the city.  In particular, check out Newbury Street in Back Bay, Washington and Summer Streets in Downtown Crossing, Hanover and Salem Streets in the North End, and basically anywhere along waterfront areas such as Seaport, East Boston, and the Downtown Waterfront.

Outdoor dining along the East Boston waterfront
Outdoor dining along the East Boston waterfront

Be Aware of "Allston Christmas" & "Storrowing":  Boston Labor Day Events You May Want to Avoid (If You Can)

Allston Christmas in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood
Allston Christmas in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood - and in case you're wondering, yes, this street was completely blocked by all the moving vans and piles of discarded household goods

Although "Allston Christmas" and "Storrowing" have nothing to do directly with Labor Day, they do coincide with Labor Day Weekend - so if you're planning to visit Boston during this period, here are the critical things you need to know about what happens during these annual "events."  

First, what exactly is "Allston Christmas"? 

When the Boston area's roughly 250,000 college students return to campus in September, a significant number move into apartments, just as others move out at the end of August. 

That means huge piles of unwanted furniture including queen-sized beds and massive couches, household items, and clothes gets dumped onto the sidewalks and into the streets. 

From treasures to trash, it's all up for grabs. The result is chaos.

The most-impacted Boston neighborhoods, due to their large number of student residents, include Allston, Brighton, Longwood, Beacon Hill, Cambridge (especially around Harvard Square and Kendall Square), and parts of the North End and Brookline.   Somerville also feels the hit, due to its large student population.

Some streets may be officially blocked to traffic (along with lots of curb side parking spaces), and others will be "unofficially" blocked - in other words, you can't get through by car.  And don't bother honking.

So is Allston Christmas a Labor Day event to look forward to?

No.

With countless UHauls jamming the streets, gridlocking traffic, and possibly getting Storrowed for a couple of days before and after September 1 and, unfortunately, throughout much of the Labor Day weekend, Allston Christmas is an annual tradition you may want to miss. 

Unless, of course, you're tempted to try your luck at finding the perfect mirror or nice pair of lamps among the debris. 

Another warning:  Labor Day weekend is when "Storrowing" is mostly likely to happen. 

What is Storrowing? 

Storrowing is what results when trucks (often but not always moving trucks) over 10 feet high fail to read and/or believe the "Clearance" signs on Storrow Drive's underpasses before either shearing off their top or getting stuck. 

The resulting mess halts traffic for a very long time. 

So take it from a Boston Local, if you're driving anything larger than an SUV, consider avoiding Storrow Drive if you can. 

But if you can't, please, please, please READ the clearance signs!!!  And measure your vehicle.


More Articles about Things to Do in Boston in September


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