Fall Events

Complementing the colorful foliage and early snowfalls of New England, start your journey in a re-energized BeanTown by selecting from a full calendar of Boston Fall Events. From September to November, choose from dozens of events throughout this harbor city, several commemorating its Colonial Era.

Overview

Fall is a perfect time to visit Boston. From deadheads at political rallies to holiday celebrations honoring the Pilgrims, this less-crowded, milder season is full of exciting events for tourists and visitors alike. Bring your walking shoes, jacket, and sense of adventure to experience Boston from September to November.

September Events

The fall foliage of New England isn’t the only reason to head to Boston during September.

City Hall Plaza is filled with the hunger-inducing aromas from the family-friendly event Taste of Boston, serving a smorgasbord of delicious cuisine from Boston restaurants and more than 20 wineries. The event also features live music, DJs, chef demonstrations, comedians and other entertainment.

On the third Saturday of the month, head to Boston Common to check out the Boston Freedom Rally—a gathering of legalize-marijuana supports that claim to be channeling the spirit of the city’s founding fathers.  

Get your indie film fix during the Boston Film Festival at the Stuart Street Playhouse to catch some of this year’s best indie films at this popular film festival.

Boston loves its sports teams, and fall is prime time for college football with teams like the Boston College Eagles, the Harvard Crimson, the Holy Cross Crusaders, and the Northeastern Huskies. Or, if you’re more an NFL follower, catch a New England Patriots game at Gillette Stadium. 

October Events

Bostonians greet October by supporting opening day and non-stop National Hockey League action for home team, the Boston Bruins.

The streets come alive celebrating a German tradition during the annual Harvard Square Oktoberfest and the HONK! Parade, featuring six stages of live entertainment, German food and, of course, beer.  A shopping, dining and cultural hub, Harvard Square is also historic destination, home to the oldest university in America and where George Washington took command of the Continental Army.

The Head of the Charles Reggatta is an annual free event, first held in 1965. Today, the Head of the Charles is the world’s largest rowing event. The two-day event attracts 8,000 athletes and as many as 300,000 rowing enthusiasts to the Charles River for its 55 long-boat racing competitions.

Everyone loves a parade, and Boston’s annual Columbus Day Parade, held the second Sunday in October, changes locations every other year to appeal to as many people as possible. The parade marches on even-numbered years in East Boston, and then moves in odd-numbered years to downtown Boston.

November

BeanTown also hosts numerous annual tradeshows and conferences, such as mid-November’s Build Boston, the largest regional event for the design and construction industry held at the Seaport World Trade Center each year.

No Boston event would be truly Boston unless it honored our colonial beginnings. The weekend before Thanksgiving, re-live the original Thanksgiving during the annual Pilgrim’s Walk through Plymouth, the site of the Pilgrim’s first Mayflower landing in the 17^th century. Celebrate the Pilgrim legacy the entire weekend during the annual America’s Hometown Celebration at the Plymouth Harbor and Waterfront with a Pilgrim-honored parade and concerts.

Fall events also include celebrations of arts. Start with the annual Boston International Fine Art Show in mid-November at the Boston Center for The Arts, with 40 galleries participating from the United States and Europe.

The upcoming holiday season is also marked by the late November Boston Ballet opening of the Nutcracker.

Fall Weather

Boston weather is as unpredictable as a Bostonian, and that’s never more apparent when experiencing autumn in this New England city. However, early Boston Fall events in September can enjoy average temps into the mid-60s and mid-November can still enjoy 50s. 

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