Boston Event Calendar for April 2016
Exciting events fill the Boston Events Calendar for April, 2016 - the 120th Boston Marathon, Patriots' Day reenactments, Red Sox opening day, and more!
Large crowds will cheer the Boston Marathon runners as we express support for this important Patriots Day event and its meaning to our city. It's the perfect time to visit Boston.
Patriots' Day commemorates the start of the American Revolution with numerous reenactments, parades, and celebrations. Don't miss the chance to experience this local tradition in which local citizens honor those who paved the way for freedom from British rule almost 250 years ago.
Lots more events take place during April - the Big Apple Circus entertains on City Hall Plaza, two international film festivals show the best indie films from around the world, Dirty Dancing opens at the Colonial Theatre - and much more!
The 119th Boston Marathon - 2015
When: Monday, April 20 - start times range from 9:17am to 11:15am
Where: 26 mile, 385 yard course between Hopkinton and Boston
Cost: Free
Stay: Boston marathon hotels
The 119th Boston Marathon - one of the city's biggest events of the year, and also known as the "Patriots Day Race" - features about 36,000 elite runners from around the world competing in a route made difficult by rolling terrain and features such as "Heartbreak Hill."
Although the winners complete the course in just over 2 hours, many participants are still running hours later. You can watch from anywhere along the Boston Marathon route.
If you attend the traditional Red Sox home game scheduled for Marathon Day, you'll be part of the crowd streaming into Kenmore Square just as the runners arrive at the finish line on Boylston Street.
Patriot's Day Re-Enactments, Parades, and Events - 2015
Celebrated annually on the third Monday in April (a Massachusetts State holiday), Patriot's Day (April 20, 2015) commemorates events and battles in Lexington, Lincoln, Concord, and present-day Arlington (once called Menotomy) that marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
When: Most Patriots Day events take place from Saturday, April 18 - Monday, April 20, with more events throughout April
Get the complete schedule for dozens of Patriots' Day events
Where: Boston's North End, Lexington, Concord, other locations
Cost: Most are free
Learn more about Patriots' Day reenactments
Plan a day trip to Old North Bridge and other historic sites in Concord, MA
Fun Sightseeing Tours of Boston
***y-tours-ducks-boslex-whales-harborcruise.shtml***More: Sightseeing Tours | Tours for Teens | Kids & Family Tours
Half-Price Tickets - Shows, Concerts, Cruises, Tours
Why pay full price? Check Goldstar's listings for half-price Boston tickets for April - it's an easy way to save!
- Back Bay Chocolate Walking Tour
- Odyssey Cruises Lunch, Brunch, & Dinner Cruises - Boston Harbor
- Blue Man Group @ Charles Playhouse - Ongoing
- Shear Madness at the Charles Playhouse
- The Donkey Show - Oberon, Cambridge
- Nick's Comedy Stop - Boston Theatre District
Interesting Boston Hotel Special Deals for April
With flowers bursting into bloom throughout the city and tons of things to do, April is a great month to visit Boston. Especially if you're planning a visit for anytime other that Boston Marathon weekend, you'll find some excellent deals, special savings, and discounts for Boston hotels.
Check out these fun Boston hotel offers for April:
Sheraton Hotel Boston - 40% off your second night. With a great Back Bay location and views, plus one of the best indoor pools in the city, you can't go wrong at this high-end hotel.
- Lenox Hotel - "One If by Land, Two If by 'See'" - Commemorate the American Revolution with the Lenox Hotel's exclusive historian-guided town car tour of Boston's most famous historical sites - Paul Revere's house, Old North Church, Bunker Hill Monument, and more! Call 800-225-7676 for details.
- InterContinental Hotel Boston - Luxurious waterfront InterContinental Boston happens to be next to the spot where Boston's revolutionaries dumped tea into the Harbor - and this special package includes admission to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and the Old South Meeting House - plus other tea treats. Call the hotel for details: 1-617-747-1000.
- Nine Zero Boston - Valentine's Day may be past, but you can celebrate anytime with Nine Zero's "Sweetest Taboo" package which includes a bottle of Champagne, two red velvet cupcakes, and a basket of luxe massage oils and bath salts at this favorite Kimpton hotel downtown near Boston Common and the Theatre District. Book online with rate code PIND.
Dirty Dancing at the Colonial Theatre
April 28 - May 10, 2015
Come see Dirty Dancing, the unbeatable 1987 classic about mixing classes, titillating dancing, and love, as a young dance teacher at a resort, Johnny, takes young beautiful upper-class Baby on a journey to discover an exciting and wild new life.
Dirty Dancing mixes rock 'n' roll and sultry dancing for a wonderful evening that will leave you smiling.
More Shows in Boston in April - 2015
- City of Angels - Lyric Stage - Through April 10 - Check Goldstar for discount tix
- Damien Rice - Orpheum Theatre - April 7
- Celtic Thunder - Orpheum Theatre - April 11
- John Mellencamp - Wang Center - April 15
- Jeff Beck - Orpheum Theatre - April 19
- Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show - Agganis Arena - April 24-26
Tickets:
***y-tickets-theater-tl-ace-goldstar-main-horizontal.shtml*** < br>Boston Theatre District Hotels
***y-hotels-theatre-9zero-ritz-w-hyatt.shtml***Find more Boston Theatre District hotels
Red Sox Opening Game at Fenway Park - 2015
When: April 13
Where: Fenway Park in Boston's Fenway neighborhood
Closest T station: Green Line/Kenmore
Spring truly arrives in Boston when the Red Sox play their opening game at Fenway Park against the Washington Nationals.
Will this season bring another World Series championship? Everything seems possible when the season begins.
***y-tickets-baseball-tl-ace-small-banners.shtml***Essential Information for Boston Red Sox Fans
***y-sports-red-sox-essentials-tix-hotels-bars-hats.shtml*** More about best places to get Red Sox ticketsBoston Concerts during April 2015
- The Decembrists - House of Blues - April 3-4
- Damien Rice - Orpheum - April 7
- Celtic Thunder - Orpheum - April 11
- Zappa Plays Zappa - Berklee Performance Center - April 12
- John Mellencamp - Wang Theatre - April 15
- Jeff Beck - Orpheum - April 19
- They Might Be Giants - House of Blues - April 23
- Frank Zappa's "The Dog Breath Variations / Uncle Meat" for chamber orchestra - Tsai Performance Center at Boston University - April 23
- Lily Tomlin - Wilbur Theatre - April 25
Independent Film Festival Boston 2015
When: April 22 - 29
Where: Primarily at the Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, Somerville
Nearest T station: Red Line/Davis
Tickets: Buy season passes (partially tax deductible) or individual tickets - see IFF's website for pricing.
More information: IFF Boston Website
The Independent Film Festival Boston spans 8 days, and promises to be bigger and better than ever, with familiar names plus many new ones. IFF Boston showcases independent film makers from around the world working outside of the Hollywood system, and the lineup offers plenty of interesting features, shorts, and documentaries. Lots of panels and parties let you can talk with the filmmakers and ask them questions. Boston film fanatics rate this festival as one of the best.
Last Celtics Home Games at the Garden - 2016
Where: TD Garden, 100 Legends Way (off Causeway), Boston's West End
Closest T station: Orange and Green Lines/North Station
Check Boston Celtics tickets
The Celtics play their last regularly scheduled home games of the season at the Garden. Come cheer and show some green.
Wednesday, April 6 vs New Orleans- 7:30pm
Friday, April 8 vs Milwaukee - 7:30pm
Sunday, April 11 vs Charlotte - 7:30pm
Tuesday, April 13 vs Miami - 8pm
Photo courtesy of Adam Pieniazek
Boston International Film Festival 2015
When: April 9-19
Where: AMC Loews Boston Common, 175 Tremont St, across from Boston Common
Nearest T station: Green Line/Park
Tickets: $12 for most single sessions; $75 all-session pass; $250 VIP pass (you get to meet the stars and directors!)
More information: BIFI Website
The Boston International Film Series brings together the best local and international independent and experimental films in this 10-day festival. "Eclectic" barely begins to described the wide-ranging scope of the films you'll see here - everything from documentaries to avant-garde surrealism.
Tickets are sold for "sessions," typically including a longer film bundled with several shorter films on a similar topic or theme. It's fair to say there's literally something here for everyone.
33rd Run of the Charles
When: Sunday, April 26, 2015
Time: Races start between 10:30 and 1pm, depending on the race length (6 to 26 miles). To watch from Boston or Cambridge, expect the most action between about noon and 4pm
Where: Charles River
Cost: Free for spectactors
More information: Run of the Charles
New England's largest canoe and kayak race takes place on the last Sunday in April - perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon if you're a spectactor, or enjoy a day on the river if you're a paddler.
Boston Flash Forward Festival
This year marks the 5th Flash Forward Festival in Boston, a showcase for New England and international photographers.
The 2015 festival takes place from April 24 - May 3, but exhibitions will continue throughout the summer and into early fall.
Look for very cool indoor and outdoor exhibits at the Battery Wharf Hotel, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and at galleries and other locations throughout Boston.
Don't miss the photo fence on the Greenway, back again this year.
More about the Flash Forward Festival: http://www.flashforwardfestival.com
Boston LGBT Film Festival at the MFA - 2015
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 31st annual LGBT Film Festival, showcasing an eclectic selection of LGBT cinema from around the world.
Carousel Opening Day at the Greenway
Ride a seal, whale, peregrine falcon, or one of the other hand-carved creatures inspired by Boston Harbor wildlife and the original Shawmut peninsula on the unique 34-seat carousel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway across from the Boston Marriott Long Wharf.
The carousel opens for the season on April 3, 2015.
After your ride, stroll over to the North End or Faneuil Market for a treat.
Boston Common Carousel Opens
When: Friday, April 3 (tentative) - Hours are Sunday - Thursday, 10am-6pm, Friday and Saturday, 10am-8pm
Where: Boston Common
Cost: $3
The colorful Boston Common carousel across from Beacon Street provides plenty of entertainment for the younger set from April through October.
Check out Boston's other carousel located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
The Swan Boats Return
When: Saturday, April 18, 2015
Where: Boston's Public Garden
Cost: $3 adults; $1.50 children 2 - 15 years; $2.50 seniors
More information: Boston Swan Boats
In a sure sign that spring has arrived, the pedal-powered Swan Boats return to the Lagoon in Boston's Public Garden every April on the Saturday before Patriots Day.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will host the first Swan Boat ride of the season. Welcome spring and enjoy the pale green hints of spring foliage as your boat glides around the Lagoon for the blissful 15-minute ride. Soon, the real swans will return.
While you're in the Public Garden, walk over to see the famous Make Way for Ducklings statues.
Watch Robots Compete in Boston FIRST - Free Family Event!
Where: Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave, Allston (near Fenway), Boston
Closest T station: Green Line/Pleasant Street (Outbound) and St Paul Street (Inbound)
Cost: Free
More information: 617-482-6661; Boston FIRST website
The annual Boston FIRST (Acronym for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Robotics Competition is the largest robotics competition in Boston, and lots of fun to see. The competition features exciting games and competitions between robots built by teams of middle school and high school students from Massachusetts and New England, and even farther away.
Insider tip: Put on a pair of the safety goggles available in bins, and walk behind the performance arena to see all the piles of spare parts that each group brings in case of last-minute repairs. You can usually even see repairs being made.
Japan Festival Boston
This year's Japan Festival takes place on Sunday, April 26, 2015, from 10am to 5pm on Boston Common near the Beacon Street/Charles Street corner.
The festival celebrates Japanese culture in Boston, and features entertainment, Japanese athletes and singers, food vendors, a raffle, and lots of booths with arts and crafts.
Look for the traditional Japanese portable shrines, including children's versions, brought to the site by volunteeers in the spirit of Japanese festivals.
Nearest T station: Red/Green Line/Park Street
Art in Bloom at Museum of Fine Arts
When: Saturday, April 25 - Monday, April 27, 10am-4:45pm
Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's Fenway neighborhood
Closest T station: Green Line/Museum
Cost: Tours and most special events are free with the cost of admission, while the teas and a few other events require tickets - check the MFA website for details.
In the 39th Art in Bloom celebration, MFA welcomes the arrival of spring in Boston with floral arrangements inspired by works of art throughout the museum. Special guided tours, teas, and other activities add to the festivities. French floral designer Christian Tortu will present lectures, master classes, and demonstrations of his "East Meets West" floral masterpieces.
And of course, the timing of MFA's event is perfect: outside the museum, magnolia and cherry trees have burst into bloom all over Boston. Celebrate this special time of the year by visiting Art in Bloom - and then walk around the city and enjoy all the flowers.
Bruins Home Games at the Garden during April
Where: TD Garden, 100 Legends Way (off Causeway), Boston's West End
Closest T station: Orange and Green Lines/North Station
Tickets: Boston Bruins Tickets
The Boston Bruins play their last regularly scheduled home games during April.
Come cheer them on to an exciting finish to a too-short season!
April 5 vs Carolina - 7pm
April 5 vs Detroit - 7pm
April 5 vs Ottawa - 12:30pm
***y-sports-bruins-essentials-schedule-hotels-bars-garden.shtml***
Easter Egg Hunts at Faneuil Market & Christopher Columbus Park
Bring a basket or bag, and join the free Easter Egg Hunt for kids at Christopher Columbus Park in Boston's North End on Friday, April 3th at 10am (to be confirmed for 2015).
Then on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 10am, head over to Faneuil Hall Marketplace for a special w-hour Easter Egg Hunt. Pick up your basket in the Upper Rotunda in Quincy Market, and then search for hidden treats and treasures. Must reserve in advance: 617-523-1300
John Hancock Sports and Fitness Expo
The huge (and free) John Hancock Sports and Fitness Expo takes place in the Hynes Auditorium prior to the race during Marathon Weekend - April 17, 18, and 19 - and if you love running, you couldn't ask for a better reason to arrive a few days early before the race.
Runner's World magazine calls this event the "best runner's expo in the country" and the 100,000 enthusiasts in attendance can attest to that.
In addition to the popular Runners Seminar Series, you can visit exhibits by almost 200 of the running industry's top companies - and of course you can buy every bit of running gear you've ever dreamed of. Race participants can also pick up their bib number here.
More info: www.baa.org
Closest T station: Green Line B/Hynes
