• Join us on Tuesday, August 22, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Franklin Park (Playsted Field) for our Boston Children’s Rec Fest! Hosted by Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department in partnership this is the perfect school vacation event for kids of all ages.
• This year's festival will feature music, giveaways, various attractions, treats, crafts, and much more! This event is FREE and open to all. 

Do you know of a local youth artist who's skilled at spoken word or is an amazing vocalist? If so, we're looking to showcase their skills and talent at the 2019 Dream Chasers event.

This event features a panelist of successful leaders of color in Boston and youth empowering performances. We are specifically looking for content that is inspirational and involves social justice. Auditions will be held on February 12 at the Tobin Community Center from 4 - 8 p.m.

Sign Up for auditions!

Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and title sponsor The Province of Nova Scotia will host Boston’s signature holiday celebration, the 83rd annual Boston Common Tree Lighting, on Thursday, December 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Boston Common, adjacent to the Visitor’s Information Center at 139 Tremont Street. 

The event is supported by title sponsor Province of Nova Scotia, presenting sponsor Amazon, signature sponsors JetBlue and Meet Boston, community sponsors Bank of America and Constellation, and media partners WCVB Channel 5 and The Boston Globe. A sampling village will feature giveaways and refreshments from JetBlue, H.P. Hood, New England Coffee, Harry Potter, The Exhibition, and Raising Cane’s while supplies last. Sponsors of the “Make the Common Glow for the Holidays” who make the lighting of the Common and Public Garden possible include The Lynch Family Foundation, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, the Friends of the Public Garden, and Gilbane Building Company.

WCVB Channel 5’s Chronicle co-anchors Anthony Everett and Shayna Seymour will host Channel 5’s live broadcast of the event beginning at 7:00 p.m. American Authors, 5x platinum recording artists, and 2x Grammy nominees who got their start in Boston at Berklee College of Music, will headline with hit songs like “Best Day of My Life” and “Christmas Karaoke”. This year’s entertainment includes Halifax pop singer-songwriter Ria Mae, songs from A Christmas Carol performed by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, the soulful melodies of Mi’kmaq folk artist and fiddler Morgan Toney, the legendary vocals of Boston-based jazz and gospel icon Renese King, a heartwarming performance by the Boston Children’s Chorus, and more.

The holiday lights throughout both parks will light up in sequence shortly before 8 p.m. when Mayor Wu is joined onstage by Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

A sampling village will feature a photo-op, giveaways, and refreshments from several companies while supplies last.

Immediately following the celebration on the Boston Common, Mayor Michelle Wu, the Friends of the Public Garden, and the Committee to Light Commonwealth Avenue Mall will  flip the switch to light up Commonwealth Avenue Mall. 

Please call (617) 635-4505 or visit our tree lighting page for more information about the festivities. To stay up to date with news and events in Boston parks, sign up for the email list  and follow the social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The City of Boston and the Friends of the Public Garden to light the trees on the Mall on December 5th at 8 p.m., immediately following the Boston Common Tree Lighting. 

The Friends of the Public Garden are proud to take on this special holiday display and excited to work with our community to increase support for the Mall.

For decades, the iconic holiday light display along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall was the work of the all-volunteer Committee to Light the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. These neighborhood leaders banded together and created a beloved Boston tradition. In 2022, the Committee joined with the Friends of the Public Garden, creating a new Commonwealth Avenue Mall Enhancement Committee to work with the Friends staff to raise the funds necessary to make this annual light display possible and to support the ongoing care of the park. Join us on the Mall as we turn on the lights.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and The Friends of Copley Square welcome the holidays with the annual Copley Square Tree Lighting on Monday, November 26, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The free event will feature appearances by Mayor Walsh, NECN’s Jenny Johnson, Santa Claus, and Rudolph along with musical performances by vocalist Mark “Sing” Robertson, the Boston Children’s Chorus, the Boston Pops Brass Quintet, and Berklee College of Music's own Natalie Daniela Castro Diaz.

Light refreshments will be provided by Drake’s Cakes, KIND Snacks, HP Hood LLC, and the dairy farm families of New England and Must Be The Milk. The Fairmont Copley Plaza will host a family reception immediately following for all in attendance.  The reception will include cookie decorating, photos with Santa and treats from the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

For additional information please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505. You can learn more about The Friends of Copley Square online.