Events and Activities
06/16/25 | Liz and Ellie Local
We’re a few days from “official” summer, but there are already plenty of things happening outdoors in the Boston area. And while we love a good Red Sox game or concert at the Pavilion, there are tons of ways to take advantage of summer without spending a dime. From free music, to lectures, to movies and more, Boston has a plethora of free events worth checking out. As local residents of Cambridge and Somerville, who adore the communities we live and work in, we'd like to share a few of our favorite events.
Somerville PorchFest: The Whole Neighborhood’s a Stage
It might seem odd to start this list with something that’s already over, but we can’t talk about our favorite free outdoor events without mentioning Somerville PorchFest. This beloved annual event took place on Saturday, May 10. Picture this: families on front steps, dogs in rain jackets (it was a little drippy but that didn’t stop anyone!), and neighbors listening to many different types of music. No ticket lines, no velvet ropes—just a map, a walk, and whatever tunes you happen to stumble upon. We ran into past clients, old friends, and neighbors. It’s all about creating a connection with people in the community.
While this event is in the past, other communities have followed suit and there’s plenty of music still to experience: Arlington PorchFest is June 21, Quincy is the following weekend, and just a ride away on the Red Line, Jamaica Plain is coming up on August 16, and Roslindale is set for September 13.
Outdoor Talks, Lectures & Big Ideas
Boston is packed with thinkers, and summer is when the big ideas come outside. The Boston Public Library’s Concerts in the Courtyard are a good place to start—not only for music, but for poetry readings, author events, and cultural programming.
University calendars (like Harvard’s events or MIT’s public lectures) are worth checking out, too. You’ll find everything from architecture talks to science storytelling—often free and open to the public.
Free Concerts All Over the City
Berklee’s Summer in the City puts on more than 200 concerts all across Greater Boston. From jazz to soul to global fusion, you’ll hear artists you’ll probably want to look up later.
Boston Parks and Recreation’s Neighborhood Concert Series brings music to local parks through July and August.
GroundBeat: The Esplanade's Free Riverfront Music Series at the Hatch Shell is a community favorite—live music right on the river, no tickets, just good vibes.
Pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and treat yourself to a midweek concert without spending a dime.
Movies in the Park
There’s just something fun about watching a movie outdoors—even the cheesiest rom-com feels epic. Boston’s full of free movie nights in July and August, and they’re perfect for spending a chill evening with friends, kids, or just yourself and a giant bag of popcorn.
Boston Parks Movie Nights bring films to different neighborhoods.
The Prudential Center’s Summer Flicks run on Saturday evenings, right in the South Garden.
This is just a taste of what’s out there, so please let us know your favorite free events! And if you spot us out and about this summer, please say hi. We’ll be the ones holding iced coffees, probably petting someone’s dog, and smiling like we’re on our third PorchFest (because we might be).
As housing affordability continues to challenge our local communities, we find it encouraging to see legislative steps that prioritize affordability, flexibility, and access, like Massachusetts’s Affordable Homes Act, signed into law last year by Governor Maura Healey. One of the changes we find most intriguing is the expanded ability to build Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs. These are small residential living spaces located on the same lot as another home, either within an existing primary residence, like converting a basement into an apartment, attached to a primary residence as a new construction addition, or completely detached, like a cottage or converted detached garage in a backyard.”
Here at Liz & Ellie Local, we are always looking for ways to make life a little greener. And if you’ve been in the Boston area for any length of time, you’ll know that there are areas where paving your yard was all the rage…and the remnants of that craze are still all over town. But things are changing. In Somerville, in particular, residents are tearing up their pavement in favor of something green.
We’re a few days from “official” summer, but there are already plenty of things happening outdoors in the Boston area. And while we love a good Red Sox game or concert at the Pavilion, there are tons of ways to take advantage of summer without spending a dime. From free music, to lectures, to movies and more, Boston has a plethora of free events worth checking out. As local residents of Cambridge and Somerville, who adore the communities we live and work in, we'd like to share a few of our favorite events.
With their complementary communication styles, responsiveness, competence, and ability to truly listen, Ellie and Liz enable their clients to feel at ease throughout any real estate transaction. They would welcome the opportunity to be your next real estate advisors.
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