What are you doing this summer? The Boston area is filled with fun events, activities, and places to go all year long, and Summer is one of the best seasons to find family-friendly entertainment!
We’ve created a list with some of the best 2022 summer events for kids and families, and some family-friendly places that you will want to check out during the summer months.
Check out these cool ideas to get your gears going – a great event or two can turn this season from ordinary to extraordinary. Get ready for an unforgettable summer in the Boston area!
One of New England’s largest zoos, Southwick’s Zoo offers guaranteed fun for a family day!
The zoo is home to over 850 animals in naturalistic habitats and it features 200 acres of amazing experiences, and it’s offering plenty of summer events so make sure to keep on reading our list!
Location:
2 Southwick St, Mendon, MA 01756, USA
DATES:
Open Daily: 10 AM-5 PM
Families who are Mad About Monkeys, will love this event at Southwick’s Zoo!
Families with kids will learn all about the many monkeys and apes found in the zoo, and enjoy some fun primate-themed activities this summer!
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
June 5, 2022.
The first public garden in America is sure a great option for summer outdoor family fun!
You can enjoy a picnic as you admire the monuments, the Lagoons, the famous Swan Boats, and enjoy many other activities that will make your family day, a perfect one!
Location:
4 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA
Summertime brings along special celebrations such as Father’s Day, and families can celebrate it at the Southwick’s Zoo!
On June 18 and 19, admission purchased at the entrance for fathers will be at a discounted rate of $20.
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
June 18 & 19, 2022.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art offers year-long storytimes for families each week!
Visitors of all ages are invited to look closely, tell stories, and learn about the art and design of picture books.
Location:
THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BOOK ART
DATES:
Until December 31, 2022. Thursday and Friday at 11 AM | Saturday at 11 AM and 2 PM | Sunday at 2 PM
Advance timed tickets are required and will be available to reserve beginning on Saturday, June 18 at 10 AM.
Admission to the Watershed in East Boston is FREE—no timed tickets are required to start your visit in East Boston!
Location:
Institute of Contemporary Art Boston
DATES:
June 19, 10 AM- 5 PM
Franklin Park
Home to the Franklin Park Zoo, Franklin Park is considered to be Boston’s Central Park.
The entire family can enjoy a picnic under the shade of a tree or in the huge green spaces, and have a wonderful day in the outdoors on a summer day!
Location:
1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Another great option to enjoy a summer day is The Benefit EARTH Bash.
The proceeds support Southwicks Zoo’s educational programs such as internships, Docent/Volunteer training, Rhino Encounters, ZooMobiles, Wild Adventure Programs, Jr ZooKeeping, and more!
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
June 24. 5 PM- 10 PM
Inspired by the exhibition Eric Carle: Raining Cats and Dogs, families will get to spend their summer days helping turn the Art Studio into a place for sculptural cats and dogs to hang out!
Location:
THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BOOK ART
DATES:
May 19 – June 19, 2022
The areas surrounding Boston can enjoy a special admission day at Southwick Zoo!
On June 27, admission purchased at the entrance will be $20 for residents of Mendon, Uxbridge, and Millville! An ID must be presented to receive a discount.
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
June 27, 2022.
Families can celebrate the 4th of July with a special fee at Southwick’s Zoo!
Admission purchased at the entrance will be $25 on the 4th of July!
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
July 4, 2022.
Kids will visit the galleries of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to examine the wide variety of decorative art and then design their own cabinet of curiosities back in the studio.
Location:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
DATES:
July 5–Friday, July 8, 9 AM–4 PM
Families will get inspired by the exhibition Celebrating Collage: A 20th Anniversary Exhibition, and follow the life of a collage paper by making their own patterned papers and then turning them into a collage. A great way to spend summer!
Location:
THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BOOK ART
DATES:
June 23 – August 7, 2022
Zoo Babies day is all about 2022’s newest arrivals at the Zoo!
Birth certificates will be placed around the zoo to highlight the baby animals born within the past year, and the zoo’s docents will have educational tables set up around the zoo.
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
July 17
When it comes to outdoor fun, we can’t leave out the amazing amusement parks in and around the city!
Everyone will get to enjoy the many rides, from thrilling to family rides, there’s something for everyone at Six Flags New England!
Location:
1623 Main St, Agawam, MA 01001, USA
During these fun summer classes, kids ages 9-11 years old will design board games, musical instruments, and puppet shows and explore the Museum’s collection of automata curiosities!
Location:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
DATES:
July 18–Friday, July 22, 9 AM- 4 PM
Families will get to join co-author Kyle Lukoff as he shares his new picture book called If You’re a Kid Like Gavin, which is a powerful memoir of transgender activist Gavin Grimm and his fight for civil rights after his school discriminated against him for being trans.
Location:
THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BOOK ART
DATES:
July 17, 2022, at 2 – 2:30 PM
Celebrate Christmas right in the middle of Summer!
The Southwick zoo will be decorated and kids will even have the chance to meet Santa Claus and have a great time.
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
July 30 & 31.
During these fun summer classes, kids will be encouraged to loosen up with action-inspired gestural art and move beyond splatter paintings of Jackson Pollock!
They will be inspired by artistic movements such as abstract expressionism and get physical with materials.
Location:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
DATES:
August 8–Friday, August 12, 9 AM- 4 PM
Mass media and popular culture have long influenced artists, and students will learn all about this and examine social themes in the museum’s collection learning about many styles, and then creating in the studio!
Location:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
DATES:
August 1–Friday, August 5, 9 AM- 4 PM
Visiting the zoo is always a great family plan!
This 72-acre zoo is home to thousands of animals, an interactive children’s zoo, a 10,000-square-foot playground, and more! Everyone will have a blast this summer!
Location:
1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
DATES:
Summer Hours (April 1 – September 30)
9 AM – 5 PM weekdays (last entry at 4 PM) | 9 AM – 6 PM weekends and major holidays (last entry at 5 PM)
During Earth Awareness Day, families will learn about a variety of topics relating to animals and conservation!
Zoo interns will be presenting their research projects, and there will be visiting exhibitors and vendors set up around the zoo.
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
August 6.
Families will get inspired by the exhibition Finding Nura: Rediscovering an American Modernist from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection, and create a watercolor resist painting using crayons and paint!
Location:
THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BOOK ART
DATES:
August 11 – September 18, 2022
Have a unique summer day enjoying modern and traditional African music, drumming, and dancing in the zoo during this dynamic event for families and kids of all ages!
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
August 14, 2022.
Families can show off their zoo knowledge during Southwick’s Zoo’s annual scavenger hunt event!
There will be scavenger hunts available for different difficulty levels. You may even win a prize.
Location:
Southwicks Zoo
DATES:
August 21
Kids ages 9-11 will go back in time to examine ancient artwork and travel to each continent to explore cultural traditions such as Japanese Sumi-ink paintings; learn rituals practiced with masks from the African collections, or imagine themselves in the daily Greek society to make their own clay vase!
Location:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
DATES:
August 29–Friday, September 2, 9 AM- 4 PM
Christopher Columbus Park
Make the most out of this summer by enjoying a picnic with the family overlooking the harbor!
This waterfront picnic spot also offers a rose garden, jungle gym, and sprinklers for the kids. There are plenty of places to get food nearby.
Location:
Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110
DATES:
Open 24/
