Things to Do
Since you're already coming to Boston, why not check out the sights?
We intentionally planned our wedding during Columbus Day weekend because it is our FAVORITE time of year; when the leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and Halloween festivities are in full swing! Here are some activities we were able to find for the holiday weekend that you may enjoy!
ALL WEEKEND
Boston Ballet – Fall Experience
(Friday and Sunday only) at the Citizens Bank Opera House
$84-$500
Friday: 7:30pm Sunday: 1:30pm
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
Don’t forget to arrange for parking! You can book parking on the same website by searching for ‘Boston Ballet Parking’ in the search bar. You could also use parking apps like Park Hero or Parkopedia to find the cheapest lots and garages near the Opera House.
Blue Man Group at the Charles Playhouse
$49-95
Friday: 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Sunday: 2pm
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
A great time for the whole family! We’ve attended this show and would definitely see it again!
Diva Royale – Drag Queen Brunch Show at Hennessey’s
$40-$42
Friday: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Sunday: 1:30pm-2:30pm
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
If you’ve never been to a drag show, you’re missing out! So much fun and so entertaining.
Boston Festival of Lights at the Franklin Park Zoo
$23
6pm-10:30pm
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
This is a walkable light festival with many opportunities for breathtaking photos. Definitely worth stopping by if you have the time!
New England Aquarium Whale Watch Cruise
$65
Friday: 10am, 12pm
Saturday: 10am
Sunday: 10am, 12pm, 2pm
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
The details aren’t important, but we do NOT suggest attending this whale watch after making yourself some fat Irish coffees. Don’t ask questions. Just trust us.
SCARY SALEM THINGS!! (eeeeek)
I could put specific items on this list but there’s far too many to count. Between the Salem Witch museum, the Salem witch village, the dungeon museum, the Haunted Happenings popup marketplace and music festival on Sunday, the witch trials you can pay to be a part of… the list goes on and on. There’s no better time to check out Salem than October!
Outdoor Escape Game: Mafia Mission
$10
Multiple dates and times
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
Follow clues, solve puzzles, discover new places and learn incredible stories of the city’s past and present during this city adventure. The tour will take you through the oldest neighborhood in Boston, the North End. Side note: the North End is revered for its Italian food and pastries, so do NOT go to the North End without at least one of those things! You’ll explore the skinniest house in Boston, and just generally walk the streets and gardens taking in the rich history.
Outdoor Escape Game: Mafia Mission
$10
Multiple dates and times
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
Follow clues, solve puzzles, discover new places and learn incredible stories of the city’s past and present during this city adventure. The tour will take you through the oldest neighborhood in Boston, the North End. Side note: the North End is revered for its Italian food and pastries, so do NOT go to the North End without at least one of those things! You’ll explore the skinniest house in Boston, and just generally walk the streets and gardens taking in the rich history.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 6TH
John Mayer Concert at TD Garden
$150+
8pm-12am
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
TD Garden is in a very congested area of the city. We strongly suggest using Uber or public transportation instead of driving directly. Even paid parking is extremely limited.
Sam Adams Brewery Tour
$10-$50
Multiple time slots
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
Moreso than the Harpoon Brewery, the Sam Adams Brewery is probably as Boston as it gets. They offer a variety of tour options and are located in the heart of JP (Jamaica Plain), a very convenient location for folks who are lodging along the South Shore.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 7TH – WEDDING DAY!
Harpoon Brewery Tours
$5
10am-2pm
30-minute guided tastings through the facility. Tickets are available for purchase online or in-person day-of only, first come first served. All tickets are available for purchase starting at 10am. Click the link HERE for more information and use the BOOK NOW button to purchase your tickets! This is a very popular event on the Boston Seaport, we highly suggest a tasting following by a stroll along the Harbor walk and maybe a lobster roll?? You could also try a bunch of foods from the eateries along the pier. Click HERE to view a map of all the amenities surrounding the Brewery.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 8TH
Preseason Celtics Game vs. Philly 76ers at TD Garden
$53-$450
6:00 PM
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
TD Garden is in a very congested area of the city. We strongly suggest using Uber or public transportation instead of driving directly. Even paid parking is extremely limited.
Farmers Market at SoWa Open Market
FREE
11am-4pm
Click HERE for more information.
The SoWa Open Market is open Sundays from 11am to 4pm May through October. Shop from over 100 art and food vendor stalls (outdoors), peruse art in their permanent artist studios/galleries (indoors), grab a drink from the shipping container bar and a bite from the NEW SoWa pop-up cafe, participate in interactive art & lawn games…all while soaking up the sounds of a rotating selection of global DJ’s. This is a super relaxing afternoon activity, and you don’t have to spend any money to have a good time!
44th Annual Harvard Square Oktoberfest
FREE
11am-6pm
Click HERE for more information.
Harvard Square’s Oktoberfest features food from all over the world, arts, crafts, vintage goods, free samples, and one-of-a-kind gifts. In addition, Oktoberfest boasts beer gardens hosted by Alden & Harlow and El Jefe’s Taqueria and wine gardens presented by Commonwealth Wine School and Bonde Fine Wine. This annual celebration of fall features live music. Dancing in the streets is encouraged! Parking can be tricky in this area, so using public transportation might be a good idea.
Live Music Sundays at the Sam Adams Taproom
FREE
2pm-5pm
Click HERE for more information.
Every Sunday there’s live artists in the Sam Adams taproom, usually unknown or local artists but always a cool vibe!
The Tall Ship Boston: Floating Oyster Bar & Waterfront Experience
Varies, usually free unless you book a private room/lounge
4pm-11pm
Click HERE for more information.
THIS IS THE LAST DAY THAT TALLSHIP IS OPERATING UNTIL NEXT SUMMER! The Tall Ship is a 245″ vessel turned floating oyster bar moored on Pier One in East Boston. The ship features three custom-built mahogany bars built around the grand mast, and forward and aft of the ship while guests enjoy uninterrupted views of the city skyline and harbor. Alongside the majestic tall ship, Navy Yard Hospitality has activated and built out the pier into a 40,000 sq ft waterfront experience that features live entertainment, retail, food vendors, food trucks, popups, etc.
Anoushka Shankar
$38-$69
8pm-11pm
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
If you’re an international music buff, then you’ve probably heard of the late Ravi Shankar. Well, his daughter Anoushka is just as talented of a musician, and she is playing at Berklee School of Music Performance Center this Sunday!
Red Sox Nation Bar Crawl Walking History Tour – Bar Trivia on the Go!
$12
12pm-12pm or 5pm-7pm
Click HERE for tickets and more information.
Drink in the history of Red Sox Nation. Uncover secret history, enjoy famous landmarks, and drink at the most interesting bars in town! The tour starts at the Yard House which is in an area we call “West Fens”. We HIGHLY suggest you stop at the Timeout market by the Fenway T stop on the green line first. There’s a food court-style eatery with booths from all the best restaurants in Boston to lay a nice foundation for you lol, an outdoor seating area with lawn games, and a brewery in the garden for a quick pre-game if you’re up for it. From there, the Yard House is about a 5-6 minute walk, very easy to get to. If you choose to, maybe Timeout Market could be where you end up instead of where you start, but no matter what, we INSIST you try to the maple bacon doughnut from the doughnut shop. Non-negotiable.
MONDAY OCTOBER 9TH
$1 Oysters at Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar
FREE
11am-1am
Click HERE for more information.
Dollar oysters are available Monday all day. When we went, they also had a wine tasting, so we had wine and a dozen oysters for $12 which is really not bad! There are also Monday dollar oysters at the Lower Mills Tavern, The Independent, and 224 Boston.
Free Admission to the Isabella Stewert Gardner Museum on Indigenous People’s Day
FREE
11am-4pm
Click HERE for more information.
Free admission tickets are courtesy of Linda Cabot and Ed Anderson for Indigenous People’s Day. The museum collaborated with Taino afroboriqua artist Mar Parrilla to amplify the voices of local indigenous artists and activists for this year’s showcase.Free admission tickets are courtesy of Linda Cabot and Ed Anderson for Indigenous People’s Day. The museum collaborated with Taino afroboriqua artist Mar Parrilla to amplify the voices of local indigenous artists and activists for this year’s showcase.