Join us for events on the Esplanade!
Please note that the majority of our programs and events take place between February-October every year. This calendar is updated frequently so please check back often. It can be adjusted using the drop-down icon in the upper right corner so you can view your favorite kinds of events (tours, fitness, family events, and so much more)!
Here you will find
You can also sign up for our newsletter to make sure you’re in the know about what’s happening in the park!
UPCOMING EVENTS
FREE Guided Tours
Join us this month for a FREE Guided Tour and learn about a variety of topics ranging from Esplanade history to the public art in the park!
Guided Art Tour | 5/8 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Guided Bird Tour| 5/15 | 7:00am-8:30am
Guided Bird Tour| 5/22 | 7:00am-8:30am
Guided Bird Tour| 5/28 | 7:00am-8:30am
Community Day
Sunday, May 19 | 9am – 3pm
Join us for our 4th Annual Community Day! A free, public, outdoor event for everyone to enjoy the Esplanade. We kick off the day with our Annual Esplanade 5k (registration required) followed by free music at our GroundBeat concert, vendors, and food around the Hatch Shell! We have several different activities for you to enjoy the day as you see fit!
FREE GroundBeat Concert Produced by GRATEFUL QUEEN
Wednesday, May 29 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Get ready to experience a dynamic fusion of Lawrence, MA’s finest musical talent! The artists’ blend of neo-soul and hip-hop will transport you to a realm of musical euphoria, showcasing the rich culture of Lawrence. Don’t miss this incredible showcase of Lawrence’s diverse musical landscape, where hip-hop meets soul in a celebration of talent, passion, and creativity. Get ready to groove, vibe, and experience music like never before!
ANNUAL EVENTS
Annual Charles River Cleanup
Join us on April 19 & 20, 2024 for the 25th Annual Charles River Cleanup!
Every year the Esplanade Association participates in the Charles River Earth Day Cleanup! It is one of our biggest volunteer days of the year with around 400 volunteers. Groups and individuals all come together to clean up the beloved Charles River along the Esplanade.
Registration is OPEN. Learn more and register here!
Annual Summer Dock Party
The Esplanade Association holds an Annual Summer Dock Party, set against the incomparable backdrop of the Charles River at sunset, as well as in the lovely Eliot Garden, the event has become a social highlight for Bostonians. Approximately 400 guests will enjoy a sunset dinner, drinks, and dancing at Community Boating, Inc. The funds raised at each year’s event will support the Esplanade Association‘s work to revitalize, enhance, program, and maintain the park, while providing the community with free summer programming.
Stay Tuned for more information regarding this year’s 13th Annual Summer Dock Party.
Community Day
Community Day celebrates everyone in and around the Esplanade! Every year the park fills up with folks excited for a day of program-packed events including the Esplanade 5K, a GroundBeat Music Concert, Children’s Programming, food trucks, vendors, and more!
Moondance Gala
The Moondance Gala is an annual celebration of the beautiful park. You can enjoy an evening along the iconic shoreline of the Charles River Esplanade. The night starts off with cocktails, followed by dinner, an auction, and ending with dessert, and dancing. This event enables the Esplanade Association to further enhance, revitalize, and enrich the park experience for everyone.
FREE RECURRING PROGRAMS
GroundBeat Concert Music Series
GroundBeat: The Esplanade’s FREE Riverfront Music Series was launched as a new music program on the Esplanade in 2018 by the Esplanade Association. GroundBeat aims to increase opportunities to perform on the Esplanade for local producers and artists across greater Boston who are committed to increasing inclusivity and diversity in Boston’s arts scene.
Guided Tours
The Esplanade Association offers FREE guided walking tours on the Esplanade to share the park’s amazing stories, plants, and wildlife. Guided walking tours will last about an hour-and-a-half and cover roughly a mile of the Esplanade and over 150 years of history! Enjoy topics ranging from History to Public Art, all whilst experiencing the iconic riverside park.
River Fit and Frost Fit Seasonal Fitness Series
The Esplanade Association hosts FREE seasonal fitness classes in the Summer, Fall, and Winter. Come to the park every week for a variety of outdoor fitness classes with some of Boston’s most popular fitness instructors. Previous class types included yoga, zumba, dance, HITT, and more!
Children in the Park (Chip)
Children in the Park (ChiP) is a program aimed at providing an engaging day outside in nature for Boston area youth to experience the wonders of outdoor play and exploration. This program is tailored to work with organizations and summer camps with children ages 5-17 in and around Boston, children must be attending a partnering organization or summer camp to participate.
Music and Movement
Music and Movement is a summer-long, interactive music program at the Stoneman Playground designed for children and their caregivers. Each week, children will sing songs, dance to music, and enjoy storytime led by trained Boston Music Project teaching artists. Caregivers are encouraged to attend and take part in the music games with their children.
