Early Morning Bird Walk
2022-05-01 08:00 - 10:00, 2022-05-22 08:00 - 10:00 UTC | Tennis Courts by Shattuck, 02124
Join the Brookline Bird Club (not just Brookline, but birders from all over greater Boston) for early morning walks for birding beginners. Franklin Park is an urban hotspot for migratory birds! We’ll roam around Scarboro Pond and Hill searching for warblers, vireos, woodpeckers, and other birds.
Bring binoculars if you have them, there will be some to borrow from Boston Nature Center. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
Meet at the Shattuck Picnic Grove. Bus #16 that runs through the park, between Forest Hills (orange line) and JFK station (red line).
Led by Justine Hanson and Nature Man Mike with support from Friends of Jamaica Pond.
Email Justine with any questions. Heavy rain cancels; but birds love a bit of drizzle.

inPublic: Rest
2022-05-11 12:00 - 14:00 UTC
Come rest with us in public space, brought to you by the Nap Ministry. “If you are not resting, you will not make it. I need you to make it.” Grab your headphones, click on our soundscape, and rest. You deserve a break!
Rest invites you to take a break from your routine and responsibilities of the day & rest with us in a variety of green spaces all over the city. Feel free to nap, daydream, read a book, listen to our curated soundscape or just simply exist.
Blankets, a peaceful soundscape, & quotes to encourage relaxation are provided.
Every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 12pm – 2pm: May 11, June 8, July 13, & August 10
Organized by ds4si

Kite & Bike Festival
2022-05-14 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Playstead, 25 Pierpont Rd., Boston, MA, 02119
After a two-year pandemic hiatus the Franklin Park Kite Festival is back! It’s like Opening Day in Franklin Park. Bring the whole family for a beautiful day outdoors.
We’ll have:

Kite-making with the Haiti Kite Team
Kites for sale
Bike & trike activities for your younger kids with Countdown to Kindergarten
A bicycle repair station hosted by REI
Food trucks from Bon Me to hot dogs to ice cream
Community craft vendors

On the Franklin Park Playstead. Go green! Ride your bike, walk, or take the #16 bus that runs between Forest Hills (orange line) and JFK (red line) stations. Or walk up the hill from the Green Street T station (about 15 minutes to the park) and look for kites in the sky to find your way.
Heavy rain cancels.

Bird Walk
2022-06-05 08:00 - 10:00 UTC
Bird Walk in Franklin Park in Celebration of Black Birders Week
Sunday, June 5, 8–10 a.m., Free
Meet at the Shattuck Picnic Grove in Franklin Park, Boston
Join nature photographer Michael Bryant, a.k.a. Nature Man Mike, Jeannine Laing of Franklin Park Tennis Association, and other park friends in celebrating the third annual Black Birders Week with a bird walk in Franklin Park. Beginners are encouraged to join us! Bring binoculars if you have them. A limited number of loaner binoculars will be available thanks to Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center. All who are interested are welcome.
Sponsored by Franklin Park Coalition, Franklin Park Tennis Association, Brookline Bird Club, and Emerald Necklace Bird Club.

Juneteenth
2022-06-18 | Shattuck Picnic Grove, Circuit Drive
Roxbury Homecoming and a celebration of when the last slaves were freed. Picnics, barbecues, music, and dancing at the Shattuck Picnic Grove and all over the park.

Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park Opening Night with Richie Rich
2022-07-12 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
Come on out for great music in your park!
Featuring Richie Rich & 24-Karat Funk
Bring a lawn chair, all your friends and neighbors, and a picnic supper (or buy one from food trucks). Line dancing during the break with the Boston Rhythm Riders.
Get more information and directions.

The MastaDonis Project at the Playhouse
2022-07-19 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
Come on out for great music in your park!
Featuring The MastaDonis Project
Bring a lawn chair, all your friends and neighbors, and a picnic supper (or buy one from food trucks). Line dancing during the break with the Boston Rhythm Riders.

Open Mic and Donna Nixon at the Playhouse
2022-07-26 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
Come on out for great music in your park!
Open Mic Night and Donna Nixon
Bring a lawn chair, all your friends and neighbors, and a picnic supper (or buy one from food trucks). Line dancing during the break with the Boston Rhythm Riders.
Get more information and directions.

Celebrate Jamaican Independence with Reggae at the Playhouse
2022-08-02 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
Come on out for great music in your park!
Roots Alley Collective featuring Dion Knibb for Jamaican Independence Day
Bring a lawn chair, all your friends and neighbors, and a picnic supper (or buy one from food trucks). Line dancing during the break with the Boston Rhythm Riders.
Get more information and directions.

E-Water Band at the Playhouse
2022-08-09 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
Come on out for great music in your park!
Featuring the E-Water Band and friends
Bring a lawn chair, all your friends and neighbors, and a picnic supper (or buy one from food trucks). Line dancing during the break with the Boston Rhythm Riders.
Get more information and directions.

Angelena at the Playhouse
2022-08-16 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
Come on out for great music in your park!
Featuring the Angelena Hightower and the Unit
Bring a lawn chair, all your friends and neighbors, and a picnic supper (or buy one from food trucks). Line dancing during the break with the Boston Rhythm Riders.
Get more information and directions.

Franklin Park Jazz and R&B Festival
2022-09-17 12:00 - 18:00 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
Headliner: Margo Thunder
Line-up:

Midnight Crew All Star Revue with Bernard Fullen,
Wali Ali,
Mike Rollins,
Fred Woodard

Food trucks, vendors, family-friendly and FREE! At the Playhouse in the Park site.
Bring your lawn chairs and help spread the word. Post on your facebook page and share via social media.
Walk, bike, or ride the bus (#16, 22, and more).

Emerald Necklace Parkfest
2022-09-24 13:00 - 18:00 UTC | Shattuck Picnic Grove, Circuit Drive
Live music, art projects, kids’ games, dialogues, and park history in many languages. Sponsored by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

All day: lawn games, free puppet making, food trucks, and Canvas Studios – accessible community art projects by Boston’s only Black-owned paint bar
A Trike Called Funk – music from 1-4pm with DJs on a bike
‘Mr. Twister And the Tale of Tornado Alley’: An Opera For Youth and Family presented by Mothers Out Front – time to be confirmed
Aydan aka DJ CO’D from 5-6pm
Culminating PARADE from 5-6

Franklin Park Turkey Trot
2022-11-24 09:00 - 10:00 UTC | Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse, 1 Circuit Drive, Boston, MA, 02124, United States
A fun run to start off your Thanksgiving Day! Make the Turkey Trot one of your family’s holiday traditions.
Visit fpc5k.com for more information and to register. Proceeds bring you Franklin Park programs and activities all year long.
All ages and paces are welcome, as are strollers, wheelchairs, and race-ready leashed dogs.
The event is chip timed. Prizes for winners by age and for best costumes.
New for 2022: Second start wave for causal joggers/walkers to spread out the fun for all participants.

Spring Clean-Up
2023-04-15 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Franklin Park
One Boston Day
Help pick up winter-accumulated litter and clear invasives in the woodlands; groups and all ages welcome.
Register here
Hosted by the City of Boston’s Office of Civic Organizing & the Mayor’s Youth Council.

Fairy House Building
2023-04-20 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | School Master Hill
Join for this annual school vacation tradition: a magical day of fairy house building! Fairy costumes encouraged, but dress to explore and find natural materials to make your fairy house. Story time and face painting.

Spin Class in the Park
2023-04-27 17:30 - 18:30 UTC | Refectory Hill, 1 Circuit Dr, 02124
Come get a great workout with stationary Blue Bikes.
Register here (required)
Sponsored by the Boston Parks Department, BPHC, Blue Cross, and Blue Bikes

Franklin Park Coalition Annual Meeting
2023-04-29 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse, 1 Circuit Drive, Boston, MA, 02124, United States
Join us for the Annual Meeting held during the birthday month of park designer, Frederick Law Olmsted. Enjoy light breakfast refreshments, mingle with neighbors, and catch up on park news – improvements, challenges, and plans for the coming year.
Please RSVP
Invited: Mayor Michelle Wu, Environment Chief Mariama White Hammond, and State Senator Liz Miranda

Franklin Park Kite & Bike Festival
2023-05-20 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Playstead, 25 Pierpont Rd., Boston, MA, 02119
It’s opening day in Franklin Park! Don’t miss out on this 50-year tradition in our park.

You can make a kite, buy one, or bring your won!
Food trucks
Bikes to try for younger kids with Countdown to Kindergarten
Bicycle repair station by REI
Free helmets

Biking, walking, and transit are encouraged! There will be limited parking available.

By Bus: MBTA bus #16 stops at the main park entrance on Blue Hill Avenue, while the #22, #24, and #49 stop at Seaver Street & Humboldt Ave or Seaver & Elm Hill Ave entrances.
By T: Take the Orange Line T Station to Green Street or Forest Hills station. Click here for walking directions and map.
By Bike: Click here for biking directions and map.

There are two Bluebikes stations located by the park:

@Franklin Park Zoo – Franklin Park Rd at Blue Hill Ave
@Seaver St at Humboldt Ave

Contact us to sponsor this wonderful community tradition or click here to be a vendor.

Opening Night! World Premier at the Playhouse
2023-07-11 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
FREE. Featuring local bands playing the best R&B, Motown, Jazz, and Reggae. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy food and crafts from local vendors. With Amanda “Lady Emcee” Merricks and line dancing during the break.

Athene Wilson at the Playhouse
2023-07-18 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
FREE. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy food and crafts from local vendors. With Amanda “Lady Emcee” Merricks and line dancing during the break.

Perfect Example at the Playhouse
2023-07-25 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States

Caribbean Night with Glen Washington at the Playhouse
2023-08-01 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
FREE. Celebrate Jamaican Independence with Glen Washington, Roots Alley, and Safiya. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy food and crafts from local vendors. With Amanda “Lady Emcee” Merricks and line dancing during the break.

E-Water Band at the Playhouse
2023-08-08 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States

Con Funk Shun at the Playhouse
2023-08-15 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
FREE. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy food and crafts from local vendors. With Amanda “Lady Emcee” Merricks and line dancing during the break. Con Funk Shun’s hit single “Love Train” has been revived by Bruno Mars. Listen Here

Franklin Park Jazz Festival
2023-09-16 13:00 - 19:00 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
Save the date! Line-up coming soon.

Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park 2024 Season
2024-07-09 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Pierpont Rd and Glen Lane, Roxbury, MA, 02121, United States
All shows are Tuesday evening from 6pm to dusk. Bring a lawn chair, invite friends, and get ready for a good time! Food and craft vendors. FREE ~ all are welcome
Featuring Amanda “Lady Emcee” Merricks – back for her 10th Playhouse season.
July 9 – Angelena and the Unit
July 16 – Intense City
July 23 – Canitra Rashe with AP and the Groove, new to the Playhouse stage
July 30 – Move the Crowd DJ Battle
August 6 – Caribbean Night with Roots Alley, Safiya, and friends
August 13 – E-Water Band
[August 20 – raindate]
Volunteers needed! If you’d like to help with set-up, during the shows, and/or clean-up, please send an email. Thank you!
Special thanks to: The City of Boston Parks & Recreation Department, the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, the Boston Cultural Council, and Senator Liz Miranda.

Winter Festival
2026-02-19, 2026-02-20 | Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse, 1 Circuit Drive, Boston, MA, 02124, United States
