This post covers the best things to do in Boston in September, updated for 2025 and including free, nighttime, as well as family-friendly activities.
Let's dive in!
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER
This section will feature our top 10 September activities to enjoy in Boston. Check out events and activities that we've also marked as kid-friendly, free, or great to enjoy after the sun sets.
For tips on some of the most popular tourist activities in Boston be sure to check out our other popular Boston posts:
- Pay-What-You-Like Tours
- Bus Tours in Boston
- Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Be sure to read our master things to do in Boston post for more ideas for any time of the year.
1. Attend a Major Concert
Boston is home to many different music venues which means there's plenty of space for big-name artists and musicians to perform.
Below, we have listed several top concerts in and around the Boston area in September.
Concerts
- James Taylor | September 9 & 10
- Squeeze & Boy George | September 13
- Pearl Jam | September 15 & 17
- Post Malone | September 18
Check here to see even more September concerts in Boston including shows with Pitbull, Megadeth, Vampire Weekend, Paul Weller, Weezer, PJ Harvey, and many more!
Music Festivals
- Tough Luck Festival | Brighton Music Hall | September 6 & 7
- Breakaway Music Festival | The Palladium | September 7
2. See a Major Sporting Event
September marks the beginning of football season, which is great news for New England Patriots fans in Boston. And baseball fans are excited to see what happens with the approaching playoffs.
Football
- New England Patriots
Baseball
- Boston Red Sox
TIP: Red Sox fans might enjoy a tour of Fenway Park!
Soccer
- New England Revolution
- New England Revolution II
College Sports
- Boston College
- Harvard Crimson
- Holy Cross Crusaders
- Duquesne Dukes
You'll find even more sporting events in the Boston area in September here.
3. See a Live Comedy Show
There will be a few well-known comedians performing live stand-up comedy in the Boston area this month.
Comedy Shows
- Wanda Sykes | September 21 & 22
- Ben Schwartz | September 13
- Charlie Berens | September 20
Comedy Clubs
- Laugh Boston
- Nick's Comedy Stop
- City Winery (also has music and other entertainment
Click here for even more stand-up shows in the Boston area in October
4. Take a Sightseeing Tour
We offer a number of pay-what-you-wish walking tours that will lead you throughout the city of Boston.
Try our ever-popular Freedom Trail tour or dive into something a little more dramatic like our Beacon Hill Crime tour (not suitable for children under 16).
If you can't make one of our scheduled tours, try one of our GPS-enabled audio tours, available anytime!
Another very popular option is to take a bus tour of Boston. The hop-on-hop-off trolley gives you a convenient means of transportation along with entertaining, live commentary.
Since the city is right on the coast, there are also several fun boat tours available for getting a different perspective of Boston from the water.
5. Boston Local Food Festival
The Boston Local Food Festival celebrates local and sustainable food.
It takes place on the centrally located Rose Kennedy Greenway on September 15, 2025.
Join in on the fun and browse the offerings of local farmers, restaurants, food trucks, and more.
The festival also features a family fun zone and live music, performances, and demonstrations.
For more free things to do or family-friendly activities in Boston, check out the sections below.
6. Visit the New England Aquarium
The visit to the New England Aquarium is an excellent family activity.
They are open from Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm. On the weekends they are open from 9 am - 6pm.
Even if you can't afford tickets, you might still want to visit this attraction to see their free exhibit: the Atlantic Harbor Seals!
These adorable aquatic animals are located just outside of the aquarium on the front plaza, and there is plexiglass allowing all visitors to come and see them during the day -- no ticket required!
You can purchase New England Aquarium tickets here before you go.
7. Boston Arts Festival
You can find Boston’s best artists and musicians showcasing their photography, painting, jewelry, music, and sculptures at the Boston Arts Festival.
This festival, "affectionately dubbed (ähts)," brings in tens of thousands of visitors.
Events take place at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park over September 7-8
8. See Boston’s Top Attractions
There’s more to Boston than The Freedom Trail (though we recommend taking our free tour!). There are plenty of other attractions to see while you’re in town.
Fans of the TV show can visit the Cheers Bar that inspired the series. Check out our full list of the many great attractions in Boston.
History buffs will enjoy seeing the historic USS Constitution, Bunker Hill Monument, Old State House, and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
Check out our full list of the many great attractions in Boston.
9. Enjoy a North End Festival
The San Gennaro Feast takes place in the North End this September.
This 3-day event will include a parade, live music and dancing, and loads of delicious foods from popular restaurants.
The feast will take place on the streets of Hanover and Battery August 30 - September 2, 2025.
Find more information on the San Gennaro Festival here.
10. Save Up to 55% Off with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
The easiest way to see all the popular attractions while saving time and money is by utilizing a city discount pass. These passes work by bundling discounts to multiple attractions and tours.
Select activities also come on the pass with skip-the-line access, which means less time at the box office.
A few great attractions and activities included in the passes are:
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour
- Skywalk Observatory
- Old State House
- New England Aquarium Whale Watch
- Boston Children’s Museum
For an in-depth comparison and look at review of all the discount passes available, take a look at our tourist pass post.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN SEPTEMBER
September evenings in Boston can be cool but the city is lively and there are lots to see and do!
We have great ideas for things to do at night year-round in our full post.
Here are a few more.
Take a Sunset Cruise
September means cooler days and nights, which means this might be the last month before spring that offers comfortable temperatures for a sunset cruise in the harbor.
That means it's the perfect time to catch a beautiful Boston sunset with one of these boat cruises.
View the Boston Skyline
There are several great places to get a good look at the Boston skyline.
One of the most historic locations is the Bunker Hill Monument, which is a 221 ft tall obelisk that you can climb to the top.
You'll need a pass to do this, but they are free! Just go to the Bunker Hill Museum and ask for a pass.
If you're willing to go a bit out of the way, consider a trip to Mount Auburn Cemetery in West Cambridge for almost unbeatable views of the city skyline.
Another option is at Piers Park in East Boston. While you won't get a view from above, it is one of the best places to see the skyline from below.
Go on a Sightseeing Tour
Just because the sun has gone down doesn’t mean you can’t take a tour of the city.
There are still quite a few places you can visit and learn about after dark.
Here are a few of the best tours available at night in Boston:
Beacon Hill Crime Tour
This pay-what-you-wish walking tour covers some of the most notorious criminal histories that have taken place in the Beacon Hill area.
Ghost Tours
In a city this old, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are more than a few ghost tours in Boston. Haunted history outings are available as either walking tours or bus tours.
We offer a pay-what-you-wish ghost tour on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm during the summer season.
Evening Cruise
If you’re interested in seeing the skyline of Boston from the water, consider taking either a dinner cruise or a sunset cruise.
Don’t forget that you can always take a self-guided tour of the Freedom Trail for free whenever you want. This is a great opportunity that is available both day and night.
FREE THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER
Beantown hosts a number of free events and activities throughout the month of September. We've listed more free activities in our full post.
Here are a few more budget-friendly activities to do in September:
Berklee Summer in the City
The Berklee College of Music puts on roughly 400 free concerts every summer, from May through September.
You'll hear classical, contemporary, folk, Latin, and jazz music, among other genres.
For a list of scheduled concerts, click here.
Attend the Boston Veg Food Fest
Whether you’re a vegetarian or you’re just interested in trying some plant-based meals, this food festival is worth checking out.
Not only is admission free but there will also be free food to sample and several fun activities for kids to enjoy.
In addition to the food and family-friendly fun, there are also presentations from various speakers and opportunities to learn about different ways you can help animals or protect the environment.
- September 28 & 29th
- Saturday | 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Reggie Lewis Athletic Center
- Learn more about this event
TIP: If you’re interested in learning about the variety of food available in this city, consider taking one of our Boston food tours.
See the Harbor Seals at New England Aquarium
Tickets to this attraction may not be free, but they do offer one exhibit that you can see without paying a dime.
Their Harbor Seals attraction is located right outside the ticket booth, and you don’t have to enter the aquarium to see it.
All you have to do is walk up and take a look at the seals as they wander around the exhibit!
If you do decide to enter the New England Aquarium afterward, admission is included at a discount with at least one Boston tourist pass.
Climb up Bunker Hill
Visit the grounds of the first major battle to take place during the American Revolution! While you’re at Bunker Hill, climb up the 221-foot Obelisk.
This challenging climb (there are lots of stairs!) is worth it when you are greeted with panoramic views of the city at the top.
Watch Labor Day Fireworks
There are loads of places around the city to get a good view of the fireworks over Boston Harbor.
Before dusk head to any of these locations to enjoy the show: the Fan Pier, Piers Park, Downtown Waterfront, Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park.
It will truly be an evening to remember!
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN SEPTEMBER
The historic city of Boston is very family-friendly and offers a lot of activities for people of all ages.
Some of the events we’ve mentioned like the Free Museum Day are great for everyone, and we have more kid-friendly activity suggestions for year-round fun!
Here are a few more things the whole family can enjoy in September:
Faneuil Hall Marketplace Street Performers
Kids will be excited to see the world-class performers who have been appearing here since 1976, making it part of the fabric of Faneuil Marketplace.
Acts include a man who can twist his body into a knot, a juggler, an amazing acrobat, an escape artist, and much more.
Find even more Things to Do at Faneuil Hall here.
Attend Boston Lights
The Franklin Park Zoo brings back the Boston Lights event with this year's title being "A Lantern Experience."
All 72 acres of the zoo are lit up with fantastical creatures made of light. This wonderland of brilliant color is truly magical
You might run into a 33-foot sphinx or experience the history of China through lantern scenes.
The event runs from August 2 - November 3rd, 2025.
For tickets, hours, and additional information, visit the Boston Lights page on the Franklin Zoo website.
Swan Boats Final Weekend
Head to the Boston Public Garden before September 2nd, 2025, for your last chance of the year to ride the Swan Boats at the Boston Common Garden.
They operate from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, weather permitting. Each Swan Boat ride lasts approximately 12 - 15 minutes with about a 5 to 10-minute wait to ride.
Find the Tortoise and the Hare
If you’re in the Copley Square area, make sure to spot the Tortoise and Hare bronze statues conveniently located near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Trinity Church, and the Boston Public library.
They make a fun photo opportunity for children!
Visit a Festival
There are a few family-friendly festivals to be enjoyed in Sepember.
The Big E | September 12-29 | Springfield
This fair has rides, live entertainment, food, ag-related events, competitions, and more. It all takes place at the Eastern States Exposition.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular | September 27-November 2 | Providence
Rogers Williams Park Zoo has a pumpkin trail and loads of amazing and glowing carved pumpkins. Events take place at night and tickets are needed.
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