Free Activities And Cultural Events In Boston For June 2018

The provided source material focuses exclusively on free activities, cultural events, and low-cost attractions in Boston, primarily during June 2018. The documentation does not contain information regarding free samples of consumer goods, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programs in categories such as beauty, baby care, pet products, health, food, or household goods. Consequently, the following article details the free recreational and educational opportunities available in Boston during that time period, based strictly on the provided data.

Cultural Festivals and Events

During June 2018, Boston hosted several major festivals and events that were free to the public. These events focused on music, arts, and history, offering diverse entertainment options.

Boston Art & Music Soul Festival Scheduled for June 23, 2018, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Boston Art & Music Soul Festival took place at Franklin Park’s Playstead Field. This nonprofit event celebrated Afro-centric contributions to the global cultural community. The festival featured live music from local and national artists, with a headlining performance by neo-soul duo Kindred the Family Soul. Additional entertainment included the Rep Yo’City Arts Battle, a live onstage competition between two professional graffiti artists. Food was also available at the event.

2018 Cambridge Arts River Festival The Cambridge Arts River Festival took place near the East Cambridge waterfront. This event featured acrobatics, accordions, and acting. Over one hundred local artists displayed their work while live music—including jazz, indie, rock, R&B, and world music—played on seven different stages.

Roller Skating at City Hall Plaza On June 22, 2018, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., free roller skating was available at the City Hall Plaza skating rink. Roller skates were provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, encouraging attendees to arrive early to skate to the music.

Free Fun Fridays Beginning in late June, the Highland Street Foundation partnered with cultural venues across Massachusetts to provide "Free Fun Fridays." On the first Friday of the summer, free admission was available at the MIT Museum and the Lyric Stage Company of Boston. The MIT Museum offered views of neuroscientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s sketches of the brain and the evolution of ocean engineering in the Hart Nautical Gallery. The Lyric Stage Company provided a theater tour and a performance of "CAMELOT" at 3 p.m.

Historical Sites and Walking Tours

Boston offers numerous opportunities to explore American history through free walking tours and monuments.

The Freedom Trail The Freedom Trail is a self-guided tour marked by a red brick path on the ground. The trail is 2.5 miles long, starting at the Boston Common and ending at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. The path passes 16 historic sites. While some sites along the trail charge an entry fee, others are free. The Bunker Hill Monument is specifically noted as a free attraction to visit.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument Located in the Boston Common, this monument honors those who died in the Civil War. Dedicated in 1877, the monument stands 126 feet high and features four large bronze reliefs depicting scenes such as "Departure for the War" and "The Return from War." The statue of America, depicted as a woman holding a sword and the American flag, sits atop the column. The bronze statues at the base, which were missing for many years, were discovered in 2014 awaiting restoration.

Boston Public Library Events The Boston Public Library in Copley Square hosted a musical narrative event titled "Crossing the Line to Freedom" in its courtyard. This event told the stories of civil rights activists such as Douglass, Tubman, King, and Robeson through a blend of opera, narrative, art song, and spirituals. It took place on June 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Parks, Gardens, and Outdoor Recreation

The parks in Boston provide free spaces for recreation, picnicking, and sightseeing.

Boston Common and Boston Public Garden The Boston Common and the adjacent Boston Public Garden are central locations for free activities. In warm weather, visitors utilize these spaces for picnics, jogging, bike rides, and people-watching. The parks feature tennis courts, a small baseball field, and areas for playing frisbee or football. The Boston Public Garden offers panoramic views of the Seaport and Downtown. Local artist Nick Shea sometimes offers portraits for $1.

Boston Frog Pond Located within the Boston Common, the Frog Pond serves as a kid-friendly attraction. During the summer, it operates as a free splash park. In the winter, it transforms into an ice-skating rink. The Tadpole Playground is situated nearby.

Stargazing and Educational Activities

Coit Observatory Boston University’s Coit Observatory held free open nights on Wednesday evenings for the public to stargaze. This event allowed attendees to see the stars and moon up close and learn how to use different telescopes. Due to limited space, online reservations were required, and the event was weather-dependent.

Museums and Cultural Institutions

Several museums and cultural institutions in Boston offered free admission or specific free hours during the time period covered in the sources.

Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) The ICA offered free admission every Thursday between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Free admission was also extended to museum members, ICA University members, and corporate members.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Admission was free for museum members, certain university students, military families, and anyone named Isabella.

New England Aquarium The aquarium did not offer completely free tickets but provided discounts on their website.

USS Constitution Museum This museum offered free admission to EBT holders, museum members, active and retired military members with photo ID, Massachusetts teachers, and individuals with a library pass.

Markets and Entertainment

SoWa Open Market The South End Open Market (SoWa) is located in the arts and design district of the South End. This open-air market featured over 100 local vendors and food trucks selling handmade jewelry, home decor, produce, and food products like jam. A dedicated section for food trucks offered cuisine from around the world. The market operated on Sundays from May to October, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VERSUS Barcade For gamers, VERSUS is a Downtown barcade featuring old-school arcade games, pinball, skeeball, and modern video games. On Fridays, "Free Play Fridays" offered free entry and unlimited gameplay between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. This event required attendees to be 21 years or older.

Independence Wharf Observation Deck Located on the 14th floor of the Independence Wharf in Seaport, this observation deck provided free panoramic views of Boston’s Seaport and Downtown area.

Library Passes and Discounted Admissions

The Boston Public Library (BPL) offered a reservation system for free or discounted passes to various cultural institutions. Boston residents with a library card could access these passes.

Available Passes Included: * Boston by Foot: Member privileges on any tours. * Boston Children's Museum: 1/2 price admission. * Department of Conservation and Recreation: A hang tag providing free parking for one vehicle at state park facilities that charge a parking fee. * Museum of Fine Arts: Discounted pass. * Museum of Science: Free pass. * New England Aquarium: Free pass (valid September through June only). * Institute of Contemporary Art: Discounted pass. * Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Discounted pass on weekdays. * John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: Discounted pass. * Larz Anderson Auto Museum: Free admission. * Zoo New England: Discounted pass.

Additionally, the Boston Children's Museum offered $1 admission valid on Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Low-Cost Attractions

While not entirely free, the Swan Boats were noted as an inexpensive activity. Rides cost $4.50 for adults and $3.00 for children (ages 2-15), with children under 2 riding free.

Conclusion

The provided sources detail a variety of free cultural, historical, and recreational activities available in Boston during June 2018. These include major festivals, museum free hours, historical walking trails, and public park amenities. No information regarding free samples of consumer products was found in the source material.

Sources

1. Free Things to Do in Boston, June 2018
2. Best Free Things to Do in Boston
3. Boston Common and the Public Garden
4. Free Things to Do in Boston