If there’s one thing that Labor Day weekend signals, it’s the end of summer and a last chance to check off all those Boston summer activities you haven’t quite gotten around to yet. For busy Boston families it’s also about having a reason to gather with friends one last time before school starts and we return to our weekly routines. Whether you’re staying local or hitting the road for one last adventure before the leaves start to change, now’s the time to find all the great things to do in Boston Labor Day weekend.
Exciting Things to Do in Boston Labor Day Weekend
Head to a Renaissance Faire
The 24th annual Connecticut Renaissance Faire is an enchanted recreation of a 16th-century harvest festival as one might have been in the days of yore. Here you can feast like a king on turkey legs and local craft brews, shop like a queen in New England’s largest Medieval Marketplace or laugh like a fool at continuous shows performed on ten stages throughout the village. All the kingdom is a stage with performances on stage and in the street. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Come as you are or as you wish to be. Event details.
It’s the 41st anniversary season of King Richard's Faire, New England’s Renaissance Festival. Bring the kids to experience entertainment, exciting rides, and skilled games on the enchanting 80-acre site. Hundreds of talented entertainers perform non-stop throughout the day, and there are eight vibrant stages where acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, minstrels, comedy acts, fire eaters, and puppeteers perform. You’ll gasp as the King’s mounted knights battle on horseback, and laugh as bawdy beggars compete in mud. Parking is free. Kids 3 & under are free also. Event details.
Find Lanterns & Lights
Boston Lights will once again illuminate Franklin Park Zoo with sparkling new lantern additions, plus a few returning favorites. Experience the wonder of over 55 magnificent displays of hundreds of lanterns spanning over 72 acres. Luminous scenes from the rainforest, whimsical ocean displays , glowing corridors of lotus and bamboo, and traditional Asian lanterns are just a glimpse of what you'll see. Go while you can as this delightful exhibit leaves on September 24. Event details.
Check out the Chinatown Lantern Festival along the Greenway over Labor Day weekend. Auntie Kay and Uncle Chin Park is where this Mid Autumn Lantern Festival is taking place. Expect vendors, lion dance, martial arts, opera singing, and much more. Event details.
Skip Out of Town
Marolborough has lots to offer families over the three-day weekend. Why not plan a trip north to enjoy the Greek Festival; be sure to time it with New England's largest Labor Day parade, taking place on September 5. Event details.
A weekend getaway is one of the best things to do in Boston Labor Day weekend, and not just because of all the scenic spots and activities the island has to offer. It's also when local artists display their work at the Labor Day Weekend Festival. Unique experiences and live local music await. Event details.
Play, Play, Play
It's your last chance to build and play at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston before it closes down for a serious facelift on September 6, 2022 (don't worry, it'll be back in 2023). Be sure to check out the Space Mission exhibit while you're there. Event details.
Bring the kids to a Confidently Me! Workshop. This fun and interactive workshop teaches kids about confidence, courage, self-care, and self-esteem, as they learn how to identify feelings associated with low-esteem and ways to conquer those feelings. Event details.
Check out your favorite exhibits at the ICA. Admission is free for everyone, and it's one of our favorite things to do in Boston Labor Day weekend. They'll have tons of cool things for families to experience when they visit. Event details.
Supersized Creatures are on display at Stone Zoo, but not for much longer. This incredible exhibit features 30 life-size animal sculptures made from millions of colorful bricks. It's where you can see the world’s small but mighty predators like never before as you come face-to-face with a 370-pound praying mantis (composed of over 38,000 bricks) and slither past a 932-pound spitting cobra (made from 92,000 bricks). Event details.