New England Events & Festival Calendar 2026

Twice a year, Boston's top restaurants offer prix-fixe menus at a fraction of the usual price. January's edition is the perfect excuse to explore the city's culinary scene — from North End Italian to Seaport seafood — without breaking the bank.

One of the longest-running winter carnivals in the country. Snow sculpture competitions, ice carving, ski races, snowshoe softball, and a village-wide party in Vermont's most charming ski town.

Ten days of chili cook-offs, ice sculptures, live music, and winter fun along the Gilded Age waterfront. Newport proves it's not just a summer destination with one of New England's best cold-weather celebrations.

Sugar houses across Vermont and New Hampshire open their doors as the sap starts flowing. Watch the boiling process, sample fresh maple syrup on snow, and drive the backroads past steaming sugarhouses — a quintessential New England rite of spring.

South Boston's legendary St. Patrick's Day parade is one of the largest in the nation. The route winds through Southie's streets with marching bands, floats, and a sea of green — a celebration of Boston's deep Irish heritage.

The world's oldest annual marathon and one of the most prestigious road races on earth. 30,000 runners follow the 26.2-mile route from Hopkinton to Copley Square, cheered on by half a million spectators lining the course through eight cities and towns.

On the third Monday of April, costumed reenactors recreate the Battles of Lexington and Concord — the opening shots of the American Revolution. The dawn battle on Lexington Green draws thousands of spectators to witness the birth of a nation.

Eighty bonfires blaze on the three rivers of downtown Providence in this award-winning art installation. The fires, gondola rides, street performers, and world music create an atmospheric evening that runs on select nights from May through November.

The Arnold Arboretum's annual celebration of its stunning lilac collection — the only day picnicking is allowed on the grounds. Hundreds of lilac varieties bloom in a fragrant canopy that signals the arrival of New England spring.

Ten days of world-class jazz fill Burlington's waterfront, parks, and clubs. Free outdoor concerts on the Church Street Marketplace plus ticketed headliner shows — all set against the backdrop of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.

The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra opens its season in the Berkshire Hills. Bring a blanket and a picnic to the lawn, or sit in the iconic Koussevitzky Music Shed for performances that run through September.

The oldest intercollegiate athletic competition in America — dating to 1852. Rowing crews from Yale and Harvard race on the Thames River while thousands watch from the riverbanks and spectator boats.

The legendary folk festival at Fort Adams State Park where Bob Dylan went electric in 1965. Three days of folk, indie, and Americana acts on multiple stages overlooking Narragansett Bay — one of the most iconic music festivals in America.

The Boston Pops play a free concert at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade, culminating in a massive fireworks display over the river. Half a million people pack the riverbanks for one of the nation's premier Fourth of July celebrations.

Five days of lobster eating, cooking contests, live entertainment, and the coronation of the Sea Goddess in Rockland Harbor. Over 20,000 pounds of lobster are served — boiled, in rolls, in mac and cheese, and every other way imaginable.

One of the top-ranked outdoor art shows in the nation, held along the charming streets of downtown Mystic. Over 250 artists display paintings, sculptures, photography, and crafts against the backdrop of the Mystic River drawbridge.

The granddaddy of all jazz festivals, held at Fort Adams since 1954. Three days of jazz legends and rising stars on multiple stages with panoramic views of Newport Harbor and the Claiborne Pell Bridge.

Downeast Maine celebrates its famous wild blueberry harvest with pie-eating contests, blueberry-themed crafts, a road race, and a blueberry pancake breakfast — all in the heart of wild blueberry country.

Orchards across all six states open for pick-your-own season. Hayrides, cider donuts, corn mazes, and the scent of fresh-pressed apple cider fill the countryside from early September through late October — the ultimate New England fall activity.

New England's Great State Fair draws over 1.5 million visitors across 17 days. Each New England state has its own building on the Avenue of States, and the food — from cream puffs to the famous Big E Baked Potato — is reason enough to attend.

The Witch City transforms into Halloween headquarters for the entire month of October. Ghost tours, psychic readings, costume parades, haunted houses, and the Grand Parade on Halloween night draw over a million visitors to this historic seaport.

The world's largest two-day rowing event brings 11,000 athletes from around the globe to race a three-mile course on the Charles River. Over 300,000 spectators line the banks, making it one of Boston's biggest annual events.

Vermont's premier autumn celebration combines Bavarian tradition with peak foliage season. Craft beer tastings, live oompah bands, German food, and the stunning backdrop of Mount Mansfield ablaze in red and gold.

New England's most famous season. Peak color moves south through the region from late September to mid-October — northern Vermont and New Hampshire first, then the Berkshires and Connecticut. The Kancamagus Highway, Route 100, and Mohawk Trail are legendary leaf-peeping drives.

The town where it all began hosts a Thanksgiving celebration true to its 1621 roots. A historic dinner at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, a waterfront parade, and the annual Thanksgiving Day 5K through America's Hometown.

Gillette Stadium comes alive every fall weekend as the Patriots take the field. Tailgating in the parking lots is an event unto itself — New England football culture at its finest, from September through the January playoffs.

The annual lighting of the Christmas tree on Boston Common — a gift from Nova Scotia since 1971 — kicks off the holiday season. The adjacent Boston Winter holiday market fills the Common with artisan vendors, food stalls, and ice skating on Frog Pond.

This island off Cape Cod transforms into a Dickensian holiday village for one magical weekend. Carolers in period costume, decorated storefronts, a Santa arrival by Coast Guard cutter, and the kind of small-town holiday charm you thought only existed in movies.