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Boston family weekend planner

Summer Reading & more: Things to do with kids this weekend in Boston (August 14–16)

Updated August 12, 2026

The weekend of August 14–16 brings Summer Reading in Cambridge (Friday). Every listing below comes from the organizer's own calendar, with times, venues, and official links — and the free ones are marked.

34 family events across 5 Boston cities this weekend — 17 likely free. Biggest clusters: library (18), museum (15), market (1).

34 family events 17 free 5 cities
Arts & crafts 10Story time & books 8Music & performance 6Animals & nature 4Free only 17

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Free

Free family day

No-ticket or likely-free events that work well as the anchor for a low-cost weekend plan.

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Little kids

Toddler and preschool picks

Shorter, earlier programs with age signals that are easier for little kids.

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Indoor

Indoor backup plan

Libraries, museums, makerspaces, and indoor culture picks for weather or low-energy days.

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Low drive

Low-drive plan in Boston

A tighter cluster in one city so the day does not become a cross-Bay drive.

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Family events in Boston this weekend: August 14–16

Generated August 12, 2026 from official event sources

Interactive Event Finder

Age:
Time:
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Showing 34 of 34 events

Friday, August 14

12 events · 6 free

  1. Curiosity Kitchen

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  2. Friday, August 14 11:00—11:30 AM West Branch Children's Room (2nd floor) West Branch 40 College Ave, Somerville, MA, 021

    Somerville Public Library · Somerville · Ages 5–12

    44 Storytime at West Join us for stories and songs!

    Free Official ↗

  3. Moves 'n' Grooves

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  4. Honey Hunt

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  5. Summer Reading: Fairy Celebration at Bergin Park (O'Neill)

    Cambridge Public Library · Cambridge · Ages 1–12

    We invite children and their grown-ups to join us for a magical walk through nature.

    Free Official ↗

  6. Toddler Story Time (O'Connell)

    Cambridge Public Library · Cambridge · Ages 1–12

    Join us for stories, songs and rhymes! Recommended for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. No registration is required. Please call…

    Free Official ↗

  7. Japan Art Hour

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  8. Summer Reading: Decorate a Paper Fan! (O'Connell)

    Cambridge Public Library · Cambridge · Ages 3–13

    orate a handheld paper fan using the simple, meditative basics of Chigiri-e (“chee-gee-ree-eh”), a traditional Japanese art form where the…

    Free Official ↗

  9. Food Friday: Lemonade

    Teen Area · Newton · Ages 5–13

    Join us for an afternoon of taste testing in the Tween/Teen Area!

    Free Official ↗

  10. Somerville Ciné-Club

    Somerville Public Library · Somerville · Ages 3–12

    Join us in building community and sharing our appreciation for film!

    Free Official ↗

  11. Colorful Tape Collage

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  12. Parachutes

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

Saturday, August 15

15 events · 7 free

  1. Curiosity Kitchen

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  2. Garden Exploration

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  3. Science Saturdays with Ms. Susie Maguire from the POOP MUSEUM

    Children's Program Room · Newton · Ages 5–12

    Join Ms. Susie Maguire from the POOP MUSEUM for a 6-week program all about poop! Each week there will be a live, virtual program with Susie…

    Free Official ↗

  4. Summer Fitness: Tai Chi under the tree

    Community Room · Cambridge · Ages 3–12

    Join instructor Ellen DeGenova , at the main branch park, to explore Tai Chi elements (without the complicated choreography).

    Free Official ↗

  5. Twist and Shout Balloon Magic Show with Brie's Balloons

    Hunneman Hall - Brookline Village · Brookline · Ages 3–12

    Join us for a magical time with Brie's Balloons!

    Free Official ↗

  6. Music, Moves, & Portraits of You! with A Trike Called Funk

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  7. Summer Reading: BioDesign with the Rhode Island Computer Museum (Main)

    Curious George Room · Cambridge · $ · Ages 3–12

    Delve into the wonders of the natural world.

    Official ↗

  8. Worlds in Words Creative Writing Workshop for Tweens

    Tween Room · Brookline · Ages 5–13

    Worlds in Words is a creative writing workshop for tweens (ages 10-13), aiming to inspire and expand curiosity while honing essential…

    Free Official ↗

  9. NEW DATE: Summer Reading: Cyanotype Printmaking (Central Square)

    Lewis Room · Cambridge · Ages 3–12

    Explore our outdoor world, get creative, and make sun prints (aka cyanotypes) at the Central Square Branch.

    Free Official ↗

  10. Crochet for Our Community!

    Teen Area · Newton · $ · Ages 5–13

    Learn how to crochet a flower this summer with students from Newton South High School!

    Official ↗

  11. Drop-in Maker Studio (O'Neill)

    Cambridge Public Library · Cambridge · Ages 5–12

    Come to the Library to create something special!

    Free Official ↗

  12. Sacred Stage: Dancing Stories & Rhythms of India with Khelna Dance

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  13. Cupcake Wars

    Teen Area · Newton · Ages 10–13

    In a few rounds of creation and competition, participants will make themed cupcakes to present for judging.

    Free Official ↗

  14. Colorful Tape Collage

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  15. Parachutes

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

Sunday, August 16

7 events · 4 free

  1. Curiosity Kitchen

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  2. SoWa Open Market

    SoWa Open Market · Boston · Ages 3–12

    The SoWa Open Market is one of the largest open-air farmer and artist markets in Boston.

    Free Official ↗

  3. Adult Craft and Chat

    Somerville Public Library · Somerville · Ages 5–12

    Work on your knitting, drawing, or other craft project at home while chatting with others.

    Free Official ↗

  4. Adult Summer Camp Crafts

    Somerville Public Library · Somerville · Ages 5–12

    Throwback crafts for adults! More details to comeQuestions? Email Brigid at bblack@somervillema. gov

    Free Official ↗

  5. Storytime in Portuguese/Histórias em português at West

    Somerville Public Library · Somerville · Ages 3–12

    Join Gabi for songs and stories in Portuguese!Histórias em português com a Gabi!Questions/dúvidas?

    Free Official ↗

  6. Colorful Tape Collage

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

  7. Parachutes

    Boston Children's Museum · Boston · Ages 5–12

    Official ↗

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Food & markets

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Boston family events this weekend (August 14–16) — highlights poster
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