If you’re bored in Boston then you aren’t taking advantage of the gobs of events that occur every day in our city. While some of these are one-off occasions, others are festivals that you can anticipate each year. We all know about the big parades and parties, like St. Paddy’s Day, but some of the smaller fests fly under the radar. Not to worry, as we’ve highlighted 7 unusual, unique, or wacky events held in and around The Hub. From sheep shearing to giant sandcastles, you’re sure to have a memorable time!
No need to go to the Scottish Highlands for a sheepshearing festival – just head out to Waltham! Gore Place is both a country estate and working farm that was built in 1806. It was once the home of the first U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts.
The Sheepshearing Festival will be held on April 28, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., regardless of weather conditions. In addition to shearing demos, there are homemade crafts for sale, along with beautiful yarns. Get tickets for this festival online or at the gate at 52 Gore Street in Waltham.
While neither kites nor bikes are all that weird, they are an unexpected pairing. Each year, more than 1,000 people flock to this family-friendly event at Franklin Park. Take your bike to a mechanic, enjoy live music, yummy eats from food trucks, and the fun of flying kites and riding bikes! This festival will be held on May 19, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Don’t let the innocuous-sounding name fool you into believing that this festival is anything but wonderfully wacky. That’s a mistake reserved for those who’ve never attended! When you let creative folks have free rein, the result is sculpture races, circus acts, puppetry, and this car! You’ll also find music, theatre, poetry, and food at this event that draws a crowd 150,000 strong! It will take place on June 2, 2018, between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at Lechmere Canal Park and Cambridge Parkway.
4. Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival (Cambridge/Boston)
The sight of dragons gliding along the Charles is likely to catch you off-guard… unless you know that it’s Dragon Boat Festival time. Spectacular to look at and fun to cheer on, these boats are part of the longest-running dragon boat festival in the country. Attendees are treated to arts, crafts, performances, food, and mythical-looking boats that’ll make you wish that dragons were real. This festival takes place on June 9 and 10, 2018 – head to De Wolfe Street and Memorial Drive.
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5. Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival
What more could you ask for than a day at the beach, watching master sand sculptors while chowing down on delicious food truck fare? This event takes place on Revere Beach over several days, from July 20 through 22, 2018.
On September 22, 2018, Union Square in Somerville will transform into a Fluff-tastic venue dedicated to our favorite marshmallow spread that was invented right here, back in 1917. Expect Fluff-based cooking competitions, music, games, and sticky shenanigans!
You don’t usually see tabletop games and video games celebrated in the same place, but that’s exactly what this event is all about. See what new game designers are up to before their products hit the market. Last year’s games focused on everything from vampires to gerrymandering! FIG takes place in September in MIT Johnson Athletic Center at 120 Vassar Street in Cambridge.
What’s the weirdest festival you’ve ever attended? Are there others that belong on this list? Share your suggestions in the comments below!
Do you consider yourself a foodie? Then you should also check out the scrumptious food fests that take place in Boston each year.
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