Through Boston Family Days, all students who live in Boston (grades K-12 and Boston Pre-K) and two guests can explore many of the City’s cultural institutions for free on the first and second Sunday of each month until December 2026.

In addition, Boston students and their families also have free access to live performances at Boston’s premier venues. Students who are registered for Boston Family Days will receive ticket reservation links and instructions from the City before the performances.

Sign up for Family Days here.

Note for BPS Families: If your child is enrolled in Boston Public Schools or Boston Pre-K, they are automatically signed up for this program. You will continue to receive your Boston Family Days pass directly via BPS. Please ensure that your email address is updated in the BPS system.

Participating institutions: 1st and 2nd Sunday of each month

• Museum of Fine Arts
• Museum of Science
• Museum of African American History
• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
• Boston Children’s Museum
• Franklin Park Zoo
• Institute of Contemporary Art
• New England Aquarium
• Paul Revere House
• Old North Illuminated
• USS Constitution Museum
• Revolutionary Spaces: Old State House and Old South Meeting House – Downtown

Participating institutions: Performances

• American Repertory Theater
• Arts Emerson
• Berklee College of Music
• Boch Center
• Boston Ballet
• Boston Lyric Opera
• Boston Symphony Orchestra
• The Huntington
• Wheelock Family Theater

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Due to its maritime location and historical connections to the Caribbean and the slave trade, Boston has been home to black West Indians (Caribbean) since early colonial America.
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Caribbeans make up the largest share of Boston’s immigrant population, and represent the diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds that is reflected throughout Boston and the United States.

Boston will kick start the month of June with a virtual launch on June, along with a Flag Raising event with the raising of the Caricom Flag at Boston City Hall at the City Hall Plaza in Boston, MA. A proclamation from the Governor of Massachusetts and the Mayor of Boston will take place.

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They run and walk 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to build a sense of community and responsibility.

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Yoga Flow & Restore: This is a joyful, energizing Vinyasa practice connecting breath with movement. Together, we will cultivate strength, balance and flexibility in the mind and body. We’ll end our classes with some restorative poses which will help create a sense of peace and connection within ourselves. I hope to see you on the mat!

Class led by Carlos Hernandez

Register here!

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Registration is required in order to participate. Those who register will automatically receive an email with further details, including the necessary waiver to sign and specific information on where to meet and what to expect on the day of the event.

Please email volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org with inquiries on this event or other volunteer opportunities.

Please note: To increase available volunteer slots, please only register if you’re sure you can attend, and please check your inbox first if you may already be registered.

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They run and walk 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to build a sense of community and responsibility.

The post Back on my Feet Walk appeared first on The Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

Back for our second year, Sonic Passports returns to kick off Caribbean Heritage Month with an unforgettable journey through sound, culture, and community.

Featuring performances by Zama, Safiya, and Roots Alley Collective, this immersive experience highlights the rich musical traditions of the Caribbean, from kompa and calypso to soca and reggae.

Beyond the stage, enjoy a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere with our Kiddies Corner led by A Tribe Called Funk, featuring interactive dance lessons, creative activities, and cultural exploration for all ages. Guests can also experience live public art and engage with the rhythms, movement, and stories that define Caribbean culture.

Come ready to dance, connect, and travel through music.

Bring a blanket, your dancing shoes, and your crew. Come celebrate the joy of music, the power of community, and the rhythms that bring us all together. Enjoy vendor fair featuring free empanadas for the first 120 people from Bocadillos, slushies, lawn games and other family friendly activities. We will have a limited number of free picnic blankets and stadium seating chairs we can loan out during the event!

CONCERT LINEUP

Safiya

Safiya is a rising force in jazz, neo-soul, and reggae, known for her invigorating stage presence and seamless fusion of Afro-Caribbean roots with rich jazz influences. Backed by her dynamic band, she delivers performances that captivate audiences worldwide, blending groove, storytelling, and cultural depth into every show.

A Berklee College of Music graduate, Safiya has earned multiple award nominations, including New England Music Award Jazz Act of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and Boston Music Award Reggae Artist of the Year in 2024. She has performed across the globe, bringing her sound to audiences in Fiji, Colombia, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Portugal, Japan, and throughout the United States.

Her performance résumé includes opening for Grammy Award winner Keznamdi and Caribbean stars Sherwin Winchester, Konshens, and Glen Washington. She has also performed with the National Chorale, backing Alicia Keys and David Guetta at the United Nations. Safiya has headlined festivals including BAMS Festival, Salem Jazz Festival, and Point Sebago Reggae Festival, and completed a mini tour in Tokyo in 2023.

In 2020, Safiya released her debut single, Let’s Pretend, a reflective and emotionally layered track that introduced audiences to her signature blend of jazz harmony and Caribbean rhythm. The song captures the tender aftermath of a relationship that once burned brightly but has reached its natural close. With smoky vocals and lush chord progressions underscored by a subtle island pulse, Safiya leans into the bittersweet desire to remember love at its peak, even while accepting that it is time to let go. The track established her voice not only as a vocalist but as a storyteller unafraid to explore vulnerability through a cross-cultural sonic lens.

In November 2025, she released a reggae-infused cover of Santa Baby as a playful yet soulful preview of her upcoming Christmas album, set for release in 2026. Reimagined with warm basslines and island swing, the cover hints at Safiya’s ability to reinterpret classics through her Afro-Caribbean jazz perspective.

Safiya is currently working on her debut full-length album, scheduled for release in 2026, a project that promises to further explore the intersection of jazz, reggae, neo-soul, and global influences that define her artistry.

Beyond the stage, Safiya is the founder of Travel Through Music, a cultural platform that connects global communities through live performance, curated travel experiences, and educational programming. Featured in Forbes and The Boston Globe, the project reflects her commitment to using music as a bridge across cultures.

Featured on Boston Cityline News andTrinidad and Tobago’s Morning Synergy TV,  Safiya’s influence extends far beyond the stage. Recognized as one of  Boston’s Extraordinary Women for her contributions to music and culture, she continues to redefine the intersection of jazz, reggae, world music, and cultural storytelling. With new projects on the horizon, Safiya invites listeners to join her on a transformative musical journey, one note at a time.

Roots Alley Collective

Roots Alley Collective is an east coast based collective championing the sound of the Caribbean diaspora. Roots Alley is dedicated to preserving their roots and pushing  the culture forward. Fresh off the heels of being nominated for “Best Reggae artist/band” by the Boston Music Awards,  and their latest release “Lifted” and  “Wabash Riddim”

RAC is ensuring us one groovy summer. Since getting started in 2018, this collective has had the pleasure of working with artists like Luciano, Marlon Asher, Lutan Fyah,Richie Spice, Jahriffe, and Glenn Washington to name a few.

Zama

ZAMA is a Haitian-American singer, songwriter, and recording artist hailing from Boston. With a soulful voice and evocative lyrics, she crafts music that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Her sound, is an expressive blend of genres, is an ode to her journey through life, identity, and the rich duality of her cultures.

Drawing from her Haitian roots and American upbringing, ZAMA weaves together a sound that transcends genre—merging elements of soul, pop, R&B, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms into something entirely her own, with lyrics in English, French, Haitian Creole and Spanish. 

At the heart of ZAMA’s artistry is storytelling. Her songs are intimate yet expansive, offering reflections on identity, resilience, growth, and the in-between moments that define us. Each track is a chapter in the ongoing narrative of her life, shaped by her cultures, her passions, and her perspective as a multidisciplinary creative

The post Groundbeat Concert Series | Sonic Passports – Caribbean Heritage Month appeared first on The Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

Register here.

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) host the Boston Parks Fitness Series, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

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They run and walk 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to build a sense of community and responsibility.

The post Back on my Feet Walk appeared first on The Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

Register here.

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) host the Boston Parks Fitness Series, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

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