City Hall Plaza Events And Programs
As the epicenter of the City of Boston, City Hall Plaza is a place where Boston residents and visitors can experience arts and cultural events.
The Plaza is back!
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is funding free festivals, performances, workshops, and more on City Hall Plaza for all to enjoy. So clear your calendar, grab your friends and family, and meet us on the Plaza for a season of events you won’t want to miss.
City Hall Plaza is easily accessible by the Green, Blue, Red, Orange, and Silver lines of the MBTA, and just a short walk from North and South Stations. The Plaza is a space where residents and visitors alike can easily access fun, free arts and cultural events.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Arts and Culture
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1 City Hall Square
Room 802Boston, MA 02201-2029
2025 Season
Check out our full lineup of events below and be sure to mark your calendar! No tickets required, but RSVPs are appreciated. All events listed below are funded by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture through the City Hall Plaza Engagement Grant and are free and open to all.
Don’t see the RSVP link for the event you want to attend? Check back on this page closer to the event for more information.
Visual Language
November 13
An evening of projections and poetry highlighting artwork by AFH artists that reimagines historical Boston heroes and unsung heroes in a fresh, unexpected, and powerful way.
Boots with the Fur
November 15
A FREE, all day soul & country line dance festival on City Hall Plaza. Starting at noon, we’ll have soul & country dance workshops from the best of the best, followed by our 3:30 PM, one-of-a-kind social dance bringing together dancers from every corner of our city.
Recurring Programming
"if you can Feel it, you can Speak it" | July 13, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9, December 14
An open mic series dedicated to the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA2+ communities of color and allies.
FREE VERSE | August 28, September 25, October 23, November 20, December 18
A monthly series of open mic events including youth showcases, spoken word, poetry, DJ sets, musical performances, and standup comedy.
Fiesta En La Plaza | September 28 and October 12, 2025
A two-day festival celebrating Latinx heritage organized by Ágora Cultural Architects, with musical, film, dance, and more.
Past Events
One Boston, Many Stories Festival | July 20, 2025
This dynamic festival brought together four unique cultural districts: the Latin Quarter, Fenway Cultural District, Roxbury Cultural District, and Boston Little Saigon. Attendees immersed themselves in the vibrant cultural mosaic of Boston through food, performances, and more.
Slam Theatre | July 24, 2025
Slam Theatre, created by Jamaal Eversley, celebrated Boston’s vibrant and eclectic theater arts scene. The event featured performances by some of the City’s best actors, poets, musicians, and storytellers. The show consisted of four 10-minute plays by local playwrights, including known and up-and-coming writers.
Bridgeside Cypher | August 2, 2025
A one-day hip hop event focusing on a freestyle rap circle in the heart of City Hall Plaza.
3 Days of Chess | August 3, 10, and 17, 2025
A free, all-ages series from Jamaica Plain Chess offering workshops led by Boston-based chess masters, and an unrated chess tournament open to the public.
SpicetoberFest | October 18
An all ages, one-day festival celebrating Boston's culinary and cultural heritage with local food vendors.
RESET: Rhythms of the City | October 19
An event uniting art forms from across Boston. Through music, dance, and interactive drumming, RESET reclaims public space through collective expression that invites participants to reconnect with ancestral roots.
Rock the Plaza | October 26
A free afternoon of music, empowerment, and fun celebrating women who rock and featuring two live bands.
The Blair Project | October 31
A Halloween party and concert that highlighted creative women in the Greater Boston Area through Halloween festivities that featured an all-women line-up of DJs, artists and entertainers.
City Hall Plaza Engagement Grant
Since the Plaza’s renovation in 2022, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture has provided funding and programmatic support for events through the City Hall Plaza Engagement Grant.
Check out this video highlighting our 2024 season!
Latest News
Latest News
Spaces on City Hall Plaza
Speaker's Corner
This is an area where the Mayor often gives speeches and remarks. It can also be a place for poetry readings, protests, and other public gatherings.
Photo of 2023 Mayor's Poetry Program Reading on the speaker's corner of City Hall Plaza.
Civic Pavilion
This is a flexible, rentable facility facing Congress Street that is equipped with a restroom and other facilities. It can host gallery exhibits, workshops, panel discussions, and more. It includes a 40x60’ covered stage and has vehicular service access.
Interior of Civic Pavilion.
Main Plaza
The main event space on the plaza is a large, paved area that accommodates up to 12,000 visitors. It can be used for large-scale programs like festivals, ice skating, markets, and more.
Photo of Main Plaza on City Hall Plaza.
Smaller Event Spaces
The renovation included creating seven "plug and play" locations for community groups to utilize, and there are three smaller event spaces on the plaza. The Plaza Circle, Hanover Walkway, and North Terrace can be used for performances and other gatherings.
Plaza Circle
Photo of Plaza Circle event space.
The North Terrace
Photo of North Terrace.
Photo of North Terrace.
The Hanover Steps
Photo of the Hanover Steps.
Relevant Links
Relevant LinksWho's Involved
Who's InvolvedThe Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture collaborates with other City departments and agencies such as the Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment to program the Plaza. The Property Management Department acts as the custodian of the Plaza.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Arts and Culture
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 802Boston, MA 02201-2029
