Saturday, June 20

Celebrate Father’s Day a day early at one of these fun events!

BOSTON

HUBBUB: Creative Commotion for Kids, 9am – 4:30pm, Copley Square, Boston. The Boston Book Festival presents an event to inspire and encourage creativity. Music, art, puppetry and surprises await around every corner of Copley Square. FREE. 617-945-9552; hubbubfest.org.

Butterfly Landing Opens, 10am, Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Road, Boston. The popular exhibit opens for the season, allowing you to explore a tented space filled with fluttering butterflies. Through mid-September. Free with admission. 617-541-5466; zoonewengland.org.

The Bonkers in Boston Scavenger Hunt, 10:30am, Historic Downtown Boston. Adults and children team up to find historical gems and oddities along the Freedom Trail. Adults, $16; ages 7-17, $14. watsonadventures.com.

Make Music Harvard Square/Fete de la Musique, 2-10pm, Harvard Square, Cambridge. The streets become a free, live music festival featuring more than 70 musicians on 12 different stages. FREE. 617-491-3434; harvardsquare.com.

NORTH

Arts Fest Beverly, 10am – 4pm, Downtown Beverly. More than 100 juried fine artists and crafters, music and entertainment, kids’ activities, art-on-the-spot creations and local food trucks fill downtown. FREE. 978-922-8558; beverlymainstreets.org.

Marini Farm Strawberry Festival, 10am – 5pm, Marini Farm, 259 Linebrook Road, Ipswich. Strawberry picking, hayrides, bounce houses, face painting and more. 978-356-0430; marinifarm.com.

SOUTH

Duck Race on the Charles, 1-3pm, Riverdale Park, Dedham. A free BBQ lunch, entertainment, face painting, pony rides and other family activities followed by a duck race on the river. “Adopt” a plastic duck for $5 (or 5 for $20). nvsrotary.org.

Monster Jam Path of Destruction, 7pm, Gillette Stadium, 1 Patriot Place, Foxboro. High flying monster trucks race and perform stunts. Meet the drivers and see the vehicles up close from 1:30-5pm with a special ticket. $10 and up. monsterjam.com.

WEST

Verrill Farm Strawberry Festival, 11am – 3pm, Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road, Concord. Pick-your-own strawberries and enjoy music, entertainment and pony rides. FREE. 978-369-4494; verrillfarm.com.

Waltham Riverfest, noon to 7pm, various locations, Waltham. Fun and celebration along the Charles River with bands, vendors, canoeing and kayaking. FREE. 781-856-7165; walthamriverfest.com.

Baseball Before the Red Sox, 2pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Discover base ball (two words in the 19th century) in Boston prior to our beloved Red Sox with base ball historian and vintage base ball player Brian Sheehy. $10. Reservations required. 978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org.

Summer Solstice Celebration, 7-9pm, Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham. It’s the longest day of the year. Celebrate with solstice history and lore, poetry and a short ceremony. Registration required. $14. newenglandwild.org. 

Sunday, June 21

Father’s Day

BOSTON

Father’s Day at Franklin Park Zoo, 10am – 6pm, Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Road, Boston. Free admission for all fathers throughout the day. 617-541-5466; zoonewengland.org.

Collections Up Close: Lindens in the Landscape, 1-3pm, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston. Tour the linden collection, learn about honey bees and take part in fun family activities focusing on the lindens. FREE. 617-524-1718; arboretum.harvard.edu.

Day of Portugal Parade, 2pm, Cambridge and Somerville. A highlight of the Boston Portuguese Festival, the parade includes colorful floats, bands and Portuguese marching groups. FREE. bostonportuguesefestival.org.

NORTH
Father’s Day at Stone Zoo,
10am – 6pm, Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St., Stoneham. Free admission for all fathers throughout the day. 617-541-5466; stonezoo.org.

SOUTH

Father’s Day Road Race and Family Fun Walk, 9-11am, The Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. Walk or run the picturesque course then join the post-race party for ice cream, balloons and free food. $10 and up. 508-230-3789; childrensmuseumineaston.org.

Father’s Day at Providence Children’s Museum, 9am – 6pm, Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. Dads get in free today. Take him to construct in the Rigamajig, a large-scale building kit. 401-273-5437; childrenmuseum.org.

WEST

Father’s Day Beer & Baseball, 1-4pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Bring Dad for a beer tasting and gallery talk on the Art of Baseball exhibit. FREE. 978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org.