Boston GreenFest - City Hall Plaza, Boston
Through Sat 8/17
FREE

Billed as an "environmental and multicultural festival," Boston GreenFest celebrates with activities, performers, food, art, and exhibits. A special Family Stage hosts performers like EcoMan, Lydia Adams Davis and Kathy Byers, and the Harper and the Minstrel, plus RhymeZwell and Beverly Richards Dance Company. Radio Disney is live at the festival, there are opportunities for "eco art," a robot exhibition, and giant inflatables.

Cool Globes Boston Opening Weekend- Boston
Opens Thu 8/15
FREE

Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet, is a series of 49 public art structures designed to raise awareness of solutions to climate change. For more giant, outdoor art, check out our Public Art post.

Fisherman's Feast - North End, Boston
Thu 8/15 - Sun 8/18
FREE

The annual event began in Boston in 1910 and is based on a tradition that goes back to the 16th century in Sciacca Sicily. Activities begin with a procession at 7pm on Thursday, and continue with performances and special events throughout the weekend. Children's activities take place on Sunday.

Marshfield Fair - Marshfield
Fri 8/16 - Sun 8/25
Admission: Adults & Children 7 & older $10; Children 6 & under free

The Marshfield Fair is a traditional, American country fair that first took place in 1867. The fair features amusement rides, a midway, fair food and animal, farm and agricultural exhibits, plus a demolition derby and tractor pulls.

Gloucester Waterfront Festival
Sat 8/17-Sun 8/18
FREE

Over 175 Juried Artists and Craftsmen from throughout the US display their unique creations. Live music, plus delicious ethnic foods, a pancake breakfast and traditional New England Lobster Bake round out the event.

Family Jam with Ben Rudnick & Friends - Georges Island, Boston
Sat 8/17
FREE; ferry additional

Sing and dance away the afternoon with the adventurous, high-energy sounds of Rudnick's happy, upbeat acoustic music. Blending musical styles from country to bluegrass, rock to second-line New Orleans, original songs and fun takes on familiar tunes make you sing, make you dance and make you happy. Face painting and other kids' activities, too!

Chocolate Treasure - Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Cambridge
Sat 8/17
Free with Peabody Museum admission

Cacao was a treasure for powerful Aztec and Maya lords. Flavor your own chocolate drink, decorate a shield to defend your treasure, and learn more about the food of the gods. Stay five minutes or all afternoon! No reservations required.

West End Children's Festival - Boston
Sat 8/17
FREE

A summer afternoon of fun celebrates the rich diversity and culture of the neighborhood with food, arts & crafts, games, and performances that highlight different styles of dance, music, theater, and art.

Corn and Tomato Festival - Verrill Farm, Concord
Sat 8/17
Free admission; Tastings of many varieties of both Adults $8.50; Children (under 10) $4.50

The annual festival features Verrill Farm's two most popular crops: corn and tomatoes. Taste over 30 varieties of tomatoes and savor the flavor of many varieties of corn, plus samples of dishes made in the farm stand kitchen. (Additional food available for purchase.)

There is also live music by Monadnock Blue Grass, Giddy Up Ponies pony rides, and hayrides.

Civil War Camp Life - Georges Island, Boston
Sun 8/18
FREE; ferry additional

Step back in time and interact with the first African American regiment of the civil war. The MA 54th Regiment was memorialized in the movie Glory and in 2013 it will be 150 years since this group was mustered and sent to fight in the Civil War. Join members of the MA 54th Re-Enactment Group to learn more about this heroic regiment.

Regattabar Kids' Series: Vanessa Trien - Charles Hotel, Cambridge
Sun 8/18
Tickets $12

Vanessa Trien and Julie Rama Winslow (of Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys) co-host a special afternoon of interactive music. Joining them on rich vocal harmonies, guitar and ukulele will be singer-songwriter Barbara Brousal (previously of the family folk band, Dan Zanes and Friends). To add to the festivities, Cambridge-based Mucky Kids Art Studio is on hand to provide an inspiring open-ended art activity to complement the music.

Image: Non-Electric Play, by Francis W. Parker School students and faculty