With October here, Bostonians are dipping into sweater weather and are ready to see the foliage show off its stuff. Save your money for the cider doughnuts and check out a handful of free events below.
CATCH A TUNE
MUSIC TO MY EARS: The Boston Symphony Orchestra kicks off its CommunityChamber Concert series in October, and attendees will hear everything from Brahms to Dvořák. Tickets are free, but they must be reserved in advance at bso.org to ensure adequate seating for all guests. Accessible seating is available. Oct. 25, 3 p.m.. Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA) La CASA, 85 W. Newton St. bso.org
BLOW YOUR HORN: The HONK! Festival, the 21st annual festival of activist street bands, is tooting its horn into Somerville. The outdoor street-level band concerts will take place on Friday and Saturday, while the “Reclaim the Streets for Horns, Bikes, and Feet” parade will travel from Davis Square to Harvard Square in Cambridge on Sunday. Oct. 9-11, Davis Square, Somerville. honkfest.org
TAKE ME TO CHURCH: Vivo Performing Arts’ fall live music season is in full swing. The schedule is robust, but to start off, check out Jonathan Gramling & Friends for some sweet tunes that explore the threads that link reggae, gospel, soul, and jazz. Seating is first-come, first-served. Oct. 3, 3 p.m. Twelfth Baptist Church, 160 Warren St, Roxbury. vivoperformingarts.org
KEEPIN’ IT CASUAL: If a more relaxed scene is your family’s vibe, hit up Tufts Community Day to see a variety of live performances spanning song, dance, music, and theater. There are also plenty of other unique activities, like the Somerville Highlanders’ Robotics team’s S’more Bot, which, as its name implies, will serve fresh s’mores. Free refreshments for all while supplies last. Oct. 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Green at Tufts University, Medford. communityrelations.tufts.edu
RAISE A STEIN
SAY PROST: Jack’s Abby kicks off Oktoberfest weekend with a free Friday night celebration that will have you dancing to Tuba Frau all night long, even if you’re not willing to sport some lederhosen. Don’t miss the cask tapping at 6 p.m. Oct. 2, 4-8 p.m. 100 Clinton St, Framingham. jacksabby.com/oktoberfest-2026
MAKE IT LIKE MUNICH: Time Out Market is so excited for Oktoberfest that it’s happening twice with Munich at the Market. There will be plenty of Oktoberfest photo-op props, a weight-class stein-holding competition, and live music that brings the energy of a Munich beer hall to The Fenway. Entry is free but tasting passes are available for $15. Oct. 3 and 17, 1-5 p.m., 401 Park Drive. timeout.com/time-out-market-boston
CUE THE TUBAS: Harvard Square gets in on the celebration with its 47th annual Oktoberfest. The family-friendly festival will feature plenty of live music, performers, and arts and crafts vendors. Don’t forget your dirndl, but jeans may be more comfortable. Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Harvard Square, Cambridge. harvardsquare.com
SOUTHIE SPIRIT: Southie may be associated with the Irish, but it’s bringing out the German spirit for its “Octoberfest” celebration. Those 21+ can hit the Sam Adams sample stations or get there early to be one of the first 500 attendees, since they can snag a free stein. Oct. 10, 2 -6 p.m. The Grove at Lawn on D, 420 D St. thegroveond.com/octoberfest
ART IS EVERYWHERE
DRAW ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR FRENCH GIRLS: Join the Back Bay hotel’s Atelier series for its ”Art of the Cocktail” event, where you’ll whip your brush against the paper and create a masterpiece with a cocktail as your muse. Or at least have fun while you’re doing it. The experience, led by New Hampshire artist Maria DeVito Palmer, is open to both the public and hotel guests, and all art supplies will be provided. Oct. 22, 5 -7 p.m., Mandarin Oriental, Boston, 776 Boylston St. mandarinoriental.com
NATURAL BEAUTY: Art is everywhere if you choose to see it that way. Lace up your shoes for the President’s Walk of the Emerald Necklace, a 6-mile urban hike from Franklin Park in Dorchester to the mouth of the Muddy River in Charlesgate Park. Led by Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek, you’ll see plenty of natural beauty and historic features along the way. Registration is mandatory. Oct. 3, 9 a.m., Refectory Hill, Franklin Park. emeraldnecklace.org
THE ART OF FENWAY: It’s so much more than the ballpark. Fenway’s cultural institutions are opening their doors for the appropriately named Opening Our Doors Festival, the 25th annual edition of the free art and culture festivals. Hit up one of the museums and galleries, like the MassArt Art Museum (MAa.m.) and Tufts University Art Galleries at SMFA, and don’t forget to check out the Interactive Aluminum Pour at MassArt between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Some programs will require advance registration. Oct. 12, 10a.m.- 5 p.m.. 20 locations throughout the Fenway fenwayculture.org/ood-2026-schedule
WHEN I DIP, YOU DIP, WE DIP: The Citizen in Fenway is hosting a free glass-dipping event with Maker’s Mark before The Chicks show at MGM Music Hall. They’ll hand-dip complimentary rocks glasses in the bourbon makers’ signature red wax for guests to take home. Naturally, the booze isn’t free. Oct. 9, 5-7 p.m., The Citizen, 1310 Boylston St. thecitizenboston.com
TURN THE PAGE
LITERARY LEGACIES: Book lovers, rejoice. If you aren’t a member, the Boston Athenaeum’s “Discovery Day” is the perfect opportunity to get a peek inside one of the country’s oldest independent libraries. Visitors will have access to the library’s first floor, including the Norma Jean Calderwood Gallery’s two ongoing exhibitions, ”Where’s Boston? 50 Years Later" and “Imagined Nation.” Oct. 12, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Boston Athenaeum, 10½ Beacon St. community.bostonathenaeum.org/s/events
FULLY BOOKED: There’s no better reason for a party than books. Join the Museum of African American History as it announces the winner of the 2026 MAAH Stone Book Award, an annual prize recognizing exceptional contemporary scholarship and writing in the field of African American history and culture. The first 100 people to arrive receive a free signed copy of one of the finalist books. Reservations are free but mandatory. Oct. 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m.. Museum of African American History, 46 Joy St. maahstonebookaward.org
CAFFEINATION: Everyone knows the best companion for a book is a cup of coffee. Throughout October, George Howell Coffee will host free coffee education classes on topics ranging from how to make espresso at home to the history of pumpkin spice. Registration is free but mandatory. Dates vary. Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., and The Godfrey Hotel, 505 Washington St. eventbrite.com
Details subject to change; check individual event websites for the most up-to-date information.
Megan Johnson can be reached at megansarahjohnson@gmail.com.