I love chocolate and I can't think of a better way to kick off the weekend in the middle of what I…read morefind a gloomy, harsh winter. With some light entertainment (music troupe) and chocolate, what more can you ask for at this 10th year of the festival? Line started forming around 12/12:15PM. We were lucky that today was warmer in comparison to weeks ago but it easily could have been frigid. I do suggest being prepared attire wise in case. By the time I left with a full plate of samples (fudge, ganache, chocolate dipped bacon, tiramisu, Starbucks brownies, Crema Cafe brownie/chocolate cake, JP Licks hazelnut ice cream and more), the line extended over 5 blocks long. I wish I was able to document all the goodies and vendors but it was too crowded to take pictures of every stand. As per the event website (http://harvardsquare.com/events/legendary-10th-taste-chocolate-festival-harvard-square), these are the vendors: Benedetto Cabot's Candy DAVIDs TEA Flour Bakery Freepoint Hotel Harvest Henrietta's Table JP Licks Parsnip Pressed Juicery Roseadela's Seacoast Sweets Starbucks Tatte Bakery & Cafe Toscano Zinneken's Suggestions for a more organized event though I could see how some of these may be difficult to execute: - Have previous registration - Use a fenced in area to ensure that those waiting in line can get a fair chance at getting samples - it seemed like anyone off the street could just join in at lightly crowded vendors instead of waiting in line for a plate that organizers hand out at the beginning; vendors are too busy to regulate who waits in line or not - Token/raffle ticket system - i.e. give a string of 12 tickets and each patron can use their tickets how they choose; in this way, there are more samples to go around Overall, I enjoyed the event, recommend it, and would definitely come again.

Who doesn't love free chocolate? The Harvard Square Chocolate Festival is an annual tradition (now…read morein its 8th year) and occurs over one weekend in late January. The festival culminates in a one-hour free chocolate tasting event that is held in Brattle Square, usually from 1-2pm on a Saturday. I attended the one-hour tasting today, and it was fantastic! The lines start to form around 12:30pm, so getting there early is a must. Also note that the event is outside, so dress warmly since you will probably be standing in line in the cold for 30 minutes to an hour. Once the line starts moving, it goes fast. The event features a lot of local businesses like J.P. Licks, Ben and Jerry's, Crema Cafe, and so on, and you basically pick up a plate and then move along the line to different tents in order to grab free samples. Some of the goodies that I got today were: - cup of hot chocolate from Shake Shack - scoop of chocolate ice cream from Ben and Jerry's - scoop of chocolate ice cream from J.P. Licks - mini chocolate covered cannoli from Toscano (delicious! My favorite item) - chili chocolate mini cupcake from Crema Cafe - Chocolate chip cookie from UNO's - Bite-sized portion of chocoalte cake from Wagamama - Chocolate square with a dab of honey from Follow the Honey - Sponge cake from El Jefe's - Fudge from Cabot Candy Most of the vendors also have free coupons and discounts that you can grab to encourage you to visit their stores. There was also a music group that was playing, and it contributed to the festive atmosphere of the event. Overall, I was very happy with the event - I just wish it could happen during the summer when it isn't so cold to stand outside!

Sadly, we only caught two of the nine days of this massively amazing (and FREE) festival, but boy…read morewere they good ones: - Saturday night (7/20) - 2-hour Mighty Mighty Bosstones concert in the Boston Common - Sunday afternoon (7/21) - Variety of musical acts and food/vendor tents at City Hall Plaza The vibe during the events was extremely vibrant and friendly, and there was incredible energy throughout both days, ESPECIALLY during the Bosstones concert on Saturday night. From the announcements and some Googling, this entire thing was carefully assembled (and funded) by Ted Cutler, and I have to say, this was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced in an already awesome city! I hope this festival returns next year, and if it lines up with a Yanks/Sox series at Fenway (as it did this year) we'll definitely be scheduling our next Beantown visit so we can enjoy it all! Thanks for an unbelievable time!

9 days of FREE ENTERTAINMENT? YES...at the Outside The Box…read moreFestival! In it's first year taking over the Boston Common, this festival was lightly attended by mostly locals. I predict next year, if there is one, to be HUGE. This event featured many types of artists, and something for every taste and age. I saw Dean and his touring band, of Jan and Dean fame, followed by The Dunwells, a young, English pop band. Also took in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," and "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" as well. THE DEAL: Plan your vacation to Boston next year to coincide with this fun festival. This is a family friendly way to spend the day... or even the entire week. I went back for more every day!

What a waste of time .....small same food stands top-notch security police officers all over the…read moreplace did not feel safe. Trying to find a feast was almost impossible. Finally, we went online and it told exactly where it was.

Yo, kiss da canoli, and shaddapa u face!…read more I never miss this festival each year in the North End, no matter where I am in the world. Nothing brings out the fun and tradition in Boston's little Italy better than this annual 3-day festival. My 1/3 Sicilian roots always seem to surface in character, and when I see families roam the North End from stall to stall, sampling the various delectable canolis, Italian ice, pizza, pasta, and.... teriyaki kabobs (I know... somehow it's become part of the festivities), along with fundraisers for St Anthony, for St. Lucy (which follows the day after St Anthony), and the Northeast cheerleading squad (try not to stare boys), and the requisite fair booths to try your luck at the elusive giNORMous stuffed Sponge Bobs, it always brings me back to my younger days in Palermo. And the music. Ah... the music. From the wandering brass bands, to the stage performers, to the random roaming minstrel accordian churning out "La Paloma" or "That's Amore", the only bad thing about the festival, is having to leave. Be SURE to find "the canoli girl", who only officially sets up shop this one time a year for 3 days. She has THE best cannolis at the festival (2 flavors, regular or chocolate). She and her sister have become a fixture here, and is as much a part of the tradition as the feast itself. This feast has been celebrated since 1919, so if there was only 1 event you could attend to capture a bit of Bostonian and Italian American festive history, there is no other but St Anthony's.

Always lots of fun. I just came back from the festival today and am happy to say that it was a…read moresuccessful experience for me for a 5th straight year. The weather wasn't great this year, but the energetic and entertaining Haitian RaRa parade more than made up for it. It's free to attend, so I recommend stopping by for this fine once-a-year entertainment event.

what a fabulous way to spend an afternoon. Come hungry and…read moretry out some authentic food from all over the world, Jamaica, Senegal, Thailand, India, hot dogs and everything in between! Sit down on a street corner to eat your lunch and enjoy some mucis at one of the many stages. Let your kids enjoy amazing face painting and other craft making projects. Do a little shopping along the many set up tents. Finally get ready to dance and marvel at the colorful and loud parade. Full of feathers, colors and amazing costumes, the parade will astonish you. We stayed for the entire show and saw beautiful troups and lots of people having a grand time. Definitively a must do and see!

Great event! The lines were huge though. Please just take my money and give me food sooner! Perhaps…read morethe event numbers could have been calculated better. The line for what looked like the most popular stall- for street food, including lots of grilled meat on sticks, papaya salad, and tons of other yummy looking options stretched beyond the food designated area and into the carnival games area. A couple of lines were like that, and I just had to live with not getting food or drink from those stalls. I remember the egg roll cafe truck from a past year. Their fusion egg rolls do not disappoint! So crisp. Got the Buffalo chicken one. Also got Japanese curry fries, which definitely worked flavor wise- the curry had kind of a gravy quality, and there was a creamy sauce, seaweed, and scallions. Also tried Nigerian food for the first time, which I was surprised to find there. I appreciated the way all the flavors came together- the special rice, plantains, and spice encrusted thin piece of beef on a stick. I was stuffed, but I wish I could have kept eating. Also saw some awesome drinks in the drink section- including one AAPI owned brand, and boozy boba that had an awesome presentation (it lit up!) The carnival games were also a hit. I secretly would have loved to win a snorlax or a two sided octopus. I was one bean bag away from winning! I guess it just wasn't my day, because at the MUJI tent I also only won a gel pen- they had a wheel that you spun. I preferred a past year, where they gave everyone notebooks. Loved those notebooks- sadness. Will just have to buy them at the store, lol.

Visiting from California and this was a great treat! At the end we snacked on Apple cider and…read moretoasted almonds!

The annual Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade with its Dutch cultural roots, started in Jamaica Plain in…read more1984, is a great community event and loads of fun!!! Open to everyone and anyone, as the sun starts to set on two evenings each year, hundreds if not thousands of people gather near the boat house at Jamaica Pond around 5:30pm for live music, hot freshly pressed cider, pastries, and empanadas. Some adults and many children arrive in their Halloween costumes. At 6:30pm the parade begins and continues around the pond with many people carrying lanterns. Lanterns were on sale for $5.00, $10.00, and $15.00 at the event. The lantern I purchased for $5.00 was a decorated two litter soda bottle with a candle glued to the bottom. Apparently there are lantern-making workshops occurring before the event in which you can make your own.

I look forward to Japan festival Boston every year: fabulous food; Japanese, cultural…read moreentertainment; local Japanese exhibitors, and vendors. Only downside (not the festival's fault): for the first time this year, the college crowd has taken over with pushy, rude entitlement... The exact opposite of Japanese culture. THE DEAL: if you want to experience Japanese culture, right here at home, Boston's Japan festival is free and fabulous!

I volunteered at Japan Festival Boston. As a volunteer you can get T-shirt and quick pass. T-shirt…read morewas only large size: a bit disappointing. Most volunteers are Japanese, why is the T-shirt American large (equivalent to extra large in Japan) size? For food concession stands: there are many good stuff, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, ramen, udon, coffee, desert. A little expensive and very long line. There is room to improve. Probably to experience Japanese culture for non-Japanese people, it is a great opportunity.

Why is this policeman band playing the same some over and over again? Why are there little girls…read morechanting in Italian? One is suspended over the crowd from a wire. AND SO MANY DOLLA BILLS. On ribbons and banners. Being passed through the streets and wrapped around a statue of the Virgin Mary. I'm confused. But admittedly intrigued. The Fisherman's Feast is an interesting cultural festival that you should experience at least once in your life. There's food and music and bursts of confetti fill the air (I don't envy the street cleaners the next morning). But the repetitive, drawn-out ceremony and crowded North End streets don't make me yearn to return next year. As with your typical North End festival, this Fishy Feast boasts the standard (overpriced) arancini/pizza/cannoli stands, some games for kids, and musical performances on the main stage. But if you want something unique, stick around for the closing ceremony. Sunday night is when the real action happens, as a statue of the Virgin Mary is processed through the streets of the North End. The statue is hoisted up and carried by some large, polo-wearing men who are accompanied by a band (playing the same song again and again and again). About an hour after commencing her journey in front of a church, Mary ends up in the middle of the festival where ribbons of money are rolled out of windows and wrapped around her. I'm not about to ask where these Italians obtained all the $1 bills, but those ribbons sure are long. The band's still playing. Some other ceremonial happenings take place (an old woman needed to go touch the statue for some reason). It takes a while. Then two girls in balconies on opposite sides of the street (lovingly called "side angels") begin chanting in Italian, complete with corresponding arm movements. Although we had no idea what they were saying, the "Marias" and "Reginas" made it pretty clear that Mary was the focus of their long, repetitive diatribes. Now it's time to fly! The band finally begins playing a different song as the smiling, air kiss-blowing main angel appears on her balcony and is hoisted into the air on a wire. She dangles above the crowd and is slowly moved to a position in front of the statue, where she too (amidst even more confetti) speaks to her for a while in Italian. And that's pretty much it! I have to admit I was impressed by these girls' memories, and they looked so happy and honored to be part of the ceremony (what little girl doesn't want to dress up like an angel and fly, after all?). The North End locals really drive the festival; their immense pride and sense of community is palpable. For that reason alone I would recommend checking it out. The Italian food and funny dollar bill obsession also help.

A wonderful annual Festival in the North end. They have the best live entertainment and food!!! Yes…read moreseafood and Italian. A lot of fun vendors which include games and local restaurants and products. Most importantly, buy a raffle ticket to support a great organization to make this fun neighborhood event.

This is a great open air market. There are so many vendors here ranging from groceries, crafts, and…read morefoods to eat right in the moment. They had so many artisan vendors lined up on the other side of the market too. There truly is something for everyone here. We ended up getting some fruits and veggies from one of the farms, chicken breasts, and some artwork to bring back. We also grabbed a couple of snacks and the fresh squeezed lemonade here was incredible. They had the Wimbledon match on the big screen and a live music act the whole time we were there. There was plenty of shade from the sun and picnic tables to sit and relax. This is a fun place to check out when you live or visit Boston.

Open air market with various vendors. This market is located in what I thought was the "art…read moredistrict", it is located on site of a building that houses various artists works. I was lucky enough to meet a few of the artists while they were actively working on a new piece. As for the market, it isn't just artist, but more some community members that are showcasing their products. I saw candles, blown gas, food products, options to grab a bite to eat, and jewelry, etc. I didn't purchase anything, due to having to travel back home, but each tent I visited they were nice and answered questions about their products. Will definitely visit again but not on a day of rain. My visit was cut short due to rain, but they were still out there rain or shine they are open!

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE ANNUAL OUTDOOR EVENT FOR ALL AGES IN BOSTON! The Queen of Disco Donna…read moreSummer gets her childhood Street she grew up on renamed after her. People flew in from all over the country to experience the Queen of Disco getting her childhood Street renamed Donna Summer Ave. Donna has left the earth but will never be forgotten. Even Beyoncé has sampled Donna Summer several times including her latest album which features the track Summer Renaissance which samples I Feel Love. This is a FREE OUTDOOR EVENT that they have every year in Boston - the city where she grew up. Lots of people were dressed up in vintage 70's clothing for this special occasion. Some of the outfits were Amazing! The DJ was pumping out all the dance grooves of the 70's & 80's including The Bee Gee's, The Trammps, KC & The Sunshine Band, Michael Jackson, Chic, The O'Jays, Tavares, Abba, & of course Donna & many others. They had a very energetic crowd. There were even some Roller Skaters & Roller Bladders here as well. Back in the day, Donna Summer's music was featured on the Soul Train TV program for many years. Donna herself even appeared on Soul Train as a musical artist. Well they brought back an Old School Dance - The Original Classic Soul Train Line Dance in honor of Donna Summer. They had the whole place boogieing down the aisle showing all the crowd their best dance moves to the Funky Beats of the DJ. All the people were Dancing & singing along to all the 70's songs including Donna's music to Dancing Queen by Abba. There were people here of all ages from Kids to Adults. Donna Summer's sister Mary provided the Live Entertainment & covered a few of Donna's songs. She sounds very much like her sister Donna. What a Fun Event & they have this 70's Donna Summer Retro Party going on every year in Boston. What a Fun Time! If you missed it mark it on your calendar for June of next year! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

The party was a super way to kick off the summer and honor a Boston legend! Bring skates if you…read moregot 'em ... get out and put on your disco flare, too