Labor Day in Boston
Celebrate Labor Day Weekend in Boston
Residents of Boston typically flee the city during the Labor Day Weekend to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard for the last holiday celebration of the summer. This makes it a great time for vacationers to visit Boston with less traffic and easier access to the attractions. Check out some of the things to do in Boston during Labor Day weekend:
Attractions Open Labor Day Weekend in Boston
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Congress Street Bridge
Relive the single most important event leading up to the American Revolution in 1773. Interact with colonial participants from the Boston Tea Party, explore the historically restored tall ships, and experience a holographic encounter with the “Let It Begin Here®” movie presentation.
Ghosts & Gravestones Haunted Tour
All weekend explore the haunted past of Boston before the Halloween crowds start up. See some of the city’s spookiest sites, including the Omni Parker House, King’s Chapel Burying Ground and much more. Climb aboard the Trolley of the Doomed for a chilling “frightseeing” tour you’ll never forget. Visit the Ghosts & Gravestones website to learn more.
New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium is an awe-inspiring experience for children and adults. This aquatic adventure gives you an up close look at hundreds of different marine species including sharks, penguins, seals, the Giant Pacific Octopus, sea turtles, sea lions, rays and even the North Atlantic Right Whale. Exhibits include the Amazon Rainforest, Atlantic Harbor Seals, the Gulf of Maine and many more. The Giant Ocean Tank holds 200,000 gallons of salt water and is home to the green sea turtle, blacknose sharks, dozens of tropical fish species, moray eels, stingrays and more. You’ll also love the Shark and Ray touch tank and the Edge of the Sea touch tank, where you can pet a sea star, touch a shark or hold a horseshoe crab. It’s a day well spent any day of the year and certainly during Labor Day weekend!
Old Town Trolley Tours
Old Town Trolley Tours of Boston has provided vacation guests and locals with more than 40 years of historic tours, news, and events. Each month the Trolley Team publishes upcoming events in Boston for visitors and residents to enjoy.
If you’re visiting during the Boston Labor Day Weekend, don’t forget to include the Old Town Trolley Tour in your itinerary. The best way to visit all the Boston attractions and historic sites in one weekend is to hop aboard Old Town Trolley when you arrive and see the best sites first. This allows you to plan your vacation around the activities that interest you and your family the most. You can hop on and off at your leisure.
If you are a Boston resident, take advantage of the Old Town Trolley Tours Hometown Pass program. After your registration is verified, you will receive free admission to the historic Boston tour each time you bring a full paying adult guest. Learn more about the Hometown Pass today.
Restaurants and Places to Eat Open Labor Day Weekend in Boston
Ned Devine’s Irish Pub
Ned Devine’s Irish Pub is Faneuil Hall’s only restaurant and bar for modern pub dining and lively nightlife. The menu features a mix of classic Irish dishes and New England favorites like award-winning clam chowder, lobster rolls and fish & chips. Enjoy your Labor Day afternoon sipping on local beers or craft cocktails on the seasonal outdoor patio or join the vibrant nightlife crowd for live music every Friday and Saturday night.
Cheers Bar
Open on Labor Day weekend, the historic landmark pub was transformed from a long-standing neighborhood gathering spot for locals into one of Boston’s must-see stops for visitors after gaining notoriety as the location of the popular 1980’s TV sitcom, Cheers. The Cheers Pub was founded in 1969 and was discovered in 1981 by Hollywood couple Mary Ann and Glenn Charles. During their visit, they photographed the interior and exterior of the pub, which they gave to the set designer back in Hollywood to replicate for the set of the show. Cheers premiered on NBC in 1982 and remained on the air for 11 seasons, receiving over 100 Emmy nominations over the years. The pub eventually changed its name to Cheers to avoid confusion.
Here are some insider tips on the best places to get involved with the festivities
Isabella Gardner Museum
On Labor Day, visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which houses famous pieces of European, Asian, & American art. Doors open at 11am.
Copley Square
Named after portrait painter John Singleton Copley, this was supposed to symbolize culture and progress in 19th-century Boston as a place where its citizens could assemble and share ideas and engage in commerce. Labor Day weekend, Copley Square can be enjoyed as a brief stop-over or you can plan your whole stay in Boston just exploring its many important landmarks and structures.
Labor Day Weekend Fireworks
Join in on the fireworks celebration at 8 p.m. on the Thursday before Labor Day Weekend. The fireworks display will be along the Boston Harbor from barges anchored off the Seaport and North End to celebrate Labor Day Weekend and the beginning of fall. The best public viewing areas are the Boston Harborwalk from Piers Park, the Downtown Waterfront and Christopher Columbus Park.
