April Vacation Ideas in the Neighborhood

Keep those kids entertained this week! Here are some local neighborhood suggestion for school vacation week!

Lace up those bowling shoes!

Head to East Broadway to Southie Candlepin and bowl a few strings at this old school institution! They are open daily 12pm-7pm.  Are big balls more of your thing? Kings Dining & Entertainment in the Seaport District offers all kinds of fun! This new hot spot features 20,000 square feet of fun at 60 Seaport Boulevard, complete with 16 lanes of big ball bowling, a “bar-Kade” filled with video games, pool tables, foosball, a giant four-man air hockey table, shuffleboard, and hoops!  

Library fun 

Boston Public Library is offering some fun events this week!  Crafts, activities, stories and Mike the Bubble Man!  For a full schedule, visit here! 

Get outside

From guided hikes, wildlife observation opportunities, crafting activities, games, and stories, DCR has all kinds of events this week! For a full list of activities and programming, visit DCR’s website.

Boston Parks Department Mayor’s Cup Street Hockey Tournament 

Sign up for the Mayor’s Cup Street Hockey Tournament!  You can learn more here! 

All Girls Sports and Wellness Festival returns with a twist

The All Girls Sports and Wellness Festival offers a diverse range of activities to inspire and empower young girls. From sports and games to health and wellness speakers, self-defense tactics, and aquatic activities, the programming aims to engage the mind, body, and spirit. Expert instructors, with additional support from local non-profits and City of Boston agencies, will guide girls through sports such as basketball, fitness conditioning, swimming, ultimate frisbee, and more.

Due to the event’s popularity in 2023, the festival has been extended from two to three days. The first two days of the festival, April 17 and 18, will take place at various BCYF locations across the city. On the third and final day of the festival, scheduled for April 19, all participants from the various BCYF centers will convene at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Transportation will be provided from the BCYF centers to UMass Boston, ensuring access to the festival’s final day for all participants. You can get all the details here!  Registration is required.

Children’s Museum Fun

What’s your favorite play memory? Riding a bike outside? Camping out in a fort that you constructed? Playing with blocks, dolls, or games? Spring into Play at Boston Children’s Museum this April and during April Vacation Week, April 15 – 21, 2024! Painting with Pencils, Mystery Bags making projects, Marble Maze Workshops and Building with PVC pipes will be happening during the month as well as a special Cardboard Play! experience.  You can learn more here! 

Have a Wild Adventure 

Have a wild adventure over April vacation week at Stone Zoo and Franklin Park Zoo! Take advantage of warmer weather and learn about the insects and animals that help springtime flowers bloom: pollinators! Scheduled keeper chats throughout the week allow guests to learn more about the residents that call the Zoo home and ask questions directly to the animals’ care team. Events take place from 10:00am-2:00pm. A full schedule can be found here! 

Kid Friendly Events at the USS Constitution Museum

Visit the USS Constitution Museum during April Vacation week as they explore the power of the wind and its importance to powering a ship like the USS Constitution. The Museum will be hosting family friendly activities and crafts all week long to encourage the exploration of the power of wind kicking off with a public Kite Flying Day on Tuesday, April 16th.  You can learn more here. 

Let’s Make Art!

Experience a brand-new exhibition and take a closer look at our works on view during April School Vacation Week. Create art inspired by Wordplay, join a +1 Youth Tour to learn more about Firelei Báez, and enjoy gorgeous views of the harbor in spring!  You can learn more here! 

Take a swim

BCYF Pools in the City of Boston are free for Boston residents!  Find a neighborhood pool here! 

Free Family Fun via the Highland Foundation