ONGOING EVENTS
SoWa Artists Guild Open Studios Every Sunday, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, 450 Harrison Avenue. Over 80 professional studio artists open their doors year-round. Browse studios, meet artists, and buy art directly from makers. FREE. Website: sowaartists.com.
Community Music Center of Boston Programming Registration open for fall 2025 lessons and classes. 109-year-old accredited music school providing equitable access to music education. Location: 34 Warren Avenue. Website: cmcb.org.
Age Strong Commission Programming Union Church, 485 Columbus Avenue. Programs for older adults including fitness and social activities. Contact: 617-635-4505
Youth Flag Football Saturdays, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Carter Playground Bubble, 709 Columbus Avenue. Free co-ed program for ages 8U, 10U, 12U, and girls 15U. Registration: boston.gov/sports
OCTOBER 30
City Hall on the Go - Location: BCYF Blackstone, 50 West Brookline Street, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM. Mobile City Hall services including paying parking tickets, requesting documents, checking voter registration.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 - HALLOWEEN
South End Halloween Party:
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Location: Titus Sparrow Park, 75 West Rutland Square.
Spruce Street Nursery School invites families to the ultimate trick-or-treat kickoff! Enjoy pizza, music by Little Groove, and a festive kids parade down W. Rutland Square.
Party Agenda: 4:00 PM: Party begins with pizza. 4:10-4:50 PM: Little Groove performs on main lawn. 4:50 PM: Gather at circle on W. Rutland Square for parade line-up. 5:00 PM: Kids Parade kicks off - march out to start neighborhood trick-or-treating. FREE.
Halloween Trick-or-Treating - Rutland Street: Rutland Street will be CLOSED TO TRAFFIC from Tremont Street to Shawmut Street from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM for safe trick-or-treating.
NOVEMBER 7
SoWa First Friday: Friday, November 7, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Location: 450 Harrison Avenue & throughout SoWa Art + Design District. Artists, galleries, shops and showrooms open their doors for an evening of art and culture. FREE. Website: sowaartists.com
NOVEMBER 28
SoWa Winter Festival (10th Annual):
Opening Day: Friday, November 28 (Black Friday). Festival Dates: November 28 - December 28, 2025. Location: SoWa Power Station, 550 Harrison Avenue
Hours of Operation: Opening Day (Friday, November 28): 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM; Tuesday - Thursday: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM; Friday: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM; Mondays: CLOSED; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: CLOSED
Features: 100+ local vendors featuring handmade art, holiday gifts, specialty foods, and cocktails. Live musical acts including D's Keys (single pianist Fridays-Sundays 2:00-4:00 PM, Dueling Pianos Fridays & Saturdays 5:00-9:00 PM, Sundays 4:00-8:00 PM). Mezzanine Bar and Lounge. Food trucks on weekends. Holiday workshops (Mondays-Wednesdays) featuring ornament and wreath-making, candle-making, gemstone jewelry, and printmaking
Admission: $10 (Children 12 and under free)
Parking: $10 cash parking available at 540 Harrison Ave., 500 Harrison Ave., 365 Albany St., 324 Albany St., and 274 Albany St.
Website: sowaboston.com
NOVEMBER 29
SoWa Winter Festival - Special Opening Weekend: Black Friday: Friday, November 29, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM. Small Business Saturday: Saturday, November 30, 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
DECEMBER 6
SoWa First Friday (December): Friday, December 6, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Location: 450 Harrison Avenue & SoWa District. Monthly art walk with open studios, galleries, and special events during the Winter Festival season. FREE
JANUARY 16
Boston Symphony Orchestra Community Chamber Concert: Thursday, January 16, 2026, 1:00 PM. Location: Community Music Center of Boston, 34 Warren Avenue. FREE chamber music concert (reservation required). Website: bso.org.
COMMUNITY SERVICES & PROGRAMMING
Boston Public Library Programs Note: South End Branch closed for facilities issues - residents can access services at Central Library in Copley Square
ESOL Conversation Groups (Tuesdays, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM)
Story Times for children
Adult programming and literacy services
Website: bpl.org
United South End Settlements (USES) 48 Rutland Street. Early childhood education, after-school programs, family services. Website: uses.org
City Hall on the Go Mobile City Hall services including paying parking tickets, requesting documents, checking voter registration. Check boston.gov for South End schedule locations and times. Note: Does not accept cash payments. Website: boston.gov.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
South End Landmark District Commission First Tuesday of each month. Reviews proposed changes to South End building exteriors.
Neighborhood Association Meetings
Ellis South End Neighborhood Association - Website: ellisneighborhood.org
Pilot Block Neighborhood Association - Email: PBNAinfo@gmail.com
Various other associations - check with individual groups
CITY CONTACT INFORMATION
South End Neighborhood Liaison Sarah Sharpe, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services 617-635-4505 | Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM
Boston 311 Services Report non-emergency issues: Dial 3-1-1 or download BOS:311 app
For the most up-to-date event information, visit boston.gov/events, sowaboston.com, sebaboston.org, haleyhouse.org,
southendhistoricalsociety.org, ellisneighborhood.org, or check individual organization websites and social media
pages. Weather may affect outdoor events. Event times and dates subject to change.
The South End News - Connecting Our Community Since 1983