Community Events
Allston-Brighton
Are you a first-time homebuyer who wants to purchase your home in Allston or Brighton? The Boston Home Center and the Allston-Brighton CDC are partnering to offer up to $50,000 in financial aid for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers to buy their first home in the neighborhood. Learn more here.
Boston Public Schools is offering free summer meals (breakfast and lunch) to all kids and teens, ages 18 and under, at more than 100 locations across the City of Boston. This Summer Eats program will run from July 6 through late August with no identification or pre-registration required. Learn more here.
Looking for a free, fun activity to enjoy with the kids? The City of Boston is holding children’s arts and crafts workshops in Ringer Playground on Fridays in August from 10 am - 2 pm. Local artists leading the workshop encourage kids to explore their creativity through projects like mask making, crayon art, watercolor and much more. Supplies are provided and registration is free. Please email shannon.murphy@boston.gov to register.
This year’s summer celebration hosted by ABCD, ABCDC, Family Nurturing Center and PSF Community Center returns with ice cream, music, children’s activities and more on Friday, August 11 from 3 - 6 pm at the PSF Community Center.
Looking to buy a home? Learn more about the process in Homebuying 101, an online three-part webinar hosted by the Allston-Brighton CDC. Graduates of this course receive a certificate that grants access to down payment assistance, Mass Housing Partnership’s ONE Mortgage, MassHousing mortgages, HUD mortgages, home ownership lotteries, and lender first time homebuyer mortgages. Register here.
The New England Conservatory is partnering with the City of Boston to offer a free, four-week, scholarship-based music learning experience for cohorts of 30 students entering grades 3-5 in September 2023. Session 2 takes place from August 14 - August 25 on Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm on New England Conservatory’s campus. Children learn performance, theory, composition, and history from NEC faculty in courses titled "I Can Sing" and "I Can Play." Breakfast, lunch, and two snacks will be provided to all students.
The Brighton Farmers Market is open on Wednesday from 2 - 6 pm. Vendors sell a range of locally-sourced produce and fresh goods. Shoppers can pay using either their SNAP/EBT accounts or private payment.
Concerts in the Common connects the Allston-Brighton artist community to neighbors with live performances once a month at the Brighton Farmers Market. Safiya Leslie blends jazz and neo-soul music with her Afro-Caribean roots and will perform on Wednesday, July 12 at 4:30 pm.
Join instructor Taryn Burns for yoga at the Brighton Farmers Market on July 5 and July 19 at 5:15 pm. Stretch, get more flexible, and find zen through poses and movement for all skill levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat, blanket, or towel.
The Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative and Brighton Branch Library’s Children Librarian Allie bring Story Time to Brighton Farmers Market, with fun summer stories and songs for children of all ages.
Open Streets Boston is an opportunity to connect with the Allston-Brighton community on Saturday, August 19 from 10 am - 3:30 pm on Brighton Avenue and Harvard Avenue. Join neighbors for live entertainment, art, family activities and a unique pedestrian-friendly experience.
Pre-enroll to participate in Boston's food waste collection program, starting service in Summer 2023. In August 2022, the City of Boston launched a free, curbside food waste collection service for residents in buildings with 6 units or less. Sign up here.
The City of Boston’s 2023 Leaf and Yard Waste schedule informs residents about dates for leaf and yard waste curbside collection, yard waste drop off and household hazardous waste drop off. Learn more about Zero Waste Boston here.
ABCDC is partnering with the Boston Public Health Commission to offer free at-home COVID-19 tests. Stop by the All Bright Community Center (1287B Commonwealth Avenue, Allston) to pick up an iHealth COVID-19 at-home test every Monday - Thursday from 10:30 am - 5pm.
Join instructor Olivia Porada for a high energy Kick It by Eliza class at the Brighton Commons every Monday from 6 - 7 pm. Kick It is a music-driven, kickboxing-inspired fitness method with 13 rounds. Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat, sneakers and water.
Start your week with Job Seekers Connection, a community of other job seekers, professional career coaches, recruiters and Human Resources representatives who support, encourage, and motivate one another through their job searches. Meetings are hosted every Monday from 11 am- 12:30 pm at Harvard Ed Portal, 224 Western Avenue, Allston.
Do you need immigration advice from a lawyer? The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement offers free immigration consultations on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 12 to 3 p.m. Consultations are by telephone and require an appointment beforehand..
To schedule an appointment with a volunteer lawyer, call 617-635-2980 or email immigrantadvancement@boston.gov.
Do you want to learn English for free? Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) offers English language classes for job seekers and caretakers seeking to improve language abilities, gain computer skills and meet with a career advisor. Learn more here.
Practice speaking English with other adult learners in an informal and friendly group setting at the Honan-Allston Library every Tuesday from 10:30 am - noon. The group is led by a volunteer teacher and intermediate learners are encouraged.
Does your child need virtual tutoring? Students from grades 1-12 can receive free tutoring in all subjects by Boston College students, with Allston-Brighton families receiving priority. Sign up here.
The Homework Assistance Program (HAP) is a free after-school service at the Brighton Branch Library led by Harvard University trained teen mentors that offers homework help, mentorship and activities for students in grades K–8. Join in-person from 3:30-5:30 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday for a space to work on homework with peers and extra guidance on assignments in any subject, from sciences to humanities. Bilingual help in Spanish and various languages is available.
Looking for volunteer opportunities? The Allston Brighton CDC needs volunteers in the Brighton Future Forward program to facilitate the positive development of young people living at two Boston Housing Authority Developments. Sign up here.
Named after visionary painter Washington Allston, the neighborhood of Allston features vibrant, eclectic art that reflects its creativity and diversity. On the Visit Harvard app self-guided tour, you'll discover public art installations along Western Avenue and learn the stories behind them and their artists. Follow along to explore hand-painted murals, sky-high sculptures, 25-cent art prints and more. Learn more here.
Artisans Asylum offers figure drawing sessions every Monday at 6:30 to draw live models and connect artists in Allston-Brighton. Learn more here.
Bring friends and put your knowledge to the test at stump trivia hosted by the Brighton Elks Lodge (326 Washington St, Brighton) on Thursdays from 7 - 8 pm.
If you’re homebound or living with a disability, ABCD may be able to help by delivering groceries from the store to your door. ABCD’s Food Delivery service provides $130 worth of healthy and fresh produce, meats and other essential goods to you on a monthly schedule. See qualifications and learn more here.
Allston-Brighton Health Collective has partnered with Farmer' Dave’s to offer affordable farm share in Brighton with your EBT/SNAP card. A box of freshly harvested, locally grown fruits and vegetables from Farmer Dave's farm are delivered on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month to the Brighton Allston Congregational Church. Learn more here.
Fresh Truck presents the Mobile Food Market every Mondays from 3 - 5pm at the PSF Community Center's Parking Lot. Shoppers can pay using either their SNAP/EBT accounts or private payment.
Looking for more volunteering opportunities in the neighborhood? The Allston-Brighton Food Pantry at the Brighton Allston Congregational Church (404 Washington St., Brighton) has opportunities to contribute year round. See more here.
The Citywide Voucher Homeownership Program offered by the Boston Housing Authority and City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Housing gives residents an opportunity to receive financial assistance towards a home purchase in Boston. Learn more here.
Commuters should note that a full two-month closure of the Summer Tunnel begins on July 5, 2023.
Want to support local Girl Scout Troops? Find a list of Girl Scout booths selling cookies in and near Allston-Brighton & Brookline here.
Brookline
Registration is open for Summer 2023 classes at the Brookline Arts Center, offering a variety of classes for all age groups from pottery to drawing. See more here.
From rap to punk, rock to classical, and everything in between – the Brookline Teen Center music studio is the go to spot for young musicians of Brookline. The professional grade facility holds open studios for all ages to rehearse, record, and perform every Wednesday from 3 - 6 pm.
The Public VR Lab hosted by Brookline Interactive Group brings back its open house every Wednesday at 46 Tappan Street from 6 - 8 pm. Enjoy an immersive experience and learn more about the powerful ways in which VR/XR is changing the future from the arts to education.
State House
Massachusetts legislative committees hold public hearings throughout the year giving residents the opportunity to testify on issues and bills concerning their communities. Testimony may be submitted virtually, in-person or written. Find August’s full list of hearings & events here.