January

New Year's Day - The L Street Brownies host their annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in the Boston Harbor. According to participants, the L Street Brownies are the oldest polar bear club in America. The group ranges in age, and there are even swimmers in their 80s and 90s!

February

Chinese New Year - Boston's Chinatown puts on a their annual celebration with firecrackers and scampering dragons.

Beanpot Hockey Tournament - This annual tournament features several area college teams who compete on Sundays throughout the month of February.

Hayes/Anderson Music Series - This series is a celebration of Black History Month and is sponsored by the Museum of Afro-American History, in conjunction with the New England Conservatory of Music.

March

St Patrick's Day - Green beer abounds in Boston on St. Patrick's day as the locals demonstrate that they definitely know how to party. The biggest parade is in South Boston and features both marching and pipe bands. Boston also celebrates Evacuation Day, commemorating the event in 1776 when General Washington expelled the British troops from Boston.

Boston Wine Festival - The Boston Wine Festival is New England's premier culinary event. It takes place each year from January to April at the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf. There are a number of special events over the course of the festival, including a rare wine auction, educational seminars, competitions, special dinners, and the Anthony Spinazzola Gala.

April

Boston Marathon - As with many other things in Boston, the marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and also one of the most prestigious. Thousands of runners participate, and those who enter are even required to qualify in another certified marathon first.

Patriots' Day - Patriots' Day has become synonymous with the Boston Marathon, both of which take place on the Monday nearest to April 19. The holiday remembers the historic ride of Paul Revere and the beginning skirmishes that marked the start of the Revolutionary War. In addition to the Marathon, there are many other historical activities that recall those turbulent days including a yearly reenactment of Paul Revere's ride from Hanover Street in Boston to Lexington .

Red Sox - April is the beginning of another season at Fenway Park for the Red Sox.

Swan Boats - Swan boats return to the Boston Public Garden in April marking the beginning of Spring. The boats were first created by Roger Paget, and his descendants still operate the business. With help, he developed the bicycle method of propelling the boats, and the idea of concealing the captain was based on an opera where a knight crossed a lake in a swan-drawn boat. Today, the boats are famous and Bostonians might well expect the seasons to freeze were the boats not to appear in spring and disappear again in fall.

May

Greater Boston Kite Festival - This annual event takes place in Franklin Park and is extremely popular with those of all ages. Throngs turn out not only to fly kites, but to enjoy the various exhibits and entertainment provided.

Mother's Day - As if the bronze statues of the ducks were not enough, there is also an annual "Make Way for Ducklings" parade. Countless children are stuffed into duck costumes and encouraged to waddle their way through the city. This exodus of ducklings travels from Beacon Park to the Public Garden lagoon.

June

Boston Early Music Festival - This weeklong, biannual festival features lectures, classes, and performances, and culminates in rarely performed, fully staged Baroque opera. BEMF is recognized throughout the world as a leader in the field of early music.

Bunker Hill Weekend - As stated in the history section, the Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the more famous fought in Massachusetts and was the source of the famous phrase, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" Each year there is a weekend of events focused around the famous Charlestown battle featuring a parade, 18th century historic drills and military maneuvers, a Doll Carriage parade, and craft demonstrations.

Scooper Bowl - The Scooper Bowl is the world's largest ice cream festival, which began in the 80s. There are nine sponsors who provide a vast array of flavors to be sampled at this all-you-can-eat festival. The proceeds from the event are used for cancer care and research at the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute. Over the past decade the Scooper Bowl has raised over $1 million dollars for this cause.

July

Harborfest - Boston celebrates July 4th for a week with various activities including children's day and the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. There is an annual free Boston Pops concert on the Esplande that reminds the city of its roots in American history. Other annual rituals include cannon fire, the "1812 Overture," and an awesome fireworks display.

Chowderfest - This is one of the main events that take place during Harborfest and not surprisingly features chowder, a thick soup that is most often made with clams. Those with chowder samples set up in City Hall Plaza and these days they dish out more than 2000 gallons of chowder a year. Approximately 15,000 visitors get samples and then vote for their favorite soup.

Battle of Fort Wagner re-enactment - Each year the National Park Service and the Museum of Afro-American History recreate the first Civil War battle fought by the first black regiment recruited by the North. On the weekend closest to July 18th, this battle can be experienced as part of the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial on the Common.

Lowell Folk Festival - In late July more than 100,000 music lovers enjoy the nation's largest free folk festival with three days of traditional dance, music, craft demonstrations, parades, dance parties, and ethnic foods. The event features six outdoor stages.

August

August Moon Festival - This festival is one of the most celebrated Chinese holidays, which is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month in China town. It features a dragon parade through Chinatown to celebrate the full moon as well as music, food, and storytellers. Chinese families celebrate the harvest with a huge feast and mooncakes: round pastries filled with red bean paste, fruit or jam.

September

Fall Foliage - While this may not be an event in the strictest sense of the word, it is still not to be missed. Driving through New England from mid-September to mid-October is stunning as the leaves change colors heralding fall with their natural beauty. Throughout the countryside there are numerous farm stands, self-pick groves, county fairs, and festivals.

Boston Film Festival - This event is one of those that launches the fall film season, and typically features the debut of approximately 50 films. Over the past 19 years Boston has premiered such notable films as "Reservoir Dogs", "The Piano", "Swingers", "Gods and Monsters", "Pleasantville", "Shine", "Big Night", "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle", "Wings of the Dove", "The Thin Blue Line", "Hoop Dreams", "Vincent and Theo", "Central Station", "The War Zone", "Tumbleweeds", "Requiem For A Dream", "You Can Count On Me", "The Contender", "American Beauty", "In The Bedroom", "The Quiet American", "Secretary", "Matchstick Men"and "Fog of War". The Boston Film Festival has also hosted such acclaimed directors, actors and actresses as Jodie Foster, Robert Duvall, Robert Altman, Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel, Kevin Bacon, John Boorman, Vanessa Redgrave, Holly Hunter, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney, Jeff Bridges, David Mamet, Steve Martin, William H. Macy, Sir Ridley Scott and Nicholas Cage.

October

Columbus Day Parade - Approximately 8,000 people travel the four-mile route from East Boston to the North End in this annual parade.

Bruins & Celtics - Both teams open their bastketball seasons in October.

November

Boston International Antique Book Fair - The country's oldest, continually running antiquarian book fair sees over 150 dealers exhibiting and selling rare, collectible, and antiquarian books. Although books are the main feature, the fair also features a broad spectrum of other rare objects including photographs, manuscripts, maps and autographs.

Pilgrim Procession - The weekend before Thanksgiving you can witness modern-day Pilgrims strolling through Plymouth's historic homes.

December

Christmas Revels - The Revels are billed as a Victorian celebration of carols, comedy, melodrama, and sentiment. Visit Harvard University in Cambridge for music, dancing and theater from different folkloric traditions.

Boston Tea Party Re-enactment - In mid-December, there is a yearly reenactment of the Boston Tea Party as patriots gather for a town meeting and then march to the Harbor.

Illumination at Boston Common - In early December, the Mayor and Santa join forces to throw the switch and illuminate the thousands of tiny lights strung through the trees of the Boston Common.

Sources:

( http://www.boston-travel-services.com/ ) (Accessed June 7, 2004)

( http://www.lonelyplanet.com ) (Accessed June 4, 2004)

( http://www.cityofboston.gov ) (Accessed June 4, 2004)

( http://www.bostoncitylinks.com/boston.html ) (Accessed June 7, 2004)

(http://www.whatsontheplanet.com ) (Accessed June 11, 2004)