October Events in Boston & Cambridge

Fun Fall Activities for EveryoneHarvard in the fall

Not sure what the best way to spend the month of October in Boston? We’re here to help! Check out some of the top events going on around the city of Boston and Cambridge!

  • TheHead of the Charles Regatta first took place in October of 1965 and is the largest two-day rowing event. This year the 52nd annual Head of the Charles will be held on Saturday, October 22nd and Sunday, the 23rd, races run from 8:00am-5:00pm. For spectators, they recommended areas between the Anderson and Weeks bridges which is at the halfway point of the race.
  • On Saturday, October 9th, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology will celebrate it’s 150th anniversary in Harvard Square.  The event is free and open to the public from 9:00am-5:00pm. There will be live music and fun activities for all ages! 
  • The 38th Annual Oktoberfest and HONK! Parade will take place this Sunday, October 9th. The event that usually has an attendance of over 200,000 people will take place in Harvard Square from 12:00pm until 6:00pm. This is a staple fall event to attend that has six stages of live music and delicious food from around the world. Made up  of bands around the world, the Honk! Parade will arrive in Harvard Square at approximately 1pm!
  • The Christopher Columbus Parade will  also take place on Sunday, October 9 and begin at approximately 1pm. This parade that honors Christopher Columbus and his explorations of the Americas lasts about 2 hours and will take place in East Boston. 
  • The Charles Riverboat Company will still be hosting boat cruises on the Charles River and Boston Harbor in October. The last sightseeing tour will be on Monday, October 10th and the last architecture tour will be on Sunday, October 16th.