Things to Do Near Boston This Weekend: Oct. 24-25, 2026

Looking for things to do near Boston this weekend, Oct. 24-25, 2026? A Halloween festival at Polar Park, a chowder contest on Cape Ann, a two-day indoor craft fair in Wilmington, the last films of the Boston Asian American Film Festival and a cranberry harvest celebration in Foxborough lead the list. Details below come from each organizer; check event pages before you go, since times and prices can change.

Boo in the Woo Fall Festival, Worcester (Sat. and Sun.)

The Worcester Red Sox extended their “Boo in the Woo” festival to a second weekend after the first, on Oct. 17-18, drew more than 1,000 fans, the team said. It runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at Polar Park, 100 Madison St.

• Activities: a “Sunset Catch on the Field,” swings in the WooCages batting cages, on-field bounce houses and carnival games, pumpkin bowling, mini golf in the Visitors’ Clubhouse, a hay maze, corn pit, pumpkin patch and face painters.
• For kids: a free trick-or-treat bag featuring the team mascots, with craft tables for decorating.
• Tickets: $12 for ages 2-17 and $15 for adults, at polarpark.com/boofallfest. Children 2 and under are free, the team says.

41st Essex ClamFest, Essex (Sat.)

The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce’s Essex ClamFest and Arts & Crafts Festival fills Shepard Memorial Park, 24 Martin St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. General admission is free.

• Chowder competition: tasting runs noon to 1 p.m., while supplies last, on the tennis courts. The chamber lists tasting at $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 10. Winners are announced at 3 p.m. Listed competitors include 35 Beach, Castle Manor Inn, CK Pearl, Machaca Taco & Tequila Bar, The Farm Bar & Grille and Woodman’s of Essex.
• Also: more than 40 crafter, business and nonprofit tables, food trucks, live music, kids’ activities and a police K-9 demonstration at 11 a.m., according to the chamber’s event listing.
• Parking: Martin Street will be one-way to add on-street parking. A free shuttle runs about every 10 minutes from Essex Elementary School on Story Avenue.

Castleberry Fall Craft Festival, Wilmington (Sat. and Sun.)

The 18th annual Castleberry Fall Craft Festival brings more than 100 booths of juried artisans and specialty food makers to the Shriners Auditorium, 99 Fordham Road, off Exit 33 of Interstate 93. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 at the gate and good for both days; buying online in advance saves $2 before service fees. It is held indoors, rain or shine, with free parking, a shuttle, a snack bar and live music. Pets are not allowed, though service animals are welcome.

Boston Asian American Film Festival closing weekend, Downtown (Sat. and Sun.)

The Boston Asian American Film Festival wraps up at the Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., near Orange, Red, Green and Silver Line stops.

• Saturday: “Shorts: Families Forged & Found” at 3:30 p.m., followed by an in-person Q&A, and the centerpiece documentary “Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon” at 6:30 p.m.
• Sunday: “In Waves” at 1 p.m., then the closing film, Xiaodan He’s “Montreal, My Beautiful,” at 4 p.m. The festival lists the closing film as sold out.
• Prices: feature films and shorts programs are $15; the closing film was $20.

A special presentation, “Tiger Mom Academy,” follows on Nov. 14.

Fall Harvest Celebration at Patriot Place, Foxborough (Sat.)

Ocean Spray’s 16th annual Fall Harvest Celebration is free and open to the public Saturday, with most activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Behind Bass Pro Shops, Ocean Spray staff lead cranberry bog walks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and families can get a complimentary photo in front of the harvest display. Pony rides, kids’ crafts, a beer garden and a pumpkin-carving demonstration are on the schedule, along with a pumpkin decorating station that uses Patriot Place app points. Live music runs 1 to 4 p.m. on the Dean College Stage, and CVS is offering flu shots at a pop-up clinic from noon to 4 p.m.

More ideas for the weekend

For a self-guided outing, our fall foliage and apple-picking guide lists orchards and drives within an easy trip of Boston. Families planning ahead for Halloween can see our Malden trick-or-treat guide. Heading to Worcester by train? Our Worcester commuter rail guide has the fall schedule. Clocks fall back one week later, on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Sources

• Worcester Red Sox via MiLB.com: Boo in the Woo extended Oct. 24-25
• Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce: 41st Annual Essex ClamFest
• Greater Cape Ann Chamber: ClamFest event listing
• Castleberry Fairs: Castleberry Fall Craft Festival
• Boston Asian American Film Festival: BAAFF 2026 lineup
• Patriot Place: 16th Annual Fall Harvest Celebration