Looking for things to do in Boston this weekend? Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, so the city’s calendar from Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1, mixes costume nights with a Bruins matinee, a Celtics home game, a film-with-orchestra screening and a free Day of the Dead celebration. Clocks also fall back early Sunday, giving everyone an extra hour.
Weekend at a glance: Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2026
- Friday: Celtics vs. Bulls, TD Garden, 7:30 p.m.; “Coco” with the Boston Pops, Symphony Hall, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday: Bruins vs. Blackhawks, TD Garden, 1 p.m.; Día de Muertos at the ICA Watershed, free, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: Antigua and Barbuda flag raising, City Hall Plaza, noon
- Nightly: Boston Lights lanterns at Franklin Park Zoo, 5 to 10:30 p.m.
- Sunday, 2 a.m.: daylight saving time ends
Friday, Oct. 30: Celtics, “Coco” and big concerts
The Celtics host the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m., an NBA Cup group game, according to the team’s game page.
At Symphony Hall, the Boston Pops perform the score to Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” while the film plays on screen. The BSO lists a Friday show at 7:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee, with tickets starting at $58.
Friday is also a heavy concert night. OnesToWatch’s Halloween weekend calendar lists the Venezuelan band Rawayana at MGM Music Hall at Fenway at 8 p.m., the jam band moe. opening a two-night stand at The Wilbur, and a 10 p.m. 50 Cent show at The Grand in the Seaport.
Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween in Boston
The Bruins play the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden at 1 p.m. Doors open at 11:45 a.m., according to TD Garden. The “Coco” matinee at Symphony Hall begins at 1:30 p.m.
In East Boston, the Veronica Robles Cultural Center holds its 14th annual Día de Muertos celebration at the ICA Watershed, 256 Marginal St. The ICA says admission is free and the exhibition is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a shorter Monday schedule. The ICA’s water shuttles are not running, so plan to take the T or drive.
The city’s Park Rangers run a free nocturnal-animals program at the Jamaica Pond Nature Center, 345 Jamaicaway, according to the Boston.gov events calendar, which also lists The Blair Project, a Halloween concert and marketplace featuring women creatives.
For live music, the OnesToWatch calendar lists Sueco with Jeris Johnson at Paradise Rock Club at 7 p.m. and pianist Benny Green at Scullers Jazz Club at 7 p.m. Several Saturday shows were listed as limited or resale only as of Oct. 22.
For trick-or-treat tips, bar crawls, Salem dates and MBTA service, see our full Boston Halloween 2026 guide.
Sunday, Nov. 1: extra hour, flag raising and smaller shows
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, when clocks move back one hour. Our explainer on when the clocks fall back in Boston covers how early sunset arrives afterward.
At noon, the City of Boston holds its annual Antigua and Barbuda flag raising on City Hall Plaza, with music and community speakers. The event is free and open to everyone.
Sunday’s concert lineup leans toward smaller rooms, with bassist and singer Blu DeTiger and Faroese singer Eivør among the acts on the OnesToWatch list.
All weekend: Boston Lights at Franklin Park Zoo
Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience runs nightly from 5 to 10:30 p.m. through Nov. 8 at Franklin Park Zoo in Dorchester, according to Zoo New England. Timed tickets are required, and children under 2 get in free. Groups of 20 or more pay $20 per person on Monday through Thursday visits.
Tips for getting around this weekend
With a Friday Celtics game and a Saturday Bruins game at TD Garden, expect crowds around North Station. Our MBTA explainer covers slow zones and service changes, and our Boston parking tickets guide explains fines if you drive.
Planning dinner first? Browse our best restaurants in Boston list or the Boston business directory. Last weekend’s picks are in our Oct. 24-25 weekend guide. For colder nights ahead, see our guide to Boston heating assistance, and for the latest city data, our Boston crime rate report. More local stories are on the Boston News hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Celtics or Bruins game in Boston this weekend?
Yes. The Celtics host the Bulls on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m., and the Bruins host the Blackhawks on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m., both at TD Garden.
What free events are in Boston this weekend?
The Día de Muertos exhibition at the ICA Watershed, the Jamaica Pond Nature Center program on Saturday and the Sunday flag raising at City Hall Plaza are all free.
When do the clocks change?
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.
Sources
- Boston Celtics: Bulls vs. Celtics, Oct. 30, 2026
- TD Garden: Bruins vs. Blackhawks
- Boston Symphony Orchestra: “Coco” in Concert Live to Film
- ICA Boston: Veronica Robles Cultural Center Day of the Dead
- Zoo New England: Boston Lights
- Boston.gov: Events calendar
Additional sources
Photo: Faneuil Hall, by Bayo O, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
Read next in Boston
Get The Boston Report Briefing, free every week
The Boston Report Briefing is free and weekly: five important stories, election updates, local data and our latest investigations, with links to the full reports.
Most read this week
- Iran–U.S. War Update: Trump Warns of ‘Finishing the Job’ as Hormuz Attacks Climb and Lavrov Visits Tehran
- Keen Sword 27 Begins: U.S. and Japan Open Island Defense Drills Near Taiwan
- Israeli Jets Fly to Iran Border in ‘Power Projection’ Before Election
- Keen Sword 27: U.S. and Japan Open Largest-Ever Island Defense Drills
- State of the U.S. Economy: Growth, Jobs, Prices and the Fed, Explained
Latest
- Burlington, MA News: Town Charter, Middlesex Turnpike Plan and What’s New This Fall
- Google Phone Number Verification Links Your Number to Every Android Account
- Claude Duet: Anthropic Launches a Proactive AI Agent Preview
- Smart TV ACR Tracking: Northeastern Study Finds Samsung, Vizio Data After Opt-Out
- Three Black Holes Found in One Galaxy From the Early Universe