Best in Fest: 7 Boston Festivals and Street Fairs to Check Out Right Now

Take a short trip to historic Salem for an outdoor market featuring more than 50 booths filled with goods from on-site craftsmen, artists, and designers. Halloween is prime time to visit the town, which hosts various other events throughout October as part of its Haunted Happenings programming. Pets, parents, and kids are all encouraged to attend and search for something unique to take home. The market runs all month long on the weekends. Click through to their website for a more detailed list of times and dates. 

Admire more than 3,000 works of fine art from the US and around the world at the 20th Annual Boston International Fine Art Show.  There will also be an expert collectors’ panel, an interview with legendary painter John Stobart, a look at the sculpture work of Daniel Chester French, and—not to ignore Boston’s stake in history—entree into one of the oldest galleries in the US, on Newbury Street. 

Bring the whole family out in costume to showcase your own jack-o-lantern at the annual Pumpkin Float at Frog Pond. The event is free and encourages families to set their own carved, 8-inch pumpkins loose on the pond. Other activities include: a Haunted Zombie Maze, decorating Halloween luminaire bags, selfie booth, crafts, drinks, treats, and more. 

Check out the best of antique books, as valuable in physical entity as they are in content, at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair. There will be panel discussions, lectures, and even poets on-site ready to type something for you on an antique typewriter. In celebration of their 40th year, the Boston Book Fair is offering free admission on Saturday and Sunday. 

Parade around the pooch on Halloween Eve day in the annual pet parade and costume contest at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Prizes will be awarded to the three Best of Show, Best Owner & Pet Combo costume, Best Local Representation, and Most Creative. Don’t forget to register here.

Laugh out loud at the Boston Comedy Festival, which features comics like Ronny Chieng, known for his 2015 debut on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Tickets range between $12 and 30, depending on the show. Click though here to their homepage for more info and ticket information. 

Boston Magazine will host their 7th annual Taste event, bringing together the best bites from the city's local restaurants. A portion of the ticket sales from the event will go to the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), aiding families in need. You can also expect music, giveaways, desserts, and drinks in addition to tasting portions of meals. Click through to their website for ticket details here.