Cambridge River Festival - Memorial Drive, Cambridge
Sat 6/2

The celebration of the arts along the banks of the Charles River features jazz, folk, roots and world music performances, dance, art demonstrations, family art-making activities and over 100 specialty food purveyors and craftspeople. FREE

Free Family Concert & Instrument Petting Zoo - Hyde Park Branch Library, Hyde Park
Sat 6/2

Join the Chameleon Arts Ensemble for an afternoon of classical music inspired by stories and communication through music. A crafty trickster comes to life, drums tell stories from Polynesian folklore, a violin sings a lullaby, and musical instruments have a conversation.

Instrument Petting Zoo: An instrument “Petting Zoo” and demonstration follow the performance in the outdoor Children’s Garden. Children handle and play orchestral instruments as guided by the musicians, and are encouraged to touch, blow, pluck, bow, and strike. FREE

Arlington Greek Festival - St. Athanasius, Arlington
Sat 6/2 & Sun 6/3

Rides and games, homemade Greek food, Greek dancing, live music, and other children’s activities are all part of the annual Arlington Greek Festival. Rain or shine - activities take place under the big tent. FREE admission

Figment Boston - Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston
Sat 6/2 & Sun 6/3

The annual celebration of participatory art and culture brings to the Rose Kennedy Greenway large-scale collaborative artwork, plus family-friendly, interactive exhibits, performances, and other activities that reflect creativity, artist interaction and community participation. FREE

Salem Arts Festival - Multiple Locations, Salem
Sat 6/2 & Sun 6/3

The festival transforms downtown Salem into a showcase of local art: painting, photography, sculpture, dance, music, writing, film, new media, performance, theater, poetry, and culinary arts. There is a gallery of juried artists’ work in Old Town Hall, and a juried street fair on Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. Art-making activities take place on Artists’ Row throughout the weekend.

Musical performances take place on an outdoor stage venue for performance and dance at the East India Fountain and an indoor performance space in Old Town Hall (schedule here). Kids can especially enjoy Ben Rudnick and Friends at 11am on Saturday. FREE

Free Fishing Weekend - Statewide
Sat 6/2 & Sun 6/3

Take a friend or family member fishing for free - you won’t need a fishing license to fish any waterbody statewide for these two days. FREE

On Sunday, at the annual Horn Pond Fishing Festival in Woburn, you can cast a line, learn about fishing and water safety. Bring your equipment, or borrow from a limited quantity of fishing equipment available. FREE

Note that except for this weekend, a license is required for those 15 and older; licenses for 15 to 17 year olds are free, though. Licenses available at www.mass.gov/massfishhunt. Purchase of a fishing license directly supports fishing, stocking, education and fish habitat management programs.

World Oceans Day - Central Wharf, Boston
Sun 6/3

World Oceans Day Celebration is a free*, outdoor celebration on Central Wharf featuring hands-on activities for kids, submersible robots, cooking demonstrations and lots to learn about ocean animals. FREE

* Note, admission to the Aquarium is not included as part of the free celebration, but Aquarium admission is not required to participate in the free activities.

Green Roots Festival - Stony Brook Park, Boston
Sun 6/3

The Green Roots Festival is an outdoor celebration with food, live music, exhibitors, vendors, and interactive children’s activities, put on by Bikes Not Bombs. Kids activities include Cardboard slides on a giant hill, face-painting, kids’ drumming, and more. FREE

Children’s Open House - Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, Waltham
Sun 6/3

Families can visit the Museum’s The Mill Children exhibit, where they interact with artists during a viewing of the exhibit of paintings, photographs, music, film, and narrative; enjoy a performance by The Drury High School Chorus, from North Adams, MA, of music evocative of the experiences of the mill children; meet Lewis W. Hine as portrayed by historian Joe Manning; and engage in hands-on activities designed to bring the exhibit to life for children of all ages. FREE

Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl - City Hall Plaza, Boston
Tue 6/5 - Thu 6/7

The 30th annual Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl is the nation’s largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival. The event serves up ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet from ten of the nation’s leading ice cream companies. Since its inception in 1983 the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl has raised more than $3 million for cancer research and care. Adults $10; Children (3-9) $5

Photo: Erik Fuller