Who’s ready for the long weekend? I know I am! Some of you are trying to get out of town, some of you are staying close to home, and I’m going to help you if you’re looking for something to do. Even better, they’re all Free Things-To-Do. From museums, to parades, to fairy houses, there’s something for everyone!

Museum of Fine Arts
(Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Museum of Fine Arts will have free admission on Monday for their Memorial Day Open House. Tickets are free on a first-come, first-served basis. All you need is a valid Massachusetts zip code. For more info on what exhibits you can check out, visit the MFA’s website.
ICA

The ICA is offering FREE museum admission for everyone on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th. Advanced timed tickets are required, and will be available to reserve starting on Sunday, May 29th at 10am. For more info, visit the ICA website.
Boston Common Memorial Day Flag Garden

If you haven’t had the chance to see the Boston Common Memorial Day Flag Garden in person, you really should try to get there. I’ve gone several times and I have to say that it really is overwhelming when you think about what the flag garden represents.

In its 13th year, volunteers have placed more than 37,000 flags on the Common to honor fallen heroes from Massachusetts from the American Revolution to today. For more information on the Flag Garden, go to the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund’s website.
Newton Memorial Day Parade

The Newton Memorial Day Parade is back! The parade is on Sunday and follows its traditional route beginning at Newton North H.S. at 3:00 PM, and finishing at Coletti-Magni Park in Nonantum. Celebrate and honor our veterans and remember our fallen heroes. Get more info on the parade HERE.
Fairy Home, Garden Tours, and Scavenger Hunt

This is so cool! This weekend you may want to head to Lexington for the Fairy Home & Garden Tour & Scavenger Hunt. This is a free, family-friendly event where you can go on a scavenger hunt to find fairy houses. You can get all the info HERE, including how to build your own fairy house. Info on the Scavenger Hunt.
Frank Hatch Free Day at Isabella Gardener Museum

Bring family and friends for a free day of art-making, music, and gallery games at the museum this Memorial Day. Then create collages inspired by objects and artworks in the Gardner’s collection. Materials, supplies, and prompts will be provided. Reserve your free tickets HERE.
City of Quincy Memorial Day Parade & Observance

The City of Quincy’s Memorial Day Parade & Observance on Monday, May 30th will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Quincy Credit Union (100 Quincy Ave). The parade will proceed down Hancock Street through Quincy Center and onto Sea Street. The parade will end at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery for the annual observance. The observance will be approximately 11:45 am to 12:30 pm.
Medway Memorial Day Parade

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Medway will once again have a parade leading up to their annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 30. As in the past, the parade will form at the Medway VFW and begin at 10 a.m. to march down Holliston Street to the Colonel Michael Matondi Memorial Square. The Medway High School band and the Worcester Kiltie band will again provide patriotic music; and MHS students will provide vocal arrangements and play Taps at Matondi Square.
USS Constitution

Several events going on for the Memorial Day weekend at the USS Constitution. Here are a couple of them.

Memorial Day Story Time + Craft

Saturday, May 28 + Sunday, May 29
11:00AM + 2:00PM

Join the Museum and Ship as sailors read two children’s books (ages 6+) about Memorial Day: A Day for Rememberin’ by Leah Henderson and The Poppy Lady by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh. After the story time, participants are invited to make their own poppies to take home and contribute to our memorial garden.

Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday, May 30
11:30AM

Join the Museum and Ship for a public Memorial Day ceremony on board USS Constitution. This ceremony will also be streamed live on the Ship’s Facebook page.

For more information, go to the USS Constitution Museum’s website.