Esplanade Community Day

Join us for our 4th Annual Community Day! A free public outdoors event meant for everyone to enjoy the Esplanade. We kick off the day with our Annual Esplanade 5k (registration required) followed by free concert at the Hatch Memorial Shell children activities lawn games free bike tune ups food trucks and other vendors.

Follow us on social media visit our website or Humanitix sign up page for the latest information about the event.

Day Schedule

8:00am 5k Race Registration Open

Free Bicycle Tune-ups sponsored by REI (8am-12pm)

Vendor Fair Opens (remains open throughout the day)

8:45am 5k Warm-up

9:00am 5k Race Begins! (in waves)

10:00-10:15am 5k Race Expected to End Awards immediately following

11:00am             GroundBeat Concert (produced by AfroDesiaCity) Begins!

3:00pm GroundBeat Concert Ends

Our Esplanade 5K

Sad you've been stuck indoors? No problem! Come join up to 1000 fellow runners on one of the most popular running routes in Greater Boston. Online sign-ups close at 5:00pm on Saturday May 18th. Separate Registration is required to participate in the 5K. Please visit our website for registration link.

GroundBeat Produced by AfroDesiaCity

We are partnering again with AfroDesiaCity for this year’s GroundBeat Concert happening as part of the 4th Annual Community Day! AfroDesiaCity will bring their expertise and talent to both produce and curate a variety of diverse inclusive and entertaining performances at the iconic DCR Hatch Memorial Shell.

Produced By

AfroDesiaCity Productions

Hosted By

Mo The Great

Performances By

Tamyya Wright featuring visual Artist

AKROBATIK ft. DJ DEADEYE & The Marcus Grant Trio

Stiggity: Groove Punch Hour

DJ Bobby BangersYESSMADJ TROY Frost

Family Fun Activities

How could we forget about the little ones? We've dedicated a space just for them and you to enjoy the day. We'll have plenty of equipment and lawn games. If that's not enough we will be hosting partners that will do educational activities and facepainting for everyone to participate in!

Vendor Fair + Food & Beverages

Throughout the day while you enjoy the music you can peruse various vendors and grab a FREE bite from Jamaica Mi Hungry-- a local Jamaican food truck! And cool off from the heat of the day with a FREE ice cream social sponsored by Beacon Hill Village! We'll have a wide array of vendors!

Attendees are strongly encouraged to pre-register for these FREE events to ensure all attendees are sent any updates or additional information regarding this specific event.

Location Information & Directions

NOTE: There is NO PARKING on the Esplanade. Please plan to arrive via one of the options below:

WALKING

If entering by foot you can take one of many footbridges to enter the park. They are all noted on this map. The Hatch Memorial Shell is closest to the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge which is located between Beacon Street and Beaver Place adjacent to David G Mugar Way. Once in the Esplanade begin walking right to shortly find the Hatch Shell!

MBTA

The Hatch Shell is a ten-minute walk from the Arlington MBTA Station (Green Line) and a ten minute walk from the Charles / MGH MBTA Station (Red Line). Find all of the nearby stations on this map.

BLUE BIKES

Pick up a Bluebike at any station around Boston Brookline Cambridge and Somerville and return to a station located conveniently near the Hatch Shell. Find locations on the System Map or mobile app. The closest Blue Bikes station is located where Beacon Street meets David Mugar Way in front of Beacon Street access to the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge.

PARKING (outside of park)

Recommended parking locations include Newbury Street lots or the Boston Common Garage.

RIDE SHARE

Please direct rideshare vehicles to drop you off on Beacon Street near Arlington Street. Cheers is a good reference spot. Once you’ve been dropped off enter the park on foot via the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge located between Beacon Street and Beaver Place adjacent to David G Mugar Way.  

Host or Publisher Charles River Esplanade