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Spring in Boston runs from a cold March to a mild May, and the things to do follow the thaw: the St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston in March, the Swan Boats' return to the Public Garden and the Boston Marathon in April, and Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum, the SoWa Open Market and the first Harbor Islands ferries in May. Pack for all three months: at Logan Airport, the normal March high is 46 degrees with about 9 inches of snow, while May averages a high of 67.
Here is spring month by month, with the dates already set for 2027.
Boston in spring at a glance
| Month | Average high and low | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| March | 46 and 31 degrees; about 9 inches of snow | St. Patrick's Day/Evacuation Day parade, Sunday, March 14, 2027 |
| April | 56 and 41 degrees | Swan Boats return mid-April; Boston Marathon, Monday, April 19, 2027; Paul Revere House summer hours from April 15 |
| May | 67 and 50 degrees | Lilac Sunday; SoWa Open Market Sundays begin; Harbor Islands ferries and whale watches start |
March: parade weekend and a slow start
March is still winter in Boston, with normal highs in the mid-40s and snow possible. The month's big event is the St. Patrick's Day/Evacuation Day parade through South Boston, set for Sunday, March 14, 2027, at 11:30 a.m.; Evacuation Day itself falls on March 17. Museums carry the rest of the month: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Gardner are both in the Fenway. Our March guide has the full list.
April: Swan Boats, the Marathon and longer hours
The Swan Boats return to the Public Garden lagoon in mid-April; in 2026 they opened on April 18. The boats have been run by the Paget family since 1877, a ride lasts 10 to 15 minutes, and adult tickets were $4.75 in 2026, sold at the dock. The garden's beds are planted by the city's Parks Department with displays grown in its own greenhouses.
The Boston Marathon is on Patriots' Day, Monday, April 19, 2027, finishing on Boylston Street in the Back Bay. Plan around it: the MFA and the Gardner both close on Patriots' Day. The Marathon Sports store on Boylston Street sits steps from the finish line.
Mid-April also brings longer hours on the Freedom Trail. The Paul Revere House opens daily from April 15, with summer hours of 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., and Fenway Park tours run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 1 to October 31, as the Red Sox home season gets under way.
May: lilacs, markets and the harbor
May is spring's best month to visit. Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum, held on May 10 in 2026, is the one day a year picnicking is allowed in its 281 acres, with lilac tours and family activities; the arboretum is free every day and sits at the end of the Orange Line at Forest Hills. On Sundays from early May, the SoWa Open Market brings more than 250 artisans, food trucks and farmers to the South End, free to enter.
The harbor opens up too. Ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands run from mid-May to mid-October from Long Wharf, and whale watches from Long Wharf run from May through November. The Public Garden's free one-hour garden tours, run by the Friends of the Public Garden, start in May. Our May guide has the details.
A spring walk: Beacon Hill to the Back Bay
On a dry spring day, a walk ties the season together. Start at Boston Common, cross Charles Street into the Public Garden for the flower beds and the Swan Boats, then continue west along Commonwealth Avenue or Newbury Street into the Back Bay. Finish at the Central Library in Copley Square, free to enter, with a quiet courtyard in its McKim Building.
Is spring a good time to visit Boston?
Late April and May are good: the parks are green, the boats are running and summer crowds have not arrived. March suits museum trips and the parade more than outdoor plans. Book hotels early if your dates include Marathon weekend. For the following month, see things to do in Boston in June.
Sources: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Logan Airport; Meet Boston: St. Patrick's Day; Swan Boats; Boston Athletic Association; MFA; Paul Revere House; Fenway Park tours; Lilac Sunday; SoWa Open Market; Boston Harbor Islands; Public Garden tours. Checked October 1, 2026.