It’s finally here. Summer solstice is this Friday, June 20. So cram in activities and events while Boston’s weather is at its best. (The weekends, however, we’re less sure about.)
This week, there are plentiful exciting summer activities — many of which involve the great outdoors — to quench your thirst for fun. So grab your sunscreen and leave your wallet at home for these free ways to celebrate, honor, and get out into the city the week of June 16-22 — from Juneteenth celebrations to an audiobook walking club. You might break a sweat, but you won’t break the bank.
Free events
REVISIT REVOLUTION This year marks both the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the 200th anniversary of the laying of the Bunker Hill Monument. To mark the milestones, the Bunker Hill Monument Association will recreate the setting of the monument’s Charlestown cornerstone, as it was first performed on June 17, 1825. Prior to the organization’s evening grand ball, a free gala hour featuring live music and toasts will be open to the public at the Old South Meeting House downtown. June 16, 9:30 a.m., Charlestown Navy Yard, 1st Ave. & 3rd St., Charlestown. Gala hour event, 6 p.m., Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St. classical-scene.com
RIVERFRONT CINEMA Coolidge Corner Theatre’s outdoor screenings have returned with movie nights popping up at the Charles River Speedway, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and other notable Boston green spaces. This week, the 1997 teen comedy “Good Burger,” starring Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson, is ready to take your order starting at sunset at the Speedway in Brighton. June 18, 8 p.m. 525 Western Ave., Brighton. For a full screenings list and locations, visit coolidge.org/type/outdoor-screenings
TASTING HISTORY If you’re able to discern notes of vanilla and spice in your whiskey — or if you just enjoy a dizzying glass of the amber drink — you may gain a new appreciation for the history and artistry of the grain liquor at this Juneteenth event. The Fairmont Copley Plaza’s Oak Long Bar + Kitchen will host a whiskey tasting in collaboration with Tennessee-based Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. In addition to sniffing and sipping samples, participants will learn the legacy of the brand’s namesake, Nathan “Nearest” Green, the first African American master distiller, who taught Jack Daniel a thing or two back in the day. June 19, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. 21+. 138 St. James Ave. oaklongbarkitchen.com
HONORING BLACK STORIES This Thursday, in honor of Juneteenth, multiple cultural institutions will present special events to remember and celebrate the turning point in American history. At the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, locals can get free admission to the galleries and a full day of special programming that aims to elevate Black artistry, history, and resilience. As the sun sets, the museum will host a free Q&A and screening of “Paint Me a Road Out of Here” with director Catherine Gund. The film details the whitewashed journey of the 1971 painting “For the Women’s House,” a piece dedicated to incarcerated women at Rikers Island. June 19. 465 Huntington Ave. mfa.org
SOLSTICE SOIREE Harvard’s Museums of Science & Culture will host a celebratory Summer Solstice party, featuring circus performances, lawn games, and flower crown crafting, culminating with a sunset countdown for the longest day of the year. Galleries and exhibits at the museums — including the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology — will be open for attendees to roam, learn, and explore a cultural (and air-conditioned) escape. June 20, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge. hmsc.harvard.edu
WORTH THE DRIVE Though the kiddos are out of school, there’s no time like the present to keep developing active and curious minds. Discovery Museum — the burb-based museum dedicated to the learning development of young children — is opening their doors to the community every Friday, starting this week. Families can explore a variety of indoor and outdoor exhibits, and learn everything from the properties of water to using a cash register. June 20-Aug. 29, 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. 177 Main St., Acton. discoveryacton.org
PAGES & PAVEMENT If you have an audiobook collecting dust in your downloads, a nudge from your local spoken word enthusiasts may be what you need to finally hear that happily ever after. Side Quest Books & Games, a genre bookstore in Bow Market, is jump-starting an Audiobook Walking Club this Sunday. The weekly walk starts at Side Quest, where attendees can lace up their sneakers and put on their headphones before the hourlong stroll. The journey ends where it began, and participants are welcome to hang out for a caffeine fix and a chat about their tale on tape, or continue binge-listening all the way home. Sundays starting June 22, 9:30 a.m. 1 Bow Market Way, Suite 32, Somerville. sidequestbooks.com
Deals & steals
SHELL YEAH At Loco Taqueria’s Fenway and Southie locations, tacos are half-price all day on Tuesdays. Customers can choose between the likes of classic carne asada or crispy coconut shrimp, served on 6-inch corn tortillas — or they can get one of both, because, hey, it’s Tuesday. 11 a.m.-1 a.m. 412 W. Broadway, South Boston. 61 Brookline Ave. locotacoshops.com
Send info on free events and special offers at least 10 days in advance to bargains@globe.com.
Marianna Orozco can be reached at marianna.orozco@globe.com.
Check out was real simple, can't wait for the tote bag