January
New Year's Day - Jump into the Boston Harbor with The L Street Brownies for the annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim. According to participants, they are the oldest polar bear club in America. Swimmers in their 80s and 90s amaze those who like to keep warm with their steadfast commitment to this chilly event.

February
Chinese New Year - Enjoy the annual firecrackers and scampering dragons that enliven Boston's Chinatown during this annual celebration.

Beanpot Hockey Tournament - Beanpot Hockey Tournament - Several local college teams participate in this annual tournament on Sundays throughout the month of February.

Hayes/Anderson Music Series - Celebrate Black History Month with this enjoyable musical series. It is sponsored by the Museum of Afro-American History in conjunction with the New England Conservatory of Music.

March
St Patrick's Day - Green beer flows freely in Boston on St. Patrick's Day. Head to South Boston for the city's biggest parade, which includes marching and pipe bands. Boston also celebrates Evacuation Day, commemorating George Washington's expulsion of the British troops from Boston in 1776.

Boston Wine Festival - New England's premier culinary event takes place each year at the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf. We've listed it in March, but the events span from January to April and include a rare wine auction, educational seminars, competitions, special dinners and the Anthony Spinazzola Gala.

April
Boston Marathon - As with many other things in Boston, the marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and also one of the most prestigious. Runners must first qualify in another certified race, and thousands participate each year.

Patriots' Day - Patriots' Day has become synonymous with the Boston Marathon, both of which take place on the Monday nearest to April 19. It commemorates the historic ride of Paul Revere and the skirmishes that marked the start of the Revolutionary War. Revere's ride from Hanover Street in Boston to Lexington is reenacted as part of the celebrations.

Red Sox - April is the beginning of another season at Fenway Park for the beloved Red Sox. Nothing compares to attending an exciting game at this legendary ballpark.

Swan Boats - Swan boats migrate back to the Boston Public Garden in April to mark the start of spring. The boats were created by Roger Paget, and today his descendants still operate the business. The idea of concealing the captain was based on an opera where a knight crossed a lake in a swan-drawn boat. Today, the boats are famous and city residents might well expect the seasons to halt were the boats not to appear in spring and disappear again in fall.

May
Greater Boston Kite Festival - Children of all ages show up in Franklin Park not only to fly kites, but also to enjoy the various exhibits and entertainments at this fun festival.

Mother's Day - As if the bronze statues of the ducks in the Boston Public Garden were not enough (see our living section ), there is also an annual "Make Way for Ducklings" parade. Countless children are coaxed into duck costumes and encouraged to waddle from Beacon Park to the Public Garden lagoon.

June
Boston Early Music Festival - BEMF is recognized throughout the world as a leader in the field of early music. This biannual weeklong festival features lectures, classes and performances. The highlight, however, is a rarely performed, fully staged Baroque opera.

Bunker Hill Weekend - As stated in the ( history section ), the Battle of Bunker Hill was the source of the famous phrase, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" Each year this famous battle is commemorated in a weekend of events that include a parade, 18th century historic drills and military maneuvers, a Doll Carriage parade and craft demonstrations.

Scooper Bowl - Started in the '80s, the Scooper Bowl is the world's largest ice cream festival. Nine sponsors provide an array of flavors to be sampled at this all-you-can-eat festival. The proceeds support cancer care and research at the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute. This tasty event has raised more than $1 million in the past decade.

July
Harborfest - Nor surprisingly, Boston celebrates the Fourth of July in style. Weeklong activities include a children's day and the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. The yearly (and free) Boston Pops concert on the Esplanade reminds the city of its role in American history. Other rituals include the "1812 Overture" and an incredible fireworks display.

Chowderfest - This is one of the main events during Harborfest. Chowder is a thick soup most often made with clams. More than 2,000 gallons of chowder are distributed to approximately 15,000 visitors in City Hall Plaza who then vote for their favorite soup.

Battle of Fort Wagner Reenactment - Each year the National Park Service and the Museum of Afro-American History re-create the first Civil War battle fought by the first black regiment recruited by the North.

Lowell Folk Festival - More than 100,000 music lovers enjoy the nation's largest free folk festival. Three days of traditional dance, music, craft demonstrations, parades, dance parties and ethnic foods spread across six outdoor stages.

September
Fall Foliage - The countryside around Boston is stunning in the fall. While this isn't an event, strictly speaking, taking a drive to savor the beautiful colors is a must. Stop by a grove and pick some apples or attend a county fair to round out the experience.

Boston Film Festival - Residents and visitors alike launch the fall film season at this amazing event. These days the festival typically features the debut of approximately 50 films. Over the past 19 years Boston has premiered such notable films as Reservoir Dogs, The Piano, Swingers, Gods and Monsters, Pleasantville, Shine, Requiem For A Dream, The Contender, American Beauty, In The Bedroom, Secretary, Matchstick Men and many, many more. The Boston Film Festival has also hosted such acclaimed directors, actors and actresses as Jodie Foster, Robert Duvall, Robert Altman, Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel, Kevin Bacon, Holly Hunter, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney, Jeff Bridges, David Mamet, Steve Martin, William H. Macy, Sir Ridley Scott and Nicholas Cage.

October
Columbus Day Parade - Approximately 8,000 people travel the four-mile route from East Boston to the North End in this annual parade.

Bruins & Celtics - Both teams open their hockey and basketball seasons, respectively, in October.

November
Boston International Antique Book Fair - More than 150 dealers head to Boston each year for the country's oldest, continually running antiquarian book fair. Visitors can purchase a variety of rare, collectible and antiquarian books as well as other rare objects including photographs, manuscripts, maps and autographs.

Pilgrim Procession - Boston enjoys historical reenactments throughout the year. The weekend before Thanksgiving, Pilgrims can be seen in Plymouth's historic homes.

December
Boston Tea Party Re-enactment - In mid-December, patriots gather for a town meeting and angrily head off to the Harbor in this yearly reenactment of the Boston Tea Party.

Illumination at Boston Common - In early December, the Mayor and Santa team up to light the thousands of small lights strung through the trees of the Boston Common.

Sources:
( http://www.boston-travel-services.com/ )

( http://www.lonelyplanet.com )

( http://www.cityofboston.gov )

( http://www.bostoncitylinks.com/boston.html )