12 Parks for Great (and Cheap!) Outdoor Birthday Parties in Boston | Mommy Poppins

With warm weather making an appearance, it will soon be the best time of year to be outside in Boston. If your child was born in late spring, summer, or early fall, hosting their birthday party at a local park or playground is an easy, fun, and super-affordable option. Fortunately, there are a number of green spaces from Waltham to the water where kids parties’ aren’t just permitted, but welcomed. The best part of all? Most are free (or nearly free). Just be sure to call or email each park in advance to reserve a spot to spread out (if necessary) and find out what kind of food and extras—like bounce houses or live entertainment—are allowed.

West of Boston

Larz Anderson Park

Larz Anderson is Brookline’s largest park and an ideal place to celebrate your child’s big day. The park offers an enclosed children’s play space, as well as picnic areas and ball fields. Visitors can hang out in one of 12 picnic areas, each of which has a table and a charcoal grill and fits up to eight adults. Looking for a bigger site? Check out the Larz Shelter, which can hold up to 85 people with multiple tables and grills. Reservation rates for the picnic sites vary. For example, $45 for a resident for each timing permit (10:00 am to 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm) and $90 for a non-resident. For the Larz Shelter, it’s $175 for half day for a resident and $275 for a non-resident.) 617-730-2069

Beaver Brook Reservation

On the border of Belmont and Waltham, Beaver Brook Reservation’s spray park and adjoining playground are wildly popular in the warmer months, so to get a spot at one of the covered picnic tables, you need to stake your claim early. The parking lot is a few minutes walk from the spray deck, so keep that in mind if you have lots of equipment or small kids who don’t like to walk. The 59 acres of fields are a great place to picnic, but only for people who don’t mind dogs—Beaver Brook is a popular place for dog walkers. A permit is required for groups of 20 or more. 617-727-538

The city of Arlington offers a host of parks to choose from that feel miles away from the city. With playgrounds and picnic tables, many parks are well-suited for outdoor parties. Kids can hike through the trails in the woods or run through the fields. Be sure to check applicable permit fees and details regarding reservations at arlingtonma.myrec.com. 781-316-3880

A great way to cool off by the water is to host a birthday party at the Reservoir Beach – Pavilion Picnic Area, which is in Arlington as well. Reservoir Beach offers two hour time slots, at $200 for residents and $300 for non-residents. It includes swimming with lifeguard on duty and a picnic pavilion. Please note guests are limited to 25. 781-316-3880

Want to party by the river? Christian A. Herter Park stretches along the Allston side of the Charles from Eliot Bridge past the Artesani playground and paddling pool. In addition to the spray park, the park offers a large open field and a rental kiosk run by Charles River Canoe & Kayak. The park offers a limited number of picnic tables for groups, but get there early to reserve your spot. 617-626-1250 

Danehy Park

Danehy Park is a 50-acre park near Fresh Pond in Cambridge, with a walking path, enormous fields, and a spray park. Danehy is the only park in Cambridge that allows grills, but even without them, there are picnic tables and plenty of room to play. To reserve a spot for a party between May and November, it is recommended to get a permit two weeks before your planned event. 617-349-6200

With miles and miles of trail, Breakheart Reservation near Saugus includes two lakes and has free parking (177 Forest Street in Saugus and at 100 Hemlock Road in Wakefield). There are no rental fees but groups of 25 or more will need a permit. 781- 233-0834

Arsenal Park

Tucked away behind The Arsenal Project in Watertown, Arsenal Park is a perfect spot to party with little ones. The 13-acre park has a spray park and a tot lot for romping, and playing fields that can be rented with a permit for a fee. You can check availability on their website. There are 19 tables and two grills that can also be reserved starting at $2 an hour for fewer than 10 people. 617-972-6464

Another great park with lots of hiking and walking trails, as well as two beaches, is Hopkinton State Park. The Hopkinton Reservoir offers a beautiful serene view, especially in the fall. For rental options and fees for birthday parties, visit the facilities site. 508-435-4303

South of Boston

If you want to really go deep into the forest, then Myles Standish State Forest near Plymouth is a good location to explore. There is a picnic pavilion you can reserve, with a daily parking fee of $8 for MA residents and $30 for non-MA residents. Afterwards, you can head to Plymouth for more fun and good eats along the waterfront, and get a glimpse of Plymouth Rock at the Pilgrim Memorial State Park. 508-866-2526

Spectacle Island

Boston

What could be more exciting than an island birthday party? Boston Harbor Islands have excellent options for birthday parties. Two of the best are Georges Island and Spectacle Island, both of which offer on-site catering if you don’t want to bring your own food. True, the ferry isn’t free ($10/child), but having a birthday picnic on the beach overlooking the city makes up for it. Georges Island has two large group picnic areas with shade shelters and grills—not to mention Fort Warren, a Civil War-era fort complete with ghost. Twenty minutes from Boston, Spectacle Island has sandy beaches, five miles of walking paths and stunning views of the city. In the summer, lifeguards are even on duty for swimmers who want to brave the water. Groups of 25 or more are required to apply for a free group authorization. Please note that booking is currently on hold. Please visit bostonharborislands.org or call 617-223-8667 for future availability. 

Dorchester’s Franklin Park is 485 acres, and in a park that large, there’s something for everyone. The park has four different options for special events. For youngsters, the Playstead is an excellent spot for a birthday party. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1886, it is presently a large field with picnic tables near the zoo entrance. Visitors can also party in the Shattuck Picnic Grove, the Wilderness Picnic Site, or Schoolmaster Hill. Groups of more than 25 require a permit, however, there are no permit fees. 617-635-4505

Schoolmaster Hill, Franklin Park

Top photo courtesy of Sky Noir via Flickr; other photos courtesy of ann-dabney via Flickr, the author, Franklin Park Coalition, Mary Shillue for the city of Cambridge, and Boston Harbor Islands.

This post was originally published on April 11, 2017 and updated on July 20,, 2023.