A free community block party on Saturday, September 20, 2025
East Boston Main Streets is pleased to announce Eastie Welcome Weekend, a new event designed to engage new residents, celebrate the neighborhood’s diversity, and strengthen bonds between local businesses, non-profits, and the broader community. The outdoor event will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 2:00–6:00 PM (Rain date: Sunday, September 21) at the intersection of Havre, Brooks and Bennington Streets.
Funded in part by an Impact & Innovation Grant from the Boston Main Streets Foundation, this initiative responds to one of East Boston’s greatest opportunities, connecting recently-arrived residents to our vibrant local community. In coordination with The Office of Civic Organizing, Boston’s “City Hall on the Go” van will be on-site to provide residents with access to city services including voter registration, parking permits, and dog licenses.
Representatives from additional city departments will also be present to connect attendees with programs and resources.
Eastie Welcome Weekend will feature a Parrillada Latina (Latin American BBQ), produced through a collaboration between the butchers at El Valle de la Sultana and Bono Restaurant & Catering to showcase authentic flavors from across the region. Democracy Brewing, a new worker-owned brewery in East Boston will be serving their seasonal Oktoberfest brews in an open-air beer garden. Other vendors will include the celebrated local restaurant El Peñol, named Best-in-Show at this year’s Taste of Eastie, and Barney’s Grill, to be featured on a new “Burger Trail” of the neighborhood.
Community Crossroads will be a gathering space with bilingual signs and high-top tables, recognizing different themes of neighborhood life, making it easy for attendees to discover the causes, clubs, and community groups that align with their interests. Residents will be invited to explore volunteer opportunities, discover upcoming community events, and meet representatives from local organizations. By gathering these like-minded organizations side by side, we hope the result will be a space that is as much about building community infrastructure as it is about welcoming new residents.
Finally to make the event truly inviting, Eastie Welcome Weekend will feature bold, inflatable Street Seats by Pneuhaus, a Rhode Island based design studio. Both functional and playful, these sculptural art installations will transform the event site into an interactive social hub, encouraging neighbors to gather, play, and imagine new possibilities for community life.
The event is free and open to all. For more information and updates, please RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/EastieWelcome2025
