The neighborhood’s annual celebration, formerly known as Joy:us, comes to the East Boston waterfront on Thursday, October 1, with a free Family Celebration open to all
East Boston, MA: The East Boston Social Centers will host The Eastie Social on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 4:30 to 7:30 PM at The Tall Ship Boston, 1 East Pier Drive. For five years, neighbors have known the celebration as Joy:us. This year it has a new name and two parts: a free Family Celebration on the dock, open to all of East Boston, followed by a ticketed Reception & Honors in the tent. The event was originally scheduled for Sunday, September 27 and was moved because of the heavy weather and coastal flooding forecast for that weekend.
The Family Celebration runs from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, with showcases from Social Centers programs, local music, snacks, and family activities along the harbor. It is free, and families can sign up at ebsocialcenters.org/eastie-social.
The Reception & Honors, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, brings together the Social Centers’ leadership, board, sponsors, and supporters to recognize this year’s honorees, the Hestia Fund and the Friends of East Boston. The Hestia Fund, a Boston women’s giving circle founded in 2000, and the Friends of East Boston have supported the organizations that serve East Boston’s children, families, and residents for years, including BPS Region 1 schools, YMCA East Boston, Zumix, and the East Boston Social Centers.
“East Boston has always been a place where neighbors come together,” said Justin Pasquariello, Chief Executive Officer of the East Boston Social Centers. “The Hestia Fund and the Friends of East Boston Circle have shown us what it looks like to invest not for recognition, but because they believe, as we do, that when all give, all gain. None of us can meet this moment alone, but together, as neighbors, partners, and friends, we can.”
Funds raised at The Eastie Social support the Social Centers’ programs for children, families, and seniors, and keep the Family Celebration free. Tickets for the Reception & Honors are available at ebsocialcenters.org/eastie-social.
Members of the media are welcome to attend. The Family Celebration on the dock, from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, is the best time for photos. To attend or to request an interview, contact Aubrey Hartnett (details above).
About the East Boston Social Centers
The East Boston Social Centers, a multi-service agency and community center that cultivates community, belonging, and joy, has been changing lives for 108 years, serving East Boston and its neighbors with services that support community health, well-being, and joy. As reflected in its motto, “When all give, all gain,” the Social Centers create a welcoming environment where community members are empowered to lead productive, fulfilling lives. Learn more at ebsocialcenters.org.
