Now in its 19th year, this gospel festival blends contemporary and traditional gospel melodies. GospelFest showcases national and local gospel talent. This event features Todd Dulaney, with performances by Tamar St. Julien and Phil Thompson.

Fulanito will headline this year's festival. Caliente! is promoted by Noticiero Telemundo Boston.

A Dominican-American musical group from New York, Fulanito combines traditional merengue with other styles (hip hop, bachata, and especially house).

They have been awarded with two Grammy Nominations, three Billboard Awards, a Premio Lo Nuestro Award, an ACE Award, Voted ASCAP Song of the Year, and BMI Song of the Year!

Join us at City Hall Plaza to hear their international Latin hits!

Connect and learn the "Secrets to Success" with Boston's youth and leaders through music and spoken word. Refreshments will be served. Open to all youth. #WERISE 

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Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will be bringing the annual Children’s Winter Festival to Boston Common in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation during school vacation week on Wednesday, February 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

“The Children’s Winter Festival on Boston Common is a well-loved tradition in Boston, and we are pleased to bring it back again in 2018,” said Mayor Walsh. “We invite all children and families to come on down to the festival for a day filled with fun activities.”

Among the attractions will the 45-foot-long Toboggan Tunnel mountainous adventure with twin roller lanes, the 30-foot-high inflatable Everest Climb N Slide, and the Snow Mazing maze.  In addition, the Highland Street Foundation is sponsoring a week-long Winter Camp at the Boston Common Frog Pond with free skating and rentals for all ages from Monday, February 19, through Friday, February 23.  For more information on the Winter Camp skating, please visit www.highlandstreet.org.

The festival will also feature a DJ from Magic 106.7, an appearance by the L.L.Bean Bootmobile with their popular Boot Toss game, giveaways from “DreamWorks Animation Trolls: The Beat Goes On!” now airing on Netflix, and refreshments from Sparkling Ice beverages and Power Crunch protein energy bars.  In addition, the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Outdoors Rx program will present activities including scavenger hunts and nature walks.

Additional support is being provided by the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center and Cricket Wireless.  For more information, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505 or go visit the Parks Facebook page.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh, in partnership with the Museum of African American History, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), and Boston University, will present, "A Day of Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," on Monday, January 15, 2018 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Metcalf Hall on the second floor of George Sherman Union at Boston University located at 775 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. It is fitting that this year’s tribute is being generously held at Boston University since Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. earned his Ph.D. in systematic theology there in 1955.

This event celebrates Dr. King, the man, the minister, and the humanitarian. Young BYSO musicians' outstanding performances of classical music, spirituals and freedom songs are complemented by the words of Dr. King as spoken by three distinguished community leaders, and culminated with a keynote address by Beverly Morgan-Welch, the Associate Director of External Affairs for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.

The free event will feature appearances by Mayor Walsh, NECN’s Jenny Johnson, Santa Claus, and Rudolph along with musical performances by the Boston Children’s Chorus, the Boston Pops Brass Quintet, and Berklee College of Music students Britani Washington and Sam Robbins.  

The Old South Church bell will toll when the tree is illuminated.  Light refreshments will be provided by local businesses New England Coffee, DAVIDsTEA, and HP Hood LLC. The Fairmont Copley Plaza will host a family reception immediately following for all in attendance.  The reception will include cookie decorating, photos with Santa, and treats from the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

Even more festivities will take place in and around Copley Square on November 27. The Boston Public Library and The Catered Affair will host a Storytime and Candy Cane Tea at the library from 3:30 - 5 p.m.  The tea is free but reservations are required by calling 617-859-2272. 

For additional information please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505.  To learn more about The Friends of Copley Square, please visit www.friendsofcopleysquare.org.