The Harvard Square Business Association, 2013 Calendar of Events

January

January 11th – Kick-off of Harvard Square’s 5th Annual month long Winter Carnival commencing with the Boston Celtic Music Festival at Passim.

January 25th – Come celebrate our 5th Winter Carnival Go Green Walk/Ride Friday – check back for details.

January 25th – 26th – 27th – Taste of Chocolate Festival in Harvard Square! Harvard Square’s finest restaurants and cafes will embark on a three day chocolate extravaganza! Events will include workshops, a Chocolate Scavenger Hunt, Dining in the Dark Chocolate Style, and Mystery Café’s Death by Chocolate. Harvard Square restaurants will feature chocolate appetizers, entrees, desserts, cocktails, cordials and nightcaps while Harvard Square retailers will dazzle you with scrumptious chocolate specials and deals. And, for you brave and hearty chocolate lovers, our now famous tasty sampling of chocolate goodies from Harvard Square’s finest purveyors will be presented on Saturday from 1:00pm until 2:00pm on Deguglielmo Plaza (in front of Crema Café) for all to enjoy! Entertainment, prizes and more!

January 31st – Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Parade in Harvard Square! (Parade at 3:00pm followed by her Award Presentation and Roast.)

 

February

February 2nd – 5th Annual “Some Like It Hot Chili Cook – off” from 1:00pm – 3:00pm (the daybefore the Super Bowl). Enjoy samples of chili from some of Harvard Square’s HOTTEST restaurants while enjoying musical entertainment! Cast your vote for the best “Some Like It Hot” Chili in Harvard Square! This event is free, open to the public and will take place on Deguglielmo Plaza (in front of Bob Slate Stationer at 30 Brattle Street).

February 3rd – Super Bowl Sunday in Harvard Square! Events in Harvard Square restaurants and clubs – more details coming soon!

February 8th – Hasty Pudding Man of the Year – the tradition continues! (An Award Presentation and Roast at 8:00pm followed by the opening night performance of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals.)

February 14 – 15 – 16 – 17 – Lovin’ the Square. This year’s Valentine’s event will feature fabulous food and drinks from Harvard Square’s restaurants, romantic and fun deals from our retailers and a variety of interesting, cozy and entertaining things to do from all of our cultural icons!

 

March

March 1st – 31st Harvard Square Celebrates Women History Month. Check back for more information about restaurant events and cultural events throughout Harvard Square.

March 3rd – Come celebrate Chinese New Year in Harvard Square! 2013 is the year of the Snake and the 58th Anniversary of the Hong Kong in Harvard Square! As usual, Massachusetts Avenue from the Hong Kong to Yenching will be festooned with red and gold lanterns hanging from our wrought iron lampposts as we prepare for our grand annual Chinese New Year procession through Harvard Square and our cultural “Open House” at the Hong Kong! Festivities begin at 1pm. More details coming soon!

March 17th – Harvard-Go-Brach events in Harvard Square! Join us in Harvard Square as we celebrate our Irish Cultural Heritage! Check back for more information about restaurant events and cultural events throughout Harvard Square.

March 17th – March 22nd and March 24th – 29th – Winter Restaurant Week in Harvard Square!

 

April

April 12th – 21st – The 6th Annual Cambridge Science Festival. Harvard Square is full of scientific surprises! Check back for more details.

April 20th – The 6th Annual Bookish Ball and Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration! Partnering withthe Cambridge Public Library, Actors’ Shakespeare Project and Harvard Square’s bookstores, please join us for bookstore strolls, music, dancing, performances, and birthday cake! This event is free to the public. More details to follow.

April 25th – 28th – The 21st Annual Harvard Arts First Festival – Join hundreds of Harvard undergraduates, graduate students and faculty in Harvard’s Annual Celebration of the Arts.

 

May

May 5th – from 12:00pm to 6:00pm – The 30th Annual Mayfair featuring six stages of live entertainment, dozens of restaurant vendors, hundreds of street vendors selling artwork, jewelry, vintage clothing, neighborhood sidewalk sales, and the Rotary Club of Cambridge’s annual Chalk on the Walk! Rain date – Sunday, Mayfair 19th.

May 5th – Cinco de Mayo – Mexican heritage celebrated in the restaurants of Harvard Square.

May 12th – Mother’s Day!

May 30th – 362nd Harvard Commencement

 

June

June 1st – Cambridge’s Riverfest Celebration

June 8th – Jose Mateo’s Dance for World Community Festival in Harvard Square!

June 9th – Patio’s in Bloom Kickoff – Harvard Square’s Annual “Patios in Bloom” festival. Come celebrate as we officially open patio season in Harvard Square with the installation of our Victorian Flower Baskets!

June 16th – Father’s Day in Harvard Square!

June 22nd – 6th Annual Make Music Harvard Square, Fete de la Musique! A Square wide musical celebration held in every nook and cranny, park and plaza and street and patio throughout the day and evening.

June 23rd – Tory Row 5K Road Race . Check back for details.

 

July

July 5th – August 31st – Think PINK, Drink PINK, Shop PINK! Members of the Harvard SquareBusiness Association have joined together to create a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign using PINK themed window displays, PINK drinks and PINK shopping opportunities in Harvard Square from July 5th through August 31st. Harvard Square businesses have raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer research since the inception of this event in 2006.

July 14th – Bastille Day! Join us on Holyoke Street for a stormin’ French Street Festival featuring fabulous French food, music, and dance!

 

August

Summer Restaurant Week in Harvard Square. Details to follow

 

September

September 1 – 30 – 3rd Annual Revival Month in Harvard Square. Details to follow.

September 22 – Urban Ag Fair in Harvard Square. Details to follow.

September 22 – 10th Annual Riversing, presented by the Revels. Details to follow.

September (dates to be announced) The Americana Music Festival in Harvard Square – 3 days of music and activities.

 

October

October 13th – the 35th Annual Oktoberfest and HONK Festival features six stages of live entertainment, dozens of restaurant vendors, hundreds of street vendors selling artworks, jewelry, vintage clothing, neighborhood sidewalk sales and HONK! Bands from around the country! Raindate, October 14th.

October 19th – 20th – The 49th Head of the Charles, the world’s largest two-day rowing event, brings 7,500 athletes from around the world to compete in 55 different race events. The Regatta attracts up to 300,000 spectators to Harvard Square!

October 31st – November 3rd – Harvard Scare! Details to follow.

 

November

November 1st – 30th – 5th Annual Folk Music Month in Harvard
Square. Check back for details.

November 23rd – 130th Harvard Yale Game at Yale

November 28th – Thanksgiving in Harvard Square

November 29th – Kick-off the holiday shopping season with Plaid and Black Friday events in Harvard Square

November 30th – Annual Tree Lighting at the Charles Hotel.

 

December

December 1st – The Everyone Loves Latkes Party! From 1:00pm – 2:00pm , the 7th annual Everyone Loves Latkes Party features the most delicious, most creative, and best–looking latkes and condiments around! Join us for this free event with gracious latke donations from the fabulous restaurants of Harvard Square.

December 13th – 15th – Shop-over Weekend at local Harvard Square hotels and inns!

December (date to be announced) – Opening of the Ice Rink at The Charles Hotel