Boston Children's Museum is celebrating its 100th birthday with a Big Cake Birthday Tour that will visit ten Boston neighborhoods this summer. A giant inflated cake and milk bottle will accompany Museum staff who will lead fitness activities and games meant to inspire movement and health. The Tour honors the neighborhood roots of the Museum and its commitment to the families and children of Boston.

The Museum is grateful for the generous support of Tour sponsors: Suffolk Construction, The Fallon Company, New Balance, BNY Mellon, CBS Boston's WBZ-TV and myTV38 (WSBK-TV), Massachusetts Cultural Council, and The Boston Foundation.



Are you ready to take the Big Cake Challenge? Check in and get a power pedometer to track how many steps you take while hula hooping, jumping and grooving your way through our movement course. When you finish, enter the Big Cake and join our mini Kids Jam dance party, complete with a sparkly disco ball. The neighborhood spot that gets the most steps will get a special shout-out at the big birthday party at Boston Children's Museum on October 5th.

Challenges include:

• Have a Ball – Extraordinary fun with an ordinary beach ball.
• Twist and Shout – Take your hoop game to the next level.
• Taghackers – help us put a new twist on an old game.
• Strength in Numbers – Challenge yourself to hold the pose.
• Jump! – Over, under, around, or through?
• Retro Fun – Some games never go out of style.

And the best part? All of these activities are FREE, as our gift to Boston.

Event Dates and Descriptions

Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Location: Boston Children's Museum
Big Cake Birthday Tour Launch
Join Boston Children's Museum staff as we inflate the Big Cake for the very first time. Celebrate with a free Hoodsie cup, while supplies last.
Website: bostonchildrensmuseum.org/bigcaketour
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Saturday, July 13, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 11am – 2pm
Outside the Box Festival
Location: Boston Common
A revolutionary event is happening this July in the heart of Boston, one that promises to unite neighborhoods, citizens, and artistic communities throughout the city: Outside The Box. From July 13th – 20th, the first annual performing arts festival will turn public spaces like the Boston Common and City Hall Plaza into performance spaces, with over 200 events showcasing the best of Boston and Massachusetts.
Website: http://outsidetheboxboston.org/
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Sunday, July 14, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 3pm – 6pm, Concert 6pm
Location: Jamaica Pond, Pinebank
2013 Summer Sundays in the Park: Boston Landmarks Orchestra
A family- friendly concert featuring BLO brass musicians, a performance by students from the Conservatory Lab Charter School brass ensemble and the ever- popular "Instrument Playground" where children have a hands-on experience with a variety of musical instruments, under the guidance of professional musicians and music students. An evening of music and fun for all ages! Co-presented by Friends of Jamaica Pond. Co-sponsored by Boston Parks and Recreation Department.
Website: www.emeraldnecklace.org, www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Monday, July 29, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 5pm – 7:30pm
Location: Hunt/Almont Park, Mattapan
Mayor Menino's Movie Nights featuring “The Express”
Description: Watch a family-friendly movie under the stars in Boston parks. ParkARTS is sponsored by Bank of America. Popcorn provided by AMC Loews Movie Theatre.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Friday, August 2, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 10am – 4pm
Location: Boston Children's Museum
Highland Street Foundation FREE Day at Boston Children's Museum
Join the Big Cake Challenge back at Boston Children's Museum.
Website: www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Sunday, August 4, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 4pm – 6pm, Concert 5pm
Location: Marcella Park, Roxbury
ParkARTS Citywide Neighborhood Concerts
Description: Jazz at the Fort, featuring Diane Richardson and Friends is sponsored by Berklee College of Music with support from the Friends of Highland Park and Discover Roxbury (Rain location Roxbury Community College). ParkARTS is sponsored by Bank of America.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Monday, August 5, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 5pm – 7:30pm, Movie at Dusk
Location: Medal of Honor/M St., South Boston
Mayor Menino's Movie Nights featuring “Miracle”
Watch a family-friendly movie under the stars in Boston parks. ParkARTS is sponsored by Bank of America. Popcorn provided by Skinny Pop Popcorn.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Saturday, August 10, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 12pm – 4pm
Location: Mary Hannon Park, Dorchester
Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative Multicultural Fair
Celebrate the cultures of the Dudley neighborhood at Mary Hannon Park on Dudley St in Dorchester. This youth-organized festival, which runs from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., will feature stage performances by local artists, a fashion show, food, games and more!
Website: www.dsni.org
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Monday, August 12, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 5pm – 7:30pm, Movie at Dusk
Location: Blackstone, South End
Mayor Menino's Movie Nights featuring “Paranorman”
Watch a family-friendly movie under the stars in Boston parks. ParkARTS is sponsored by Bank of America. Movie night is sponsored by Northeastern University. Popcorn provided by AMC Loews Movie Theatre.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Thursday, August 15, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 5 - 7pm, Concert at 7pm
Location: East Boston Greenway/Caboose (rain location: Zumix)
Tito Puente Latin Music Series Latin Heartbeat Orchestra
This 8th annual high-energy Latin concert series continues to create excitement throughout Boston. Join in the fun at these popular concerts sponsored in part by Berklee College of Music, IBA, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, and Goya. Location: East Boston Greenway-Caboose, East Boston. ParkARTS is sponsored by Bank of America.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Monday, August 19, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 5 - 7:30pm, Movie at Dusk
Location: Billings Field, West Roxbury
Mayor Menino's Movie Nights featuring “We Are Marshall”
Watch a family-friendly movie under the stars in Boston parks. ParkARTS is sponsored by Bank of America. Popcorn provided by AMC Loews Movie Theatre.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Tuesday, August 20, 2013 (rain date August 21), Big Cake Challenge 10am – 2pm
Location: Franklin Park, Dorchester
ParkSCIENCE Children's Festival
This Children's Festival is packed full of performing arts, science related activities like cool experiments using house hold ingredients, art projects to take home, face painting, a visit from the Franklin Park Zoo and much more! ParkSCIENCE is funded in part by a Green Parks Green Kids grant through a partnership between the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Recreation foundation.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Monday, August 26, 2013, Big Cake Challenge 5 - 7:30pm, Movie at Dusk
Location: Iacono, Hyde Park
Mayor Menino's Movie Nights featuring “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial”
Watch a family-friendly movie under the stars in Boston parks. ParkARTS is sponsored by Bank of America. Popcorn provided by AMC Loews Movie Theatre.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map

Saturday, October 5, 2013, Boston Children's Museum's Big Birthday Party
Location: Boston Children's Museum
Boston Children's Museum's Big Birthday Party
The Big Cake makes its triumphant return to Boston Children's Museum, making four stops on Boston's beautiful waterfront before entering Fort Point Channel.
Website: www.cityofboston.gov/parks
Neighborhood Destinations Map