May in Boston is dominated by what we call “Graduation Season.” This is the time of year when students graduate from more than 100 colleges and universities in the Greater Boston area. Friends and families arrive to attend the ceremonies and treat the new grads to meals around town.
Families also come to Boston to pick up and move out many of the 250,000 students who spend the academic year around here. That can mean traffic issues and parking headaches in some neighborhoods.
All year long, the locals who volunteer to assist visitors over on the Boston Trip Advisor forum explain that these May happenings and other events explain the scarcity and high cost of hotel rooms.
Here is our post with all dates for many of this year’s graduations.
Boston Area Commencement Dates, Spring 2015
Farmers Markets Start Opening In May
This is one of the very best things about May. We look forward to great local food and the wonderful community that exists at our local farmers markets. The tremendously popular and busy Copley Square Farmers Market opened on May12th.
We have a post with all the dates: Market Report: Summer Farmers Markets Opening Dates 2015
Make May Restaurant Reservations
Reservations at area restaurants will be harder to find May 8th through 11th with Mother's Day and 5 commencements, and scarce May 15th through 18th when 15 schools, including BU and BC, will hold ceremonies. Harvard commencement is May 28th and MIT June 5th – each of these schools is large enough to have an impact on its own.
Holidays in May
Mother’s Day is Sunday May 10th. You have a short time to make plans to celebrate if that day is on your calendar. On Mother’s Day, you'll find special menus in many restaurants. If you have suggestions for places not doing this or alternative dining suggestions for Mother’s Day please add them. Here's a link to our post with suggestions for places to dine on Mother's Day.
Memorial Day is Monday, May 25. That means the long weekend to kick off summer will begin on Friday May 22nd. If you are staying in Boston consider taking advantage of the Museum of Fine Arts annual Memorial Day Open House with free admission and special programs throughout the day.
Conventions that Impact Hotel Pricing & Availability
April 29-May 2: American College of Physicians Internal Medicine 2015, estimated attendees: 7,000
May 6-7: UBM Canon – BIOMEDevice / Design & Manufacturing New England / Electronics New England 2015, estimated attendees: 6,050
May 14-16: Heart Rhythm Society – 2015 Annual Scientific Sessions, estimated attendees: 15,000
May 26-28: NAFSA: Association of International Educators 2015 Annual Conference & International Education Expo, estimated attendees: 7,000
Watch for our upcoming post on what we’re looking forward to in May. We'd love to include some of your suggestions. Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino, Graduation photo from iStockphoto.com