Boston on a budget: Free, fun things you can do this summer in the city

Art and music

• The Harvard Art Museums are free and open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Peruse the pieces on display on your own or listen to one of the museum’s gallery talks. Plus, on the last Thursday of every month, you can mingle and grab a bite in the museum’s courtyard during its free “Harvard Art Museums at Night.” (Mark your calendar; the next one is July 25.)
• The Institute of Contemporary Art in the Seaport is free every Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (just make sure to grab an advance ticket the day of when they become available at 10 a.m.). This happily coincides with “Harborwalk Sounds,” a free concert series set on the ICA’s waterfront with music from some of Berklee College’s brightest. If Thursday night’s not your vibe, check back in on Friday, starting in mid-July. The ICA’s free outdoor “Vinyl Nights” series will return with tunes to close out your week, though admission into the mueseum will still cost you. (If you’re not a planner, you don’t need a ticket for either of the music events.)
• There are a number of free music festivals happening around Boston, including BAMS Festival, which is currently underway this weekend at Franklin Park. BAMS (which stands for Boston Art & Music Soul), seeks to highlight Black artists and international sounds. The festival’s impressive lineup this year includes local stars like Lisa Bello and Nay $peaks. There will also be food trucks and vendors at the park, so come hungry and ready to vibe. Looking for more? Noah Schaffer has a roundup here of 10 places you can sing, rock and sway to live music for free this summer.

Fitness classes

• The City of Boston’s Parks Fitness Series is back this summer with daily classes for locals to try. Now through Aug. 31, join a group at one of 16 different parks around Boston for Zumba, tai chi, yoga or a HIIT workout led by a fitness instructor. If an hour of dancing is more your style, you’re in luck: There are also opportunities to try Afrobeats or salsa dancing, and even low-intensity line dancing. Classes are held every day of the week. See the full schedule here.
• River Fit is a series of free fitness classes created by the Esplanade Association in collaboration with DCR. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting July 15, they’ll host runs, walks, cardio workouts and sunset yoga at the Hatch Memorial Shell and Fielder Field along the Charles. Four of River Fit’s recurring classes start after 5 p.m. — perfect for the 9-5 crowd. Just make sure to register and reserve your spot in advance.
• Seaport Sweat, a summer workout series on the Seaport Common, offers a mix of Pilates, barre, athletic conditioning and body sculpting classes meant to make you perspire. And you should definitely be able to find something that works with your schedule, as there are classes at a variety of times from Monday through Saturday. Apart from a mat (which you can bring yourself), classes are equipment-free.

Free activities for families

• Families with children in the Boston Public Schools can explore any of these six institutions for free on the first and second Sunday of each month: The New England Aquarium, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Museum of Science, The Museum of Fine Arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Boston Children’s Museum. There are only four more free Sundays left this summer, so don’t wait.
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is always free for kids under 17 — and anyone named Isabella, in case you didn’t know. Children who are 7 and older can also participate in a hands-on art activity in the Gardner’s Bertucci Education Studio, or just enjoy a tranquil walk around the museum’s neatly manicured courtyard. (FYI: Adults still have to purchase a general admission ticket for $20.)