Boston is making a new commitment to transforming the city's nightlife by funding innovative, inclusive events.
The Wake Up the Night grant program aims to reshape nightlife across Boston to make it more accessible and diverse, and not just centered around bars and clubs.
“In the last month and a half, we've notified over 40 grant recipients that will recreate nightlife in the city with over 50 different events, and we're really proud of them,” said Coreann Reynolds, Boston's director of nightlife economy.
A statewide ban on happy hours and the shutdown of public transportation at night are common complaints from young people who say they are stifling the development of Boston's nightlife sector. Follow NBC10 Boston: https://instagram.com/nbc10boston https://tiktok.com/@nbc10boston https://facebook.com/NBC10Boston https://twitter.com/NBC10Boston
The grant will support events that focus on accessibility, cultural expression, participation for all ages, weekday activities and alcohol-free environments.
“We pride ourselves on having a little bit of everything and about 17 different neighborhoods spread across the city,” Reynolds added.
One standout event was Piers Park Sailing Centre's 'Kayak the Night', which became so popular that for the first time there was a shortage of paddles.
“The grant has helped us cover our staffing costs and get different equipment to make the kayaks more comfortable to use at night,” said Mela Gomez of the center. “We've got glow-in-the-dark lights and LED strips for better visibility. We've also paid for food, so we can feed our visitors and give them a nice dinner.”
Boston's first Nightlife Economy Director, Coreanne Reynolds, shared her plans for Boston's diverse and vibrant nightlife scene and why investing in the community has become a priority for her office. Follow NBC10 Boston on… Instagram: instagram.com/nbc10boston TikTok: tiktok.com/@nbc10boston Facebook: facebook.com/NBC10Boston X: twitter.com/NBC10Boston
Another event is a non-alcoholic beer garden planned by Dray Drinks for early October.
“We're going to be showcasing the nation's first non-alcoholic beer garden concept,” said Pat Dooling, founder and owner of Dorey Drinks. “Not many people choose to drink or engage in certain activities just because alcohol is available.”
The Rose Kennedy Greenway's “Wake Up the Night” event will focus on the arts, unveiling the 10th mural in Dewey Square's public art program.
“This will be the first mural designed by Jeffrey Gibson that has been commissioned from an Indigenous or Native artist, and we're really excited to have his work on the wall,” said Audrey Lopez, director and curator of public art for the Greenway. “One of the things that's important when you put public art out into the world, in public spaces all over Boston, is not just to put art there, but to activate it.”
Many activities are still in the planning stages, and the events calendar will be released monthly through December. Information about events can be found here.