2026 Rat City Arts Festival

Allston has embraced the nickname Rat City for years, so naturally someone turned it into an arts festival. The Rat City Arts Festival celebrates the neighborhood's creative side with a full day of live music, local artists, makers and offbeat programming at the Charles River Speedway. It's proudly grassroots, a little weird and exactly the kind of event that feels true to Allston's personality. You'll find emerging bands, browse work from Boston-area artists and probably stumble across something you weren't expecting, whether that's a beautifully painted rat trap or a costumed Rat Walk winding through the grounds. If your ideal Saturday involves discovering local talent instead of waiting in line for a corporate festival, consider this your invitation to spend the day in one of Boston's most creative neighborhoods