This event is part of a City Hall Plaza Event Series supported by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture. Stay tuned for event time and more details, coming soon!

This event is part of a City Hall Plaza Event Series supported by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture. Stay tuned for event time and more details, coming soon!

Sweater Weather Fest is a free, all ages event on City Hall Plaza hosted by Sweater Weather Films, where Boston’s film industry opens up to the public. Taking place October 17, the day includes panels with local working filmmakers, crew, and local production companies, plus a short film contest anyone can enter. Guests can browse fall vendors from around the city, grab food from local favorites, and stop by the beer garden throughout the day. The night closes with a feature screening under the open sky. The plaza is fully accessible, with accommodations available for guests who need them.

This event is part of a City Hall Plaza Event Series supported by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture. Stay tuned for event time and more details, coming soon!

Learn more about Sweater Weather Films

This event is part of a City Hall Plaza Event Series supported by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture. Stay tuned for event time and more details, coming soon!

This event is part of a City Hall Plaza Event Series supported by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture. Stay tuned for event time and more details, coming soon!

A free public experience centering wigs, alopecia, identity & the women who wear them through art, storytelling and live education.

Presented by Lace Layer during Alopecia Awareness Month, The Install is a free Boston experience bringing together wig education, alopecia and hair-loss awareness, portrait storytelling, wellness and community.

Join us September 19, 2026 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Civic Pavilion at Boston City Hall Plaza for an afternoon centered on wigs, identity, artistry and the women who wear them.

For many women, a wig is more than hair. It can be part of navigating hair loss, an expression of identity, a source of confidence, a form of creativity or simply a personal choice.

The Install puts the women and their stories at the center.

Seven Women. Seven Portraits. Seven Stories.

At the heart of The Install is an original portrait exhibition featuring seven local women, each with her own relationship to wigs, hair loss, identity and confidence.

Photographed in their wigs and presented alongside their personal stories, the exhibition invites guests to see the woman behind the install and the experiences that aren't always visible.

The Install Portrait Exhibition + Gallery Experience is created and curated by Arlene Baldwin, with photography by Samuel “Borii” Adewale.

Conversations, Wellness and Live Artistry

The Install Conversation brings together Wonder R. Hollingsworth, Dianne Austin, Pamela Shaddock, Danielle Johnson and moderator Arlene Baldwin for a candid conversation about alopecia, medical hair loss, wig wearing, identity, advocacy and representation.

Dr. Lucy Lomas will lead Caring for You: A Conversation on Self-Care and Wellness, exploring emotional wellness and caring for yourself while navigating hair loss.

Then, watch a live wig installation with Sammie Marie of Thehairrpluggg, featuring the Lace Layer Install System. See the installation process from start to finish, learn application and lace-melting techniques, and bring your wig questions.

What You'll Experience

• Seven portraits and the real stories behind them
• Live conversations about alopecia, hair loss, identity and wellness
• A live wig installation and education
• FREE WIG GIVEAWAYS and other giveaways
• Hair-loss and community resources
• Food, drinks and mocktails
• Opportunities to connect, ask questions and take photos

Whether you wear wigs because of alopecia, medical hair loss, protective styling, convenience, fashion or simply because you love them, The Install is a space to learn, connect and see the many experiences behind wig wearing represented.

RSVP

RSVPs are encouraged to receive event updates and help us plan for attendance.

The Install is a free, unticketed event open to the public. An Eventbrite RSVP is not required for admission and does not guarantee entry. Admission is first come, first served, so guests are encouraged to arrive early.

RSVP for the event

This event is part of a City Hall Plaza Event Series supported by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture.

A draft of the Boston Coastal Storm Risk Management Assessment Study will be released to the public on Friday, July 24. 

Come join the Office of Climate Resilience and USACE New England District team members to:

• Learn about what is in the draft report, 
• Learn how you can provide public comment, 
• Browse poster maps and graphics of the proposed projects and,
• Ask questions

Light refreshments will be provided. Please register if you need Language Interpretation services or childcare, to attend.

Our STEM and Emergency Preparedness workshops are led by local BPS teacher and Office of Emergency Management staff. They're held Mondays in July and August and run from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Join us for exciting hands-on STEM activities that spark curiosity and creativity. Explore interactive hand on learning experiences while discovering the importance of youth preparedness. Learn about hazards, how to call 911 and how to prepare for emergencies with the Office of Emergency Management!

This series is completely free and open to Boston residents. These workshops will take place in various parks throughout the City of Boston.

Registration is encouraged so we know how many supplies to bring (pre-registration is required for groups of 8 or more). Please email allison.singer2@boston.gov to register.

This series is also weather-dependent. Check our social media pages for updated weather info regarding this series. Follow us on social media for the latest updates on events: Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

Our STEM and Emergency Preparedness workshops are led by local BPS teacher and Office of Emergency Management staff. They're held Mondays in July and August and run from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Join us for exciting hands-on STEM activities that spark curiosity and creativity. Explore interactive hand on learning experiences while discovering the importance of youth preparedness. Learn about hazards, how to call 911 and how to prepare for emergencies with the Office of Emergency Management!

This series is completely free and open to Boston residents. These workshops will take place in various parks throughout the City of Boston.

Registration is encouraged so we know how many supplies to bring (pre-registration is required for groups of 8 or more). Please email allison.singer2@boston.gov to register.

This series is also weather-dependent. Check our social media pages for updated weather info regarding this series. Follow us on social media for the latest updates on events: Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.