09/05/2026
This weekend is the final weekend of the Boston Swan Boats for 2026, with the season ending on Labor Day, September 7.
The Swan Boats have been gliding through the Boston Public Garden since 1877, when Robert Paget introduced his pedal-powered boat inspired by the swan in Wagner’s Lohengrin. Nearly 150 years later, they’re still operated by the Paget family. 🦢❤️
For me, though, the Swan Boats aren't just Boston history. They’re part of my history.
I remember riding them as a little girl with my mom and grandmother. Years later, I continued the tradition by taking my own daughter on her very first Swan Boat ride when she was just 3 months old.
There’s something pretty special about a Boston tradition that lets one generation experience almost exactly what the generations before them did. And every time I see those swans circling the lagoon, they bring me right back. 💕
If you haven't made it there yet this year, this is your last chance! The boats are scheduled to run 10 AM–5 PM through Monday, September 7, weather permitting.
🦢 Do you have a Swan Boat memory or family tradition of your own?