Make the MFA your Thursday night destination! On the third Thursday of every month, enjoy the Museum after dark with $5 admission from 5 to 10 pm. Explore the galleries, join hands-on art-making, shop unique finds, and grab drinks and a bite to eat. Every month brings something new! From community celebrations to live performances, there are plenty of reasons to gather with friends, meet new ones, or escape with art at the MFA.

What’s on View

Make the most of your Thursday evening—wander the collection galleries, visit old favorites, and discover something new. Celebrate spring with the major exhibition “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination.”

Events and Activities

Drop-In Art Making: Mini Garden Totes

5–9 pm (last entry 8:45 pm)
Druker Family Pavilion

Taking inspiration from “Framing Nature,” design the garden of your dreams on a mini tote bag. Each bag comes with free native seeds to plant at home!

Spotlight Talk: Gardens and Gardeners

6 and 7 pm
Gund Gallery, LG31

Discover the often unseen labor that goes into creating gardens. Looking at 20th-century photographs on view in “Framing Nature,” learn about the people whose work has brought gardens to life and sustained them through changing seasons.

With Karen Haas, Lane Senior Curator of Photographs.

Sound Bites: Gregory Groover Jr.

6–6:45 and 7:15–8 pm
Gallery 168

Join tenor saxophonist Gregory Groover Jr. as he celebrates the release of his album Old Knew (Criss Cross Jazz, 2025). Groover performs original new music alongside a stellar cast of musicians, including Joel Ross, Paul Cornish, Harish Raghavan, and Kendrick Scott.

Drawing in the Galleries: Gardens and Nature

6–8 pm (last entry 7:45 pm)
Gallery 255

Drop in to sketch works of art in the galleries! Whether you’re a seasoned illustrator or picking up a pencil for the very first time, all ages and skill levels are welcome to join. Museum educators are available to help you get started and offer tips and suggestions along the way—just bring your creativity! All drawing materials are provided.

Nick Shea Portrait Pop-Up

6–9 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Local artist Nick Shea, best known for his pop-ups on the Boston Common, joins us to draw his signature index-card portraits! Portraits are drawn on a first-come, first-served basis. The line opens at 5 pm—we recommend getting there early to guarantee a spot!

Spotlight Talks: Student Perspectives

Meet at Sharf Visitor Center

Explore a work of art for 15 minutes with MFA Ambassadors, members of a program for local university students with a passion for art.

Xandra Ibarra: Nude Laughing

8–8:30 pm
Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, Level 2

In conjunction with the exhibition “Subvert, Repair, Reclaim: Contemporary Artists Take Back the Nude,” experience a performance by artist Xandra Ibarra that uncovers the vexed relation racialized subjects have not only to their own skin, but also to their entanglements with whiteness and white womanhood.

This performance contains nudity and may not be suitable for all audiences.

Dining and Drinks

New American Café

Last seating at 7:45 pm

Enjoy tableside service in the MFA’s soaring glass-enclosed courtyard. New American Café’s menu features creative regional dishes from the Americas. Choose from a wide selection of starters, entrées, and desserts, with beverages that include North and South American wines and craft beers.

Taste

Open until 9:30 pm

Stop by this coffee and wine bar for lighter fare in an informal, lively setting. Choose from our signature sweet and savory desserts and pastries, as well as a variety of beverages, from gourmet coffee, tea, and espresso to craft beer and select wines.