Shakespeare will return to the Boston Common starting July 20 and run through August 7. This year will feature Much Ado About Nothing.

Entering its 26th season, the free performances attract over 20,000 attendees.

“It’s a boon to many businesses, some of which are still recovering from Covid,” according to George Comeau, marketing manager for the Downtown Business Improvement District. “This is the type of activity that drives traffic for restaurants in particular since people tend to make an evening of it”.