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Updated: Massachusetts Does 4/20 (Parties & Pop-Ups Roundup)

From bong painting to meet-and-greets to blowout shows, humor, and beer gardens


As recently as just a few years ago, 4/20 was still essentially an underground occasion in the Bay State. Some activists gathered at Mount Michael Malta on Boston Common to honor the sorely missed Malta, better known as the King of Pot, or K.O.P. But for the most part, it was a private affair, shared with friends in living rooms and basements or in certain cases at clandestine parties mostly thrown by cannabis advocates and, naturally, dealers.

We’ve come a long way. And while a part of us wants to say that there’s too much happening on April 20 and we wish some of these businesses spaced out their deals and events so that people could experience more attractions, we’ll take what they’re offering, which is essentially a statewide smorgasbord of discounts, pop-ups, parties, and pot-themed performances.

We would apologize to any purists out there crying crocodile tears into their bubbler over the commercialization of this highest of holidays, but face it, with this much fun and flower in store, they’ll be getting in on the 4/20 action with the rest of us.

Below you’ll find our working list of parties, event pop-ups, comedy shows, and celebrations. Click here for a roundup of drops and deals. (Still have one to add? Email links and info to info@talkingjointsmemo.com.)

BearMoose Brewing

We wouldn’t ordinarily include a brewery on this list, but BearMoose is pretty awesome and happens to be hosting a bong-painting party. They invite you “to create a beautiful work of art that you can fill with your favorite ‘herbal remedy.’” “The cost is $35 per bong and Inebri-Art will supply all the materials you’ll need to customize your bong.”

Big Hope Project

This Boston nonprofit may have formed in response to serious issues, but they’re down to party too, and their 4/20 Extravaganja II fulfills the fun factor as well as their mission. In addition to performances by NY hip-hop legend Styles P with 2Smoov, Tori Tori, Cakeswagg, and other openers, there will be an expungement clinic on site.

Canna Provisions

In Lee, this destination retailer will have Flacos Tacos, a “killer husband-wife taco truck that’ll be dishing out free tacos and goodies to anyone at the shop!” from 11am to 2:30pm, then Bliss Cookie Company at 11am: “There will be a local cookie maven offering fresh delicious cookies for sale outside a cannabis store and could be dessert after your tacos. This is a no brainer.” While at their Holyoke store, they’re having Bub’s BBQ early on and then a visit from the Ice Cream Emergency truck sponsored by Old Pal from 4:30pm to 7:30pm: “It mostly involves you eating gratis ice cream while supplies last from an ambulance-themed ice cream truck and servers in apropos uniforms right at our amazing Holyoke shop.”

High Performance

Step 1: Get high. Step 2: Read our interview with stoner comic Alex Giampapa. Step 3: Grab your tickets for “the perfect weekend experience to get your fix of craft cannabis and premier stand up comedy in a private, comfortable space.”

Kush Groove

The stunning long-awaited Cambridge dispensary from the team that opened a head shop of the same name in Mission Hill eons ago and built up from there finally opens on 4/20, and they’ll be partying all weekend, through West Cambridge Day on April 22 and beyond. Look for deals aplenty plus grand-opening giveaways, DJs, and pop-ups from Root & Bloom, GreenCare Collective, and more.

Mission

This just in: “All of 4Front Ventures’ Mission dispensaries nationwide will be hosting 420-weekend festivities from Thursday, April 20th – Sunday, April 23rd. Each store will have multiple vendor pop-ups, food, DJs, games, a photo booth, and more for an all-weekend party. Customers can expect dank promotions and surprise giveaways all weekend long including custom Cirrus x Mission glass smoking accessories. Mission has partnered with Legends to offer 3.5gs for $14.20 from 4:20p to close. ($150 minimum spend required. While supplies last.)

Paper Crane Cannabis

Here’s a candidate for the best party going, right down to the dab bar and live entertainment. Paper Crane Cannabis linked with Dinner At Mary’s to bring Toussaint and the Liberator Band and Boey Russell & Co to the Diaspora Private Club on Dunster Street in Harvard Square. “Each ticket comes with a goodie bag containing Paper Crane Organic preroll and infused popcorn.” An early comedy show package is also available.

Rolling Releaf

This Newton-based delivery service will be super busy bringing packages around the Greater Boston region on 4/20, still they’re sponsoring Lit Night with Joey Lopez at Improv Asylum that evening at 10pm. “The late night talk show returns to IA’s main stage and still has everything you’ve come to know and love from the genre: guest, music, that iconic desk, and a host that is super high.”

Rooted In

The Newbury Street dispensary has a lot going on, including a “baked sale” pop-up and a Sundub Acoustic Sesh Meet & Greet where you can “stop in to meet the Brooklyn band who will be performing at Brighton Music Hall later that evening,” “get a photo with the band,” and “enter for a chance to win a great SunDub X Rooted sweepstakes.”

Sanctuary Medicinals

This Brookline spot and brand has a whole “Road to 420” schedule with a Crafts & Stash event on April 15 and an artists market on April 16 with vendors including: Grrl Pickers, Steve’s Dank Pipes, Betty & Ed’s, Sugarmatty’s, Village Vinyl & Hi-Fi, and Studio TV. They’re also sponsoring the Boston metal band Bonginator’s album release bash at the Middle East Upstairs on April 21.

Smash Hits

There were a lot of great parties at NECANN last month, but the soiree thrown by legendary cultivator Chemdog’s Smash Hits along with a few of his friends was among those which will be remembered even by those who were tripping. From the looks of things, they’re following up with yet another blowout—this on 4/20 Eve, April 19, at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke featuring Badfish – A Tribute To Sublime.

Trade Roots

This Wareham dispensary and cultivator is going extremely hard on 4/20 for the second year in a row, bringing the party to the Stone Path Malt Taproom. It’s hard to imagine how people are going to be anywhere else since they’re all apparently going to be here, including: Gentlemen Smugglers, Chill Medicated, Impressed, and Harbor House.

UpTop

This Boston and Framingham dispensary’s West Roxbury location will have live music, “radio DJ setups,” and “Minuteman Kettle Corn from 5-8pm (local, women owned).” “They will also be offering 20% off the whole store (4/20 and 4/21) at both their West Roxbury and Framingham locations.” Additionally, “if you spend $70 you get a $1 pre roll and $120—you get a High Supply eighth or Rhythm vape cart for $1.”

The Weed Game Show 

The gang from the Weed Game Show is going high-class for 4/20, with an “edibles edition” at Laugh Boston in the Seaport. Featuring “a panel of three high contestants play through three rounds of trivia, art class, and a joint rolling competition,” and “a game called “Eye an Ounce” where the remaining contestants go head to head pouring what they think is 28 grams of weed without a scale.”

Western Front

The Chelsea dispensary with the big open parking lot on the side and a party room is throwing a 420 Kickback! party, complete with pop-ups, a free cookout, live DJs, a beer garden, and free Richie’s Slush. Sponsors include Root & Bloom, Pax, Notch Brewing, and Fernway. But that’s not all! They also have a 420 Block Party on Mass Ave in Cambridge and an afterparty with Sensi, Fernway, and others at La Fabrica.