Past Events

The headlines tell you what happened. These films show you why it matters. 

Join us at GBH Studios for an afternoon dedicated to the stories that shape our communities. Through three compelling short-form documentaries from GBH News, GBH Shorts Fest explores Boston’s past, present, and future—followed by intimate conversations with the filmmakers and the people whose lives bring these stories to the screen.

From the strange echoes of the Great Molasses Flood to the enduring legacy of the busing crisis, to the vibrant future of an LGBTQ+ senior living community, these films bring local journalism to life on the big screen.
⭐ SCREENING LINEUP

You’re invited to an exclusive screening of three impactful short documentaries from GBH News. Each film offers a powerful lens on the people, history, and ideas that define Greater Boston.

🎤 TALK-BACK SESSIONS
Following the screenings, join us for a series of intimate talk-back conversations. Meet the filmmakers, producers, and the real people featured in the films as they go behind the scenes of the reporting, storytelling, and lived experiences that shaped each documentary.


🎟️ YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:

• Admission to an exclusive screening of three documentaries in the Theater 

• Access to post-screening talk-back discussions with documentary subjects and filmmakers 

• A chance to mingle with GBH News personalities and fellow film lovers 

• Opportunity to explore curated tables and refreshments

💺 JOIN US at GBH SHORTS FEST

GBH Shorts Fest celebrates the power of local journalism and documentary storytelling to illuminate our past, challenge our present, and imagine our future. Join us for an afternoon of film, conversation, and connection—right here in the heart of Boston.'

This event is SOLD OUT

Join travel expert Rick Steves for an unforgettable wine tasting adventure! Whether you're a long-time wine aficionado or just beginning your tasting journey, we welcome you! Sip along during this delightful evening with Rick and listen to his stories, tasting notes, and learn more about the different European wine varietals and flavors.

A professional sommelier will guide you and Rick through a curated tasting of six European wines shipped right to your door. Practice the five S’s of wine tasting —see, swirl, sniff, sip, and savor—and develop your palate while getting to know Rick.

This virtual adventure with Rick Steves is filled with discovery, a bit of indulgence, and laughter. You're sure to learn something new about the wonderful world of wine- and perhaps about Rick too!

Support GBH by purchasing a ticket to this entertaining evening with Rick Steves.

Ticket Includes: 

· Access to the Zoom Webinar
· 2 hours of wine education and Q&A led by our sommelier who will be joined by Rick Steves
· 6 mini bottles of wine (enough for two to taste) that will be shipped directly to your door which include the following varietals:


Your wine tasting kit includes:

• Portugal Tempranillo 2024
• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2024
• Côtes du Roussillon Villages Red Blend 2023
• French Cabernet Sauvignon
• Rose from France
• Sauvignon Blanc/Picpoul Blanc called Bordeaux Blend

Please note:

· Kits cannot be shipped to Canada, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Utah or any other foreign country.
· Guests must be at least 21 years old to participate in alcohol-related events
· Ticket sales ended on February 10, 2026 at 5pm ET to allow for time to ship the wine tasting kits

This program explores Shakespeare’s radical influence across time and place. We’ll trace how his language and political vision helped inspire the rhetoric of the American Revolution, even echoing in the Declaration of Independence. We’ll consider the historical forces that transformed Shakespeare into a cultural authority whose work could be enlisted for causes of liberation, often speaking to those on the margins of power. And we’ll look far beyond the eighteenth century to moments when Shakespeare became a clandestine ally, such as his use by the French Resistance during World War II to carry coded messages of defiance.

Join us at the GBH Studios at the Boston Public Library for a night of NOVA science trivia! Get ready for creative categories that test your knowledge of science, from the depths of the universe to the history of science. This month, we will be quizzing you on prehistoric peoples, man's best friend, the science of love and more!

Champions Circle donors are warmly invited to a special virtual gathering designed just for you: Coffee & Conversation: A New Season of Winter Premieres, an insider preview of what’s coming next at GBH.

This event is a benefit exclusive to Champions Circle members. To learn more about how you can be a part of this special event, please contact champions_circle@wgbh.org for more details.

Join us for a special Beyond the Page event celebrating The American Revolution: An Intimate History, the incredible new New York Times bestseller from acclaimed historian and screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward.

Drawing on eyewitness accounts, original documents, art, and maps, this richly illustrated history re-examines America’s founding struggle from the ground up by telling the story not only of famous leaders, but of ordinary soldiers, as well as underrepresented populations such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, and American Loyalists who lived through and shaped the war.

In this virtual conversation, Ward will discuss the making of the book, the connection to the landmark PBS documentary series from Ken Burns, The American Revolution, and answer your questions as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary of the Revolution’s beginning.

Attend from anywhere and engage with one of the foremost historians of our time in this timely event!

• Attend the event: $0
• Attend the event + receive a SIGNED copy of The American Revolution+ GBH Membership: $100

The rise of GLP‑1s raises deep questions: What happens when medication becomes one of the most effective ways to navigate a food system built around overconsumption? How might these drugs change what we eat, how companies design and sell food, and the broader incentives that shape our choices?

What if your dog could actually tell you what they’re thinking?

Join NOVA for a one-night-only event inspired by the upcoming documentary Can Dogs Talk? a fascinating (and fun!) exploration into the science of canine communication. This special evening brings dog lovers, pet parents, and curious humans together to dive into the viral world of “talking dogs,” those pups using word buttons to seemingly express wants, feelings, and ideas.

We’ll share extended clips from the film, then dig deeper with the people closest to the research. Expect surprising insights, delightful dog moments, and plenty of “wait… my dog does that!” reactions.

Whether your pup is already pushing buttons — or you’re just obsessed with dogs and science — this is a playful, thought-provoking night you won’t want to miss.

Tail-Wagging Highlights

• Exclusive extended clips from Can Dogs Talk?
• Live panel discussion with:
  -Julia Cort, Co-Executive Producer, NOVA
  -Chris Schmidt, Co-Executive Producer, NOVA
  -Dr. Federico Rossano, Associate Professor of Cognitive Science, UC San Diego and scientific lead of the world’s largest button-pressing pet study
• Audience Q&A
  

Have questions about dogs, adoption, or animal welfare? MSPCA-Angell will be onsite to chat with attendees about their adoption centers, their approach to animal welfare, and the many ways they support animals and communities across Massachusetts. Stop by to learn more about their life-saving work, meet the people behind the mission, and discover how you can get involved.


Before You Fetch Your Tickets

This event is designed for humans only — but your dog will definitely want the recap when you get home. Send us a photo of your dog to be featured at the event! Email events@wgbh.org with your photo.

Tickets are limited. Fetch yours now ($10 each) and join us for a night of science, storytelling, and seriously smart dogs (on screen). With the loss of federal funding, and the future of science and public media under threat, philanthropic support is more important than ever to sustain GBH. Your ticket purchase supports GBH, helping shape a future where facts matter, stories unite us, and everyone has access to quality media.

GBH Music welcomes the Rasa String Quartet to the Boston Public Library for a free show, hosted by CRB Classical 99.5 midday host Edyn-Mae Stevenson. Enjoy a “mixtape” of the greatest hits from the 1980s… and the 1780s! The Rasa String Quartet plays the music of Whitney Houston, Prince, and Hayao Miyazaki alongside that of Mozart and Haydn in an evening of classical rock and soul.

Formed in 2019, the Rasa String Quartet brings together violinists Emma Powell and Maura Shawn Scanlin, violist Kiyoshi Hayashi, and cellist Mina Kim. The Rasa String Quartet is dedicated to exploring the musical space where classical and folk traditions intersect and influence one another. In Sanskrit, the term ‘rasa’ refers to the indescribable power of art to move, inspire, and connect us—a quality Rasa String Quartet strives to embody in every performance. The Rasa String Quartet will perform four free concerts at the BPL throughout the 2025-2026 GBH Music Season.

Why are so many Latinos raving about it and why are others so upset? Join Alberto Vasallo of El Mundo Boston as he moderates a panel to discuss the good, the “bad” and the ugly that has come about the controversial performance on America’s largest stage.

Guests:

Kelly Garcia
Chelsea City Councilor at Large

Antuan Castro del Rio
Artist and community leader

Gabriela Salas
Host & Executive Producer of iHeartRadio's Qué Pasa Boston

Christian De Jesus Franco
Director of Community Affairs, ALPFA Boston

GBH Amplifies is a community conversation series focused on expanding the reach of local voices from Greater Boston and beyond. The series features community leaders hosting public conversations in the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, providing a platform for inclusive perspectives on the issues that matter most to New England communities. GBH Amplifies happens weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm at the GBH BPL Studio. This event is free and open to the public.

GBH Amplifies is also being supported by the Barr Foundation.

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Limited seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. If you require a seat, we encourage you to arrive before the start time of this event.