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MAGIC LAB’S SIZZLING SEASON FINALE: INSIDE THE BACKYARD BASH EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT

They laughed, they conjured, they made it work. Now Boston’s most enchanting friend group is ready to party — and PEOPLE has all the details.

By Staff Reporter | Photography by someone who was definitely there

It was a season like no other.

For the members of the Boston Magic Lab, a tight-knit circle of performers, dreamers, and, frankly, very interesting people, the past few months have been a whirlwind of wonder, late nights, and what sources close to the group describe as “actual magic.” Now, with the curtain down and the props packed away, they’re doing what any fabulous chosen family does when the work is done.

They’re having a cookout.

“It’s our tradition,” says one insider, who spoke exclusively to PEOPLE on the condition that we describe them as “radiant,” which, honestly, they are. “Every year after the last show, we get together. It’s the thing we look forward to most.”

The gathering, set for Sunday, May 17th at the stunning home of one of the inner circle — a charming Arlington, Massachusetts property that a source describes as “very them, very warm, very real” — is expected to draw the full Magic Lab family and their nearest and dearest. And if the buzz is any indication, this year’s edition may be the most anticipated yet.

The Love Story at the Center of It All

Every great party has a great host. But this one has something rarer: a legend.

Her name is Jeannine, and if you haven’t heard of her yet, consider this your introduction.

“Jeannine at the grill is — ” one attendee paused, visibly emotional. “I don’t have the words. I really don’t. You just have to be there.”

Known affectionately within the group as the BBQ Dad — a title she has neither sought nor relinquished — Jeannine brings to the fire what the Lab brings to the stage: precision, passion, and a certain ineffable it that cannot be taught. She has presided over this annual feast for years, and her return Sunday is, multiple sources confirm, the detail people are most excited about.

“The show is wonderful,” says another insider. “But Jeannine’s burgers? That’s the main event.”

She was not available for comment. She was, we are told, already thinking about the menu. We respect that.

Felice’s Vision

Behind every iconic gathering is an iconic organizer, and at the Boston Magic Lab, that person is Felice, the group’s executive producer and, by all accounts, the one who makes sure everything actually happens.

“Felice is — ” says one source, trailing off in a manner that suggests the sentence could go on for a very long time. “Felice is Just Felice. You know?”

We do know.

Under Felice’s watchful eye, Sunday’s event has been in the works for weeks. The venue: secured. The fire: incoming. The provisions: guests are asked to bring food and drink to share, with coordination details expected imminently.

What to Wear, Where to Stand, How to Feel

The dress code is unconfirmed but the vibe, multiple sources agree, is “backyard realness with a touch of something special.” The event takes place in the rear garden of the Scituate Street home — a space that insiders say has hosted some of the group’s most memorable moments.

“There’s something about that garden,” says one guest who has attended in previous years. “You get there and you just — you exhale. You’re home.”

Guests are expected to arrive at one o’clock in the afternoon. Parking, as with all the best things in life, will work itself out.

The Moment Everyone’s Waiting For

“We work really hard,” says one founding member, who asked to be described only as “one of the founding members, looking great.” “And then we get to do this. We get to be with our people. We get to eat Jeannine’s food. It never gets old.”

It never does.

Sunday, May 17th. One o’clock. 70 Scituate Street, Arlington, Massachusetts. Rear garden. Bring something delicious.

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

• Jeannine’s grilling secrets: the tongs, the timing, the magic (p. 47)
• Felice opens up: “I just want everyone to have a good time” (p. 52)
• What the Magic Lab eats when no one is watching (p. 61)
• Plus: 40 photos from last year’s bash that we definitely have (p. 64)

PEOPLE was granted exclusive access to this invitation. We do not take that lightly.