10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to not-lame events in the city.
BosTen is your weekly guide to events and cool happenings in and around Boston. Skip Netflix this weekend—here are 10 ways to get out of your home and not be bored in the city. If you’d like BosTen delivered to your inbox every Thursday, click here. Want more things to do? Check out our events calendar at boston.com/events.
Caroling at the Carousel
Friday’s holiday event at the Rose Kennedy Greenway Carousel will have more than just caroling: Along with experiencing a performance by Songful Artists’ Original Dickens Carolers, you can attend a handbell workshop, watch a performance by the Back Bay Ringers, and design your own gingerbread house with help from BSA Space architects. (Friday, December 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Rose Kennedy Greenway Carousel; free; all ages)
MFA Overnight Last Call
If you haven’t made it to any of the first three editions of MFA Overnight, now’s your chance to change that. Along with returning attractions like Christian Marclay’s 24-hour experimental film The Clock, and the usual food trucks, stargazing, and performance art, there will be a heavy emphasis on music. The minds behind Middle East’s popular dance night Soulejulah will be bringing the soul and funk starting at 10 p.m. on the second floor, while transnational bass party Pico Picante will throw down at the same time on the ground level. (Friday, December 9 to Saturday, December 10 from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; free; all ages)
Santa Speedo Run
Looking for a mixture of naughty and nice this weekend? How does running through Boston in a Speedo while raising money for charity sound? The 17th annual Santa Speedo Run will feature hundreds of men and women in holiday Speedos and bathing suits (no thongs, though — naughtiness has its limits) running to raise money for the Play Ball! Foundation. The pre-run party kicks off at 10 a.m. before the short run departs from Lir Tavern and Whiskey’s at the corner of Gloucester and Boylston streets at 1 p.m. (Saturday, December 10 at 10 a.m.; Lir Tavern; $30 preregistration required; 21+)
13th Annual SoWa Holiday Market
The SoWa Holiday Market brings together 90 vendors whose goods are all homemade and make ideal gifts for the season. Among the available goods are handbags, jewelry, pottery, letterpress stationery, silk-screened T-shirts, and baby clothes. The truly competitive shopper can also sign up for VIP access, allowing him or her to shop an hour earlier than everyone else. (Saturday December 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, December 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Benjamin Franklin Institute; $5 GA, $15 VIP, free for children ages 12 and under; all ages)
Cultural Survival Bazaar
Cultural Survival, a local nonprofit advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, cultures, and political resilience is holding a free festival at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School on Saturday. This festival features art, crafts, and other products created by Native artists from around the world, as well as Indigenous cuisine, art demonstrations, and live music. (Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Cambridge Rindge and Latin School; free; all ages)
Kendall Square Holiday on Ice
Not only will the rink at Kendall Square Community Ice Skating offer free skating all day long this Saturday; there will also be free food, holiday music, and a skating performance produced by Frozen Frog Productions at 2 p.m. Organizers will be accepting donations of new toys, winter clothes, and basic necessities on behalf of local nonprofit East End House. (Saturday, December 10 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Community Ice Skating at Kendall Square; free; all ages)
SantaCon Boston 2016
If the Santa Speedo Run sounds too chilly but you love dressing up as Santa and drinking, SantaCon is here for you. The free bar crawl kicks off at noon at Game On Fenway, and slowly moves across the city before finishing the night at a number of Faneuil Hall bars. While the event is free, bringing an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots is highly encouraged. (Saturday, December 10 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Game On Fenway; free; 21+)
Ugly Sweater Run
Running in a sweater may not sound like the most appealing idea, but the Ugly Sweater Run has plenty of fun activities and freebies to keep your mind off of exercising in a stifling wool pullover. Think: marshmallow guns, gigantic snow globes, a complimentary cocktail, and prizes for sweater-themed contests in a dozen categories. (Saturday, December 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Suffolk Downs; $30; all ages)
ICA 10: Free Community Day
The Boston Institute of Contemporary Art is capping off a week of events celebrating its 10th year in its Seaport home (and 80th year overall) with free admission for everyone. Nab free coffee and hot chocolate and free giveaways from Uniqlo, and see free musical performances and free art demonstrations all day long. (Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; ICA Boston; free; all ages)
UFO Beer and Cookie Decorating at Harpoon
Forget milk and cookies — Santa’s getting beer and cookies if he stops by Harpoon Brewery this weekend. To celebrate the season and the release of their newest seasonal, the UFO Winter Blonde, Harpoon is holding a cookie decorating party on Sunday night, giving visitors a taste of their new brew and plenty of icing and sprinkles. (Sunday, December 11 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Harpoon Beer Hall; $20; 21+)
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com