10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to cool events in the city.
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.
Circus 1903
Traveling show Circus 1903 kicked off five days of performances at the Wang Theatre on Wednesday night. While you’ll spot plenty of circus staples onstage, including strongmen, contortionists, acrobats, knife throwers, and tightrope walkers, the animal element will be slightly different: Rather than live elephants, the circus has award-winning puppeteers controlling some of the largest, most realistic-looking puppets you’ll ever see. (Thursday, March 9 to Sunday, March 12 at various times; Boch Center Wang Theatre, Boston; $35-125; all ages)
Pancake Breakfast at Drumlin Farm
Families in the northwest suburbs of Boston have taken their little ones to Drumlin Farm for decades. As both a working farm and a wildlife sanctuary, it has plenty of barnyard animals to pet and lots of wild animals in the wildlife sanctuary to spot. This weekend, Drumlin visitors can enjoy a pancake breakfast, as well, served with potatoes, sausage, and maple syrup all produced on the farm. (Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Drumlin Farm, Lincoln; $13-15; all ages)
9th Annual Irish Pub Challenge
St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until next weekend, but for a city like Boston, you can never have enough weekends for Irish-themed events. One of the craziest this weekend is the Irish Pub Challenge, a giant bar crawl with thousands of participants split into teams competing against their fellow pub crawlers in hours of challenges and competitions at more than 20 Boston bars. It’s safe to say shenanigans will ensue. (Saturday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Faneuil Hall, Boston; $30; 21+)
Free Admission for Women at the Nichols House Museum
One of Boston’s lesser-known museums is the historic Beacon Hill home of Rose Standish Nichols, a suffragist, landscape architect, and writer who founded the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. In honor of International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, admission for women is free this Saturday. Go to get a firsthand look at how Beacon Hill residents lived in the early 1900s. (Saturday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Nichols House Museum, Boston; $10 GA, free for women and kids ages 12 and under; all ages)
New England Dessert Showcase
Whether you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth or a full-blown dessert obsession, the New England Dessert Showcase is the place to be this weekend. You can sample wares from some of the region’s best dessert chefs, as well as check out live chef demos. Even looking at some of the desserts should be entertaining enough — seriously, check out this gigantic freakin’ cannoli. (Saturday, March 11 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Westin Boston Waterfront, Grand Ballroom; $30-$40 GA, $10-15 for children; all ages)
Naked Yoga
Usually, the only place you can practice naked yoga is in the comfort of your own home with the blinds drawn. But for those who crave a full-body, fully nude workout, Body Fits You Studio in Charlestown is holding its first all-gender naked workout this Saturday. Featuring a mix of Vinyasa yoga and pilates followed by a post-workout meditation, the event will be a breath of fresh air for nudists suffering through a chilly Boston winter. (Saturday, March 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Body Fits You Studio, Boston; $15-25; 18+)
Zumba at Dorchester Brewing Co.
Zumba instructor Dawn Morris will be taking over the Dorchester Brewing Company taproom Sunday morning for a killer workout/dance party. Once you’ve finished the hourlong workout, two 5-ounce beers will be waiting with your name on them. (Sunday, March 12 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Dorchester Brewing Company, Boston; $18; 21+)
4th Annual Running of the Leprechauns
If you haven’t already had your fill of St. Patrick’s Day-themed events, Sunday’s Running of the Leprechauns gives runners a chance to jog a breezy 5K through Medford in their best shade of green, all while raising money for Boston Children’s Hospital. (Sunday, March 12 at 11 a.m.; 321 Winthrop St., Medford; $40; all ages)
Night Shift Brewing Five-Year Anniversary
Night Shift Brewing has long felt like a well-kept secret due to its hidden location amongst factories and warehouses on Santill Highway in Everett. That’s why it’s so surprising that the brewery is already celebrating its fifth anniversary, with an afternoon party featuring food trucks, live music, and three special release beers, including the Wild West-themed Annie Oatley pale ale. (Sunday, March 12 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Night Shift Brewing, Everett; free; 21+)
Fried Chicken and Beer Sunday at BISq
Just because football season is over doesn’t mean you need to give up eating fried chicken and beer on Sundays. This Sunday, BISq, the small plates sibling restaurant of the nearby Bergamot, is partnering with Narragansett Brewing to serve nothing but their fried chicken and a variety of dipping sauces. (Sunday, March 12 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; BISq, Cambridge; free admission; all ages)
