10 things to do in Boston this weekend
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. You can also learn even more about awesome events around Boston by joining the BosTen Facebook group.
Wachusett Brew Yard at City Hall
The beginning of fall doesn’t mean the end of outdoor beer garden season. Wachusett Brewing will serve up a medley of beers from its converted Airstream trailer bar at City Hall Plaza on Sept. 21, 28, and Oct. 5. Along with the popular Green Monsta IPA, Bella Czech Pils, and Brewin’ American Pale Ale, the brewery will bring along its new Belgian White Mamba. (Thursday, September 21 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; City Hall Plaza, Boston; free entry; 21+)
Boston Film Festival
For movie buffs who want to see more than the big releases this fall, the Boston Film Festival will present a mix of local, national, and international films this weekend, primarily at the AMC Loews Boston Common. Highlights include a documentary narrated by Liam Neeson about Nobel Prize winner John Hume’s peace efforts in Ireland, and American Satan, a horror film starring John Bradley (Game of Thrones), Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), and Rhode Island native and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo. There even will be a non-film, a live one-man show by local author Casey Sherman, whose books were turned into the films Patriots Day and The Finest Hours. (Thursday, September 21 to Sunday, September 24 at various times; various locations; all ages)
Boston Comedy Festival
The laughs will come fast and furiously at the Boston Comedy Festival, a blend of showcase shows for high-profile comedians like Todd Barry and Ms. Pat and a stand-up contest that will highlight up-and-coming local talents. A full schedule of events is available on the festival’s website. (Thursday, September 21 to Sunday, September 24 at various times; various locations; all ages)
Nature: A Walking Play
The Trustees are putting on a show with Nature, a “walking play” about Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s mutual love affair of the natural world. The play/immersive walking tour will be held at Concord’s The Old Manse, where Emerson wrote his famous essay of the same name. The play’s creator, writer, and star in the role of Emerson is Tyson Forbes, a direct descendent of Emerson who grew up in Concord. (Friday, September 22 at 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; The Old Manse, Concord; $20/$25 for member/non-member GA, $10/15 for member/non-member child; all ages)
Copenhagen Beer and Music Festival
Following its 2016 debut at City Hall Plaza, the second edition of the Copenhagen Beer Festival will take place at the SoWa Power Station this weekend. The festival, organized by Denmark brewery Mikkeller and Boston Calling Events, will bring 53 international and domestic breweries to Boston, with an emphasis on rare beers from both near and far. Even the musical acts will mix Denmark and Boston, with Danish rockers The Tremolo Beer Gut set to perform along with locals like band Tigerman Woah and Hayley Thompson-King. (Friday, September 22 from 6p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday, September 23 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m and 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; SoWa Power Station, Boston; $65 GA, $125 VIP per session; 21+)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Island Run
If your weekend runs have gotten a little stale, hop on a boat and head to Spectacle Island for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Island Run, powered by Boston.com. After running your choice of 5k or 5-miler, enjoy a post-race lunch, beer, and award ceremony before cruising home through the Boston Harbor. (Saturday, September 23 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Spectacle Island, Boston; $50; all ages) (Note: This event is presented by Boston.com.)
Free Visits to 40+ Massachusetts Museums
On Saturday, thousands of visitors will be able to enjoy free admission to more than 40 museums across Massachusetts thanks to Smithsonian magazine’s annual Museum Day Live! event. This year, six Boston museums will take part in the free event: the Museum of Fine Arts, Gibson House Museum, the Museum of African American History, the Nichols House Museum, the Mary Baker Eddy Library, and the William Hickling Prescott House. To see a full list of participating Massachusetts museums, visit Smithsonian‘s website. (Saturday, September 23 at various times; various locations; free; all ages)
Let’s Talk About Food
The sixth Let’s Talk About Food Festival returns to Copley Square this Saturday, with hands-on cooking demonstrations, edible gardens, and lively debate about the most important food conversations happening today. Learn how to take advantage of the food around you by cooking better and eating healthier, too. (Saturday, September 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Copley Square, Boston; free; all ages) (Note: This event is presented by The Boston Globe, which shares ownership with Boston.com.)
What the Fluff? Festival
This year’s Fluff Festival promises to be extra sweet, as organizers celebrate the 100th anniversary of the marshmallow spread’s invention in Somerville. Expect plenty of Fluff-filled activities, such as Blind Man’s Fluff, Fluff Musical Chairs, and Fluff Jousting, as well as live music and food from more than 20 Somerville eateries. (Saturday, September 23 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Union Square, Somerville; free; all ages)
Dumpling Festival at Central Square Flea
Dumpling fanatics shouldn’t miss Sunday’s festival at Cambridge’s Central Square Flea, where 15 local restaurants and food trucks will cook and serve their versions of the Chinese dish. Plus, the flea will have its usual lineup of more than 150 vendors selling antiques, vintage finds, original art, and handmade goods. (Sunday, September 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Central Square, Cambridge; free; all ages)
