Need weekend plans?
The best events in the city, delivered to your inbox
10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest happenings in and around Boston.
This week’s BosTen offers a mix of in-person and virtual things to do in Boston this weekend. Have an idea about what we should cover? Leave us a comment on this article or in the BosTen Facebook group, or email us at [email protected].
Toast tequila at the Boston.com Cocktail Club
From Ryan Reynolds to The Rock, it seems like every movie star is following in George Clooney’s footsteps and starting their own tequila brand. You don’t have to be an A-lister to get into the spirit, however, and this Thursday at 7 p.m., the Boston.com cocktail club will be celebrating the agave-derived alcohol. Join host Jackson Cannon (The Hawthorne, Eastern Standard) and guest bartender Michael Pando (Deep Ellum, Lone Star Taco Bar) as they teach you how to make two tequila cocktails — the Tequila Colada and the Ranch Water. Attending the Zoom is free, and you can find a full list of necessary ingredients here. — Kevin Slane
Groove to the sounds of the Arlington Jazz Festival
Arlington will welcome dozens of musicians over the next four days for the annual Arlington Jazz Festival, which will be held at various venues around town from April 7-10. Legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker will be performing with Grammy Award-winning drummer/composer Mark Walker’s world jazz ensemble during the headlining event, which will take place on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Regent Theatre. For a full slate of events, check out the festival website. — Kevin Slane
Celebrate LGBTQ+ storytelling at the Wicked Queer Film Festival
This Thursday, Boston’s Wicked Queer Film Festival — one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ film festivals in North America — returns with an 11-day lineup of in-person and online films. The volunteer-run festival celebrates and uplifts queer voices and stories, strengthening the community and preserving “the vibrancy of our histories.” With more than 100 films shown in 45 programs, this year’s festival will kick off at the Brattle Theatre, and will also feature screenings at the ICA and the Bright Family Screening Room at the Paramount Theater, as well as virtual offerings. The full lineup of features, shorts, documentaries, and throwback films can be found on the festival website. — Natalie Gale
Visit the Easter Bunny at Lookout Farm
If you’d rather not dress up as the Easter Bunny this year, then head to Lookout Farm in Natick instead. On select dates this spring — including this Thursday — the farm will host a Meet & Greet with a costumed furry friend, complete with an Easter basket for every child. While the kids get their picture and munch on candy, you’ll get to enjoy some delicious lunch or dinner options, with a side of Lookout’s very own beer, inside of a converted greenhouse space. So you’ll support a local farm, have a great meal, and never see the inside of a suit that never gets washed. What more can you ask for this Easter? — Joel Ang
Take in the Frozen Four at TD Garden
The Hub of Hockey will again serve as the epicenter for the college game, with the NCAA bringing its Frozen Four to Boston this weekend The event features two national semifinals on Thursday, April 7, then pits the winners against each other in the national title tilt on Saturday, April 9. The first semifinal pits Michigan against Denver at 5 p.m., with Minnesota and Minnesota State set to battle at 8:30. Puck drop for the championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. In between, the weekend festivities will also include the presentation of the Hobey Baker Award to college hockey’s best player. That takes place on Friday at the Encore Boston Harbor Resort. It’s open to the public, and begins at 4:45 p.m. All three finalists for that honor are from teams that advanced to Boston. — Dave D’Onofrio
Experience Icelandic culture at Taste of Iceland
You can’t a-fjord to miss this. Taste of Iceland, a festival that brings Icelandic traditions and culture to cities across the U.S., adds an exciting lineup of special events for locals from April 7 — 11. From photo exhibits (complete with artist fireside chats) to culinary exploration and cocktail classes to author-led book talks to film screenings, each activation is inspired by, and in celebration of, the best of Icelandic culture through food and beverage, music, literature, films, art, and more. There’s even a soothing elemental sound bath, with Icelandic snacks to follow. Throughout the five-day festival, events will be hosted at various locations throughout Boston, including the Cheeky Monkey, Alibi, Trident Bookseller & Cafe, the SoWa Power Station, Brattle Theater and the Wicked Queer Film Festival, Down Under Yoga, and Royale. Icelandair’s Wheel of Prizes is spun every day for chances to win a trip to Iceland or luxury items from some of Iceland’s best brands. Most events are free to the public and follow a first-come, first-serve policy with limited capacity. Registration for each event is highly recommended. — Cheryl Fenton
Red Bull’s ‘Dance Your Style’ comes to the House of Blues
This Thursday at 8 p.m., Boston’s best freestylers meet up on one battle floor, armed with skill and creativity but without planned choreography or pre-chosen music. And you’ll be the ones to let them know if they’re bringing enough to wow the crowd. Facing off at the House of Blues during Red Bull’s highly anticipated dance competition, “Dance Your Style” local and national street dancers show off their best in freestyle movement as they go head-to-head, via a bracket-style tournament, performing against a spontaneous soundtrack. Your vote counts as you play judge and ultimately decide which performers will advance and head to New Orleans for the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals USA on May 21 and 22. — Cheryl Fenton
Sip on free wine at DeLuca’s Market
Wine tastings at DeLuca’s, a gourmet grocery store near to the Common, were paused for much of the pandemic, but now they’ve returned just in time for warmer weather. Friday’s tasting will feature wine from Martignetti, while next Friday (April 15) will have pours from Charles River Wine. Light snacks will be provided, as well as discounts on the sampled bottles. That’s all relatively standard for a wine tasting, but considering that the event is free, it may be the perfect Friday afternoon spent away from your desk. — Joel Ang
Love rock ’n’ roll with Joan Jett at the Chevalier Theatre
Little did Joan Jett, born Joan Marie Larkin, know that the die of a legend was cast when she joined The Runaways shortly before she turned 17 in 1975. The all-female punk quintet would tour the world with some of the most popular American groups of the era and release four studio albums between June 1976 and November 1978. Despite a lack of chart success, the legacy of The Runaways looms so large that they were the subject of a documentary directed by one member (bassist Vicki Blue) in 2004 and a feature film — aptly titled “The Runaways,” with Kristen Stewart as Jett — based on a memoir written by another (singer Cherie Currie) in 2010. Jett remains an indelible, influential, and beloved cultural figure. Despite sparse offerings of new material since the early 1990s, she has opened tours for Aerosmith, Green Day, The Who, and many others since the mid-aughts. The composition of the audience at her upcoming Chevalier Theatre show — rescheduled from November — will likely span generations of fans who will be at an equal level of enthusiasm despite their age differences. — Blake Maddux
Get your geek on at Wicked Comic Con
Calling all comic book heroes: Something wicked this way comes when the Wicked Comic Con takes over the Westin Boston Seaport this Friday. The general exhibition hall offers 20,000 square feet for mingling with fellow fans as you meet professional all-star DC and Marvel comic book creators (the ones who keep you flipping the pages of your favorites from DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, Valiant, and more), comic book art dealers, and collectible sellers of comic books, toys, cards, games, posters, and apparel. To get into the spirit, check out The Cos-Way, an area dedicated to all things cosplay — special cosplay guests, vendors, groups, photographers, a photo-op area, and registration to get in the game (if you’re over 13 years old) by entering the Costume Competition and Cosplay Catwalk. Besides roaming this massive hall and showing off your alter-ego, your general admission ticket also gives you access to Artist Alley, where you can get the jump on purchasing local up-and-coming comic book creators’ works (before they become priceless). There’s also the Boston Comic Art Show, with collectibles from art dealers including Nostalgic Investments, Panel Page Art, Albert Moy, Kwan Chang Art, Will’s Comic Art Page, and Essential Sequential, along with special guest The Jack Kirby Museum. — Cheryl Fenton
Be civil. Be kind.
Read our full community guidelines.To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address