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10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest things to do in Boston.
Welcome to BosTen, your weekly guide to the coolest events and best things to do in Boston this weekend. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter here. 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].
Meditate at Boston Public Garden
The days of warm weather in Boston are dwindling, which means you have precious few opportunities to experience ideal temperatures for an outdoor fitness class. This Thursday, calm your body during a guided meditation in the Public Garden with Gen Khedrub, the resident teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Boston. You’ll find the class at the Lagoon Edge on the side closest to Boylston Street. (Thursday, Sept. 13 from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.; 4 Charles St., Boston; free) — Kristi Palma
Don’t get sour with The Lemonheads
Unlike former bandmate Juliana Hatfield, head Lemonhead Evan Dando hasn’t exactly been cranking out fresh, consistently great material this millennium. In fact, he has only two collections of covers in the past 18 years. However, when you have albums as timeless and irresistible as “It’s A Shame About Ray” (1992) and “Come On Feel” (1993) at your disposal, you’ll always find eager and attentive audiences, especially hometown ones. This Thursday and Friday at the Paradise, Dando will perform both of these early-’90s alt-rock/pop classics, which are awash in bite-sized power pop, expert songwriting, and clever, well-chosen covers. (Thursday and Friday, Sept. 12-13 at 8 p.m.; 967 Commonwealth Ave., Boston; $37) — Blake Maddux
Help clean up Castle Island
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a Seaport-based nonprofit that aims to restore and protect the Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment. The organization needs volunteers to support beach cleanups at waterfronts across the city, including this Friday at Castle Island in South Boston from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers interested in Friday’s event or getting involved in a future cleanup can fill out a Google form on the nonprofit’s website. Interested in even more ways to help out your community? Check out our fall 2024 volunteer guide for every Boston neighborhood. (Friday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Castle Island, Boston; free) — Annie Jonas
Get your fill of fair food at The Big E
One sure sign that fall is just around the corner: The Eastern States Exposition (known by all as The Big E) returns to Springfield this Friday, welcoming nearly 1.5 million visitors over the next 17 days to its Hampden County grounds. New decadent fair foods this year include five different types of deviled eggs (served regular or deep-fried), cotton candy-topped cocktails, and a reimagined Craz-E Burger made with Angus beef and smashed between two doughnuts. Over at The Big E Arena stage, you’ll find headlining acts including Ludacris (Sept. 14), Diplo (Sept. 21), and Public Enemy (Sept. 28). For everything you need to know for this year’s fair, check out our full guide to The Big E 2024. (Friday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield; $12-20) — Kevin Slane
Appreciate Japanese art at a renowned museum
Enjoy free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston this Saturday thanks to Japanese casual wear brand UNIQLO. Enjoy a visit to the newly reopened Arts of Japan galleries or take a MFA gallery tour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also participate in art-making activities, such as creating a miniature subtractive sculpture inspired by Japanese netsuke from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturday, Sept. 14 from 10-5 p.m.; 465 Huntington Ave., Boston; free) — Cheryl Fenton
Hoist a stein at Idle Hands Oktoberfest
One of Boston’s original brewing companies, Idle Hands Craft Ales, is known for excellent renditions of classic beers — lagers included. The Malden brewery celebrates its own anniversary in conjunction with Oktoberfest, and the two-for party returns this Saturday from noon until 10 p.m. There will be a celebrity dunk tank to raise funds for Housing Families. Festival food will include Scott Brothers BBQ and Lionheart Confections. Join in on some polka dancing with tunes from The Beer Hall Boys, or enjoy live music from Norris the Terrible. Try your hand at a stein-hoisting competition, or buy their limited edition stein commemorating this brewery’s 13th anniversary, available now for pre-order. Pro-tip: Being one of the first 50 people to volunteer for a Malden neighborhood clean-up the morning of the festivities will get you into the event for free. (Saturday, Sept. 14 from 12-10 p.m.; 89 Commercial St., Malden; $5; 21+) — Katelyn Umholtz
Sit and stay at Dogtoberfest
Get ready for two weekends of Festbier at Dorchester Brewing Co., which celebrates Oktoberfest Sept. 14 and 21. The first Saturday features event-exclusive flights of beer, full liter pours, sweet treats from Donut King, live music, and two competitions: one for stein-holding and another for eating brats. The next week includes much of the same, plus food specials from M&M BBQ, a pastry pop-up, and some adorable fur-friend guests thanks to the Pups & Pints Dog Adoption Event. And if you need more dog interactions in your life, look no further than Dorchester Brewing’s Dogtoberfest this Sunday, when you and your pooch can get professional family portraits made. (Saturday, Sept. 14 from 1:30-10 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 15 from 1:30-4 p.m.; 1250 Massachusetts Ave., Dorchester; free; 21+) — Katelyn Umholtz
Sip lagers at Notch Brewing Oktoberfest
At its relaxed beer halls in Salem and Brighton, Notch Brewing gives European vibes all year long with long tables for gathering ’round, thoughtful food and music, and easy-to-love classic beer styles. So it’s no surprise that Notch’s annual Oktoberfest celebration is one of the best around. It returns to Brighton on Saturday, Sept. 14, and to Salem on Sunday, Sept. 15. Both events are free to attend, with a commemorative half-liter steinkrug available for $20 in which to enjoy your beers. TubaFrau Hofbräu Band is slated to perform both days, and there will be plenty of Bavarian bites to fuel up and pair with a lager. For the competitive festival goers, there are plenty of opportunities to show off your Oktoberfest skills, including a dirndl and lederhosen costume contest, pretzel-eating contest, and stein-hoisting competitions. (Saturday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, Sept. 15 from 12-6 p.m.; 525 Western Ave., Boston and 283 Derby St., Salem; free; 21+) — Katelyn Umholtz
Explore Eastie by foot with Open Streets Boston
It’s not just Open Newbury Street anymore: Following the successful closure of Back Bay’s trendiest thoroughfare to vehicle traffic on multiple Sundays each year, Mayor Michelle Wu expanded the Open Streets program to numerous Boston neighborhoods in 2022, giving residents a chance to engage with their community sans cars. This Sunday, East Boston is the lucky neighborhood, with the area between Meridian St. (from Maverick to Porter St.) and Bennington St. (from Porter to Day Square) closed to cars. Pedestrians can walk, bike, stroll, and connect with neighbors and local businesses without fear of honking horns or stifling exhaust fumes. (Sunday, Sept. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Meridian Street and Bennington Street, Boston; free) — Kevin Slane
Jam with Pearl Jam at Fenway Park
Shortly after the announcement that Theo Epstein was returning to the Red Sox as a senior adviser, Theo’s buddy Eddie Vedder and his band Pearl Jam scheduled a pair of Fenway Park concerts, closing out the summer this upcoming Sunday and Tuesdayat 6:30 p.m. Pearl Jam’s Fenway concerts will be the final shows of its current world tour, which coincided with the release of the band’s 12th studio album, “Dark Matter.” The shows will mark the fifth and sixth time Pearl Jam have played at the home of the Red Sox, having previously appeared in 2018 and 2016. Vedder and co. will be accompanied by an opening set from Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, who along with his solo work is best known as the lead singer of The Frames. (Sunday, Sept. 15 and Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.; 4 Jersey St., Boston; $156 and up) — Kevin Slane
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