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.
Cinco de Mayo at the Lawn on D
The Lawn on D is hosting a weekend-long Cinco de Mayo celebration to kick off its 2017 season. From Thursday to Sunday, head to the lawn to sip on margaritas and enjoy snacks from Temazcal. The quartet Tropicante will play live music on Thursday and Friday, and latin DJs will take over on Saturday and Sunday. (Thursday, May 4 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, May 7 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.; the Lawn on D, Boston; free; 21+)
Cinco de Mayo at Beat Brasserie
Beat Brasserie in Harvard Square is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with an authentic mariachi performance from Telemundo star Veronica Robles, who has played at renowned venues liked Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Cool off from dancing with margaritas and tequila-based cocktails, and dine on a Mexican-inspired menu with special appetizers and entrees, including the new Bowl Azteca with slow-cooked Mexican pork shoulder, adobo-spiced quinoa, tomatillo salsa, corn, squash, green beans, avocado, and baby spinach. (Friday, May 5 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Beat Brasserie, Cambridge; free admission; 21+)
Make Way for Ducklings Read-a-thon at the MFA
The Boston Common ducklings celebrate all of the city’s triumphs. Now the MFA is celebrating them in honor of the 75th anniversary of Make Way for Ducklings, the official children’s book of Massachusetts, according to The Boston Globe. The museum is inviting families to join local authors and illustrators to read animal-themed stories, make ducky art in the courtyard, and visit the Make Way for Ducklings exhibition, featuring the art of the book’s author, Robert McCloskey. The event is included with museum admission, which is free for children and $25 for adults. (Saturday, May 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; MFA, Boston; free with museum admission; all ages)
Springfest at Night Shift Brewing
Night Shift Brewing is hosting its first Springfest, converting the brewery’s parking lot into a patio to serve as the site for an all-day music and beer festival. The brewery will also release four new brews, available in cans and on draft, and welcome a lineup of local music curated by Boston’s The Ballroom Thieves, who will emcee the festival. (Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Night Shift Brewing, Everett; free; 21+)
Opening Weekend at the Greenway Open Market
This Saturday marks the return of the Greenway’s seasonal open market. Find hidden gems, admire art, and snack on freshly baked goods while you walk along the tree-lined promenades of the Rose Kennedy Greenway‘s Wharf District Parks. The market is open Saturdays and every first and third Sunday of the month until October. (Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; The Greenway’s Wharf District Parks, Boston; free; all ages)
SoWa Art Walk
Each year on the first Saturday and Sunday of May, the SoWa Art Walk welcomes the public to stroll through the SoWa Art & Design District and see the works of the district’s talented artists. Wander into galleries to talk with the featured artists themselves, and view some of the district’s latest exhibits in any of the 300 working galleries that SoWa has to offer. (Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; SoWa Art & Design District, Boston; free; all ages)
Somerville Open Studios
The 19th annual Somerville Open Studios honors Somerville and the area’s 340 artists and counting. In 1999, two local artists started the festival, informally referred to as “SOS,” as a way to bring attention to the area’s artists who worked out of their homes or in smaller studios. Because there is so much art to take in, organizers recommend checking out the artist directory or interactive map and making a plan before heading out. (Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7 from 12 to 6 p.m.; Somerville; free; all ages)
The Great Boston Beer Marathon
The 11th annual Great Boston Beer Marathon means 26 Allston and Fenway bars will offer up drink and food specials to anyone donning the event’s signature viking hat. The kickoff party, where you can get your viking hat and bar map, starts at at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Game On in Fenway. Participants are then encouraged to pace themselves as they visit the rest of the day’s locations, which include Baseball Tavern, White Horse Tavern, and Tavern in the Square. Tickets are available in advance for $35, and will partially benefit the National MS Society. (Saturday, May 6 at 11 a.m.; starts at Game On, Boston; $35; 21+)
Pints & Puppies at Battery Park
Craft beer and puppies—what more could you want on a Saturday? The Battery Park Bar & Patio will welcome beer lovers and their four-legged friends to enjoy the May weather and take advantage of the event’s pet-friendly photo booth. Tickets are available for $15 with advanced purchase and for $20 at the door; they include one craft beer. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit local charities that support dog rescues. (Saturday, May 6 from 1 to 6 p.m.; Battery Park Bar & Patio, Boston; $15 tickets; 21+)
Harvard Square Mayfair Festival
The annual Harvard Square Mayfair Festival will return this Sunday, with more than 60 merchants, 50 food vendors, and four beer gardens, including pop-ups from Alden & Harlow and John Harvard’s Brew House. Now in its 34th year, the popular festival attracts dance troupes and entertainment groups from all over to perform on three stages, turning the entire square into a day-long party spot. For a full list of entertainment, check out the festival’s schedule on the Harvard Square website. (Sunday, May 7 from 12 to 6 p.m.; Harvard Square, Cambridge; free; all ages)
