10 things to do in Boston this Columbus Day 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.
Future Arts Festival
If you’re craving contemporary art, the Future Arts Festival is the place to be. For four days, some of the area’s up-and-coming artists will gather to display their works. Each night will feature live music from local bands and DJs. (Thursday, October 5 through Sunday, October 8 at various times; The Center for Arts at the Armory, Somerville; $15 for one-day passes, $35 for four-day passes; all ages)
Harvest Moon Party
The Crane Estate in Ipswich may be best known for its summertime Roaring Twenties Lawn Party, but The Trustees (who run the estate) also throw great bashes during other seasons. One example is the Harvest Moon Party, where you can enjoy food and drink on the sloping lawn, dance along to Americana music at the estate, and bask in the glow of the harvest moon. (Thursday, October 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, Ipswich; $28 for Trustees members, $35 GA; 21+)
Honk! Festival
More than 25 brass bands will take to the streets of Somerville and Cambridge for the 12th straight year of marching, playing, and celebrating. Friday night will include a paper lantern parade through Somerville followed by free concerts at ONCE Ballroom and Aeronaut Brewery. Saturday will have nine hours of performances in Davis Square. And Sunday will feature a parade from Davis to Harvard Square’s Oktoberfest. (Friday, October 6 through Sunday, October 8 at various times; various locations; free; all ages)
Third Annual Brunch Battle
Enjoy copious amounts of brunch food while helping a good cause at the third annual Brunch Battle. Eight restaurants, including Row 34 and Gather, will duke it out for the best brunch crown, with proceeds benefitting Community Servings, a nonprofit food and nutrition program dedicated to helping those living with critical conditions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. (Saturday, October 7 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; District Hall, Boston; $25; 21+)
Psycho Movie Marathon at Somerville Theatre
With October in full swing, it’s officially horror movie season. Somerville Theatre is getting in on the chills by screening a triple feature of Psycho movies on Saturday. All three Psycho films are wildly different, with the third veering into campy territory. That should keep horror fans of all stripes entertained. (Saturday, October 7 from 1:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Somerville Theatre, Somerville; $10; all ages)
Mystic Brewery and Union Square Donuts Launch
Beer and doughnuts, together? It may sound like a Homer Simpson fever dream, but the mad geniuses at Mystic Brewery channeled their inner Simpson by creating the limited-edition Boston Cream Porter, a liquid version of the classic local dessert. The brewery is celebrating with a release party at its Chelsea brewery, and Union Square Donuts will be on hand selling “doughies” — bite-size versions of its doughnuts — as well. (Saturday, October 7 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Mystic Brewery, Chelsea; free entry; 21+)
Beach Bootcamp
Who says October is too late for a beach day? YoFitYoLife Bootcamp is hitting the sand this Sunday for battery of exercises, including agility drills and a 50-minute HIIT circuit using sandbags, battle ropes, and more. Tickets are two for one, so be sure to grab a friend. (Sunday, October 8 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Carson Beach, Boston; $20; all ages)
Parkour 101
Most know of parkour as a brief YouTube fad that was mocked on The Office, but in reality, it’s a great workout when done correctly. On Sunday, Project Freerun will team up with Lululemon to provide free parkour workouts at Lululemon’s Boston and Newton locations if you’d like to see what all the fuss is about. (Sunday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.; 776 Boylston St., Boston, and 55 Boylston St., Newton; free; all ages)
Pumpkin Smash
These days, it seems like you can’t like pumpkin-flavored anything without getting called “basic.” City Tap House will offer gourd lovers a sanctuary from the haters and help satisfy pumpkin cravings to the fullest by serving Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale out of a 200-pound pumpkin keg. There will also be pumpkin hummus, pumpkin spice gelato, pumpkin pizza, and more pumpkin-spiked specials. (Sunday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; City Tap House, Boston; free entry; all ages, 21+ to drink)
Free Admission to the ICA
If you’re looking for a Columbus Day activity for the whole family, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, which is typically closed on Mondays, will offer free admission all day. Along with the many permanent exhibits and the kid-friendly activity area, visitors can check out a brand-new exhibit from naturalist turned artist Mark Dion, whose work explores how we collect, interpret, and display nature. (Monday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; free; all ages)
