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.
Catch the Game with Tedy Bruschi
Boston sports fans have had the pleasure of watching former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi provide analysis and commentary on ESPN for years now. Now, they’ll be able to get some of Bruschi’s wisdom in person, when he heads to the Lenox Hotel to watch the Patriots battle the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. Fans will hear pre-game, halftime, and post-game analysis from Bruschi, and ticket proceeds will benefit Tedy’s Team, Bruschi’s foundation dedicated to raising awareness of stroke and heart disease as well as supporting survivors. (Thursday, Oct. 10 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; The Lenox Hotel, Back Bay; $75; all ages)
Carrie Underwood
You won’t have to wait all day for Sunday night to hear Carrie Underwood this week. The country star and singer of the “Sunday Night Football” theme song will instead entertain an audience in Boston on Thursday, when she visits TD Garden as part of her international Cry Pretty 360 tour. Fans can expect a mix of old hits and tracks from her latest release, 2018’s “Cry Pretty.” (Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.; TD Garden, Boston; $45 and up; all ages)
“Parasite”
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho has a well-earned reputation for visually stunning dystopia. His 2013 film “Snowpiercer,” which put all of humanity (including Chris Evans) on a constantly moving train, savagely skewered social stratification. His 2017 Netflix sci-fi title “Okja” made you think twice about eating pork. Now, Joon-ho is back with “Parasite,” another examination of class warfare about a dirt-poor family that slowly worms its way into the lives of an ultra-wealthy one, sometimes through sinister means. The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and has been lauded by every critic who has seen it so far, earning it a 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. On Thursday, the Independent Film Festival Boston will host a free screening of the film on a first-come, first-served basis at Brattle Theatre before the film begins its regular engagement next weekend. (Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.; Brattle Theatre, Cambridge; free; rated R)
HONK! Festival
More than 25 brass bands will take to the streets of Somerville and Cambridge this weekend for a raucous blend of marching, playing, and celebrating. Friday night will include a paper lantern parade through Somerville followed by free performances at Bow Market. Saturday will have nine hours of performances in Davis Square. And Sunday will feature a parade from Davis to Harvard Square’s Oktoberfest. (Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13 at various times and locations; free; all ages)
LeakyCon
The mischief will be anything but managed at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center this weekend when LeakyCon, a festival celebrating the Harry Potter universe, comes to town for three days of panels, performances, and programs. With the purchase of an extra ticket, you’ll also have a chance to meet-and-greets with actors from the Harry Potter film series, including Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski), Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley), Stanislav Yanevski (Viktor Krum), and Luke Youngblood (Lee Jordan). (Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13 at various times; Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center, Boston; $69 to $159; recommended for ages 11+)
A Star-Studded Tribute to “The White Album”
A little over 50 years ago, The Beatles released their seminal self-titled double album, now collectively known as “The White Album,” inspiring countless musicians to push experimental sounds to the limit. Now, a collection of musicians famous in their own right are on tour to perform a tribute to the 1968 album. Singer Christopher Cross, prog-rock star Todd Rundgren, former Monkees drummer/singer Micky Dolenz, former Chicago bassist/singer Jason Scheff, and Badfinger guitarist Joey Molland will all be on hand to perform their greatest hits, as well as songs from “The White Album” at the Berklee Performance Center on Friday. (Friday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m.; Berklee Performance Center, Boston; $69-89; all ages)
New England Chocolate Festival Chocolate Pavilion
Sweet-toothed Bostonians should head to Cyclorama on Saturday for the Chocolate Pavilion, part of the larger New England Chocolate Festival. More than 40 vendors will be peddling their delicious wares and passing out samples, and an on-site cafe will have free pairings of chocolate with Blue Bottle Coffee and Polar Seltzer. Make sure to leave time for the sensorium, a hands-on exhibit dedicated to the chocolate- and cacao-making process. (Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Cyclorama, Boston; $22.50 for adults, $9 for children ages 9 – 12; all ages)
Marc Maron
Marc Maron took the long road to fame, toiling as a “comedian’s comedian” for decades before breaking through with his self-titled podcast “WTF with Marc Maron,” which celebrated its tenth anniversary and 1,000th episode earlier this year. The Boston University grad’s incisive interviewing style has yielded candid conversations with everyone from the late Robin Williams to Barack Obama, and the pod’s success has led to roles for Maron on the Emmy-winning Netflix series “Glow” and most recently, a small part in “Joker.” Maron will return to his old stomping grounds to perform stand-up at the Wang Theatre on Saturday. PS: We’re giving away tickets to a few lucky winners. (Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Wang Theatre, Boston; $35-49; not recommended for anyone under 18)
Big Thief
Brooklyn folk rockers Big Thief have been one of the most prolific and consistent new acts of recent years, putting out four albums since 2016, including two in 2019 alone: “U.F.O.F.,” which earned the #33 spot on Pitchfork’s Top 200 Albums of the 2010s list, and “Two Hands,” which comes out this week. The band will play The Wilbur on Sunday, with the Ellen Kempner-fronted Boston trio Palehound serving as the opener. (Sunday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.; The Wilbur, Boston; $28-$38; all ages)
Free Admission to the ICA
Here’s a three-day weekend activity for the whole family: The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, which is typically closed on Mondays, will offer free admission all day. You’ll be able to explore the majority of the museum’s galleries, with one notable exception being the immersive “Love Is Calling” from Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. The exhibit requires a separate ticket, and is already completely booked through the end of the month. (Monday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; free; all ages)