Things to Do
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].
Scare yourself silly at a haunted house
Massachusetts is home to some of the most popular and beloved haunted attractions in the country. Whether you want to visit Salem for all things spooky or venture to a haunted corn maze, there are plenty of attractions across the state to keep things scary. Though most of the best attractions are outside of Boston, you can head to Charlestown for Boston’s Wicked Haunt Fest, the city’s first ever large-scale Halloween festival — which not only has four haunted attractions, but less spooky family-friendly activities as well. For a full list of options, check out our guide to the best haunted houses and attractions in Massachusetts. (Various times, dates, and locations) — Nia Harmon
Sink into a new Titanic artifact exhibit
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, which features more than 250 recovered artifacts from the site of the shipwreck, is officially open in Boston. Spanning more than 15,000 square feet, the exhibit will feature recreations of the ship’s interior and exterior, including the Grand Staircase. E/M Group and RMS Titanic, Inc. have curated hundreds of artifacts, allowing guests to get a glimpse into the stories of passengers and crew members. Visitors will be able to embark on an interactive tour and step into the shoes of a passenger boarding the ship in April 1912, first receiving a replica of a boarding pass, then exploring the meticulously recreated rooms, halls and structures. Tickets for the exhibit, held at the The Saunders Castle at Park Plaza, are available for purchase here. (Open Wednesdays through Sundays through May 29; 130 Columbus Ave., Boston; $39.50) — Sanjana Mishra
Dress up for a Boston Halloween party
No matter your personality or nightlife preferences, there’s bound to be a Halloween party to check out in Boston this weekend. Looking for a 1980s dance vibe? Try Caveau. Three floors of upscale fun? The Liberty Hotel is your answer. Pretending you’re still in college? That would be the Lansdowne Street Halloween Bar Crawl. For even more options, including events for foodies and dog-lovers, check out our full guide to Halloween parties in Boston. (Various times, dates, locations, and prices) — Kevin Slane
Watch thought-provoking documentaries at GlobeDocs
The tenth annual GlobeDocs Film Festival, which runs through Sunday, will feature more than a dozen documentary film screenings, many of which will be followed by moderated conversations with filmmakers and Boston Globe journalists. Viewers can choose from a range of both virtual and in-person screenings at area theaters including The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in the Seaport. Highlights include Thursday night’s “Group Therapy,” which follows five stand-up comics as they candidly talk through their mental health issues; and Sunday’s “Zurawski v. Texas,” about a group of Texas women impacted by the state’s abortion bans who came together to sue the government. For a full list of films and to buy tickets, visit the GlobeDocs Film Fest website. (Now through Sunday, Oct. 27 at various times and locations; $15 per film; all ages) — Kevin Slane
Get to know Luis Miranda at WBUR CitySpace
Though likely best known these days as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s dad, Luis Miranda is also a political strategist and founder of one of the largest hispanic non-profits, the Hispanic Federation. Learn more about Miranda from his childhood in Puerto Rico to his Latino advocacy work as an adult. This Thursday, head to WBUR’s CitySpace for a conversation and book-signing event for his new memoir, “Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America,” with the host of ¡Con Salsa!, José Massó. (Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m.; 890 Commonwealth Ave., Boston; $10-30) — Heather Alterisio
Get silly with Natasha Leggero at Laugh Boston
If her name sounds familiar, it could be because Natasha Leggero is, well, everywhere: She’s a staple on reality TV shows like “Stars on Mars” and “Fast Foodies,” has plied her craft on game shows like “Comedy Knockout” and “The Great American Joke Off,” and she’s roasted everyone from James Franco to Justin Bieber. More importantly, her faux-upper class on-stage persona, complete with cocktail dresses and white gloves, is aristocratically hilarious. (Friday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m., 425 Summer St., Boston, $33) — Peter Chianca
Turn pages at the Boston Book Festival
Boston’s marquee literary festival is back for another year of book-based events this Saturday. The kickoff event featuring seven-time New York Times bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell in conversation about his latest book, “Revenge of the Tipping Point,” has sold out, but there are plenty of keynote speakers, author sessions, and other events happening around the city in connection to the Boston Book Festival. Some of the headliners include Xio Axelrod, Winsome Bingham, David Blight, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Sarah Lewis, Cynthia Manick, Sajni Patel, and Paul Zelinsky. Check out Boston.com’s guide to the festival. (Saturday, Oct. 26 at various time and locations; free) — Heather Alterisio
See “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” at Fenway Park
We won’t tell you twice: “Beetlejuice Beetlejuce,” the long-awaited sequel to Tim Burton’s supernatural comedy, is playing on the big screen in center field at Fenway Park this Saturday. The screening is part of the Red Sox and Alamo Drafthouse’s Halloween Movie Night, which encompasses several spooky activities at the ballpark. From 3:30-6 p.m., families can enjoy free trick or treating on the ballpark’s warning track, along with balloon artists, face painters, a costume contest, and a visit from Wally the Green Monster. Afterwards, fans can stick around for a screening of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the Massachusetts-filmed followup to 1988’s “Beetlejuice,” which finds three generations of Deetz women (Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega) dealing with the antics of the underworld’s most lascivious bio-exorcist (Michael Keaton). (Saturday, Oct. 26 from 3:30-8:30 p.m.; 4 Jersey St., Boston; $5-10) — Kevin Slane
Sit and stay at a trio of dog Halloween parades
Dog owners (and dog lovers) have plenty of opportunities to see canines in costume this month, including a trio of events in the Boston area this weekend. In Boston proper, choose between the 10th annual Doggone Halloween, which kicks off in Downtown Boston at the corner of Washington and Franklin at noon, or the Jamaica Plain Canine Costume Parade, which celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday at noon on Centre St. with a red carpet contest, prizes, and music from the JP Honk Band. Then on Sunday at 1 p.m., head to Farm Pond Park in Framingham for “Kids and Paws for a Cause – A Halloween Parade,” which asks guests to not only bring costumed kids and pets but also one non-perishable food item to help fight food insecurity in Framingham. (Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 26-27 at various times and locations; free) — Kevin Slane
Enjoy Halloween at the Pru
Every year, over 50 stores and restaurants at the Prudential Center sponsor Pru Boo. Dress the kiddos in their cutest Halloween outfits and enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, magic shows, pumpkin decorating, live musical performances, and more on Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities are free and participants are encouraged to use the $5 donation Prudential Center trick or treat bag. All proceeds go to a non-profit partner. (Sunday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 800 Boylston St., Boston; free) — Cheryl Fenton
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