The weekend builds toward Sunday's Harvest Fair in Newton Centre, but there's plenty before it—owl walks, a brewery-bound nature hike, and a cheese dinner collaboration that runs through the weekend.
Newton Centre's big fall gathering returns with kiddie rides, 100+ crafters and vendors, live music on two stages, and free pumpkin decorating courtesy of Wegmans. The Suzuki School of Newton performs on the community stage at 11:45 AM. Green Newton's GreenEXPO is there too, and the Newton Centre restaurants are all within reach if carnival food isn't your thing.
Sun, Oct 18, 11:45 AM–4:30 PM · Newton Centre Green and Langley Road parking lot · Details
Two stages of local performers run throughout the day, with community dining areas scattered around the festival grounds for eating your takeout in good company.
Sun, Oct 18, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM · Newton Centre · Details
New England's largest literary event takes over Copley Square with keynotes, panels, and family activities. Free admission, and Lyric Stage Boston has a booth directly across from the library steps if you want to talk theater between sessions.
Sat, Oct 17, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM · Copley Square, Boston · Details
Chef-owner Conor Dennehy has teamed up with Formaggio Kitchen for a five-night cheese dinner, with the four-course menu coming from Fallow Kin chef Lucas Kasperzak. The run wraps Sunday.
Through Sun, Oct 18 · Talulla, Cambridge · Details
Couples cook paella and tapas together, then sit down to eat what they made. BYOB, four spots left as of press time.
Fri, Oct 16, 6:00–9:00 PM · Third Space Kitchen, Newton · $195 per couple · Registration required · Details
Violinist Hilary Hahn and cellist Seth Parker Woods perform the dance-inspired double concerto that BSO Composer Chair Carlos Simon wrote for them. Final performance is Saturday.
Through Sat, Oct 17 · Symphony Hall, Boston · Details
An evening hike for families with kids 5–12, searching the treetops for owls as dusk settles in. Participants handle wing and talon samples to learn what makes owls such effective hunters. There's another session later in the month.
Fri, Oct 16, 5:30–7:00 PM · Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Lincoln · Details
A golden-hour walk through Habitat sanctuary looking for plants preparing for the next generation, then drinks at Mighty Squirrel Brewery with the group. Three hours, nature to social.
Sat, Oct 17, 4:00–7:00 PM · Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont · Details
Printmaking, paper making, and book arts demonstrations in a West Newton studio. Open both Saturday and Sunday.
Sat, Oct 17, 11:00 AM – Sun, Oct 18, 4:00 PM · Shepherd&Maudsleigh Studio, West Newton · Details
The Olivier and Tony Award-winning musical about the secret WWII mission involving a dead body, a fake love letter, and Ian Fleming. Broadway in Boston run continues.
Tue, Oct 20, 7:00–10:00 PM · Details
The Coolidge's annual overnight horror marathon turns 25 with a mummy theme. It opens with The Mummy and Hammer's The Mummy's Shroud from a rare U.K. archival print; five more features are being kept secret until they screen.
Sat, Oct 31, 11:30 PM · Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline · Details
Yo-Yo Ma and Stephen Colbert talk about artists and community, marking 50 years of Harvard's Learning from Performers series. Limited public tickets go online a few days before.
Thu, Nov 5, 7:00 PM · Sanders Theatre, Cambridge · Free tickets for Harvard ID holders; limited public tickets online with handling fee · Tickets required · Details
Codman Farm's pizza nights return, with 48-hour fermented dough and pepperoni made from the farm's own pork and beef, served in the pavilion.
Thu, Oct 29, 4:30–6:30 PM · Codman Community Farms (Pavilion), Lincoln · Registration required · Details
Mount Auburn's winter light festival returns with large-scale installations by MASARY, a lantern walk in a new area, and a candle lighting service with live strings. Tickets are on sale now.
Sat, Dec 5 – Mon, Dec 21 · Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge · Details