Columbus Day Weekend: Our List of Fun, Festive Things to Choose From

A member of the Extraordinary Rendition Band performs during HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands. Photo by Danielle Martin

Columbus Day weekend is upon us, the first three-day weekend of the school year. It’s a great opportunity to explore all that Boston has to offer while enjoying some beautiful fall weather. To help you get the most out of the holiday, we’ve put together a list of events in the Boston area, from food, music, and art festivals to shopping and more.

Friday, October 5

13th Annual HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands

Music has long been an outlet for activism, and the relationship between the two will be on display this weekend at the 13th Annual HONK! Festival in Somerville. Nearly 30 activist street bands from the United States, Canada, and even Brazil perform at the three-day festival. It begins Friday night with a lantern parade at 7 pm in Hodgkins Park, followed by a kickoff party at 8 pm at Bow Market in Union Square and at Aeronaut Brewing Company. It continues Saturday from noon to 9 pm, and concludes Sunday with a parade from Davis Square that will bring together community activists for a range of social justice and environmental issues with the activist bands. The bands arrive in Harvard Square at 2 pm, and will perform at the annual Harvard Square Oktoberfest (see below).

HONK! kicks off on Friday, October 5, at 7 pm at Hodgkins Park in Davis Square, Somerville. Bands perform at Bow Market, One Bow Market Way, and at Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler St., from 8 to 11 pm. On Saturday, the bands play throughout Davis Square, from noon to 9 pm. On Sunday, they parade from Davis Square to Harvard Square, starting at noon. The bands perform at the Oktoberfest mainstage and on smaller stages from 2 to 6 pm. Find each day’s schedule here and a list of bands here. All events are free and open to the public. Take an MBTA Red Line train to Davis Square.

SoWa First Friday

On the first Friday of each month, the SoWa Art + Design District opens its doors to the public from 5 to 9 pm for an evening of art. Patrons can meet artists and hear the stories behind their work, visit galleries and exhibitions, and shop at some of the smaller niche boutiques that make the SoWa neighborhood so special. Sponsored by the SoWa Artists’ Guild, it’s an ideal place to find gifts for friends and family. Why not get a leg up on your holiday shopping?

SoWa First Friday is Friday, October 5, from 5 to 9 pm, at 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, and is free and open to the public. Find parking information and directions here.

Saturday, October 6

Holiday Sales

Columbus Day is a federal holiday, so there’ll be lots of sales going on all weekend. Stroll down Newbury Street, Boston’s most popular shopping destination, for retailers like AllSaints, Nike Boston, and Urban Outfitters, many offering holiday markdowns. At the nearby Shops at Prudential Center, browse among dozens of stores, including Ann Taylor, Vineyard Vines, and Polo Ralph Lauren. Grab a free PRUferred card to save some cash. Find a list of stores at the Pru offering student discounts here. And the adjacent Copley Place offers even more shopping options, among them men’s and women’s J.Crew stores, Barneys New York, Coach, Gap, and Neiman Marcus.

The Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston, is open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm. Copley Place, 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, is open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm, Sunday, noon to 6 pm. Pick up a PRUferred card at the Prudential Center concierge desk. Newbury Street retailer hours vary.

Fourth Annual District Hall Brunch Battle

Do you love brunch? If you’re a college student, the answer is probably yes. Head down to District Hall in Boston’s Innovation District for the fourth annual Brunch Battle, from noon to 2 pm. Competing restaurants will fight for this year’s Brunch Battle Champion title. Restaurants include Gather, Brownstone, Row 34, the Friendly Toast, and others. Tickets are $25 for admission and brunch samples. Purchase drinks at the bar for an additional amount. All proceeds benefit Community Servings, a local nonprofit food and nutrition program helping those with chronic illness. The event is 21+ and a valid ID is required.

The Fourth Annual Brunch Battle is Saturday, October 6, at District Hall, 75 Northern Ave., Boston, from noon to 2 pm. Purchase tickets here. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Park Street, a Red Line train to South Station, then a Silver Line Waterfront bus to Courthouse Station.

Let’s Talk about Food

Did someone say free food? Head over to the Harvard Science Center for a day of cooking demonstrations, competitions, and tastings, plus an all-day marketplace with interactive booths offering culinary education, and of course, free food. Hosted by Harvard University Dining Services and Let’s Talk about Food, this all-day food festival features selections from numerous Boston-area chefs, including Mei Mei and the Chubby Chickpea. With a focus on food innovation and sustainability, it’s a must for foodies. The festival is free and open to the public, from 10 am to 5 pm.

Let’s Talk about Food is Saturday, October 6, from 10 am to 5 pm, at the Harvard Science Center, One Oxford Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, and is free, no registration required. Take an MBTA Red Line train to Harvard Square, then walk to the Science Center.

Sunday, October 7

Boston Columbus Day Parade

Boston’s annual Columbus Day Parade, now in its 81st year, celebrates the titular explorer, as well as the city’s Italian heritage and Massachusetts military units. The spectacle includes a mix of marching bands, Duck boats, representatives from local Italian-American organizations, vintage cars, and more. Always held the Sunday before Columbus Day, the parade’s path changes from year to year. In even-numbered years like this one, the parade begins in the Suffolk Downs parking lot in East Boston and ends in East Boston’s Maverick Square, near the waterfront.

The Columbus Day Parade is Sunday, October 7, starting at Suffolk Downs at 1 pm and ending in Maverick Square, both in East Boston.

The 40th Annual Harvard Square Oktoberfest

This annual event, one of the area’s most popular fall festivals, dates back to 1978, and draws crowds of more than 200,000. Sponsored by the Harvard Square Business Association, it features food from around the globe as well as arts, crafts, vintage goods, unique gifts, and live music. In addition to the bands from the HONK! Festival (see above), Harvard Square’s intimate music club Passim will have a special stage. And of course, it wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without beer: there will be six beer gardens throughout Harvard Square to help those 21+ quench their thirst.

The Harvard Square Oktoberfest is Sunday, October 7, from noon to 6 pm, in Harvard Square. Admission is free and open to the public. Find more information here. Take an MBTA Red Line trolley to Harvard Square.

Somerville Flea

At this open-air market in the heart of Somerville’s Davis Square, you can find vintage clothing, furniture, and records, as well as handcrafted jewelry, baked goods, and artwork. The seasonal market runs weekly through October 21 and also offers live music. This Sunday’s featured band is Gratefulele, formed in 2017, which rearranges music by the Grateful Dead for vocals and ukulele.

The Somerville Flea is each Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, June through mid-October, at 52 Holland St., Davis Square, Somerville. Take an MBTA Red Line trolley to Davis Square.

Monday, October 8

Museum of Fine Arts Fall Open House

Head over to the world-famous MFA on Columbus Day for its annual free Fall Open House, from 10 am to 5 pm. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the event will feature Latin dance company MetaMovements, a performance by the Sociedad Latina youth alumni band, and an art installation and artist conversation with Colombian American artist and feminist Natalia Arbelaez. There’s also interactive art-making and guided tours.

The Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, holds its annual Fall Open House on Monday, October 8, from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is free. Take an MBTA Green Line E trolley to the Museum of Fine Arts.

Fenway Alliance Opening Our Doors Day

On Columbus Day, the nonprofit Fenway Alliance is giving Boston residents and guests a day of cultural experiences throughout the five-mile Fenway neighborhood—and they’re all free. Choose from among 80 events and activities, including musical, theatrical, and dance performances, walking tours of the neighborhood, mask-making, and indoor kite flying. It kicks off at 10 am and runs until 4 pm. Free trolleys will shuttle visitors to key locations, including Evans Way Park and the Museum of Fine Arts. Among the highlights: a “Build Mass Ave” interactive sculpture activity with the Boston Society of Architects at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, a rhythm and dance parade by Grooversity at Evans Way Park, and a performance by the Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University.

Fenway Alliance Opening Our Doors Day is Monday, October 8, from 10 am to 4 pm. The event kicks off at the First Church of Christ Scientist and Mary Baker Eddy Library, 200 Huntington Avene/Avenue of the Arts. Find more information and a complete schedule of events here.

Jacob Gurvis can be reached at jgurvis@bu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @JacobGurvis.