10 best events, things to do in Boston this weekend

With more and more Massachusetts businesses and cultural institutions reinstating COVID-19 restrictions in the face of a resurgent coronavirus pandemic, residents may be torn on whether to venture out of their homes this weekend. With that in mind, this week’s BosTen offers a mix of in-person and virtual things to do in Boston this weekend. 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].

Dive into the Halloween spirit early at The Boohive

Say boo! The Beehive will receive a Halloween makeover on Thursday, transforming into The Boohive with a lineup of food and entertainment that’ll have you embracing the spooky holiday a couple days early. In addition to food and drink specials and live music, the South End haunt will host a “Trick or Tease” burlesque show from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring performances by Kimmy Moore, Jynx Merlot, and Dahlia Strack. Book a reservation here and prepare to be delightfully entranced.

Catch a free outdoor screening of ‘Hocus Pocus’ on the Greenway

This fall has been full of outdoor movie screenings on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, with a family-friendly film screening every Thursday as part of the Rediscover the Greenway Programmatic Series. The four-week run wraps up this Thursday across from South Station with “Hocus Pocus,” the 1993 classic filmed in Salem and Marblehead about a trio of witches who return to Salem 300 years after the witch trials to wreak havoc on the modern town. The screening is free and begins at 6 p.m.

Step into the Boo-tanical Garden at Boston Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum will be celebrating spooky season throughout the weekend with a number of activities, including its “Boo-tanical Garden,” a collection of strange and unusual plants. The garden is available to visit daily through Oct. 31, but the best time to visit is this Friday for the museum’s Halloween Spooktacular. The event will feature trick-or-treating around the museum, with 13 spooky activities along the way.

Pumpkin cocktails, free chocolate, and spooky movies at Bambara

Bambara Kitchen & Bar, the Kimpton Marlowe hotel restaurant in Cambridge, is going full-throttle with Halloween festivities, including an outdoor series of scary movies. Come by for a viewing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by “Hocus Pocus” on Saturday at 7 p.m. and “Beetlejuice” on Sunday at 7 p.m. To drink, Bambara will offer The Great Pumpkin cocktail, featuring pumpkin, pumpkin spice, vodka, and bubbles, and all guests dining at the restaurant on Sunday will receive a complimentary trio of chocolate truffles: hazelnut, powdered sugar, and toasted coconut. No tricks here — just treats. 

Be a basic witch at City Tap’s Basic Witch Brunch

Fort Point’s City Tap will bring back its annual Basic Witch Brunch on Saturday — UGGs and top knots welcome. In addition to avocado toast specials (quite possibly the most basic brunch item of all), the restaurant will offer drinks like a toasted coconut latte with 1800 coconut tequila, Kahlua, amaretto, Baileys, and cold brew; and a Pink Lady Cosmo with apple juice, apple vodka, Cointreau, cranberry, and lemon juice. Catch DJ J-WALL playing all the best basic jams from noon to 3 p.m., and don’t forget to receive complimentary readings from Psychic Daisy. Reservations are encouraged. 

Say farewell to Tiger Mama with one last order of bun cha Hanoi

No, this isn’t a Halloween trick: Tiger Mama, Tiffany Faison’s Southeast Asian restaurant in the Fenway, will hold its last regular service on Friday. While Faison plans to open a new concept in its place, Tiger Mama’s tropical cocktails, bun cha Hanoi, and papaya salad won’t be around after this weekend — meaning you’d be wise to make a reservation for one last dinner there. You’ve been a real one, Tiger Mama!

Learn spooky science at the Waterworks Musem

The Metropolitan Waterworks Museum in Boston will be offering free admission this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of its Halloween-themed event, “The Tricks and Treats: Spooky Science.” Museum employees will teach you some of the science behind spooky effects and will offer a number of Halloween games, crafts, and plenty of candy. The event is free, but advance registration on the Waterworks Museum website is recommended.

Hit the streets of Fenway for a Fright Night Halloween Pub Crawl

If you’re undaunted by crowded bars in the COVID-19 era and want to celebrate Halloween with a traditional costumed bacchanal, head to Lansdowne Street for Fright Night Halloween Pub Crawl this Saturday. Participating bars — which include Bleacher Bar, Yard House, and Cheeky Monkey Brewing — will waive cover chargers and offer drink specials for crawl participants. You can grab a ticket for the shindig, which kicks off at 3 p.m., on Eventbrite.

See animals in spooky surroundings at Zoo Howl

If you missed last weekend’s Boo at the Zoo event at the Stone Zoo, the Franklin Park Zoo is hosting a Halloween-themed weekend of its own Saturday and Sunday. Children can trick-or-treat among the animals, as well as enjoy creepy crafts, ghoulish games, a costume contest, a scavenger hunt, fall-themed food and drink, and other spooky activities.

Celebrate all things canine at the first-ever Brookline Dog Day

Calling all canines (and their human friends): This Sunday, the Brookline Rotary Club will hold its first-ever Brookline Dog Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be Halloween costume contests, dog talent competitions, a frisbee demonstration, and appearances by the Brookline Police Department Canine Corps, among other attractions. Tickets and additional info can be found on the Brookline Rotary Club’s Eventbrite page.