Things to Do in Boston This Weekend

The Boston Art Book Fair opens Friday with a party that turns into a dance floor at 10 PM, on the same night Phoebe Robinson plays The Wilbur and Punch Brothers play the Shubert. On Saturday, the comedian Jay Leno called “the best joke writer in America” comes to Davis Square, and on Sunday we’re watching the Patriots play in Munich with a 9:30 AM kickoff.

These are the 20 things we would actually go to this weekend, sorted by day. Every pick has the time, the place and a link to its page on our events calendar, with the price when the organizer lists one.

The Cornley University Drama Society is back, and its staging of Peter Pan comes with wardrobe malfunctions, harrowing falls, flubbed lines and an epic Captain Hook meltdown. It’s from the creators of The Play That Goes Wrong, and it’s recommended for ages 8 and up.

Opens Friday and runs through December 31 · 140 Clarendon Street, 2nd Floor

Boston Art Review and the Boston Center for the Arts open the Boston Art Book Fair with a first look at more than 150 exhibitors before the public gets in, plus food from The Beehive and Rosa y Marigold, two drink tickets, screen printing by ñ PRESS and a free copy of Issue 17. The exhibitors close at 10 PM, and then the Boston collective Sojourn takes over a never-before-seen part of the Cyclorama, with Rasaaq, Joe Rizk and Chaouki Alba spinning house and groove, mostly on vinyl, until 1 AM. If you only want the dance floor, the $30 ticket gets you in at 10 PM and still comes with the issue.

7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. · 539 Tremont Street · $60, or $30 for the dance party only

Phoebe Robinson is in her 40s and fed up, and Feral and Fired Up! goes after billionaires, dating, fake activism and restaurants that make you scan a QR code to see the menu. Doors open an hour before the show.

7:30 p.m. · 246 Tremont Street

Chris Thile’s band, with Noam Pikelny on banjo and Brittany Haas on violin, won the Grammy for Best Folk Album for All Ashore. Its seventh album, The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers, is the band’s first made up entirely of instrumentals. Students can get $30 rush tickets at the box office on the day of the show with a school ID.

8:00 p.m. · 265 Tremont Street · From $60 at the box office

A TOOL tribute played live in a room lit by candles sounds wrong in the best way. The concert runs 60 minutes, doors open 45 minutes before, and late entry isn’t permitted. It’s for ages 8 and up, and anyone under 16 needs an adult.

9:00 p.m. · 1 Central Wharf · From $39

Ritual Fest takes over SoWa Power Station with yoga, Pilates and high-energy bootcamp classes led by Boston instructors, plus wellness brands, local vendors, coffee and food between sessions. More than 2,000 people came last year, and this one ends with an after-party.

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. · 550 Harrison Ave

Shannan Calcutt leads a two-day clown workshop on taking risks, following your impulses and playing with an ensemble, which sounds like exactly the weekend some of us need. It’s for ages 16 and up, and only 16 people can enroll.

Sat 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sun 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. · 255 Elm Street, Somerville · $200 to $300

Cider tastings are included with your ticket at this South Boston tasting, with food for sale through the afternoon. General admission gets you in at 1 PM, and VIP gets you in at noon for an extra hour of tastings and swag. It happens rain or shine, and it’s 21+.

12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. · 368 West Broadway · $45 general, $65 VIP, plus fees

PureSoul Presents turns City Winery’s main stage into a live ’90s R&B brunch, with Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing),” Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love,” Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison.” There are mimosas too, and you should absolutely sing along.

12:00 p.m. · 80 Beverly Street · $30

Style Exchange sets out clothing, shoes and accessories from local closets at Atlantic Wharf, and admission is free. Go early if you want first pick.

12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. · 290 Congress Street · Free

Dear Annie fills up with local makers, including ceramics from Formal Evolution and Ryn Ceramics, seasonal herbal teas from Virgo’s Room and hand-dyed silk scarves from Shireen Damghani. Entry is free, and you can buy wine by the glass and sip while you shop.

2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. · 1741 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge · Free

Brick Island’s artists open their studios for the collective’s annual Open Studios, and the gallery group show covers paintings, textiles, ceramics, video, performance and more. Refreshments are served, and it’s free and open to everyone.

4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. · 1476 River Street · Free

Jay Leno called Emo Philips “the best joke writer in America.” He started out in Chicago in 1976, had an hour-long HBO special and played the table-saw demonstrator in UHF, and now the Boston Comedy Festival is bringing him to Davis Square. Doors are at 6:15 PM. Get there on time, because once the headliner starts, late arrivals can’t get into the room.

7:00 p.m. · 255 Elm Street, Somerville · $25 to $30 · 21+

Darshan Jesrani, one half of the New York duo Metro Area, plays disco and soulful house in the intimate underground room at Spy Bar. His résumé includes Sónar, Panorama Bar and fabric, which is a lot of club for a room this size. Boston’s Ryan Obermiller opens.

8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. · 40 Berkeley Street

Meg and Andrew are getting married and opening their reception to anyone who wants to Lindy. Yes, really, and admission is free.

8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. · 4228 Washington Street, Roslindale · Free

Ballers Seaport is now a winter hangout, with an outdoor skating rink, private cabins, firepits, s’mores and hot chocolate. The rink is synthetic, so it stays open when it’s warm out. Rentals are included, and if you bring your own, they have to be hockey skates.

9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. · 25 Pier 4 Blvd · Skating $20, kids under 12 $15

The Patriots play the Detroit Lions in Munich, so kickoff is 9:30 AM Boston time on FOX, and we’re cheering them on together at our meetup at Time Out Market. Taylor Wilkinson is hosting. You don’t need to care about football to come, since we’re really here to meet people. Come solo or bring a friend, and RSVP on the meetup page so Taylor knows you’re coming.

9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. · 401 Park Drive

Grey Moon brings its vintage Levi’s, designer clothing and accessories back for a holiday pop-up, right after a fall pop-up that had people asking for more. Doors open at 10 AM sharp and the line forms outside studio C20. Wear something easy to change out of in case there’s a wait for the dressing room, and bring a reusable bag.

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. · 460 Harrison Avenue, Suite C20 · Venmo preferred, cards accepted

FOUND fills SoWa Power Station with 100 of New England’s best vintage and sustainable style sellers, and there’s a bar on site so you can sip while you shop. It’s free to get in, and it’s just down Harrison Ave from Grey Moon if you want to make a morning of it.

12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. · 550 Harrison Ave · Free

More than 200 booths of juried American-made crafts and specialty foods fill the Topsfield Fairgrounds as the fair celebrates 30 years. Jewelry, pottery, glass and woodwork share the room with chocolates, sauces and holiday caroling, it’s all indoors, and one admission is good for all three days.

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday · 207 Boston Street · Free parking

Our weekly events calendar goes out every Thursday to 45,000 subscribers. Sign up for the newsletter to get it before the weekend starts.

Browsing the events calendar and submitting an event are open to everyone. Members get discounted tickets, priority guest lists and the ability to save events, all for $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

What is free to do in Boston this weekend?

The Boston Art Book Fair is free and open to the public on Saturday and Sunday at the BCA Cyclorama, and Friday night’s preview party is the ticketed part. Also free on Saturday: Style Exchange, Unruly Makers Market, the Brick Island Studios Fall Opening and Meg and Andrew’s Lindy dance. On Sunday, FOUND Mega Vintage Market is free too.

When does this page change?

Every Monday morning, with picks added all week for the coming Friday through Sunday. For everything else on in the city, browse the full events calendar.