Greater Boston is anything but dull this weekend, offering a plethora of dynamic events, including the Affordable Art Fair Boston and the acclaimed Boston Book Festival. After perusing creative masterpieces and listening to engaging talks, catch the last night of a theater performance or immerse yourself in a ball at the ICA. These attractions and more, below.
Thursday, Oct. 23-Sunday, Oct. 26
While Affordable Art Fairs have been held across the world in cities such as Brussels, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Singapore, the Boston edition takes shape at the SoWa Power Station for the first time this week. Thousands of works will be available for purchase, ranging in cost from $100 to $10,000. Over 50 galleries will participate, including Boston’s Alpha Gallery, Provincetown’s Bowersock Gallery, Maine’s Amai and New York’s Azart Gallery and PXP Contemporary. There will also be exhibits on view, like “Survival Tactics: Making Do in the Aftermath” curated by Mallory A. Ruymann and Jasper A. Sanchez, as well as panel discussions, including “Models for the Future: Building and Sustaining a Practice.” An “all access pass” costs $35, and general admission tickets are $18.
Saturday, Oct. 25
today in its 17th year, the Boston Book Festival is the perfect way to spend your Saturday: traversing Copley Square for discussions and presentations on a range of subject matter. Keynote speakers include Julia Quinn, author of the “Bridgerton” series, and award-winning New York Times journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin. Over 200 writers of fiction, mysteries, children’s books and more will be in attendance. Stop by Trinity Church to hear a session on “Women and Revolution: Stories from Iran and Russia,” or head to the Goethe-Institut for the workshop “…And Then Something Weird Happened: Bringing Magic To Poetic Narrative.” The festival is free, except for special ticketed keynote evenings (ranging from $33.85-$39.19).
Closing Saturday, Oct. 25
Catch the last weekend of “300 Paintings,” a production presented by American Repertory Theater at Farkas Hall in Cambridge. Australian comedian Sam Kissajukian created and performs this true story of how he left stand-up, decided to rent an abandoned cake factory and became a visual musician. Over the period of six months, he crafted 300 paintings and unintentionally tracked his mental state during a manic episode. WBUR theater critic Jacquinn Sinclair reviewed that “Kissajukian’s storytelling skills and comedic timing are spot on.” Ticket starting prices range $75-$119, depending on the performance.
Saturday, Oct. 25
Make your way to Magazine Beach Park Nature Center in Cambridge for this free celebration. From 1-5 p.m., the space will be transformed into a haunted house, where visitors will meet insects, such as centipedes, spiders and more animal ambassadors, while learning about their lives. There will also be craft stations, an opportunity to build a bat and spider-inspired community art display, and snacks and apple cider. Costumes are encouraged, and the event is the perfect festivity for families with children.
Saturday, Oct. 25
Visit the ICA for an early dose of Halloween revelry. Attendees are encouraged to dress in black or white and dance to the tunes of DJ Big Bear. During the festivities, there will be eclectic performances from Boston Circus Guild, including appearances from an aerialist and a stilt walker. Haunting food and drink will be served, and the space will feature black and white displays created by musician Jaina Cipriano. Guests will also receive custom patches made by musician Andy Li. Tickets are $10 for ICA members and $40 for nonmembers, and the rave is for those 21 and older.
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