Brace yourselves, Boston: The Head of the Charles returns this weekend to the city, and spectators and muscly rowers from all over the world will flock upon the Charles River, either pumping life into your weekend plans or giving you pre-emptive road rage.
Luckily for the latter group, the 50th Head of the Charles Regatta isn’t the only event happening in Boston this weekend. Read on for more suggestions and fun ideas of what to do, whether you plan to make it to the river banks and bridges or not.
Friday
Night Shift Battle of the IPA – 5 to 7 p.m. – The Tip Tap Room – Night Shift’s brewers have divided into teams and brewed their own IPAs, and on Friday night, each team will battle it out to see who’s beer is best. Guests at the Tip Tap Room will get beer tastings and voting cards. The first 20 people to buy a flight will receive a Night Shift glass.
Wine and Wishes 2014 – 6 to 8 p.m. – Morton’s Seaport – Support the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Friday night with Wine and Wishes, an evening fundraiser to benefit Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Emceed by Jonathan Soroff, the evening will include wine, along with whiskey and spirits, a live auction and music.
Saturday
50th Head of the Charles Regatta – October 18 and 19 – Charles River – Looking to head to the Head of the Charles this year? Check out our event coverage before embarking upon the river banks, and you’ll find an interactive map, what to know, where to watch and more.
Boston Sneaker Jam – October 18 and 19 – Seaport World Trade Center – This weekend, the world’s largest sneaker trade show descends upon Boston. Sneakerheads can get a look at rare sneakers and memorabilia, see street art galleries, buy, trade and sell, and more.
18th Annual A’cappella Competition – October 18 and 19 – Faneuil Hall – A’cappella groups from local colleges and universities will prove their pipes at the annual A’capella Competition, which is held this weekend from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Hosted by Dick Doherty’s Comedy Den, the competition is sure to fill Faneuil Hall with some powerful voices.
Revere Beach Fall Festival – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Revere Beach – The annual, family-oriented Revere Beach Fall Festival returns Saturday, hosted by the Revere Beach Partnership. Pumpkin decorating and lots of fall foods will be on hand at the free event.
Drink to Fall Bar Crawl – 12 to 9 p.m. – Bell in Hand – Not into family-oriented festivals? Drink to fall at this El Tour Event bar crawl, which will kick off with registration at the Bell in Hand at noon. Other stops include Paddy O’s, Mija, Durgin Park,Ned Devine’s and Sissy K’s. A T-shirt is included with registration.
Harvest Fest 2014 – 2 to 5 p.m., 6 to 9 p.m. – Somerville Center for the Arts at the Armory – Somerville’s sixth annual Harvest Fest combines food tasting and fundraising for nonprofits into one, two-session event. Somerville Local First and more local economy advocates will be providing food grown in nearby farms, as well as beer from New England brewers, and all proceeds will go to Somerville Local First’s operating budget.
Sunday
The Big Band Beat – 7 p.m. – The Beat Hotel – The Beat Hotel in Harvard Square is launching a Big Band series starting off with Brian Thomas’s big band. Join in for the music at 7 p.m. for a loud and rowdy Sunday night.
Image via Sneaker Jam
