Science, food trucks, and a 400-year-old apple.
Welcome to October. There are a bunch of repeats this week (rain date from the storm last weekend) plus some new stuff too. Get out and enjoy some great days Thursday and Friday!
The Cambridge Science Carnival takes over Kendall Square on Sunday with 100+ hands-on booths, Quincy’s Food Truck & Music Festival runs down Coddington Street on Saturday, and the Roxbury Russet Festival (apple varietal that is said to be 400 years old!) has cider pressing, goats and bunnies at the Shirley-Eustis House. And the Cambridge Cat Tour got rained out by the nor’easter last week, so it’s back on for this Saturday.
Pro Tip - If someone offers you a 400 year old apple - don’t eat it.
Picks of the Week
Kendall/MIT Open Space, 292 Main St, Cambridge · Sunday, October 4, 12:00–4:00 PM · Free · Drop-in · All ages
Over 100 booths, demos and installations from local universities, labs and makers, and kids get to put their hands on all of it. It only runs four hours, so get there near noon if you want to maximize time to explore and ooh and ahhh. Right on top of the Kendall/MIT Red Line stop.
Coddington Street, Quincy High School to Thomas Crane Library · Saturday, October 3, 12:00–6:00 PM · Free entry · Drop-in · All ages
Food trucks and live music lined up along a closed street. Easy to walk with kids and plenty of food vendors and music to enjoy
The Shirley-Eustis House, Roxbury · Saturday, October 3, 12:00–4:00 PM · Free · Drop-in · All ages
A festival for the apple variety that’s been growing in Roxbury since the 1600s. Cider sampling and cider making with the house’s own harvest, wool spinning, and bunnies, chickens, ducks and goats to meet. Fun on the farm except a lot closer to home
☔️ Bad Weather Backups
Central Library, Somerville · Saturday, October 3, 2:30–4:30 PM · Free · Drop-in · Ages 3–12
Hatch a dragon egg, build fairy houses for the enchanted forest, design a creature in the Creature Lab, and compete to replace a retiring Zeus. Kids under 8 should bring an adult.
Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St, Newton · Sunday, October 4, 8:30–11:30 AM · Registration required · All ages
The library turns its second floor into an 18-hole mini golf course, and Sunday morning is the family session, with breakfast and treats from Cabot’s Ice Cream. It’s run by the Friends of the Library, so register (and check the ticket price - it looks like donation only) through their site.
Medford Public Library · Monday, October 5, 6:00–7:00 PM · Free · Registration required · Ages 8–12
Cooking is science. Kids run kitchen experiments and then get to eat their experiments.
☀️ Outside Adventures
Dana Park, 70 Magazine St, Cambridge · Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 PM · Free · RSVP to walk · All ages
We had this in last week’s issue and then the nor’easter happened. tl;dr - a walking tour of Cambridge’s most established porch cats, hosted by the Mayor’s office, ending in a Meowfest at Dana Park.
Rocky Woods, Medfield · Saturday, October 3, 12:00–2:00 PM · $15 child / $20 adult (members $9 / $12, under 2 free) · Tickets required · All ages
Live music from Happy Julie, lawn games, hula hoops, bubbles, a StoryWalk through the woods and cotton candy, with ice cream and hot dog vendors on site. Bring a blanket. Parking is included in your ticket.
Powisset Farm, Dover · Saturday, October 3 at 9:00 AM · See site for tickets · All ages
Kids meet the farm’s four-legged residents with the livestock staff. Runs most Saturdays, so it’s a good one to keep in your back pocket.
📚 Library Picks
Belmont Public Library · Saturday, October 3, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM · Free · Registration required · Families
You and your kid chop, measure and mix together with a facilitator from Kids’ Test Kitchen. They say even picky eaters end up trying new foods.
Watertown Free Public Library · Thursday, October 1 · Free · Registration required · Ages 8–11
Kids form a party and go on quests together. It’s a series (Oct 1, 8, 15, 22), so check the listing for the time and open spots.
MakerSpace, Medford Public Library · Thursday, October 1 · Free · Registration required · Ages 8–12
Open evening access to the library’s MakerSpace. Try the equipment, work on a project, or just explore.
Know a Boston family who needs this? Forward this email to them — it’ll make their week.
Fun for the whole family
Honan-Allston Branch, Boston Public Library · Saturday, October 3 at 12:00 PM · Free · Drop-in · All ages
The Allston branch turns 25 and is throwing an all-ages party for the neighborhood. Full of games, crafts, music, ice cream and a ton more
Participating farms, Pepperell · Sunday, October 4, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM · Free · Drop-in · All ages
The fifth annual Open Farm Day: hop between farms for tractors, animals and fresh local produce. It’s about an hour from Boston, so make a day of it.
🍁 Our fall guides, in case you missed them
Apple picking near Boston — six orchards worth the drive, real prices, and how to beat the October weekend crush.
Pumpkin patches near Boston — where to go with kids, and when each one opens.
Halloween & pumpkin festivals near Boston — the October dates that are actually on the calendar.
Fall foliage hikes near Boston — ten walks with real color and short enough legs.
The Full Rundown
Thursday, October 1
Make Way for Storytime (10:00 AM) — Children’s Program Room, Newton Free Library · Free · Ages 0–5
Friday, October 2
Storytime at West — West Branch Library, Somerville · Free
Food Friday: Pumpkin Spice (4:30 PM) — Teen Area, Newton Free Library · Free · Grades 5–12
Saturday, October 3
Family Story Time — Medford Public Library · Free · Ages 3–7
Drop In Coding — Tech Lab, Medford Public Library · Free · Ages 8–12
Sunday, October 4
Free Museum of Science IMAX Movies (9:00 AM) — Mugar Omni Theater, Boston · Free · All ages
Seaport Smalls (10:00 AM) — The Rocks at Harbor Way, Boston · Free this week is spanish fun program with singing
Monday, October 5
Singalong with Matt Heaton (10:30 AM) — Central Library, Somerville · Free · Drop-in · Little kids
Tuesday, October 6
Baby Lapsit — Medford Public Library · Free · Babies
Make Way for Storytime (11:00 AM) — Children’s Program Room, Newton Free Library · Free · Ages 0–5
Wednesday, October 7
1st and 2nd Grade Book Club (6:30 PM) — Children’s Program Room, Newton Free Library · Free · Grades 1–2
See all 332 events this week → the full calendar
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Have an awesome week. Dito signing off.
