Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend
Boston pride parade photo by Francisco Seoane Perez on Flickr
Celebration
Boston Pride Festival and Parade
This year, Massachusetts celebrates the 10th anniversary of same-sex marriage legalization—the first in the state happened on May 17, 2004. At the annual Pride celebration this weekend, which includes a parade through town and festival at City Hall Plaza. This year, Governor Patrick will be the grand marshal of the parade, and special guest performers at the festival will include Alex Newell Mary Lambert, and headliner A Great Big World.
Free, parade at 11 a.m. (see route), festival 12-6 p.m., festival at City Hall Plaza, Boston, bostonpride.org.
Small-Town Charm
Topsfield Strawberry Festival
Topsfield’s annual town celebration of all things strawberries is hardly limited to the seedy fruit. The 46th annual festival will also have live musical performances, arts and crafts vendors, and a new youth artisan fair. “It’s like a picturesque scene from a movie,” says festival chair Barbara Pratt of the small-town festival. For the record, this year’s strawberries actually come from California. “None of the berries here are ripe yet,” Pratt explains. Nevertheless, on a good day, 4,000 people come out, and they collectively purchase some 2,500 strawberry shortcakes. Proceeds benefit the Topsfield Historical Society.
Free, Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Topsfield Common, 4 N. Common St., Topsfield, topsfieldhistory.org.
Music
Dominica3C Presents: A Funky Backyard Party
This weekend, Dominica3C will host a backyard soiree with Bob Marley tribute band The Duppy Conquerors. The reggae-inspired party will raise funds for Dominica3C, which hopes to build a combined community center and eco-hostel in Dominica, the “Nature Island” of the Caribbean. “We’re hoping to raise $3,000 for a trip in July,” says Aubrey Bynoe, whose father grew up in Dominica until the late ’60s. The team also plans to film a documentary about the trip and the project. While the event on Saturday is BYOB and family friendly, you might also consider attending the after-party at The Crossing.
$15-20, Saturday, June 14, 3-6 p.m., 56 Alleghany St., Roxbury Crossing, eventbrite.com.
Automobiles
German Car Day at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum
The first museum-sponsored show of the season takes place on Father’s Day, so bring your dads, uncles, grandfathers, and others to see German rides parked on the museum’s Great Lawn. German car owners are encouraged to show off their babies, regardless of make or model. ($20 registration per car includes driver and passenger.) June 22 will be British Car Day, but this weekend, let Porsche and friends show you how the Germans like to do it.
$10 regular admission, Sunday, June 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Larz Anderson Auto Museum, 15 Newton St., Brookline, larzanderson.org.
Comedy
A Raunchy Weekend at the Wilbur
The Wilbur Theatre is really catering to the ladies this weekend. On Friday night, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees presents “Men of the Strip.” Think: boy band meets Magic Mike. Read our interview with Timmons to find out what his stripper name is. Then on Saturday, funny lady Jenny McCarthy will take over with her show “Dirty, Sexy, Funny.” The View host is, of course, engaged to New Kid on the Block Donnie Wahlberg, whom they’ve both confirmed on Twitter will be at the show this weekend. Swoon, Blockheads, swoon.
Men of the Strip: $22+, Friday, June 13, 8 p.m.
Dirty, Sexy, Funny: $39, Saturday, June 14, 7 p.m.
The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, 617-248-9700, thewilbur.com.
