Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra will perform music from Final Fantasy at Symphony Hall this weekend. (Photo by Alex Lau)

Comedy
Women in Comedy Festival 

Seeking to close the gender gap in comedy, the seventh annual Women in Comedy Festival brings laughs from some of the country’s leading comedic ladies. For four days, stand-up comedians, improv groups, and musical comedy groups will bring their talents to theaters around the city, with headliners including Jane Lynch, Lily Tomlin, and Cristela Alonzo. Other notable events include a film night at the Brattle Theatre, musical comedy, and an improv game show.

$10+, Wednesday, April 22–Sunday, April 26, womenincomedyfestival.com.

Art
Boston College Arts Festival

Join more than 1,000 student and faculty artists from Boston College in the university’s annual weekend-long arts festival. Catch various music, theater, dance, and poetry performances, as well as showcases of film, painting, and sculpture. There will be interactive exhibits, kid-friendly activities, and the chance to purchase some of the art.

Thursday, April 23–Saturday, April 25, noon–11:00 p.m., Boston College, Chestnut Hill, bc.edu.

Family Fun
Party for the Planet at the Franklin Park Zoo

Celebrate Earth Day at the Franklin Park Zoo, where you can learn how to do your share to ensure a healthy habitat for animals around the world. Special programming will include scavenger hunts, chances to meet and learn from the zoo keepers, and other enrichment activities. Check out eco-friendly exhibitors, such as the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Foundation for a Green Future, and the American Association of Zoo Keepers.

$12.45 for kids, $18.45 for adults, Friday, April 24, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston, zoonewengland.org. 

Music
Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy

Classical music and video games collide in this special production from Grammy award-winning conductor Arnie Roth and the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra. Including music from all 14 Final Fantasy games, the performance will take place alongside a video presentation of exclusive content from the game’s developers in order to create a completely immersive experience.

$43.50+, Friday, April 24, 8:00 p.m., Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, bso.org.

21+
Wine Riot 

Let your tastebuds travel the globe at the Wine Riot festival. Sip wines from around the world, taking your glass from sampling stations to interactive booths and crash courses for tips to conquer the event like a true wine connoisseur. Once you find something you like, the festival’s new app will allow you to keep track of all your favorite selections, making it easier to track them down later. This isn’t your stereotypical snobby wine fest—complete with a DJ, photo booth, and temporary tattoos, Wine Riot is a revolutionary event that fuses fine wines with a fun atmosphere.

$60, Friday, April 24–Sunday, April 26, times vary, Castle at Park Plaza, 64 Arlington St., Boston, secondglass.com.