Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Photo courtesy of The Boston Cup

Automobiles
The Boston Cup Classic Car Show

This Sunday, people can park their cars in Boston Common, but only if the vehicle is one of 100 invitation-only concours-quality vehicles competing for The Boston Cup. Check out these stylish rides from all around the world, including Andy Rooney’s 1966 Tiger Sunbeam and Elliott Hillback’s Amelia Island Mercedes Benz Gullwing. The event is free, but donations will benefit the Fund for Boston Parks and Recreation and the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District.

Free; Sept. 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand; thebostoncup.com

Concert
Boston Symphony Orchestra Opening Gala

It’ll be all-Beethoven, all night on Saturday at the BSO’s opening gala. Violinist Itzhak Perlman will join the symphony orchestra as a soloist and conductor. Perlman will begin with Romances No. 1 and 2 and finish with Symphony No. 7, a piece Perlman believes to be one of his own finest works. The event kicks off the BSO’s 2012-2013 season, which has a stacked lineup including Bramwell Tovey, Joshua Bell, and more.

$75-$250; Sept. 22, 7 p.m.; Boston Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston; 617-266-1492; bso.org

Oktoberfest
Beer Summit: Sam Adams’ OctoberFest Celebration

Sam Adams will celebrate the fall beer season with a two-day festival this weekend. Both the Friday night VIP preview reception and the all-day event on Saturday will include music, games, and of course, beer. Those who attend the VIP session on Friday night receive four beers, giveaways, and a keepsake stein—plus a chance to be a part of the official “tapping of the keg” with a Sam Adams brewer.

$16.25-$37.50; Sept. 21, 5-10 p.m., and Sept. 22, 12:30-9:30 p.m.; Park Plaza Castle, 130 Columbus Ave., Boston; beersummit.com

Art
HarborArts Festival 2012

This year’s festival will center around 30 large-scale outdoor public art pieces by artists from three continents. (You can tour the gallery using the festival app.) The HarborArts Festival will have live music, food and drinks, and interactive activities for peoples of all ages. The after-party from 6-11 p.m. is for adults only and costs $10.

Free; Sept. 22, noon-5 p.m.; Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina, 256 Marginal St., East Boston; harborarts.org/festival

Back to School
CollegeFest 2012

Boston’s biggest back-to-school party is back. Thousands of college kids will flock to Hynes Convention Center this weekend for CollegeFest 2012. With 17 acts scheduled to entertain and more than 100 local and national sponsors to give away free goodies, we almost can’t blame these freshmen for ruining our weekend commutes downtown. Oh well, um … YOLO?

$15; Sept. 22, noon-7 p.m., and Sept. 23, noon-6 p.m.; Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St., Boston; collegefest.com