Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Photo courtesy of Bill Manley

FESTIVAL
35th Annual Harvard Square Mayfair

Nothing says “Hello, spring!” like a festival in Harvard Square. Filled with music, performances, and dancing, the 35th Annual Harvard Square Mayfair heats up this Sunday. Event highlights include live mariachi music in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, along with international food vendors from local Cambridge restaurants, railroad train rides, and a performance from reggae group Dread Rocks.

Sunday, Harvard Square, harvardsquare.com.

Photo by Liza Voll

THEATER
Opening Weekend: Jagged Little Pill

Inspired by themes in Alanis Morissette’s iconic Grammy Award-winning 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill the musical brings family and complex emotions to the forefront. Telling the multi-generational story of a family facing global issues, the show addresses contemporary problems of abuse and gender. Why adapt the album? According to director Diane Paulus, it’s because “The music is so visceral, and the lyrical content is so sophisticated and clever, and that’s what you crave in musical theater—lyrics that delight your ear and your mind.” The showis written by Diablo Cody, of Juno fame, so you can probably expect some sharp dialogue alongside the pangs of nostalgia from listening to the soundtrack of your youth.

Saturday and Sunday, Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, americanrepertorytheater.org.

Photo courtesy of SoWa

ART
SoWa First Friday: Art Walk

As it opens for its 15th season, the SoWa Open Market is hosting First Friday: Art Walk this weekend. Over 80 local artists will open their studios for the public to marvel at an expanse of projects, from Terry Levin’s portraitures sealed with beeswax to Nedret Andre’s abstract landscapes that evoke natural images of sea grass and water. Don’t miss Hope Ricciardi, who has made some of her pieces out of repurposed Nespresso pods. Environmentally friendly!

Friday, 450 Harrison Ave., sowaartists.com.

The Lawn on D. / Photo provided

CELEBRATE
Cinco de Mayo Weekend

From live music to mouth-watering Mexican food, the Lawn on D’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations are set to bring some Mexican flare to your weekend. Kicking off the festivities, Ricardo Monzon, a 30-year veteran of the Boston music scene, will play select Latin tunes on Friday from Afro-Cuban styles to salsa beats. The weekend also includes mariachi performances and fun activities like face painting, lawn games, and Cazadores giveaways.

Friday through Saturday, the Lawn on D, 420 D St., Boston, signatureboston.com.

Photo courtesy of Boston Playwrights’ Theatre

THEATER
Boston Theater Marathon XX

This day-long event includes 50 ten-minute plays by 50 New England playwrights, produced by 50 New England theaters. The Marathon gives teams a quick 10 hours to create an original production. Buying a ticket gains you access to any part of the day, so you can tune in for as much of the marathon as you want. The whole thing runs from noon to 10 p.m., at which point there’s a party.

$25, Sunday, various locations, bostontheatrescene.com.