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Weekender

Fun Things to Do Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend

Celebrate the long weekend with the Boston Marathon, an Oktoberfest, and Coming Out Day open mic

Indigenous Peoples Day marks the first three-day weekend of the semester. It’s a great opportunity for Terriers to enjoy autumn in full swing and see new spots across the city. To celebrate, check out some of the city’s best markets, festivals, and events.

Friday, October 8

OUTspoken: Coming Out Day Open Mic

Start off the weekend with an evening of stories, poems, music, dance, and other forms of self-expression by BU students, faculty, and staff. This open mic night gives the community a chance to listen or share personal experiences of their coming out and journey to self-discovery. The event is sponsored by BU’s Queer Activist Collective, LGBTQIA+ Faculty & Staff Community Network, and the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff. You can sign up to share using this link, or sign up on the day-of, as well. The event is open to the entire BU community and is an open and inclusive space for all LGBTQIA+ folk. A green badge and masks will be required for the event.

OUTspoken: Coming Out Day Open Mic night is at BU Central in the George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave., on Friday, October 8, from 5 to 7 pm. 

Saturday, October 9

Boston Marches for Indigenous Peoples Day

Indigenous Peoples Day is neither a state holiday nor a federal holiday, but BU recently renamed the day, as you’ll learn in this week’s Question of the Week podcast, as has the city of Boston. For those hoping to hear more about what the holiday means to the indigenous community, there will be a rally and march in Boston Common from 11:30 am to 1:45 pm. The event is sponsored by Indigenous Peoples Day Massachusetts, United American Indians of New England, the North American Indian Center of Boston, and Cultural Survival.

Boston Marches for Indigenous Peoples Day is Saturday, October 9, from 11:30 am to 1:45 pm, on the Boston Common. All are welcome.

Free Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts

Celebrate the cultural side of Indigenous Peoples Day with free general admission to the Museum of Fine Arts on Saturday, October 9, as part of the Fenway Alliance’s annual Opening Our Doors day. Indigenous Peoples Day recognizes and honors the heritage of all indigenous peoples and the history of their nations and communities. Throughout the day, explore Native American art in the Art of the Americas wing, from ancient Mississippian pottery, Mi’kmaq quillwork, and Lakota beadwork in the Native North American Art Gallery to more recent works by artists Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso Pueblo), Wendy Red Star (Crow), and T. C. Cannon (Kiowa/Caddo).

Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., is free to the public on Saturday, October 9, from 10 am to 5 pm. Reserve your tickets here. Free general admission is always available to students who present their Terrier ID.

Men’s Hockey Game

BU men’s hockey kicks off its 100th season at home with a match against the University of Connecticut at Agganis Arena on Saturday night. The Terriers were ranked 10th overall in both preseason nationwide polls; a preseason poll of Hockey East coaches picked BU to finish second in the division. A few new fresh faces join the coaching staff and roster, but a large pool of returning upperclassmen provides plenty of depth and experience. Get there early to grab seats behind the Dog Pound, the die-hard Terrier fans in sections 118 and 108 who keep the energy high all game long. For students who have not yet heard “Let’s go, BU!” echo throughout the arena, the season opener is your chance to show your school spirit and join in the excitement.

If you’re lucky, you’ll see a successful Cane’s Challenge. What’s the Cane’s Challenge? The Terriers get an objective to complete on the ice, and if they are successful, all students get a buy-one-get-one deal on any chicken finger combo at Raising Cane’s after the game.

BU men’s hockey plays the University of Connecticut at Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave., on Saturday, October 9, at 7 pm. Students with a Sports Pass can get tickets for free online or at the Agganis Arena ticket office, open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, and during games. 

Sunday, October 10

Harvard Square Oktoberfest

Celebrating its 42nd anniversary, the Harvard Square Oktoberfest is one of the largest annual street fairs in the Boston area, and it celebrates German culture. Sponsored by the Harvard Square Business Association, it features food from around the globe, as well as arts, crafts, vintage goods, unique gifts, and live music. No Oktoberfest would be complete without beer; there will be five gardens throughout Harvard Square to help those 21-plus quench their thirst.

The Harvard Square Oktoberfest is Sunday, October 10, from noon to 6 pm, in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Admission is free and open to the public.

SoWa Open Market

This open-air market has become a huge draw for shoppers. Held in the South End and named for the area south of Washington Street, the market sells local produce and flowers, as well as handmade one-of-a-kind crafts, art, and jewelry. Local food trucks offer an assortment of cuisines. The SoWa Vintage Market, with its array of knickknacks, china, and glassware, is open all year.

The SoWa Open Market is open every Sunday from May through October, 11 am to 4 pm. The farmers market is at 500 Harrison Ave.; the food truck court at 540 Harrison Ave.; and the arts market at the end of Thayer Street. The SoWa Vintage Market, 450 Harrison Ave., is open on Sundays year-round.

Monday, October 11

Boston Marathon

For the first time in its 125-year history, the Boston Marathon was not held in April, but postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, was moved to the fall. The 2020 Marathon was canceled outright, so this is the first time that thousands of runners will run the race since 2019. The 2021 edition begins at 8 am in Hopkinton, Mass., and concludes on Boylston Street, in front of the Boston Public Library. Since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, the event has served as a reminder of the strength of Bostonians and the city’s communal fighting spirit. Some great vantage points to watch the runners go by near campus are around Kenmore and on Beacon Street. If you plan to watch the end of the race, make sure to get there early enough to secure a spot near the finish line.

The 125th Boston Marathon is Monday, October 11, from 8 am to 5 pm. Viewers can expect elite runners to cross the finish line around 11 am. The general public is welcome and encouraged to safely view the race and respect all street closures.