The Weekender: April 3 to 6
Van Gogh at the MFA, Boston Comedy Festival, and COM’s Redstone Film Festival
Photo via iStock/Conny Pokorny
April 3 to 6
Showers are predicted this weekend, but the weather doesn’t have to rain on your parade.
Film takes center stage, with three festivals on tap for the weekend. Not a cinephile? Catch some stand-up comedy, make a trip to Faneuil Hall, or support BU in an esports tournament.
Greenway Carousel and Faneuil Hall
The Greenway Carousel at the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Grove is open for the season, Wednesdays through Sundays. The carousel features hand-carved characters inspired by the aquatic and terrestrial animals around Boston Harbor. While you’re there, pay a visit to the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which has more than 40 specialty pushcarts and shops to explore.
191 Atlantic Ave., Boston. A single ride is $4.
Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits at the MFA
Explore Vincent van Gogh’s portraits of friend and postman Joseph Roulin and his family in this special exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts. About 20 works are on view, including those on loan from institutions in Amsterdam, New York, Chicago, and Paris. Timed entry tickets are required, but the exhibition tickets include general admission to the museum. Members get in for free.
Sunday, March 30, to Sunday, September 7, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Reserve tickets here. Admission to the MFA is free for BU students.
25th Annual Boston Comedy Festival
The Boston Comedy Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary of presenting featured stand-up, spotlighting up-and-coming talent and veterans of the craft. This year, 72 comedians from across the country will compete for a $7,000 prize in front of live audiences and a panel of judges. Previous winners and finalists have headlined theaters, starred in late-night shows, and hosted their own Netflix specials. Preliminary rounds began April 1 and the finale will be on April 5.
Through Saturday, April 5. Various locations, including The Comedy Studio, City Winery, The Rockwell, and Somerville Theatre. Purchase tickets here, starting at $20.
Boston Israeli Film Festival
Boston Jewish Film, in partnership with the Fine Family Foundation, will celebrate the Jewish experience through contemporary films on art, life, and history, with special guests and filmmakers available for discussion. Seats are not reserved, so be sure to arrive early. Also, a celebration of film and music featuring Israeli performers will be held on April 3.
Thursday, April 3, 7 pm, 384 Harvard St., Brookline. Film festival from Sunday, March 30, to Saturday, April 5, 333 Nahanton St., Newton. Tickets to individual films are $15, with a $2 processing fee included.
The Redstone Film Festival
Each spring, BU College of Communication’s film and television department hosts the Redstone Film Festival, a showcase of student-written and -directed films and television programs, sponsored by the Sumner Redstone Foundation. Winners and finalists in the festival have become nominees and winners at film festivals worldwide—and some have gone on to win Academy Awards.
Friday, April 4, 7 pm, Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Reserve your free tickets here.
Wicked Queer Film Festival
Founded in 1984, Wicked Queer is one of the longest running queer film festivals in the world. Wicked Queer celebrates voices and stories from underrepresented groups, highlighting intersectional themes in the queer community. This year’s films include narratives about Black and transgender communities, a look into artificial intelligence, and queer Muslim, Southwest Asian, and North African stories.
Friday, April 4, to Sunday, April 13. Various locations, including the Brattle Theatre, the Coolidge Corner Theatre, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Purchase tickets here.
BU Gaming Club Valorant Invitational
Watch the BU Gaming Club (BUG) compete in the annual Valorant Esports Invitational. BUG will compete against more than 12 universities, including Boston College, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts Boston, testing their gaming skills and vying for a grand prize. While participation in the tournament is exclusive to members of the esports varsity team, spectators are welcome to use the first come, first served gaming stations or enjoy food from the café.
Saturday, April 5, 2 pm. Balance Patch, 1031 Commonwealth Ave., Boston.
BU Theater Formal
Theater fans looking for an excuse to dress up and mingle should set aside an evening to attend the BU Theater Formal, hosted by the BU Shakespeare Society. The formal is a yearly event, involving four student theater groups celebrating the current season’s end. Anyone can attend, even if you’re not in a student theater group. Formal attire is encouraged.
Saturday, April 5, 7 pm. Photonics Colloquium Room, PHO 906, 8 St. Mary’s St., Boston. Reserve free tickets here.
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