A free all-women Halloween concert at City Hall, ofrendas in East Boston, Diwali at the MFA and an extra hour of sleep on Sunday.
This weekend, three holidays land on top of each other. Halloween falls on a Saturday, Día de los Muertos starts the same night, and Boston’s Diwali celebrations peak on Sunday. Here’s where to go.
Saturday, Oct 31: Halloween
The big free party is BLAIR at City Hall Plaza, 6 to 11:30 p.m. It’s an all-women lineup of artists and DJs, with Nay Speaks, Lynn, Kash Kyla, BLXSS, Baby Indiglo and DJ Miss Milan. There are food trucks, a heated tent, and plenty of costumes. Entry is free, but RSVP online first.
During the day, the Pumpkin Stroll at Boston Public Market (10 a.m.–3 p.m.) ends with a pumpkin hunt along the Greenway. The Boston Open Market brings about 50 local artists to the Public Garden. And if you’d rather sit down, the Boston Pops play the Coco score live with the film at Symphony Hall at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Día de los Muertos
On Saturday, the ICA Watershed in East Boston hosts a community ofrenda with the Veronica Robles Cultural Center — altars honoring loved ones who have died, decorated with photos, flowers and their favorite foods. On Sunday at 1 p.m., Chelsea Square Park hosts the area’s biggest Día de los Muertos festival, with music and dance.
Sunday, Nov 1: Diwali at the MFA
The Museum of Fine Arts celebrates the festival of lights from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Expect classical dance, a Berklee Indian fusion band, a baraat procession, rangoli and candle-making, and kulfi. It’s included with general admission, and anyone 18 and under gets in free.
Don’t forget: clocks fall back
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday. You get an extra hour of sleep and from Sunday on, it gets dark around 4:30 p.m. Welcome to Boston in November.
