May 2-10, 2011: Steampunk Fest, Science Fest, Open Studios, Lilac Sunday, Mother’s Day, Circus Ticket Giveaway, Parades & Carnivals

05/02/11 by Johnny Monsarrat

There are two conflicting events that you really MUST see this week: the Cambridge Science Festival, which is the largest science festival in the world (and it’s all free) and the International Steampunk City, where downtown Waltham is transformed into a Victorian Age techno-fantasy. Next week — see the very bottom of the issue — I start with the first few concerts from the more than 200 outdoor summer music series in New England. It is by far the largest list of outdoor music events in New England. I hope you are having an awesome week. Now get out there and do something fun!

-Johnny

p.s. Love this blog? Subscribe to email, , or and if you help get the word out, I’ll put you on my priority list to win free stuff and send you the FREE 27-page Spring 2011 Guide, with over 720 off-beat attractions you won’t find in the blog!

This week’s top items are below, or see the complete Boston Events Insider.

Sat 4/2 – Sun 5/15Boston MetroBig Apple Circus – ticket giveaway
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! The Big Apple Circus is in town and we’re giving away a family 4-pack of tickets for the Thursday May 5 show at 6:30pm. City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA. see details on the complete Events Insider
Sat 4/30 – Sun 5/8Boston MetroCambridge Science Festival
It’s the event of the week! The Cambridge Science Festival is FREE and they say it’s the largest science festival in North America. There’s so much happening this week! Various venues, Cambridge, MA. see details on the complete Events Insider
Sun 5/8Boston MetroRocket Day
For example: Rockets!!! They’ll be shooting model rockets! I love you, Science Festival. Come run away with me and let’s be happy forever. 10 AM-4 PM. Danehy Park, 99 Sherman Street, Cambridge, MA. see details on the complete Events Insider
Sat 5/7Boston MetroFree Science Carnival w/ Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Making!
Also for example, this carnival with 89 booths of demonstrations and participatory science experiments. Have you ever tried to make home-made ice cream? Takes forever, and you get tasty but gunk-looking sludge at the end. Well, here’s technology to the rescue with liquid nitrogen. Yum! They’ll have the MIT Formula SAE Rae Car there, too. 12pm-4pm. Cambridge Public Library & CRLS Field House, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA. see details on the complete Events Insider
Sat 5/7 – Sun 5/8Boston MetroCambridge Open Studios – East
As if the science festival weren’t enough to bring you to Cambridge, they are holding open studios. I write about two dozen open studios every year. Local artists open their private homes and work studios to the public, and it’s a nice excuse to walk around a new city and meet the actual artists — not just the merchants — and of course buy something and help support the arts. Cambridge is large enough that they need more than one open studios. This one’s for East Cambridge! 12-6 PM. Various (get a map online), Cambridge, MA. see details on the complete Events Insider
Sat 5/7 – Sun 5/8Boston MetroThe International Steampunk City
I’ve been waiting for this for so long. Steampunk is a subgenre of scifi that combines Victorian aesthetics with futuristic technology, and has now become a fashion-driven subculture in its own right. Grab a top hat and some goggles and learn more about it at this weekend festival, which takes over Waltham’s downtown area, with 5 performance stages, 3 mansions, and 2 museums all dressed up techo-fantasy 18th century style. See a Civil War re-enactment, fire eaters, Morris dancers, blacksmithing, and oh, tons more!! Townwide, Waltham, MA. see details on the complete Events Insider more
Sun 5/8Boston MetroLilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum
Also with Morris dancing, Lilac Sunday is the perfect way to celebrate the start of Spring. And celebrate Mom, too! What is it? Well, performers dance all folksy waving handkerchiefs or knocking sticks together. It involves a lot of hopping, and although it’s not participatory, it makes a nice offset to sitting and enjoying the Spring. The Arnold Arboretum, run by Harvard, is not just a park but a botanical zoo, including bonsais. Or is that just bonsai. Bonsai is a fun word to say. Bonsai! Bonsai! Activities take place between 10 AM and 4 PM. The Arboretum strongly advises you to take public transportation. There are a bunch more Mother’s Day events below, too. Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA.617-524-1718 ext- 176. see details on the complete Events Insider
Sat 5/7Boston MetroWake Up the Earth Festival & Parade
Moving on to Jamaica Plain, here’s another street festival and looks to be a great one. It’s a parade and street festival with participatory dancing & lessons. Parade at 11am. Festival 12-6pm. Rain date is the next day. Bands, dancers, puppet show, pageant. Rain date the next day. Jamaica Plain, MA. see details on the complete Events Insider

And a lot more this week at Boston Events Insider, the most popular events blog in New England, including:

Needham Open Studios, Fort Point Spring Art Walk, Fresh Pond Day, William Diamond, Jr. Fife and Drum Muster, TJ O’Grady Annual Skate Park Festival, Kettle of Fish” Ale, New England Bicycle Expo, Science Trivia Challenge, Moonwalk Mashup, Nerdnite Boston Nerdtacular, FAST Light Show, Science Swing with Boston Lindy Bomb Squad, Electric Origami, Women United for a Free Libya, National Public Gardens Day & Mother’s Day at Garden in the Woods, History’s Moms at the Manse, Mother’s Day Concert, Mother’s Day Weekend Jane Austen Tours, Free Mother’s Day at Old Sturbridge Village, Mother’s Day Buffet at Verrill Farm, Brockton Spring Carnival, Haverhill Spring Carnival, Lawrence Spring Carnival, Boston Cyberarts Festival, Artist Demonstration: The Alluring Art of Glassmaking, Intrepid Travel Twitter Treasure Hunt, Annual Boston LGBT Film Festival, Juan Downey: Invisible Architect, Spring Ceramics Show and Sale, SMFA Spring Sidewalk Sale, Taste of the North End, arsenalARTS Open Arts Day, Downtown Crossing Art Fridays, Free Comic Book Day, Norton 300th Anniversary Motorcycle Run, Sheep Shearing Day, Dance Complex Free Day of Classes, Memories of Mothers – a walking tour, Annual Coolidge Award, Duckling Day Parade, Return of the Swans 2011, The Boston 48 Hour Film Project, Brimfield Antiques Show (Spring), SoWa Open Market, Eastern Haunters Convention, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Boston Baroque presents Les Indes Galantes, David Sedaris at Sanders Theatre, North Shore Folk Festival, Snapshots: Glimpses of America in Change

Love this blog? Subscribe to email, Facebook, or Twitter and please tell your friends and get the FREE 27-page Spring 2011 Guide, with over 720 off-beat attractions you won’t find in the blog!