This week, a diverse selection of festivals will take place in neighborhoods around Boston: Visit Jamaica Plain, which becomes a series of concert venues for its annual PorchFest; head to the Boston Common for a cultural celebration of music and cuisine with the annual African Festival or check out Allston’s Rat City Arts Festival, which brings awareness to the neighborhood’s rodent issues — as well as the artists and musicians who live alongside them. Here are five no-cost events and activities for the week of Aug. 11-17.
MUSIC AND A MEAL Moakley Park comes alive on Wednesday with dancing and a performance by Gaby Cotter & the Timba Messengers, a Latin jazz and salsa band. Free dinner will be provided by Fresh Food Generation, a food truck that serves Caribbean-inspired dishes. The event is the second of three Summer Nights at Moakley Park hosted by nonprofits Boston Harbor Now and South Boston en Acción, and will also include an interactive mural and a scavenger hunt by Navigation Games. (The final Summer Nights event with Boston Lyric Opera is Aug. 20.) Aug. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Moakley Park, near Saunders Stadium. 450 Old Colony Ave. moakleypark.org
UP-AND-COMING TALENT The second annual Youth Fest spotlights high school- and college-age performers from Boston Music Project’s Music Workforce Apprenticeship, Beat The Odds, a program that teaches hip-hop, dance, and music production to underserved youth. There will also be an “instrument petting zoo,” available for attendees to try their hand at learning violin, viola, guitar, bass, or drums with an instructor standing by. Aug. 13, noon-6 p.m. City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Square. bostonmusicproject.org
HOUSE MUSIC JP residents will transform their porches into musical venues for the 10th annual Jamaica Plain PorchFest. Stroll around the neighborhood to see acts spanning folk, punk, rock, hip-hop, and world music. At 3 p.m., attendees can partake in an hour of special activities, including trivia hosted by Black People Know Things, Cuban dance lessons from El Bonche, and a poetry writing workshop at Ula Cafe. TrikeHub, a pedicab service, will offer free rides that cover all PorchFest venues from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 16, noon-6 p.m. Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, 30 Germania St. jpporchfest.org
RATS! The Rat City Arts Festival — now in its fourth year — is dedicated to spreading awareness of Allston’s rodent population while uplifting the many creatives who have made the neighborhood their home. Musical acts are scheduled throughout the day, and local illustrators, painters, and other creators will display and sell their work in Artist Alley. In preparation for the event, a guided “Rat Walk” will take place on Wednesday, visiting rat hotspots in the neighborhood. Aug. 16, 3-10 p.m. Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Brighton. ratcityartsfestival.com
CULTURE IN THE COMMON Stop by the Common for the two-day African Festival of Boston for live performances of traditional and fusion music with origins across the diaspora. The 15th annual celebration centers on highlighting cultural traditions, experiences, and art, including authentic African and Caribbean food vendors and an interactive Habesha ceremony for Ethiopian coffee. The event also features family-friendly games and activities as well as open workshops to learn about African history. Aug. 16-17, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Attendance is free with items for purchase. Boston Common, 139 Tremont St. africanfestivalofboston.org
Check individual event websites for the most up-to-date information.
Ryan Yau can be reached at [email protected].
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.bostonglobe.com ’
