The days may be getting shorter, but that also just means spooky season is in full swing. It also means the fest trend continues before winter kicks in.

Making a comeback after last weekend’s rain, this weekend’s highlight is none other than Cambridge’s first-ever annual Cat Tour (just don’t tell my dog). It’ll start in Cambridgeport’s Dana Park on Saturday afternoon, where you’ll begin with a tour of the neighborhood’s feline residents and end with none other than Meowfest, the afterparty for cat lovers of all ages.

Saturday is pretty packed overall, so weekend plans aren’t limited. The Thai Market Festival attempts to take over Harvard Square after last week’s rain, pickleball singles events take turns at Assembly, and food festivals run through Davis with live music, a beer garden, and games.

Sunday gives you the option to go fast or slow. The Fall Classic 5K tests your best mile times down Mass Ave, while Porter Square Books invites you to add a new book to your fall reading list, with a NYT bestselling author-illustrator making an appearance in the morning.

Enjoy the busy weekend, and please note that The Stoop’s monthly edition for October will drop tomorrow instead.

Weekend Forecast

Stories 'Round The Squares

The City Council unanimously approved the 6.9% property tax increase Monday, with the city manager warning residential homeowners should expect increases in the years ahead as commercial values fall and the city nears its levy ceiling · Cambridge Day

Charlie’s Kitchen is selling off its furniture, signs and dinnerware Saturday, nine months after a dishwasher flood caused roughly $1 million in damage - owner David Oshima says it is not a closing sale · Boston.com

A five-alarm fire tore through a mixed-use building at 1135 Broadway in Teele Square Wednesday, displacing 43 people, and firefighters rescued a man’s 13-year-old cat from the smoke · WCVB, @SamYorkReports on X

Tourbineau Real Estate Partners paid $25 million for the eight-story office building at 955 Mass Ave, 75% below its 2020 sale price, and plans to convert it into 125 units in Cambridge's first major office-to-housing conversion · Boston Real Estate Times

MassDOT approved a $78.7 million contract to build the Mystic River bike and pedestrian bridge, a car-free crossing from Draw Seven Park in Somerville to Everett, with three years of construction ahead · Boston.com

MIT took the top spot in US News’ 2027 Best Colleges rankings, ending Princeton’s 15-year run at number one, with Harvard coming in third · MIT News

Property management company 270 Sidney Street LLC was fined $82,562 by MassDEP for asbestos, hazardous waste and air quality violations at a Cambridge multi-family property, and must hire a licensed contractor for proper removal · Patch

A Cambridge woman claimed the second grand prize in a new scratch ticket game, taking home $250,000 · Patch

Happenings

Weekend Spotlight

Cambridge Cat Tour & Meowfest @ Dana Park, Cambridge - Cambridge’s feline residents are getting their moment in the spotlight with the city’s first-ever Cat Tour, plus Meowfest at Dana Park with a cat fashion show, cat stories, a clothing swap and free pizza

CATCH THE CAT TOUR

Friday October 2nd

MIT Future Fest @ MIT Campus, Cambridge - Get a look at what's coming next in science, tech and design through workshops, campus tours, talks and performances, with the weekend capped by a family-friendly science carnival in Kendall Square. Passes are sold out but individual events are free | FREE • Now through Sunday

SEE THE FUTURE

Boston Fuzzstival @ The Armory, Somerville - Twelve years in, Fuzzstival still runs on local regional music and volunteer help - 18 bands, two nights, for all ages at the Armory this weekend | $20-40 • Friday & Saturday

CATCH LIVE MUSIC

Biotech Beers Networking @ Le Méridien Boston Cambridge, Cambridge - This one's for the local biotech community as the week wraps up with a casual Friday night networking for Boston's life sciences crowd. Connect with local scientists, founders, investors or just come up to discuss the latest industry trends | $13 • 5-6:30PM

SIP & CONNECT

Saturday October 3rd

Food Nation Celebration @ Davis Square, Somerville - The Somerville Foundation's annual Davis Square food festival is back for year three: free entry, live music, a beer garden and all-you-can-eat tasting passes from local restaurants | FREE to enter, $30 for food passes • Saturday & Sunday

SNAG A FOOD PASS

Mindful Market @ University Park Commons, Cambridge - Free outdoor wellness market this Saturday with 14 local vendors - teas, florals, stained glass, aura photography - plus drop-in yoga and a tea ceremony | FREE • 11AM-2PM

SAMPLE THE SCENE

Thai Market Festival @ Harvard Square, Cambridge - Brattle Street goes full Thai market Saturday: street food, desserts, drinks, handmade goods, a beer garden and cultural performances on the main stage from 11 to 7 | FREE • 11AM-7PM

TASTE BRATTLE STREET

Dink 'n' Date Pickleball Mixer @ Club Volo at Assembly Row, Somerville - Singles hit the pickleball courts for an hour of rotating games before sticking around for a post-match mixer, with Tinder check-ins helping you see who else is looking to mingle | $17 • 12-1PM

DINK N DATE

Cambridge Cat Tour & Meowfest @ Dana Park, Cambridge - The rain makeup date is here. Cambridge hosts its first ever walking tour of our feline friends, the porch greeters and professional loafers. Register your cat, walk the tour or pull up to Meowfest afterwards | FREE • 2-6PM

CATCH THE CAT TOUR

Lamplighter's Beer School @ Lamplighter Brewing Co., Cambridge - Behind-the-scenes brewery tour at Lamplighter Broadway: the craft brewing process, four tasting pours and a quiz to see if you get certified | $34 • 4-5PM

SIP & STUDY

Craft & Wine Tasting Night @ Wild Child, Somerville - Need a slow wine night after a long week? Wild Child hosts a craft and wine night Saturday with Boston Color & Unwind - two Mediterranean wines, magnet-making and a grazing board | $61 • 5-6:30PM

CRAFT & WINE

Orkest @ Gallery 263, Cambridge - Pack a picnic and head to Pearl Street Saturday night, where Orkest brings four performers to Gallery 263's intimate art space | $23 • 7:30-9PM

PICNIC ON PEARL ST

The Stoop's Picks

Thai Market Festival @ Harvard Square, Cambridge - The fall Thai Market is back at Brattle Street Saturday with street food, a beer garden, live music and performances on the main stage

HEAD TO THE FEST

Fall Classic 5K @ Cambridge, Cambridge - If you want to test your time or just run for the fun of it, Cambridge is hosting its Fall Classic 5K on Sidney Street. It includes a post-race party too. Signups ending soon

RUN THE ROAD RACE

Sunday October 4th

Fall Classic 5K Run @ Cambridge, Cambridge - Sidney Street hosts its Fall Classic 5K run Sunday on morning. It's a fast and flat course so you can get to the post-race party quicker. Follow on Strava too | $55 • 9:30AM

RUN THE 5K

Story Hour with Grace Lin @ Porter Square Books, Cambridge - Add this book to your fall reading list as Porter Square Books hosts Grace Lin, author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, reading her new picture book The Little Stone Buddha | FREE • 9:30-10:30AM

TELL ME MORE

Cambridge Science Carnival @ Kendall/MIT Open Space, Cambridge - The MIT Museum brings back its annual science carnival with over 100 activity booths, demonstrations and the Robot Zoo for all ages so bring friends | FREE • 12-4PM

EXPLORE THE SCIENCE CARNIVAL

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