While there aren't as many festivals, the less-is-more philosophy should be applied to this weekend as one of Somerville's biggest annual festivals hits Union Square on Saturday.
Fluff Fest returns for its 21st year to honor the invention of Marshmallow Fluff. The entire square will be blocked off with live performances on the Fluff'n Jam stage, touch-a-truck competitions, games, vendors and everything in between. The festival map and schedule were just released so make sure to take a peek.
Cambridge isn't left hanging either. If you're venturing further east, the Central Square Night Market lights up with food trucks, a beer garden, food vendors, more live music and a whole night of community.
Both are this Saturday, so kudos if you can go back to back.
A local postdoc built Turkeys in Public Space, a web app and print zine where anyone can log Cambridge turkey sightings, and it now takes stories and memories on top of photos · Turkeys in Public Space
The Half Shell changes hands Thursday after 28 years on Mass Ave, closing out the Lagoudakis family’s run of pizza, subs, gyros and homemade baklava on The Avenue · Cambridge Day
A second man was arrested in the July 4 killing of Cambridge DPW worker Xavier Bautista, a 22-year-old from Boston charged with murder, conspiracy and carrying a firearm without a license · NBC Boston
Cambridge families have until October 1 to weigh in on what should fill the old Kennedy-Longfellow building in East Cambridge, though the School Committee will not vote until October 20 · The Harvard Crimson
Boston scrapped the first volume of its reparations report after Tufts could not replace historian Kerri Greenidge, whose 2022 book was pulled by its publisher over factual and citation errors · New Bedford Guide
Somerville and Firefighters Local 76 signed a three-year contract through 2029 with 2% raises each year, a new emergency medical response stipend and cancer-screening support · Patch
What the Fluff? Fest @ Union Square, Somerville - T-minus two days until Somerville’s annual Fluff Fest. Union Square's marshmallow festival turns 21 this year, honoring the neighborhood's most famous invention. Fluff bowling, ring toss, touch-a-truck, parkour demos and more for the big fest you don’t want to miss
Boston Boulderfest 2026 @ Bouldering Project, Somerville - Climbers get ready. Bouldering Project's all-levels climbing competition returns to Tyler Street for a two-day festival. Free to watch, $30-$85 to compete | FREE • Friday & Saturday
Friday Night Out Chef Tasting @ Catalyst, Cambridge - Catalyst runs a three-course chef's tasting menu every Friday in Technology Square for $70 a head, and a complimentary bottle of house wine comes with the table | $70 • 5-9PM
Exceptional Italy: Wine Tasting Abruzzo with Cirelli Wines @ Dear Annie, Cambridge - Rebel Rebel's Italian wine tasting series returns to Dear Annie with Abruzzo up next. Nik from Cirelli Wines guides the pours through native grapes like Trebbiano and Montepulciano, plus what clay-vessel winemaking does to texture | $23 • 6-8PM
Mini Paint Night @ Danger Wizard, Somerville - A beginner class on painting miniatures at Danger Wizard's new HQ, the Danger Den. Allan Knowles has 20+ years on the hobby and covers materials, paint station setup and technique on your first mini | $29 • 7-9PM
Cambridge Arts Open Studios @ Citywide, Cambridge - Cambridge Arts opens artist studios and Common Venues across the whole city for the weekend, and you can buy straight from whoever made the work: paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, photography and sculpture | FREE • Saturday & Sunday
Casa Bikes x ALSO Demo Event @ Casa Bikes, Cambridge - Casa Bikes gives over both weekend days to test rides of the new ALSO TM-B, the electric bike that's been all over design press this year. Everything starts with a Saturday morning group ride, then demos go noon to 5 | FREE • Saturday & Sunday
SerbFest 2026 @ St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Cambridge - SerbFest is back for its 18th year at St. Sava, and it's one of the longer-running cultural festivals in New England. Homemade food, live music and traditional folk dancing across both days | FREE • Saturday & Sunday
Fitness Fest @ Canal Park at CambridgeSide, Cambridge - CambridgeSide turns its waterfront park into an outdoor gym with beginner-friendly fitness classes for anyone to join. Stretching sessions and movement activities all by the waterfront view | FREE • 11AM-2PM
Danehy Park Family Day @ Danehy Park, Cambridge - No rain in sight for the city's biggest free family day at Danehy. Over 10,000 people took over the park last year so this year's amusement rides, arts & crafts and overall family fun brace for another big day | FREE • 11AM-3PM
The Yacht House Brunch @ Lou's, Cambridge - One of Harvard Square's classic spots hosts a three-hour social brunch built around Yacht House, the sub-genre where '70s and '80s nostalgia meets deep house rhythms | $13+ • 11:30AM-2:30PM
Fluff Fest @ Union Square, Somerville - Somerville's yearly Fluff fest is back in action this Saturday to celebrate the neighborhood's most famous invention. Live music, fluff bowling, ring toss, touch-a-truck, parkour demos and more for the big fest | FREE • 1-5PM
Free College Social Night @ Central Rock Gym, Cambridge - If you're new and just moved to the area for school, Central Rock Gym's Alewife location opens a free climbing night for college students across every Boston-area school | FREE • 4-6PM
Central Square Night Market @ 65 Sidney Street, Cambridge - Central Square shuts down Sidney Street for an immaculate outdoor night market featuring games, live music and a whole block that gets taken over by street food, local makers, games and live music performances starting at 5 | FREE • 5-9PM
Boston Dance Film Festival @ Apple Cinemas, Cambridge - Dance-film gets its own festival in Cambridge this Saturday. Every selection hinges on the relationship between body movement and the tools of cinema | $20 • 7-10PM
Central Square Night Market @ 65 Sidney Street, Cambridge - A beer garden, incredible food, local vendors, and an immaculate evening hits Central Square for their annual outdoor night market on Sidney Street. Come out for a night of community & fun
Boston Women's Market Pop-up Shop @ The Lawn at Assembly Row, Somerville - Four micro-shops on the Lawn at Assembly Row stocked entirely by women-founded small businesses, makers and artists. The vendor lineup rotates weekly, so what's there this week won't be there next | FREE • 11AM-6PM
Pepita Coffee School @ Lamplighter, Cambridge - Whether you want to fix your home espresso setup or you're eyeing a barista job, this class covers pulling shots, the do's and don'ts of steaming milk and the latte art everyone actually wants to learn | $50 • 1:30-5PM
All You Can Eat Tacos @ Mestizo Modern Mexican, Cambridge - Every Sunday after 4, Mestizo in Kendall Square does $27 all you can eat tacos on one of the better hidden patios in the neighborhood | $27 • 4PM
STRIV Launch Party @ MIT Sailing Pavilion, Cambridge - STRIV launches in Boston with a twist, putting its running tech on the water at the MIT Sailing Pavilion, with a 5K along the Charles and product demos after. Registration needs host approval, so request early
Smoke This" Rib Fest @ Cambridge Street, East Cambridge - The 17th annual rib competition closes down Cambridge Street between Fulkerson and Fifth, pitting 19 restaurants against each other for Best Ribs in Town. A Taste Ticket gets you 10 samples and a vote for the People's Choice Award
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