CITY GUIDE
Boston
Antiques by
the Acre
Boston’s ultimate treasure trove
Three times a year the sleepy hamlet of Brimfield (an hour west of Boston) transforms into
the celebrated Brimfield Fair—the largest
antiques show in the nation. From Sept. 2 to
Sept. 7 more than 5,000 dealers set up their
treasures over one mile of 21 separate venues,
ave
Date
DOWNTOWN
the
Voices of
Protest
Sept. 6
America’s early history
unfolds through reenactments of speeches
given at the Old South
Meeting House.
617-482-6439; oldsouth
meetinghouse.org
SOUTH END
Berklee
Beantown Jazz
Festival
Sept. 25–27
Three days, three stages
and dozens of jazz musi-
cians from around the
world. beantownjazz.org
or “fields” (each with a hard-core following
of antiques groupies armed with cash and
bungee cords for their cars).
The fair is regarded by collectors and amateur enthusiasts as one of the top shows in
the country, thanks to the surplus of quality
antiques and highly sought memorabilia—as
well as its curious identity as equal parts flea
market, antiques show and street fair. Ten
thousand or more bargain hunters and collectors are expected to show up. Get there early
and be sure to practice your bargaining skills
and decision-making abilities—a moment of
indecision could mean the loss of your “new”
Shaker table or Colonial pewter. brimfield.com.
Head of the Charles
Both the Boston
and Cambridge
banks of the
Charles River
will be covered
with spectators
and picnickers the
weekend of Oct.
18, during the
44th annual Head
of the Charles
regatta. More than
7,500 competitors
of all ages, from
local colleges and
high schools to
masters and single
scullers to clubs
from all over the
world, will row their
way up and down
the 3-mile course.
The races begin
early and continue
throughout the afternoon. In addition
THEATER DISTRICT
Boston Ballet
Season
Opens October
The 45th season opens
with a lineup that
includes The Nutcracker
and Cinderella, Bal-
anchine and a festival
of the Ballets Russes.
617-695-6950;
bostonballet.org
GREENWAY
Rose Kennedy
Greenway
Oct. 4–5
After years of Big Dig
woes, the 15-acre green
space formerly known
as Route 93 officially
opens with a weekend of
activities. 617-292-0020;
rosekennedygreenway.org
to the rowing races,
Reunion Village
(sponsored by a
alumni clubs) will
serve breakfast
and lunch to rowers and supporters.
The Row-a-Palooza
festival (at the halfway mark of the
race, the Weeks
Footbridge) offers
live music with a
lineup of at least
eight bands over
the course of the
two days of festivities. No admission fee for specta-
tors.617-868-6200;
hocr.org.
CAPE COD
Wellfleet
OysterFest
Oct. 18–19
A weekend fete to
celebrate the town’s
famed bivalve, complete
with a shucking contest,
live music, and arts and
crafts. 508-349-3499;
wellfleetoysterfest.org
