The best things to do in Boston this week: August 24-28

St. Anthony’s Feast is the North End at its most unapologetically festive. For one weekend, the neighborhood’s narrow streets fill with the kind of energy you only get when old traditions meet a city that never really slows down. The procession is a spectacle, sure, but the real draw is the way the whole area transforms: vendors hawking arancini and cannoli from stalls that smell like your nonna’s kitchen, neighbors catching up over espresso, and live music that drifts through the air long after sunset. It’s not just about honoring St. Anthony—it’s about seeing the North End’s community spirit in full force. If you’ve ever wondered what keeps this tradition alive after more than a century, spend an evening here and you’ll get it. Just don’t leave without trying something fried and something sweet.

Ella Mai’s knack for turning heartbreak and hope into singalong anthems has made her a staple on playlists across the city, but catching her live is a different story. Her Boston stop this August lands at just the right moment: late summer, when the air is thick and the city’s energy is restless. She’s touring behind a setlist that’s grown up with her—expect the kind of R&B that’s as much about the groove as the lyrics, with a few surprises for longtime fans. The crowd here knows every word, but it’s the way she draws out the quiet moments that makes the night feel personal, even in a packed room. If you’re after a show that feels intimate without being precious, and want to hear those hooks hit harder than your headphones ever could, this is the one to catch.

Boston Lights turns Franklin Park Zoo into an evening walk through illuminated displays, giving the zoo a very different purpose after dark. The appeal is seeing familiar paths and animal habitats transformed by large-scale light installations, with the route designed more for wandering than rushing from one exhibit to the next. It is an easy choice when you want an outdoor night out that feels distinct from the usual summer plans, particularly with kids or visiting friends who have already done the standard Boston sightseeing circuit. The zoo itself becomes part of the experience, even though the focus shifts away from the animals and toward the lights. Go after sunset so the displays can do the work, and give yourself enough time to take the route at an unhurried pace. It is less about checking off attractions and more about having a reason to linger in the park after dark.

Contemporary Climate Gallery is worth a visit if you want your art with a little more to chew on than aesthetics alone. The gallery focuses on contemporary work engaging with climate change and the environmental pressures shaping everyday life, giving the exhibitions a clear sense of purpose without reducing the art to illustration. What makes the program worth checking is the range of ways artists approach the subject, from personal and place-based perspectives to broader questions about how we live with a changing planet. Rather than treating climate as a niche art-world theme, the gallery puts it into conversation with contemporary practice. It is a smart stop for anyone who likes their gallery visits to leave them thinking after they have walked out, particularly if you are looking for an exhibition that connects visual culture to issues already reshaping the world outside the gallery.

The Museum of Ice Cream is the sort of Boston attraction you visit fully aware that subtlety is not on the menu. The interactive experience is built around colorful rooms, oversized installations, photo-ready setups and, naturally, plenty of ice cream. It is deliberately playful, with more emphasis on participation than quietly admiring an exhibit behind a rope. That makes it a better fit for a group of friends, a family outing or a date when you want something to do rather than somewhere to simply look around. The big selling point is the chance to move through an environment designed for interaction, with treats folded into the experience along the way. It is not trying to be a traditional museum, and that is exactly why it works for an afternoon when you want your plans to feel a little ridiculous in the best possible way.

Masego’s shows have a way of feeling both spontaneous and meticulously crafted, and that’s not an easy balance to strike. If you’ve caught him live before, you know he doesn’t just play the sax—he builds entire worlds out of loops, vocals and sly improvisation, all while keeping the crowd guessing what’s next. The Fix Your Face Tour lands at a moment when his sound is sharper and more playful than ever, folding jazz, trap and R&B into something that never sits still for long. This isn’t a night for passive listening; it’s for people who want to see a musician actually take risks on stage. If you’re tired of predictable setlists and want to watch someone who genuinely seems to enjoy surprising himself, this is the show to catch. Just don’t expect to stand still for long.

All'Antico Vinaio's apericena experience is a useful reminder that aperitivo does not need to mean one tiny plate and a drink before dinner. The Italian sandwich shop turns its familiar focaccia into the centerpiece of a longer grazing session, with an assortment of bites designed for sharing alongside drinks. The appeal here is less about discovering an obscure neighborhood gem and more about getting a more leisurely version of a place many people already know for its oversized schiacciata. Apericena, the Italian tradition that sits somewhere between aperitivo and dinner, gives the meal a social rhythm: snack, sip, order another bite, repeat. Come hungry, bring a few people and treat it as dinner rather than a quick stop for a sandwich. For anyone who likes their nights to revolve around food without committing to a formal restaurant reservation, this is a particularly easy plan.

Summer produce gets the full dinner-party treatment at this City Winery pairing, where the menu is built around the season rather than treating it as an afterthought. The chef-winemaker format gives the evening a little more structure than a standard night out, with food and wine planned to work together course by course. For diners who usually have to choose between a serious meal and a tasting, that combination is the main reason to book. The summer focus also makes this feel appropriately timed: expect the menu to lean into the bright, fresh ingredients that are at their best right now. It is a good fit for a date or small group that wants dinner to feel like an occasion without going all the way into fine-dining formality. Come for the seasonal menu, stay for the wine, and let someone else handle the pairings.

There are plenty of ways to spend a summer evening in The Fenway, but few are as easy as claiming a spot on the lawn for a movie. Movie Night on The Green turns 401 Park into the neighborhood's outdoor living room, where friends arrive with picnic blankets, grab dinner from Time Out Market, and settle in as the sun goes down. On July 13, the screen lights up with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, the endlessly quotable rom-com starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey that somehow never gets old. It's casual, it's free, and it captures exactly what summer in Boston should feel like: good food, fresh air, and a movie that's even better with a crowd.

Harvard Art Museums at Night is a smart way to see the collection without treating a museum visit like a daytime errand. The evening program keeps the galleries open after hours and gives you more reason to linger, with the museum's collection providing plenty to explore at your own pace. The nighttime timing is the real advantage: you can make an art outing part of an evening in Cambridge instead of building your whole day around it. It also suits anyone who prefers museums when they feel less rushed and more social. Rather than trying to see everything, pick a few galleries that catch your eye and leave room for the event's after-hours programming. It is an especially good option for a low-key date or a night with friends when you want to do something cultural without committing to a formal performance or dinner reservation.