The best things to do in Boston this weekend: July 11-13

On the First Friday of every month, the artists, galleries, shops and showrooms of the SoWa Art + Design District in the South End open their doors to the public for an evening of art, culture and inspiration. Thanks to the holiday on July 4, the month gets a second First Friday, where you can meet the artists in their element, view the latest gallery exhibitions, shop small, and dine at one of SoWa’s world-class restaurants on July 11. Food trucks scheduled that day from 5-9pm at 500 Harrison Avenue (weather permitting) are Boss Town Hot Dogs and Arepa la Mazorca.

The legendary horror of Jaws has been frightening the coast of the Martha’s Vineyard (and others, for sure) for 50 years, and Summer Shack Cambridge wants to celebrate by hosting a festive seaside clambake and movie night on July 11. Guests can dig into lobster, steamers, chowder, and surf-inspired cocktails while enjoying the iconic thriller on the big screen outside. Tickets include a starter of your choice of creamy New England Clam Chowder or mixed green salad, a New England Clambake dinner with a one-pound steamed lobster, clams, mussels, corn on the cob, chorizo, and an egg (or your can order Pan Roasted Haddock or Top Sirloin Steak Frites). Finish off with a Strawberry Shortcake with fresh whipped cream.

On July 12 from 2-4pm, enjoy a lively concert of the type of music known to accompany colonists as they marched, danced, wooed their beloveds, and waged war. Seasoned musicians David Vose (a 2019 inductee into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame) on the drum and Sue Walko on the fife provide fascinating insight into each selection they perform.

The 12th Boston JerkFest Caribbean Foodie Festival is a family-friendly Caribbean-style food festival offering two days at the Harvard Athletic Complex near Harvard Square that puts the spotlight on Jamaican jerk spiced food and all things jerk hot. On July 11 from 7–10pm (VIP 6pm entry), join your fellow rum lovers for the Rum & Brew Tasting kick-off event and a chance to try more than 60 alcoholic products, including Caribbean-themed cocktails, craft beer, cider, and mead, as well as jerk bites from featured local vendors. On July 12 from 11am-8pm, the Food and Music Festival features THIRD WORLD Band and Junior Toots Boston, as well as 15 Caribbean restaurants offering tasty Jamaican jerk dishes for purchase, specialty foods, authentic Caribbean drinks, Seafood Throwdown and Jerk Cook-off Competitions, live reggae and DJs, ethnic arts and craft vendors, a VIP Reggae Lounge (complete with rum punch), and Kids & Culture stage. 

To celebrate the city’s 400th birthday, the American Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys will headline a free summer street concert July 12 as part of Quincy400. The band, which had their start in Quincy in 1996, returns with a release performance of their new album For The People from 4-6:30 p.m. across from 1250 Hancock St. in Quincy Center. “The Dropkick Murphys are not just a world-famous band — they're part of our Quincy story," Mayor Thomas Kock said in a statement shared with MassLive. “We are honored to welcome home the Dropkick Murphys for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music and community spirit.” 

MAUM Market, the beloved premium pop-up market spotlighting Asian-owned small businesses, is coming to Boston for the first time on July 12 from 11am-4pm as part of its seven-city national tour. Held at the Boston Seaport, MAUM Market will feature 30+ Asian-owned brands in food, fashion, home goods, and wellness - each offering a thoughtfully curated experience that reflects the creativity, craftsmanship, and culture of modern Asian makers. Originally launched in Los Angeles, MAUM (which means "heart" or "mind" in Korean) is a vibrant afternoon filled with delicious bites, limited-edition goods, interactive pop-ups, and community. The Boston edition continues MAUM's mission to celebrate Asian American stories and entrepreneurial spirit through immersive shopping, tastings, and cultural discovery.

Tom Hanks narrates an epic experience that offers a unique new perspective on humankind's past and future voyages to the Moon. This new in-person immersive cinematic experience by Lightroom and Paquin Entertainment Group is opening June 27 at The Saunders Castle at Park Plaza and will serve as the first stop of the North American tour of The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks. The 50-minute show transforms the venue into a spectacular voyage to the Moon, combining powerful storytelling, rare NASA archival footage, and cutting-edge spatial audio to bring the gripping stories of the Apollo missions to life.

From jazz to soul, country to R&B, and even DJs, Boston’s favorite free water-side concert series - Summer in the City Entertainment Series – returns for its 25^th season at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Running Tuesdays through Fridays from June 12 through Aug. 28, the Boston Harbor comes alive with bands performing nightly on the hotel's floating barge stage with the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean as their backdrop. Enjoy smooth sounds and salty air, with shows from 6-10pm. New this year is the expanded bar, a revamped menu of shareable bites, and pop-up experiences. Check here for the lineup.