Discover something new and exciting this weekend, whether that means dancing the early hours of the night away at The Sinclair or experiencing a unique performance centering invisible disabilities. There’s also Cambridge Porchfest, which will turn yards, lawns and other open-air spaces into concert stages. These events and more, below.
Friday, July 10-Sunday, July 12
If you’re looking to experience Shakespeare in the park before Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s upcoming “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the Dream Role Players are staging “Julius Caesar.” The theater company is built on the idea of fulfilling actors’ wishes to play specific characters. Directed by Hannah Baker, this production comes to Longfellow Park in Cambridge this weekend. It’s the classic tale of conspiracy, betrayal and politics, as the famous Roman dictator loses his life to a group of senators, including his trusted ally Brutus. Performances are free and will continue next weekend, July 17-19, also at Longfellow Park, and then move to Herter Park in Allston.
Saturday, July 11
Do you remember a time when you used to go dancing with friends, but now find yourself with an early day the next morning? For women, transgender and nonbinary folks who keep busy schedules, the Earlybirds Club hosts a dance party that gets you home in time for a good night’s rest. This event at The Sinclair runs 6-10 p.m. and promises an inclusive environment, meant to uplift a gender-expansive community. At Boston New Wave Night, expect to hear tunes from artists like The Smiths, Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, Siouxsie and The Banshees, Eurythmics and Blondie. Tickets cost $43.98 including processing fees.
Attendees of an Earlybirds Club dance party. (Courtesy Earlybirds Club)
Saturday, July 11
The Arlington Center for the Arts and True Story Theater have teamed up to organize a show that recognizes Disability Pride Month. A True Story Theater performance features an emcee, or “conductor,” who facilitates a talk with the audience, encouraging them to share their feelings and stories relating to a specific theme. This event focuses on invisible disabilities and how we can respond to the “painful ignorance” that sometimes arises in conversations while also embracing kindness. Following the discussion, actors and a musician will improvise a work based on what they’ve heard, blending together movement, dialogue and music. The show starts at 4 p.m., and tickets are pay what you can with a suggested donation of $15-25.
Saturday, July 11-Sunday, July 12
Get excited for two days of neighborhood music in Cambridge! Porchfest is a free festival where the performances happen everywhere around the city: driveways, parks and, of course, on porches. More than 80 performers participated in last year’s inaugural event, and this year’s installment is expected to be even more expansive, with shows in Cambridgeport, The Port and Riverside neighborhoods. On Sunday, programming will be planned for Central Square and Harvard Square. Performers include Panic! At the T Stop, a female-fronted band that believes “the golden age of pop-punk and alt-rock never really ended.” Also Spare Keys, a group that started as a few friends nostalgically playing 2000s and 2010s songs together. Rebel.li0N (pronounced “rebelllion”) blends music across the African and Latin diaspora. The festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. both days.
A crowd watches a band perform at the 2025 Cambridge Porchfest. (Courtesy Kyle Klein/Cambridge Arts)
Saturday, July 11-Sunday, July 12
If you’re in Davis Square this weekend, you’ll want to stop by The Rockwell to see some intriguing screenings of cinematic works as part of the Somerville International Film Festival. It kicks off with “Blood & Guts” from directors Carlye Rubin and Katie Green, about a family that produces independent horror films, finding the lines between reality and the world of movies blurred. Later on Saturday night, a program of shorts screen, including “20:15 México DF” from Argentinian director Alejandro Di Meglio, a sensitive film about two women who meet in Mexico City, and “Mascha” from German director Laura Engelhardt, the story of a woman who loses the car she lives in. Sunday’s schedule includes a feature screening of Spike Kittrell’s “All My Friends” about two friends dealing with a cross-country move, and another shorts program at 8 p.m. Tickets are free and can be reserved online. [Check out our summer arts guide for more film festival recommendations.]
