This week, Boston embraces its rich, local history with spirited events that raise a glass to the revolution, celebrate the cultures and creatives of today, and honor the legacies of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Celebrate Sarah Bradlee Fulton, Medford’s “Mother of the Boston Tea Party,” with historical games and a ghostly play, or head to the Old State House for a late-night, red-brick reverie. Or, on Monday, partake in special programming, activities, and entertainment across Fenway, and explore the city’s many museums with free admission in recognition of the commemorative holiday. Here are several no-cost activities and events for the week of Oct. 13-19.
CREATIVE DAY OUT The Fenway Cultural Alliance’s Opening Our Doors Day offers free programs throughout the Fenway neighborhood, starting at 10 a.m. with a ceremony at the BYSO Youth Center for Music featuring Boston’s poet laureate Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah. Also on the itinerary: hands-on activities like an aluminum pour at MassArt, where you can try casting metal into designs to take home; and the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s instrument playground, where attendees can play around with string, percussion, and brass instruments. Plus, catch the Huntington Theatre’s ongoing show, “Sardines (a comedy about death),” or the Wheelock Family Theatre’s “Leonardo!” for free, both at 2 p.m. See the full list of events and schedule on the Alliance’s website. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Various locations. fenwayculture.org
NEW FUN IN OLD PLACES Revolutionary Spaces will transform the Old State House into a party venue for The Let Out, an after-hours celebration featuring free snacks and live performances to the historic building. Chef Dave’s will serve a tasting menu inspired by Revolutionary-era cooking, J.P. Licks hosts a sundae bar, and Colonial-themed cocktails will be served to time-travelers 21+. The building’s two floors will host live music acts throughout the night, and at 9 p.m., head outside for a spoken word and poetry performance on the balcony. Oct. 16, 9-11 p.m. Old State House, 206 Washington St. RSVP required. revolutionaryspaces.org
Performers in “Ghostly Appearances,” the play featured at Sarah Bradlee Fulton Day.John Harrison
REVOLUTIONARY FUN Looking Back at Medford History celebrates Sarah Bradlee Fulton Day, honoring the city’s most famous Daughter of Liberty. At 11 a.m., catch “Ghostly Appearances,” an outdoor play starring local George Washington impersonator John Koopman III on horseback, a Naval fife and drum marching band, and ghosts of American Revolution past. Then, stop by Ye Olde Arcade, a pop-up tent with authentic Colonial-era games, including wooden bowling, marbles, and Jacob’s ladder. Here’s a fun fact: during the Boston Tea Party, patriots would sometimes drink hot chocolate as a replacement for British tea and attendees honor the historical boycott with free Dunkin’ hot chocolate available at the event. Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Salem St. Burying Ground, Medford. freedomsway.org
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TAKE A BREAK AccessCulture’s RESET event aims to provide a “reset” from the stressors of life, and brings together various cultural performing groups. From Native American performance group Red Hawk Singers & Dancers, to local Irish step dance to West African drumming from Joh Camara, City Hall will play host to an afternoon of diverse, live acts. Sage burning, an Indigenous tradition, will occur around the plaza, and earplugs will be provided on request. Oct. 19, 1-4 p.m. City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Square. accessculture.org
PUMPKINS AND PARADES SomerStreets: Monster Mash will bring early Halloween festivities to Somerville Ave. Through the afternoon, expect live music and performances, including local spooky dance group BosWitches, and activities like pumpkin carving, face painting, ring-making, lawn games, and a haunted house for children. At 3:15, the Community Parade begins from Union Square, and attendees are encouraged to bring their costumes and join a parade alongside the puppets from Big Nazo. Public transport is suggested — Somerville Avenue will be closed from School Street to Warren Avenue for the duration of the event. Oct. 19, 2-6 p.m. Somerville. somervilleartscouncil.org
Costumed guests and performers take part in the Somerville Arts Council’s Monster Mash parade.Megan Senturk/Somerville Arts Council
Deals and Steals
Multiple museums in the Boston area offer free admission on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. See locations and times below:
Harvard Museum of Natural History 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. hmsc.harvard.edu
Institute of Contemporary Art 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 25 Harbor Shore Drive. icaboston.org
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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 25 Evans Way. gardnermuseum.org
MassArt Art Museum 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 621 Huntington Ave. maam.massart.edu
Museum of Fine Arts 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 465 Huntington Ave. mfa.org
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge. hmsc.harvard.edu
Check individual event websites for the most up-to-date information.
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Send info on free events and special offers at least 10 days in advance to ryan.yau@globe.com.
Investigators identified Tyler Brown of Boston as the man who allegedly opened fire on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts, leaving two victims with life-threatening injuries.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said Brown fired 50 to 60 shots on the busy road shortly after 1 p.m. Monday.
Two male victims were hit in vehicles, Ryan said. They are in critical condition and fighting for their lives.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper and a civilian with a license to carry a firearm went toward the gunman and fired their weapons at him. Officers treated Brown at the scene, and he was brought to a Boston hospital, where he is in intensive care, according to the district attorney.
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This video shared with NBC10 Boston appears to show a man opening fire at cars on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Authorities have, so far, shared limited information about the suspect.
“Mr. Brown is from Boston, and apparently was in the process of moving here. We understand that Mr. Brown was under the supervision of either the Massachusetts Probation Department or Department of Parole,” Ryan said.
She did not elaborate on why Brown may have been on probation or parole.
“We will address Mr. Brown’s criminal record, if any, at the arraignment,” she said.
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Ryan added that she did not know enough about Brown’s condition to say whether he would be arraigned in court or in a hospital bed. The timing was also not clear.
He will face two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and firearms charges, and “a variety of other charges as we unfold what took place, exactly, and we have a chance to speak to the many, many people who were out there,” Ryan said.
An inbound stretch of Storrow Drive and Soldiers Field Road will be closed each night through August for tunnel repairs, officials announced.
Starting Monday, the closures will begin at 8 p.m. and last until 5 a.m., state officials said.
Road closures begin at North Harvard Street in Allston and stretch along the Charles River Esplanade to Mugar Way in Boston, near the Hatch Memorial Shell, officials said.
Traffic will be detoured into Cambridge over the Anderson Bridge, along Memorial Drive, and then be routed into Boston over the Longfellow Bridge.
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The closures will allow ongoing repairs to the Storrow Drive Tunnel in the Back Bay.The work is the first phase of a two-stage project to extend the lifespan of the tunnel, which carries roughly 50,000 drivers to and from downtown Boston daily.
The outbound portion of the tunnel and accompanying roadways will not be affected.
State transportation officials said changes to the work schedule will be made when necessary to minimize impacts during major local events at TD Garden, Fenway Park, or during the FIFA World Cup and 250th anniversary celebrations scheduled for this summer.
Additional changes may be made without notice due to weather.
Transportation officials have not specified when the closures will end.
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Bryan Hecht can be reached at bryan.hecht@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @bhechtjournalism.
OXFORD — Ole Miss softball is back in the NCAA Tournament after making the Women’s College World Series a season ago.
The Rebels (34-24) will play Boston (46-13) on May 15 (1 p.m. CT, ESPNU) in the Lubbock Regional. Ole Miss is the No. 2 seed in the regional, and Boston is the No. 3.
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Texas Tech (52-6), the No. 11 overall seed and regional host, will face No. 4 Marist (37-19).
The Rebels went 6-18 in SEC play this season, and have a largely new-look roster from the team that made the WCWS last season.
Ole Miss beat South Carolina and Tennessee in the SEC Tournament to improve its seed.
Freshman Madi George has burst onto the scene in the SEC. The first-year infielder leads Ole Miss with a .385 batting average. She has a team-high 21 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Seniors Emilee Boyer (3.86 ERA), Kyra Aycock (3.97 ERA) and junior Lily Whitten (3.04 ERA) are the primary options in the circle for coach Jamie Trachsel.
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Trachsel is in her sixth season leading the Ole Miss program. She led the Rebels to their first WCWS appearance in program history in 2025.
What to know about Boston, Texas Tech and Marist in Lubbock Regional
Boston entered the Patriot League Tournament as the top seed and the Terriers delivered. Boston beat No. 2 Colgate 12-1, becoming the second team in Patriot League history to four-peat as conference champions. Boston is on a 12-game winning streak. Kylie Doherty leads the team with a .396 batting average and 26 home runs.
Texas Tech made the 2025 WCWS championship series, losing to Texas in three games.
Texas Tech lost just three Big 12 games this season but lost in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. The Red Raiders are a strong threat to get to the WCWS again. There are four Texas Tech batters hitting over .400. Star pitcher NiJaree Canady leads the Red Raiders with a 1.24 ERA. She has 209 strikeouts.
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Marist plays in the MAAC and won the conference tournament. Marist split a two-game series against South Carolina early in the season. Ava Metzger (12-3, 2.51 ERA) and Peyton Pusey (.404 batting average) lead the team.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
