Free events and deals: waterfront fun with the aquarium, State House drama, plus Boston’s African Festival returns – The Boston Globe

Other upcoming events include a wellness walk in partnership with Tedy’s Team on Oct. 3. The initiative has even featured film screenings, like last year’s event where the aquarium partnered with a Mattapan teen center to host a documentary screening at the Simons Theatre.

“They were all able to dress up and bring their family and just have a really cool experience in a space that, maybe historically, they haven’t been invited to or been able to go to,” Arregoces said.

Per Arregoces, the Aquarium aims to build the waterfront’s “physical resilience” — limiting the impacts of climate change, sea level rise, and heat island effect — and “social resilience,” which is bolstered by events like these making the waterfront a place for all members of the community.

“We want to make sure that the community is engaged in all of the work that the aquarium does,” Arregoces said.

Also going on this week: There is an original play coming to the State House, a coffee chat for the young at heart, plus a seminar on ancient art.

Free Events

STATE HOUSE STAGE Plays in Place and the National Parks of Boston are coming together to produce a three-play series called “Suffrage in Black and White,” which discusses the “intersection of race and citizenship throughout the abolitionist and suffrage movements in Boston,” according to a press release from Plays in Place. The first play, “A Light Under the Dome,” will take the stage this week in the State House Senate Chamber. It tells the story of Angelina Grimké’s 1838 speech there. Tickets are free and available on Plays in Place’s website. Aug. 12-15, 3 to 4:15 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Free. Massachusetts State House Senate Chamber, 24 Beacon St. playsinplace.com

THE BEE’S KNEES Head to the Tavern at the End of the World for a free concert Tuesday night that is sure to knock your socks off. The “Bees Deluxe,” a blues band mixed with elements of funk, jazz and psychedelia, will play a three-hour set at its debut at the venue. It was founded by Conrad Warre, a guitarist who played with Joe Jackson, and is based in the Boston area. Aug. 13, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free. The Tavern at the End of the World, 108 Cambridge St., Charlestown. thebostoncalendar.com

WE ARE YOUNG The Boston Music Project is hosting its first-ever Youth Fest, a festival “by, for, and with Boston Youth,” according to the organization. Head out to Downtown Crossing for a day filled with energetic performances and artists. Headlining performances include hip-hop artist Paul Willis from 4 to 5 p.m. and saxophonist Jonathan Suazo from 5 to 6 p.m. Aug. 14, noon to 6 p.m. Free. 1 Summer St. thebostoncalendar.com

CONNECT Seniors looking to discuss the arts can come to the Kennedy Center of Charlestown for a late-morning coffee. Staff from the Boston Public Art Triennial will be in attendance to connect with seniors to discuss the installations at the Lot Lab. Currently, the Lot Lab features work from Matthew Okazaki and Ifé Franklin, two local artists who specialize in sculpture work, and Hugh Hayden, who is a New York-based sculpture artist. Aug. 15, 11 a.m. to noon. Free. Lot Lab, 15th St. thetriennial.org

ANCIENTS If you’re interested in learning more about ancient art, look no further than the Harvard Art Museum. Dr. Caitlin Clerkin, who works for the museum’s curatorial staff, will hold a seminar with attendees to discuss ancient displays in the museum, including the funerary relief of Ba’altega, from Palmyra, Syria, and the Old Kingdom period funerary reliefs in the ancient Egypt gallery. Plus, Clerkin will take attendees to the study center for a private viewing of a variety of ancient Sumerian, Greek, and Roman objects. Aug. 16, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free. Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy St., Cambridge. harvardmuseums.org

FESTIVITIES The African Festival of Boston is back for its 14th annual celebration. Head to the Boston Common all weekend long to hear music, dance, and enjoy food offerings from Taste of Africa from Ghana, Suya Joint from Nigeria, The Liberian Community Women, Cuisine from Cameroon, and more. Performances will include Lumanyano Mzi, a Boston-based South African drummer who graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2023, Albino Mbie, a musician originally from Mozambique who graduated from Berklee in 2013, and more. Aug. 17-18, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free. 139 Tremont St. eventbrite.com

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Deals & Steals

DISCOVER Every Friday night throughout the summer, Acton’s Discovery Museum, which recently won the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, offers free admission to families. Head out to Acton to play in the discovery woods — complete with its wheelchair-accessible treehouse — or check out its many indoor exhibits. While admission is free, reservations are recommended. Aug. 16, 4:30 to 8 p.m. Free. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St. (Route 27), Acton. discoveryacton.org

Emily Wyrwa can be reached at emily.wyrwa@globe.com. Follow her @emilywyrwa.