Arlington Town Day
Fri 9/20 & Sat 9/21
FREE

The annual two-day festival of music and family entertainment begins with Friday's Town Night, at the Spy Pond Field, at 5pm with children's activities, live music and a fireworks show at dusk.

Town Day, on Saturday, takes place on Massachusetts Ave from Pleasant Street to Mill Street from 10am to 3pm. Town Day features local artist displays, children's activities, and an assortment of food vendors. [Details]

Life is good Festival 2013 - Prowse Farm, Canton
Sat 9/21 - Sun 9/22
Adults $65; Kids (2-12) $20. (Kids Free tickets sold out)

The two-day celebration features three stages of nationally known musical talent, hands-on games, interactive arts activities, and the "Good Kids" zone, where families can see Yo Gabba Gabba, Recess Monkey, Josh and the Jamtones and other favorite performers.

100% of Life is good Festival profits go towards The Life is good Playmakers, helping kids overcome life-threatening challenges such as violence, illness and extreme poverty. [Details]

Trails & Sails - Salem
9/20-9/22 & 9/27-9/29
Most programs FREE

Trails & Sails is two weekends of “walks and water” - a variety of walks, guided hikes, sails, historical tours, and boating and cycling adventures. Visit www.trailsandsails.org to create your own itinerary and customized passport. Most events are open and free, but some require reservations. [Details]

Alastair Moock CD Release Show - The Center for the Arts at the Armory, Somerville
Sat 9/21
In advance $10; At the door $12        

Join the band for a very special event as Alastair, the full album band, and special guests The Jimmy Fund Chorus celebrate the release of Singing Our Way Through: Songs for the World's Bravest Kids. [Details]

Family Day at the Museum - Waterworks Museum, Chestnut Hill
Sat 9/21
FREE

The museum welcomes kids of all ages to join in on a variety of fun, educational activities, including scavenger hunts, Museum tours, story time, Waterworks Jeopardy, and hands-on projects. Activities take place outside the Museum and inside the magnificent Great Engines Hall. Learn about Boston’s water history, water conservation, and water pumping and get to know more about where your water comes from! [Details]

Boston PAL's 5th Annual Grand Prix - Seaport Boulevard, Boston
Sat 9/21
FREE to watch race; Carnival tickets are 10 for $10 or 20 for $15

Boston Police Athletic League (PAL) brings European-style kart racing to the streets of Boston with the 5th Annual Boston PAL Grand Prix. For spectators, the Grand Prix “Carnival” offers a fun afternoon for all ages, including family activities like a moon walk, face painting and balloon animals; picture-taking with the "boys in blue"; food sampling from local shops; and, for the adults, a beer and wine garden. [Details]

Tim Seston in Concert - Barefoot Books Studio, Concord
Sat 9/21
Tickets $8        

Families can enjoy clever rhyme, song, puppets, classic storytelling and guitar music as Tim combines his favorite Barefoot Books singalongs songs with his original tales about children and their imaginations. [Details]

Harbor Arts Festival - HarborArts Shipyard Gallery, Boston
Sat 9/21
FREE

Enjoy the current collection of artwork and take in the view with live music, local food, refreshments, activities for all ages, and much more. [Details]

Ellis Paul Family Performance - The Center for the Arts in Natick (TCAN)
Sat 9/21
Adults $10; Children $8        

Critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet, and troubadour Ellis Paul tours his latest family CD, The Hero in You, presenting 14 original songs highlighting the bright spots of America’s great heritage. [Details]

Riverfest at Assembly Row - Somerville
Sat 9/21
FREE

Riverfest features food trucks, live music, and the final installment of Assembled: The Handmade Arts Market, with more than 50 artisans. There is also a free kids' area, with games and inflatable amusements, a photo booth, face painting, balloon artists, magicians, storytelling, music, and puppetry, and fireworks over the Mystic River at 8pm. [Details]

Revels RiverSing - Harvard Square & Weeks Footbridge, Cambridge
Sun 9/22
FREE

The annual outdoor gathering to mark the transition from summer to fall features nearly a hundred area chorus members plus many other guest performers who gather by the Weeks Footbridge to join together in song. The evening closes with an improvisational sunset serenade from an illuminated Sun/Moon boat floating along the river, providing a magical ending to the end of summer and a striking herald to the onset of fall.

Family festivities begin at 5pm in Harvard Square and include face painting, a "honk" band, hula hoopers and a colorful puppet-filled parade to the river that all can join. [Details]

Mister G's ABC Fiesta - Regent Theatre, Arlington
Sun 9/22
Adults $10; Children $8        

Families can listen to songs from Mister G's new bilingual album, on which he brings together the two things he loves most: music and books. Mister G sings about his life-long delight in reading, introduces the Bossy E, and explains why it’s almost always better to be standing on top of your head. ABC Fiesta is a one-of-a-kind Latin dance party. [Details]

Allston Village Street Fair
Sun 9/22
FREE

The family friendly day includes live bands, multicultural street performances, an international food court, amusements area, plus an artist and vendor market. [Details]

Boston Ballet's Night of Stars - Boston Common
Sat 9/21
FREE

The first ever Boston Ballet performance on Boston Common kicks off the celebratory 50th season with a show that features the full company and live music from the Boston Ballet Orchestra.

It is recommended that you arrive between 4pm and 6:30pm to get the best seats, as seating is based on a first-come-first-serve basis. A special Boston Ballet video production starts at 4pm. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Rain date 9/22. [Details]

Hub on Wheels - Boston
Sun 9/22
Ride $45; Festival FREE

Hub On Wheels is a citywide bike ride on a car-free Storrow Drive, through hidden pathways and historic neighborhoods. The ride starts and finishes on City Hall Plaza in downtown Boston, with three different routes to choose from: 10, 30 and 50 miles.

There is also an all-day festival with food, music, and an expo. Also be sure to catch the second annual mascot race and the kids' race, open to any and all cyclists age 3-9. [Details]

Brookline Day - Larz Anderson Park, Brookline
Sun 9/22
FREE

The day features a carnival of activities which include large inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, touch a truck, and tethered hot air balloon rides (weather permitting). Plus, food trucks; live local music; a pie eating contest; and more. [Details]

Photo: Boston PALS Grand Prix