Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus - TD Garden, Boston
Wed 10/16-Sun 10/20
Tickets $25 & up        

The Greatest Show on Earth® brings its Dragons tour to Boston, complete with clowns, high wire artists, lions, tigers, elephants, horses, acrobats and more.

Don't miss the All Access Pre-Show! Starts one hour prior to show time available to all ticket holders. See animals up close, visit with performers, get autographs, try on costumes, and enjoy the circus fun. (Ages two and older must have a ticket.) [Details]

Boston Book Festival - Copley Square, Boston
Thu 10/17-Sat 10/19
Most FREE

Boston Book Festival hosts author presentations, panels, and hands-on demonstrations at venues throughout the Copley Square area, from Trinity Church to the Boston Public Library. A street fair in the square features exhibitors and live music throughout the day. Activities for kids and teens include a keynote presentation by Tomie dePaola, hosted by Anna Staniszewski. Consult the website for a complete schedule. [More]

Festival of Authors at Barefoot Books
Fri 10/18 - Sun 10/20
Varies by activity

Barefoot Books participates in Concord's 21st Annual Festival of Authors with a full line-up of events for all ages: adults can learn how to make a children's book, young readers can celebrate the release of The Little Red Hen with a petting zoo, and author Shoshana Boyd Gelfand is in the Studio to read from her new title, The Barefoot Book of Jewish Tales. Some events require pre-registration; see website for specific times and costs. [Details]

Gustafer Yellowgold’s Show - Regent Theatre, Arlington
Sat 10/19
Adults $10; Children $8        

Gustafer Yellowgold’s Show is a multi-media performance of live music, animated illustrations and storytelling. [Details]

Newton Harvest Fair - Newton Centre Green
Sat 10/19 - Sun 10/20
Most activities free        

The two-day festival includes kiddie amusement rides and activities. On Sunday, the festival expands to include over 100 craft booths, ethnic and American food, kiddie rides and activities, live entertainment, and pumpkin decorating. Plus, the Green Solutions Expo features the latest solutions you need to reduce your carbon footprint. [Details]

Applefest - Wachusett Mountain, Princeton
Sat 10/19 - Sun 10/20
Adults $9-$12; Children $4-$7

AppleFest features over 75 craft fair and farmers market booths, family entertainment, chainsaw carving demonstrations, scenic foliage skyrides to the summit, mountainside barbecue, pony & hay rides, clowns, the climbing wall and Euro bungee, jugglers & magicians for the kids. [Details]

Beyond Human Exhibit Opening Celebration - Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
Sat 10/19
Free with admission        

Take a walk on the wild side of art as we celebrate the opening of Beyond Human: Artist-Animal Collaborations. Meet contributing artists, learn to dance like a bird, add to our collaborative environmental rangoli and more. [Details]

Rockport Harvest Fest - Rockport Center
Sat 10/19
Free admission       

The Rockport HarvestFest is a family-focused event featuring live music, kids' art activities, a scarecrow stroll, and the Local Fare Fair, which highlights Cape Ann and New England food producers. [Details]

AIA-Museum of Science Archaeology Fair - Museum of Science, Boston
Sat 10/19
Free with admission

This National Archaeology Day, explore the exciting world of archaeology through a variety of interactive activities and games. [Details]

We Art Boston Family Fun - Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston
Sun 10/20
FREE

Plenty of fun, free activities, including children’s book illustrators on hand to guide experimentation with watercolor and collage and a book-making table, featuring author/illustrator David Macaulay, where kids can put together their own book and chat with author/illustrators about designing and producing a book. There's also musical entertainment by Ethan Rossiter and the Jamberries, Karen K and the Jitterbugs, and more. [Details]

Boo at the Zoo - Stone Zoo, Stoneham
Sat 10/19 - Sun 10/20
Free with admission        

The haunted happenings include creature encounters, creepy crafts, ghoulish games, a trick-or-treat trail among the animals and the Haunted Maze. On Saturday, stop by the main stage to see Radio Disney and also join the Girl Scouts of Eastern MA for arts and crafts projects. [Details]

Head of the Charles Regatta - Cambridge
Sat 10/19-Sun 10/20
FREE to watch

Since 1965, rowers have come from far and near to the banks of the Charles River to take part in the world's largest regatta. The regatta starts at the Boston University DeWolfe Boathouse, and winds 3 miles upriver to Artesani Playground in Brighton; spectators can watch the races from various spots along the course. [Details]

The Great Pumpkin Fest - EcoTarium, Worcester
Sat 10/19
Non-members $15; Members $12        

The Great Pumpkin Fest features a host of Halloween fun as well as a display of more than 1,500 carved and lit pumpkins after dark. The museum and grounds are open for exploring exhibits, visiting animals, catching a free digital planetarium show, and enjoying hayrides, train rides, magic, face painting, fortune-telling, pumpkin-carving demonstrations, crafts, animal encounters and much, much more. Family-friendly costumes are encouraged. [Details]

Beethoven’s Wig - The Center for the Arts at the Armory, Somerville
Sun 10/20
Adults $8; Children (2-12) $5        

Beethoven’s Wig transforms classical music with a brand new multimedia concert that brings a colorful cast of characters to life onstage (including Ludwig Van Beethoven). In the animated stage show, Beethoven’s Wig creator Richard Perlmutter performs the songs of Beethoven’s Wig live on piano, classical guitar and mandolin, with animated accompaniment created by the award-winning Smiley Guy Studios. [Details]

Vanessa Trien & The Jumping Monkeys - Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
Sun 10/20
$8 children, $10 adults        

Vanessa and her band perform songs off their new album, Bubble Ride, as well as some old favorites from the award-winning CDs Carnival Day and Hot Air Balloon. [Details]

Live Performance: One Hen - Boston Children's Museum
Sun 10/20
FREE from 3pm-5pm

World-class woodwind quintet Vento Chiaro performs One Hen. The composition is based on the popular children’s book of the same name; it is a story about how one small loan and one small boy can make a difference in the world.