Woofstock Dog Festival Hosted by Buddy Dog Humane Society Where/When: Saturday, Hudson Elks Club, 99 Park Street, Hudson from 11 - 4pm. Why Go: Dog lovers unite and raise money for Buddy Dog in its 50th year with games, raffles, live bands and demos. Pricing: $5, kids younger than 12 free. Sudbury's Agricultural Commission's Great Pumpkin & Sunflower Contest Where/When: Saturday during the Farmers' Market. Contest runs from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Longfellow's Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury Why Go: Massachusetts is famous for its big pumpkins - check out this year's contenders and …

Twillingate Farm Alpacas Open House for National Alpaca Farm Days Where/When: Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Twillingate Farm, 136 Hudson Road, Sudbury Why Go: Tour the farm, meet the Alpacas and buy some clothing to keep your toes warm. Pricing: Free. Colonial Faire & Muster of Fyfes and Drums Where/When: Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Longfellow's Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury.  Why Go: More than 20 musical corps and a skirmish to defend against a British attack. Plus vendors and interpretaors. Pricing: $1 per person, free for children younger than 12. Bonnie's Bootcamp …

Back to School Bash Teen Center Opening Night Where/When: For seventh- and eighth-grade Sudbury students on Friday from 7:30 - 10 p.m., Atkinson Pool/Fairbank Community Center. Why Go: Live DJ, arcade games and Foosball. Pricing: $10 with ID, $8 without. Charlie Cox Runs With Scissors  Where/When: Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at ArtSpace, 63 Summer St., Maynard. Why go: A "romantic comedy fantasy" starring these characters: Death, Love, Charlie, and the Love of Charlie's Life. Pricing: Adult $17 Senior/Student $15 A Taste of Greece Food Festival Where/When: St. Nicholas Greek …

Sudbury Art Association Show Where/When: Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 505 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, in the space formerly housed by Thunder Sports. Opening reception on Thursday from 7 - 9 p.m. Why Go: See the work of 50 member artists whose pieces span a huge range of media from painting and prints to furniture and wearable pieces. Pricing: Free All The King's Men Comedy & Theater Troupe Where/When: Friday at 8 p.m. at the American Repertory Theater's Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Harvard Square. Why Go: The laughter will be familiar but the cause for it won't be. This troupe is a highly acclaimed, all…

Franklin Park Zoo's Seasonal Butterfly Landing Exhibit Where/When: Friday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Franklin Part Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston. Why Go: To see hundreds of free-flying butterflies in this limited-time, tented exhibit. Pricing: Adults, $16; children, $10. ImprovBoston Family Show Where/When: Saturday, 6 p.m., at ImprovBoston 40 Prospect St., Cambridge. Why Go: ImprovBoston is the winner of the Nickelodeon award for Best Children's Theater - comedy for adults and children. Pricing: Adults $12, Children $7 In Transition 1.0 Screening Where…

Rock Off Main Street Where/When: 7:30 p.m. on Friday at 14 Summer St., Natick. Why Go: An all-ages show featuring youth bands moving from "the basement to the stage." Pricing: $8 Thomas Chamberas 6K Cross Country Race - Open to All Levels Where/When: 9 a.m. on Saturday at Great Brook Farm State Park, 984 Lowell Road, Carlisle Why Go: Running with dozens of others in a beautiful area makes running fun - even if you are only a "part-timer." Your entry fee also supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Pricing: Donation of $20. Robbins Farm Park Movie Night Under the Stars Where/When: 8 p.m. on …

Village Art Workshop Summer Program: Sock Monkeys Where/When: Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Village Art Workshop, 541 Massachusetts Ave., Acton. On Saturday and Sunday same time, different activity. Why Go: To create "Funky Monkeys" from colorful socks, with stuffing and hand-made accessories. For kids 8 and older. Pricing: $40. Add lunch from 12-1 p.m. for $5.  Boston Restaurant Week Where/When: Final week, Aug. 21-26. Make reservations. Restaurants offer prix-fixed menu for lunch and/or dinner. Why Go: The perfect time to try a new restaurant with friends. Local restaurants include Aka Bistro…

African Drum & Dance and Summer Reading Party Where/When: Friday 2p.m., Goodnow Library, 21 Concord Road, Sudbury Why Go: To celebrate 'one world, many stories' Pricing: Free. Yoga in the Park Where/When: Sunday at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum,51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. Class for ages 2-6: 10 to 10:30 a.m.; Class for ages 7-11: 10:30 to 11 a.m.; adult class: 11 a.m. to noon. Why Go: To experience yoga outdoors, among friends, and sculpture. Pricing: Adults $10, families $25. Ticket includes Sculpture Park and Museum admission. 7th Annual Artisans Market and Summer Sale Where/When…

The Sound of Music Where/When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m.; at The Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston, 617 Lexington St, Waltham. Why Go: For the songs. Pricing: $35 - $57. Shakespeare on the Common Where/When: Parkmand Bandstand at the Boston Common on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 7 p.m.; 2 hours and 45 minutes duration. Why Go: Professional actors reciting famous lines in a beautiful park. Pricing: Free. Park at Alewife and take the T in. Nature Play Day Where/When: Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Drumlin Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road…

Dodgeball For Kids Where/When: 6:15 - 8:30 p.m. at Giorgio's Health & Fitness in Sudbury. Why Go: It's never too early for children to begin mastering the art of dodgeball. Pricing: $10 per child for members and $15 for non-members. Ages 6 and older. Frontpage Follies with Popular Circus Smirkus Where/When: Seven shows from Thursday to Sunday at Gore Place, 52 Gore St., Waltham. Thursday-Saturday at 1 and 6 p.m; Sunday at 11 a.m. Why Go: See the troupers, all ages ten to 18, on the high wire, performing aerials and juggling. Pricing: Ages 13 and older — $25; 2-12 — $19; younger than 2 — free…

3rd Annual American Craft Beer & Food Experience Where/When: Friday, rain or shine, at The Wayside Inn, Sudbury.  Why Go: Craft beer, live band, and tavern food like Cajun chicken tenders and Rhode Island spicy baked-stuffed quahogs. Pricing: $25 per person for all you can eat. $3 per bottled beer. Must be 21 to attend event. Tickets available at Wayside Inn or Kappy's.  The EcoTarium: Jazz at Sunset  Where/When: Friday evening. Gates open 5:30 p.m. at the EcoTarium Museum, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Why Go: For Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas and their Southern Louisiana Creole roots …

Framingham Summer Concert Series Where/When: Friday at the Framingham Village Green in Old Framingham Centre (on Edgell Road) from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Why Go: Hear live covers of well-known tunes with band Common Ground.  Pricing: Free Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor Full Moon Tour at Gore Place Where/When: Friday at 7 p.m. at Gore Place, 52 Gore St., in Waltham Why Go: Visit a mansion by candlelight with a guide in period costume. Pricing: $14, children 5-12: $10 "To Sergio with Love": The Sergio Mendes Project Where/When: 7 p.m. on Friday at Acton Jazz Cafe, 452 Great Road, Acton Pricing: $10…

Butterflies of Summer Where/When: 9:30 a.m.  - noon on Saturday at Cedar Hill Reservation, Northborough.  Why Go: Take advantage of the best time to view monarchs, swallowtails, browns and skippers drawn by the milkweed and flowers of the Cedar Hill fields. With Sudbury Valley Trustees Property Steward Bill Coder. Pricing: Member: Free; Non-members: $10. Register for this Event. Yoga in the Park Where/When: Sunday at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.51 Sandy Pond Road., Lincoln. Schedule is as follows: 10–10:30 a.m., class for 2–6-year-olds 10:30–11 a.m., class for 7–11-year-olds 11 a.…

Independence Day Concert and Fireworks at NARA Park When/Where: Saturday, July 2. Family activities from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., fireworks and band from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Why Go: For the fireworks, patriotic revelry and music. Pricing: Free. Seasonal Early Morning Walks Where/When: Saturday, July 2 at 8 a.m. Meet at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge Why Go: Sudbury Valley Trustee volunteers will teach you how you can tell it is July, and not any other month, at the refuge. Pricing: Free. July 4th Vinyasa Class to Benefit Veterans When/Where:  Monday, July 4th 9:15 - 10:45 am at Your …

Concert with A Far Cry String Orchestra When/Where: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at NARA Park in Acton. Why Go:  These performers have so many great reviews, from the Boston Phoenix to the New York Times, we thought it this concert was well worth a mention, even though it is not technically the weekend. Four members of A Far Cry will perform pieces by Osvaldo Golijov, Haydn, and Schumann. Pricing: Free - per the donation of an anonymous Acton resident. In the Groves: A Summer Solstice Journey - Arnold Arboretum Friday or Saturday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, …

Kickoff Wayside Inn Farmers Market Where/When: Starting this weekend, every Saturday for the summer, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Why Go: For seasonal produce and to meet local farmers in a rich historic setting. Pricing: Free. Boston Irish Festival Where/When: Saturday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England. Route 138, Canton. Rain or shine. Why Go: Over 10,000 people celebrating Irish culture over the weekend with dozens of bands, step dancers, Irish and Gaelic films and more. See the full schedule.  Pricing: $15 per day/$35 per weekend (Friday - …

RIVERFEST With five events in Sudbury alone and more in Wayland, Lincoln, Concord and beyond, the Riverfest is the highlight of the weekend. Below find two of the events in Sudbury. Use the link above to find more events by date and town. Picnic and Programs at Wolbach Farm Where: Sunday noon - 4 p.m. Why Go: Perhaps for the "Snakes of New England and the World" program where you will see a variety of local and exotic snakes and learn which ones are harmless. Pricing: Free Rubber Duck Race Where/When: 2 p.m. Sunday at Hop Brook at the Grist Mill by the Wayside Inn. Meet by the canal to …

Garden Affairs Tour at the Concord Museum Where/When: Throughout Concord — pick up the maps at the museum from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Why go: This weekend only, enjoy a self-guided and self-paced tour of Concord's gardens and meet other garden lovers also on the tour. Pricing: members $32 / non-members $38.  Orienteering / Adventure Running at Nobscot Where/When: Sunday check-in from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Nobscot Scout Reservation. 1 Nobscot Road., Sudbury.  Why Go: A running and/or a walking race that requires decision making and takes you to new parts of the woods, …

Saturday Children's Event: FETCH Pirate Adventures Where/When: 10 - 11 a.m. at Barefoot Books, 89 Thoreau St., Concord Why Go: Inspired by the PBS series, at this workshop coordinated with The Discovery Museum kids make a pirate ship to see how much booty it will carry as well as other pirate-related crafts.   Pricing: $14 fee. Ages 4 and older. Pre-register at 978-369-1770. Fee includes a related Barefoot Books title. Varied Ages Event All Weekend:  Street Performers Festival When/Where: Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Market Place, Boston Why Go: Street performers of the classic variety: …

Saturday Family Event: Wild About Birds Where/When: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., raptor feeding at 11:30 a.m. Full schedule online. Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Why Go: To support and love our feathered friends. And the chickens? Learn how to raise them. Pricing: Free with admission, which is $6 for nonmember adults; $4 for nonmember children (2-12) and seniors. Free for members.  Saturday Mixed Ages Event: SVT Greenways Paddle and Conservation Walk  Where/When: Saturday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet at Route 27 at Sudbury River, Wayland. Why Go: For the enchantment; by canoe and kayak to boot. …