5 Things To Do This Weekend, Including King Richard’s Faire And The Salem Zombie Walk

The air is starting to feel crisp and all of my favorite fall menu items are back at coffee shops: pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cream cheese muffins and maple soy lattes. This week, we enter October! (Prime pumpkin month.) In my opinion, the best time to take part in fall activities is the beginning of the month — it’s not too cold. This weekend, our event picks include a zombie walk in historic Salem, an opera based on true events, a comedic play, a celebratory concert and King Richard’s Faire.

Auteur Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” is getting a comedic remix in the play adapted by Patrick Barlow, onstage at Greater Boston Stage Company. The play incorporates the original film and a spy novel, with a little bit of zany inspiration from Monty Python. Four actors portray the 150 roles in this performance. In addition to the comedy, you can expect a plane crash and a  romance.

King Richard’s Faire feels like you’re entering a dream! Sprawled across the 80-acre wooded area in Carver, Massachusetts, you'll see acrobats, fire eaters and aerialists. This year, they are incorporating a new trained dog show for you to enjoy. There is also food for purchase including must-try turkey legs, fries, chowder and stew. The fair also features artisans that offer pottery, jewelry and leather goods. People typically dress up in period-clothing and corsetry when they go — you should search for dreamy outfits in your wardrobe before heading there! Fun costumes are encouraged.

The new opera is based on true stories from Ellis Island, where immigrants arrived en masse from the late 1800s through the early 1950s. In this multimedia production, you will experience the clash of different cultures, the acceptance (or lack of) identities and unique sentimental stories of migration. The opera is presented at Boston’s Old South Meeting House.

Nighttime spooky activities are usually too spooky for me, but this one takes place during the light of day! For it’s 12th year, this family friendly event encourages you and your loved ones to dress up as  zombies and gather at the Salem Common at 11 a.m. You’ll walk — zombie-style — through Salem’s historic district, from New Liberty Street to Essex Street to Central Street and beyond before  ending back on the common. If you live in Salem, expect possible road closures to let the zombies walk through. This event kicks off the month-long Halloween happenings in the Witch City.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra will perform to celebrate the reopening of Symphony Hall, after an 18-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The performance will begin with BSO music director Andris Nelsons conducting Beethoven’s “Consecration of the House Overture,” which was the first piece ever performed by the BSO in 1881. Note: This concert will not have an intermission. The welcoming remarks will be made by new BSO president and CEO Gail Samuel. The online stream will be available for free Oct. 14-Nov. 13 here.