5 things to do this weekend, including family day at the ICA Watershed and the Rat City Arts Fest

Maybe it’s something about the middle of summer that makes me want to escape for a few hours, but I’ve been watching a lot of movies and TV recently. The next thing on my summer escape agenda is to see a play. Being cuddled up at home is nice, but nothing compares to a fully produced live performance. In this weekend's roundup of events, I’ve highlighted a new play that's gained rave reviews called “can i touch it?,” the kick-off of Cult Classic Movie Nights at the New England Aquarium and more, below.

Just in time for “Shark Week,” the New England Aquarium is screening ocean-inspired films for Cult Classic Movie Nights. The aquarium’s Simons Theatre, one of New England’s largest theaters, allows viewers to get the full experience of ocean thrillers. Before your movie, you can visit The Reef bar for drinks, snacks and lawn games. This Saturday, the aquarium will show “Sharknado,” a film about a freak storm that brings vicious sharks to the Los Angeles shore. Tickets are $5 each, and the movie begins at 7 p.m.

This Saturday, the ICA welcomes visitors to the Watershed for Family Day. There will be live music all afternoon from VROCC Latin Entertainment, art marking tutorials with artist Ponnapa Prakkamakul, and treats from Driscoll’s Berries Berry Mobile. The ehibition on show at the Watershed this summer is "Revival: Materials and Monumental Forms" showcasing works that reclaim old industrial materials to make something completely new. Admission to the Watershed is free. Although water shuttle tickets are sold out for July 30, people can take public transportation straight to the Watershed for the festivities.

Swing by Allston this weekend to see new work from local vendors at the Rat City Arts Festival. There will be food and drinks provided by Aeronaut Brewery and Zone 3, as well as live music. Vendors from Archie Snow to Atlas Moon Art and Ballz of Yarn will be selling artisan goods on-site. The festival is free to attend.

Armenian singer Maléna blew crowds away when she performed her song “Qami Qami” at the 2021 Junior Eurovision competition. She’ll perform her hit song this Sunday at the Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Her participation in this concert comes after receiving the Armenian Scholarship to attend Berklee’s coveted summer program, “Aspire.” The performance is free, and Maléna will be one to see.

Francisca Da Silveira’s community-inspired play “can i touch it?” will be running for its second weekend at The Strand Theatre. The play follows Shay Solomon, a business owner and single mom, as she navigates the stress of possibly losing her beauty supply store. This play touches on themes of gentrification, Boston’s historically Black neighborhoods, discrimination and community activism. It’s an empathic look at life in modern-day Boston. Tickets are pay-what-you-want. [Check out the rest of theater critic Jacquinn Sinclair's summer theater recommendations here.]