5 things to do this weekend, including Boston Book Festival and serpentwithfeet at ICA

There’s a chill in the air. Temperatures fluctuate from morning to midday. Once again, we find ourselves in yet another period of unpredictable New England weather when it’s good to make backup plans. Luckily, there’s plenty of ways to keep yourself busy, even if an unexpected chill squashes those apple-picking plans. From a concert with 19th-century instruments that can be attended in person or live streamed to two worthwhile festivals, you’ve got options! Here are five things to check out this weekend.

Brooklyn-born musician serpentwithfeet will present two nights of experimental electronic music at the ICA this weekend. Exploring the love and passion within the Black queer community, “Heart of Brick” will be more theatrical than a typical concert. For the project, serpentwithfeet teamed with Worcester-born artist and MacArthur “genius grant” recipient Wu Tsang and choreographer Raja Feather Kelly. Through music and dance, the show will follow the story of two men who fall in love in a gay dance hall. Listen to his music for a preview of his tender vocalisms contrasted by the big sound of the electronic backing, a perfect pairing for a story of queer dance hall love. Tickets are $26 for ICA members and students and $32 for nonmembers. [See our fall dance guide for more event recommendations.]

Earlier this year, Lizzo twerked while playing James Madison’s 200-year-old crystal flute. What do that performance and this weekend’s series have in common? They both use instruments that date back to the 1800s. That’s part of what distinguishes Boston Baroque concerts from other classical performances in the area; they use period instruments and performance techniques that date back to the time the music was composed. If that sounds at all interesting to you, you’re in luck, because the program at this weekend’s series features one of the most recognized and celebrated pieces of classical music ever written, “Ode to Joy.” Beethoven wrote the symphony using a poem of the same name by Friedrich Schiller as inspiration. When translated, the choral part calls for a celebration of joy so powerful that it unites “all people into brothers” and embraces the world. If you’re in need of a little joy this weekend, tickets start at $25 with performances Friday at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre, Saturday at GBH’s Calderwood Studio and Sunday at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. For those who prefer to enjoy the music from the comfort of their home, livestreams will be available for each performance and start at $9. [Want more classical music recommendations? Check out our fall guide here.]

Writers and readers unite at the Boston Book Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday. With signings, readings and panels, this free event functions as a cross between Comic-Con and your elementary school’s Scholastic Book Fair. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Chloe Gong for young adult literature, Heather Cox Richardson for nonfiction and “Percy Jackson” series author Rick Riordan for children’s literature. Poetry headliners include Diannely Antigua and Oliver de la Paz. This is a good opportunity for fans of these authors and aspiring writers to get a peak behind the authorial curtain. Additionally, children will enjoy the characters of “Llama Llama,” “Peter Rabbit” and “Arthur” in costume. The festival features a wide variety of genres and speakers, so view the schedule to see what piques your interest.

Imagine the various ways one can prepare an apple, and you’ll probably find some version of it at Wachusett Mountain’s 39th Annual Applefest. Candied apples, apple pies, apple cider and, of course, apple cider donuts will all be available for purchase. In addition to the edible offerings, there will also be craft vendors and entertainment including live music, a pie eating contest and rides on the chairlift, which is the main attraction to many guests. The roundtrip “SkyRide” to the summit and back offers views of the surrounding tree-covered hills at a time of year when they’re most colorful. Even for those who ski and snowboard, this is sure to be one of the more picturesque chairlift rides. The festival is a ticketed event with adult admission costing $12, children ages 6-12 at $7 and children under 5 are free, not including the SkyRide.

Growing up in Iran with aspirations of studying art in America, artist Arghavan Khosravi used to draw doodles on her passport. She moved to the United States in 2015 and when she saw the “Zan. Zendegi. Azadi. (Woman, Life, Freedom)” protests taking place in her native country, she felt inspired to create the work on display at the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University. Her works explore contradictions in both culture and artform, blending the real with the fantastic and traditions of Persian art with the perspective of political unrest. On Saturday at 4 p.m., Khosravi will be joined by Gannit Ankori, chief curator at the Rose Art Museum, for a conversation about her art and her journey as a Muslim immigrant in America. This event will be free and open to the public, but since space is limited, registration is encouraged.