5 things to do this weekend, including 'The SpongeBob Musical' and an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration

Are you ready, kids? “The SpongeBob Musical” is onstage at Boston University’s Wheelock Family Theatre with an adventurous tale of SpongeBob and his buddies fighting to save their beloved town Bikini Bottom through the power of friendship and teamwork. I used to watch episodes of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” series on Saturday mornings with my little brother, enjoying the goofy plotlines, like the one where SpongeBob and his best friend Patrick trust a windup conch shell to inform their every move. My dad would often pop into the living room and get drawn into the story. Now, the silly characters will come to life in a production led by Wheelock’s new executive director, Nick Vargas. Aside from cartoon musicals, there will also be a film fest in Lynn, an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in Newton and more around Greater Boston this weekend.

The inaugural Lynn Film Festival will feature films based on the theme “Boston Metro Music Communities.” Filmmakers were asked to capture the local music scene with works that “celebrate the artists, venues, and cultural movements that have shaped the region's music landscape.” Some of the official selections include “The Road to Ruane,” chronicling the turbulent 1990s indie musician Billy Ruane, and “Lynn Hip Hop Documentary,” exploring the influence of the genre on the community through archival footage, interviews and performances. The festival is funded by Creative Cities, an initiative by MassDevelopment working to foster local arts programs. Tickets are free and can be reserved online.

Club Passim celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day early on Saturday with 12 artists and musical groups engaging in Indigenous and folk storytelling through music. Folk Collective members Kim Moberg and Maxfield Anderson organized the event to foster inclusivity and equity in the local music space. Moberg is a folk singer-songwriter and guitarist whose mother is of Alaskan Native Tlingit descent, and Anderson is an American roots musician and teacher. Both artists will perform this weekend. Other musicians include folk singer-songwriter Thea Hopkins, a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe of Martha’s Vineyard, and jazz and soul musician and educator MWALIM “DaPhunkee Professor,” who has familial connections to West Indian/Bajan and Mashpee Wampanoag oral traditionalists. The Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers will also perform in traditional clothing accompanied by a water drum and rattles. Tickets are $20.

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Opening Our Doors literally opens the doors to cultural institutions and experiences across Greater Boston that would normally have ticket costs limiting who can access them. The Fenway Alliance started the free day in 2001 to make music, art and other cultural experiences available to everyone. The metaphorical and physical doors open to the Huntington Theatre, Boston Symphony Hall, the Christian Science Plaza, Jordan Hall, Massachusetts Historical Society and other locations down Huntington Avenue, also called the “Avenue of the Arts.” Some of the day’s events include a reading by Boston Youth Poet Laureate finalist Yolanda Oliveira; free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; a guided walking tour by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy; a chance to play instruments at the Boston Symphony Orchestra; and street performances by NEC Jazz Ensemble musicians.

Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in Newton for the fourth annual “Honoring Our Mothers.” The free event is family-friendly and Indigenous-led with music, cultural dances and presentations. Some of the featured speakers and artists include Hiawatha Jon Brown, a member of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, and the Eastern Cedar Singers, women from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe who sing in their native language. There will be arepas, cachapas and alfajores from Sabrosa Venezuela, tamales from Mr. Tamole, and much more. Artisans will also sell jewelry, wellness products, kitchenware, baskets and other handmade items. The celebration runs 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Albemarle Field.

Step into Bikini Bottom at Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical.” The vibrant, zany, under-the-sea production follows SpongeBob and his friends as they try to save their town from impending doom when a volcano is set to erupt and destroy everything they hold dear. Originally titled “SpongeBob Squarepants,” the musical debuted on Broadway in December 2017. The production was nominated for 12 Tony awards and won for Best Scenic Design. And, of course, the show is based on the beloved cartoon series that started in 1999 following the adventures of SpongeBob and his best pal Patrick. Wheelock will host a pre-show choreography workshop for interested attendees ahead of the performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and a chance to meet cast members after 2 p.m. shows on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets range from $26 to $52.