6 ways to spend your day at the WBUR Festival

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's Saturday morning newsletter, The Weekender. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here. 

It’s almost here.

The inaugural WBUR Festival is happening from Thursday, May 29 through Saturday, May 31. You may have seen or heard a few ads for it along your commute into Boston — and for good reason. With speakers like Dr. Anthony Fauci, The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg and Top Chef host Kristen Kish on the schedule, we had to get the word out!

The festival will take place along Boston University’s stretch of Commonwealth Avenue, with 200 speakers across eight stages — which is a lot to parse through if you’re still deciding which sessions to attend, or whether to buy a ticket at all.

That’s why we’ve curated six festival itineraries based on your interests, from foodies and cultural connoisseurs to proud Bostonians and families with kids. Use the guides below to help you schedule your own ideal day in the festival app — then, review key details before you arrive, like where to park and pick up your badge and what to wear. Just be sure to check traffic reports, especially if you're coming from west of the city.

If Boston is the hub of your universe, the festival is full of opportunities for you to learn more about the growth of the city and engage with local politicians, radio hosts and more.

11-11:45 a.m. — Head to the Booth Theatre for The Color of Capital, a discussion on how BIPOC entrepreneurs in Boston can access capital to create lasting businesses, hosted by WBUR’s Darryl C. Murphy.

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. — If you’re less interested in the business of business and more interested in the business of journalism, stop by the Dance Theater for a panel conversation with local news leaders on how they’re managing to produce high-quality journalism despite shrinking resources. 

2-2:45 p.m. — Head back to the CFA Concert Hall for a conversation with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu led by Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing and WCVB's Sharman Sacchetti.

3:30-4:15 p.m. — Stay put, so you can catch a few reflections on the state of higher education from Boston University President Melissa Gilliam and Mount Holyoke President Danielle Holley.

5-6 p.m. — You’ve heard from a lot of local leaders today. Top it off by kicking back at a happy hour with your faves from WBUR’s newsletter team. (Yep, I’ll be there, too!)

10-10:45 a.m. — If you caught Friday’s conversation with Wu, you now have a chance to hear from her mayoral election opponent, Josh Kraft, at the CFA Concert Hall.

Noon-12:45 p.m. — We’ve got a local legend in store for you: Ray Magliozzi, one of the former hosts of “Car Talk.” He’s giving a behind-the-scenes look at what went into making the beloved show at the Tsai Performance Center.

1-1:45 p.m. — Head back to the CFA Concert Hall for a live taping of Framingham native Katie Nolan’s “Casuals” podcast with baseball internet personality and Red Sox fan Jared Carrabis.

2:30-3 p.m. — A short walk to the HUB will get you to a beer — and Q&A with former Morning Edition host Bob Oakes, led by Here & Now co-host Robin Young.

4-4:45 p.m. — The street fair should be in full swing by this point in the afternoon. Stop by and explore the vendors and activities before making your way to the Booth Theatre for “Why Museums Matter,” a conversation with the heads of ReMuseum, the Peabody Essex Museum and the MassArt Art Museum.

5:30-6 p.m. — Shimmy back to the HUB for a Q&A session (and another complimentary drink) with “The Town” writer Chuck Hogan, hosted by WBUR’s Amory Sivertson.

Do you love the news? We do, too (obviously). That’s why the festival is full of nationally focused discussions, puzzle solving sessions and opportunities to catch your favorite news personalities live.

9:30-10:30 a.m. — Begin the day at FitRec with a live taping of Kara Swisher’s podcast On with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who broke major international news in March when Trump administration security and military officials accidentally included him in a group chat on Signal’s unsecured messaging platform.

11:30-12:15 p.m. — If you couldn’t snag a ticket for Thursday’s live taping of Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me, don’t fret. You can still get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making NPR’s weekly quiz show with Wait Wait’s producers and host Peter Sagal at the Tsai Performance Center.

1-1:45 p.m. — You’ll be glad you fueled up before heading over to CitySpace for a live Spelling Bee puzzle-solving session with Everdeen Mason, editorial director of The New York Times’ games division.

2:30-3:30 p.m. — Stay at CitySpace for a live taping of a bonus episode of On Point’s series, “Falling Behind: The Miseducation of America’s Boys.” Host Meghna Chakrabarti will be chatting with Dr. Kevin Simon, chief behavioral health officer for the city of Boston.

5-5:45 p.m. — Take a little break before stopping by the CFA Concert Hall for a reflective discussion on homelessness Boston Health Care for the Homeless President Jim O’Connell and The Atlantic staff writer James Parker.

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. — Saturday starts off strong  at CFA Concert Hall with a conversation on the state of independent journalism with four veteran news leaders, including former Washington Post editor Marty Baron and Boston Globe editor Nancy Barnes.

Noon-12:45 p.m. — Make financial planning fun — and lucrative — in this lesson from “Money with Katie” podcast host Katie Gatti Tassin at the Dance Theater.

12:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m. — Then, head over to FitRec to catch New York Times opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie discuss race and politics with author Kimberlé Crenshaw.

1:30 - 2:15 p.m. — Take the T to the Tsai Performance Center to listen in on New Era for Immigrants and Immigration, a conversation moderated by WBUR’s Simón Rios with local and national immigration advocates on recent headline-grabbing deportations and immigration-related court battles in the U.S.

2-3 p.m. — Make your way back to FitRec a little early to secure a seat at a session on the state of public health in America with Dr. Anthony Fauci and Meghna.

3:30-4 p.m. — Hit the HUB to hear Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider chatting with All Things Considered host Lisa Mullins.(You’ll get a complimentary beer while you’re there.)

After, swing by the street fair for a show from folk singer-songwriter and 2024 WBUR Maker Naomi Westwater.

5-6 p.m. — End your festival with This American Life host Ira Glass and NPR’s Asma Khalid at FitRec for a discussion on the evolution of public radio and the craft of storytelling.

You’ll find live music from our WBUR Makers, art, literature, vintage clothing and even a few celebrities at the festival. Here’s how you can hit all the best spots.

12:30-1:15 p.m. — Fans of Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer” (and its television adaptation) will want to make their way to the CFA Concert Hall to catch author Viet Thanh Nguyen in conversation with NPR’s Ailsa Chang.

If you’d rather a more leisurely stroll around the festival, head down to the HUB for a slice from Otto and then continue along Comm. Ave to the George Sherman Union Pavilion to check out the Boston Press Photographers’ Pictures of the Year exhibit, which will be on view all day.

2:30-3:15 p.m. — The afternoon keeps going with some more thoughtful conversations. Vibe Check’s Sam Sanders will interview author Roxane Gay at the Tsai Performance Center.

4-4:45 p.m. — Then, head over to CitySpace for a live taping of the “Design Matters” podcast with guest Dr. Joy Buolamwini.

5:30-6:15 p.m. — Walk or take the T back to the Tsai Performance Center to finish off your day with a conversation on The Future of Reproductive Rights in the U.S. with actress Busy Phillips.

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. — Start your day with Backing the Black Arts in Boston at the Booth Theatre. The panel, led by WBUR arts reporter Arielle Gray, features local luminaries from organizations like The Front Porch Arts Collective and The Boston Foundation.

Both events let out in time for you to hit up the street fair, where violinist Pranav Swaroop will be performing onstage at 1 p.m. While you’re there, don’t forget to stop by the FOUND vintage market pop-up, which gets underway at noon.

1:30-2:15 p.m. — Make your way to CitySpace for a live taping of the Sing for Science podcast with singer-songwriter Josh Ritter and Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb.

3-4 p.m. — After taking a break for some refreshments at the street fair, hit up another live podcast taping — Slate’s Decoder Ring — happening back at CitySpace.

4-4:45 p.m. — Cross Comm. Ave. for Inside the Creative Process at the CFA Concert Hall, where musician (and former Tiny Desk Contest winner) Alisa Amador, poet Porsha Olayiwola and WBUR’s Amory Sivertson delve into what it takes to get the creative juices flowing.

Once that’s wrapped, you’ve got options! Take in the musical stylings of indie band Beeef on the street fair stage or hit up happy hour with José Massó at Sunset Cantina starting at 5 p.m. You could also check out the Boston Comedy Showcase from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. for a few jokes from local comedians. If you stick around a little longer, you’ll also be able to see poet and songwriter Regie Gibson perform his latest work.

Foodies can kick off the weekend a little early on Thursday with our Perfect Pairing session on leadership with chef Eric Ripert and Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart. Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing will moderate the event (which does require a separate ticket) from 5-6 p.m. at CitySpace.

Work a half day then head to the festival for a treat.

2:30-3 p.m. —Start your festival off with an ice cold beer. WBUR’s Anthony Brooks will host a Q&A with former Red Sox announcer Joe Castiglione at the HUB, complete with complimentary beer (or a nonalcoholic drink) for guests.

4-5 p.m. — Walk or ride the T to the Tsai Performance Center. (How easy is that?) Renowned chef and “Barefoot Contessa” author Ina Garten will be swapping stories with Michael Barbaro of The New York Times’ “The Daily” podcast.

Begin your Saturday at noon at BU Beach, where you’ll find our street fair with food for purchase from local favorites like Far Out Ice Cream, George’s Coney Island hot dogs and Tenoch Mexican.

1-1:45 p.m. — Once you’ve scoped out a bite, walk two blocks up Comm. Ave. to the Booth Theatre for Sandwiches of History, a “sandwich extravaganza” based on the cookbook of the same name by Barry Enderwick. Eugene Mirman, the voice actor behind Gene Belcher in “Bob’s Burgers,” will also be on stage.

3-3:45 p.m. — “Top Chef” fans won’t want to miss this conversation with host Kristen Kish and “Boston’s Queen of Pasta,” Karen Akunowicz, at the Tsai Performance Center. (Attendees at this session will also receive a free copy of Kish’s memoir, “Accidentally on Purpose.”)

4:30-5 p.m. — It’s time to head to the HUB for a complimentary beer and Q&A with James Beard award-nominated writer Hannah Selinger, author of “Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly.”

5 p.m. — Trek back up two blocks over to Sunset Cantina to keep the party going at happy hour with Con Salsa’s José Massó until 7 p.m.

How will climate change affect your life in Massachusetts and beyond? From the energy we use to what’s on your plate, there are a lot of impacts to consider. Check out these sessions with environmental experts and state leaders.

You’ve got a tough choice to make between two conversations at the start of the afternoon.

2-2:45 p.m. — Kick things off at the Booth Theatre for a conversation with leaders in the energy sector about whether or not Massachusetts is on track to reach its climate goals, hosted by WBUR climate and environment reporter Miriam Wasser.

2:30-3:15 p.m. — Go to the Dance Theater to hear Harvard Medical School Dr. Gaurab Basu explain some of the health risks associated with climate change — from tick-borne illness to high heat exposure.

4-4:45 p.m. — Then, cross Comm. Ave. to make it to a panel conversation on renewable energy at the Dance Theater, featuring environmentalist and author Bill McKibben.

5 p.m. — Walk over to the HUB for happy hour with the climate writers from Grist (and WBUR’s newsletter team).

1:30-2:15 p.m. — Dig into a discussion about the Future of Dinner, hosted by WBUR environmental correspondent Barbara Moran at the Dance Theater. She’ll be speaking with chefs, farmers and culinary experts on how we can build a more sustainable food system as the climate changes.

Noon to 6 p.m. — Kill some time and find some sustainability-friendly fun at the street fair. The “FOUND” vintage market will take over part of the block on BU Beach, selling secondhand gear and upcycled items.

4:30-5:15 p.m. — Once you’re done searching for a hidden treasure, go to the Tsai Performance Center to hear Gina McCarthy, the former EPA head, in conversation with “What if We Get it Right?” podcast host Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.

5:30-6:15 p.m. — Close out the day with a conversation on Boston’s disappearing coastlines and how oceanside communities are preparing for sea level rise, at the Booth Theatre.

Friday is a school day — we get it! That’s why you’ll find most of the kid-friendly events on the festival schedule for Saturday. We still recommend stopping by Friday, sans kiddos, for the 11 a.m. session with economist and author Emily Oster talking about what she thinks kids need to flourish. That chat at the CFA Concert Hall will end at 11:45 a.m., well before school pickup time.

If you were lucky enough to score a sold-out KidStage ticket for Saturday, make sure to arrive early to secure your seat at fun events like the comic book draw-off from 11 - 11:45 a.m. and the live taping of Circle Round from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

But don't fret if you didn't grab a ticket. There’s plenty of fun to be had for kids big and small around the festival, even off the KidStage. Hit the street fair from noon to 6 p.m. for face painting, ice cream, Zinneken’s waffles and live music.

P.S. — No tickets yet? No problem. Snag yours before they sell out right here.

Update: Since the publication of this piece, a few of The WBUR Festival's previously mentioned guests needed to cancel for unforeseen circumstances, including Leslie Odom Jr. and Brian Scalabrine.