5 things to do this weekend, including a poolside lending library and SOMEDAY FEST

I love summers in Boston because there are always so many things to do. There is rarely a weekend without a free event to check out. While we’re still technically in spring, there are a number of events happening in the area that will hopefully make you forget the rain and cool temperatures. From a musical about the trials and tribulations of the MBTA to a free local music festival, here are recommendations for ways to spend your weekend.

The comedic musical about three Bostonians desperately trying to complete trips on the T is back at The Rockwell in Somerville. In 2011, Melissa Carubia and Mike Manship presented the first version of the show at ImprovBoston, and it was a hit. WBUR’s Cristela Guerra covered the musical in 2023 and noted that the show has since been updated to include more recent, real problems faced on the T, like an Orange Line train catching on fire. Tickets are $25 to $45.

The Colonnade Boston houses the city’s only rooftop pool, and it’s now open! The rooftop boasts a full bar, small bites and cabanas for rent. New this year, the hotel partnered with Lovestruck Books to offer a lending library. Guests can borrow a beach read while they lounge and return it before they leave. The public can access the pool for $55 Monday through Thursday and Sundays after 1 p.m.

If the rain shows up again this weekend, Lovestruck Books has some indoor events worth exploring. On Friday, Julia Quinn, author of the “Bridgerton” series, will stop by Lovestruck to sign copies of her Regency-era romance novels that have been adapted into the popular Netflix series. Guests will have a chance to meet Quinn and take a photo with her. They will also be able to snap a photo with life-size cutouts of the characters and try a Bridgerton-themed cocktail. It’s important to note that Quinn will sign up to three books purchased from Lovestruck and one from home. She will also be able to personalize one book signature. The event is free to attend. Those interested can register through Eventbrite.

The 28th Annual Do It Your Damn Self!! National Youth Film Festival returns to Harvard Art Museums’ Menschel Hall and MIT Open Space Programming this Friday and Saturday. The event is the longest-running youth film festival in the U.S. There will be a panel discussion with teen filmmakers after the screening. The festival showcases films from young makers across the world with a wide breadth of perspectives. The film festival is free, and registration is recommended.

A free Somerville-based music festival, called SOMEDAY FEST, takes place this Saturday. With the help of funding from the Mass Cultural Council, the Somerville Organization for Multimedia Experiences (SOME) started the festival to bring local artists to the stage. SOME is an arts publication started by journalist and artist Ryan DiLello, photojournalist and artist Jason Pramas and writer and editor Lily Robinson. DiLello is also a member of the alt-rock band Otis Shanty, which will perform at the festival. Other acts include WBUR contributor and composer Shira Laucharoen, singer-songwriter Dumbest Fella Alive and pop-rock duo Not Friends. If the weather proves uncooperative on Saturday, the fest will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 8. [Learn more about Otis Shanty and hear the single “Outrage” here.]

The 15th annual Dance for World Community Festival takes place this Saturday. The free event will showcase performances and classes by more than 60 dance companies. Some of the companies include BALAM Dance Theatre & Marblehead School of Ballet, Flamenco Rhode Island and Valkyrie Heels. Advocacy organizations, including Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence and Massachusetts Peace Action, will also highlight the ways dance can tackle social issues. There will also be arts and food vendors for shopping.