5 things to do this weekend, including Boston Athenaeum's community day and the JP Music Festival

The summer is winding down, but it’s not too late to immerse yourself in an artistic activity that will have you feeling inspired and engaged. In Worcester, enjoy a tremendous night of queer joy at a fashion show free of “fixed perceptions,” where some luminescent guest stars will make appearances. You’ll also want to stop by the Jamaica Plain Music Festival and Boston Arts Festival for some outdoor programming. Here are our recommendations for the weekend.

Nicknamed “the queer Met Gala of Massachusetts,” Queer AF is an art and fashion show fundraiser celebrating the queer, trans and nonbinary community. The theme this year is “Ethereal Beings,” drawing inspiration from the way queer people are often treated as myths or intangible projections, while independently living very real lives. Raja Gemini of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will shine as the drag show headliner, while the works of fashion designer headliner Utica Queen from “Project Runway” will also be on full display. Proceeds from the extravaganza will benefit Love Your Labels, a nonprofit based in Worcester that supports LGBTQIA+ youth. This event will be at Mechanics Hall. Tickets range from $40 to $85, with $20 tickets for college students, and free youth tickets available for those 13-17 years old.

Fill your ears with the melodies and rhythms at the 13th annual Jamaica Plain Music Festival. Located at Pinebank Baseball Field, the free outdoor program will feature a range of eclectic artists. Listen to Charles McEnerney, a singer-songwriter and guitarist who was once part of the New York post-punk band Falling Stairs. A surprising act comes from Kipling Drozek and the Chaperones. Drozek is a 12-year-old musician, backed by an adult band, who performs songs that are “open-hearted anthems about childhood, often veering into accidentally profound reflections on the human experience,” according to the festival website. When you’re not plugged into the performances happening onstage, you can grab food from Bon Me, Daddy’s Bonetown Burgers, Ice Cream Thrill, and other vendors. (Also happening this weekend in JP: the Jamaica Plain Film Festival, presented by the Loring Greenough House from Friday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept. 7.)

The Boston Athenaeum on Beacon Street is a special place: a library, cultural center and museum in one. On Saturday, organizers are welcoming friends and family to Community Day, held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. On the first floor, visitors will enjoy live music and two exhibits, “Wild Flowers of New England” and “Exhibiting China.” The Children’s Library will also have activities for youngsters, like coloring and sing-alongs. In the Special Collections Room on the second floor, rare books, maps and more will be on view. Musicians such as the Joe Sabourin Trio will perform on the fifth floor, while the outdoor terrace will offer guests spectacular views of the city. The event is free and open to the public.

American Repertory Theater’s new home in Allston will be adorned with a 200-foot-long mural designed by acclaimed artist Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs. But the inspiration for this work will come from the community. A.R.T. is hosting a series of workshops around Greater Boston throughout September where Gibbs, local muralists and A.R.T.’s engagement team will facilitate conversations. The first one, led by Gibbs and self-taught artist Gina Latham, will be held at the Cambridge Public Library from 2-4 p.m. Future gatherings will be offered at the Malden Public Library, the Roxbury YMCA, the East Boston Branch Library, and other locations. Participation is free.

A trip to the picturesque Christopher Columbus Park this weekend will land you in the middle of the Boston Arts Festival, the city’s only free fine arts and music festival that showcases Boston-area talent. For two days, this waterfront platform for creatives will feature more than 50 artists spanning disciplines. Sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, photography and more will be available for purchase, while a variety of bands and solo acts will take the stage. Musical guests include female-fronted alternative rock band blindspot, Americana/roots band In Lieu of Flowers, and singer-songwriter James McCarthy.

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