Published August 6, 2010

It’s a good weekend for chowing down, whether you want to toast to the beauty of the perfect root-beer float in honor of the drink’s big day or try all the New England clam chowder you could ever need (at a castle, no less). There are boats to be sailed, drums to be banged on and Shakespeare classics to be seen. So what’re you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy!

EAT

National Root Beer Float Day

What better way to celebrate this frothy fountain drink’s national day (yes, really) than with one of the best root-beer floats in the city? Wash down a delicious pizza with a Brown Cow, as they call it down at the South End eatery, Picco.

Chowderfest! (At A Castle)

• Sunday, Aug. 8, from 12 to 5 p.m.
• Winnekenni Castle, 347 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill
• $10 for adults, $5 for children

It’s an unspoken prerequisite of living in Boston that you need to love chowder. Finesse your appreciation of this creamy New England delicacy at Winnekenni Castle this weekend, where you can try different versions and vote for your favorite.

3rd Annual Local Cheese Tasting

• Sunday, Aug. 8, from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
  

  Taste your way through New England at this weekend's local cheese tasting. (Ulterior Epicure/Flickr)

• The Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., Somerville
• Free (donations requested)

Support local businesses, reduce your carbon footprint, hang out in a beautiful garden, and eat tons of cheese in one fell swoop? This is a must-do. Taste New England varieties and solidify your hunch that our cheeses really are the best (this side of the Atlantic, anyway).

DO

The Battle of the Arts

• Saturday, Aug. 7, from 12 to 3 p.m.
• The Martini Shell, Hyde Park, 1015 Truman Highway
• Free

Local artists from all over Boston gather in Hyde Park for a friendly face-off, as they paint, sketch and collage on the spot for a chance to win this light-hearted competition. There will also be hands-on arts and crafts for kids and live music.

The Salem Maritime Festival

• Friday, Aug. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• National Park, Salem
• Free

If you’ve been feeling like a landlocked landlubber this summer, get nautical at Salem’s annual Maritime Festival. Hop on a gloriously seaworthy schooner for a free 90-minute tour of the harbor, paddle a kayak, or drive a radio-controlled boat — whatever your style, there’s a boat waiting for you. There will also be demonstrations and live music. Now all you need is a sailor-striped  T shirt.

Eastern Massachusetts Rhythm Festival

• Saturday, Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
• Free

They always told me I should dance to the beat of my own drum, but I’m sure these drums are going to be an equally fun soundtrack for busting a move. If you want to buff up your dancing or drumming skills, there will be workshops for hand drumming, African dancing and belly dancing happening throughout the day. The clincher? There’s plenty of room to grill once you work up an appetite.

LISTEN

Boston Urban Music Fest

• Saturday, Aug. 7, from 3 to 7 p.m.
  

  Wiz Khalifa (pictured here in New York) comes to City Plaza. (Amanda Hatfield/Flickr)

• City Hall Plaza, Boston
• Free

The free hip-hop fest that has drawn old-school greats like Slick Rick and KRS-One is back this weekend at City Hall Plaza, featuring performers such as Pittsburgh-based Wiz Khalifa, BET Awards nominee Ryan Leslie and local party-funk band Bad Rabbits. The festival hopes to bring together hip-hop legends and up-and-coming local acts.

The 18th Annual Onset Blues Festival

• Saturday, Aug. 7, from 2 to 8 p.m.
• Onset Village, Onset
• $17 in advance, $20 at the door

Cool your heels and open your ears for yet another great summer music festival. Check out Middleboro-based blues group Bogged Down, The Gas House Gorillas, Satch Romano with The Mighty House Rockers, Gil with The BlueGil Band and headliner Ronnie Earl (whom the Phoenix dubbed “the finest living blues guitarist on the planet”) and his modern electric blues band the Broadcasters.

SEE

Othello

• Saturday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 8, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Boston Common, Parkman Bandstand
• Free

In a nod to the open-air Globe Theatre, where many of Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed, check out The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s rendition of his tragedy Othello, on all weekend long in the Common.

Al Sharpton

• Saturday, Aug. 7. Doors open at 4 p.m., speech at 6 p.m.
• Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave.
• $25

Ever wondered what outspoken Baptist minister and talk show host Al Sharpton is like in real life?

Yeah, me too. Hear him speak this weekend at Roxbury Community College.