5 things to do this weekend, including 'An American in Paris' and Immigrant Small Business Day

As we edge further into August, the joyous possibilities of summer feel fleeting. Now is the time to take advantage of the multitude of special arts programs happening in and around Boston. From climbing into a whale model to revisiting the classic love story “An American in Paris,” there’s an abundance of exciting things to do this weekend.

The first of a three-play series “Suffrage in Black and White” begins this week. A collaboration between theater company Plays in Place and the National Park Service, the plays traverse “the intersection of race and citizenship throughout the abolitionist and suffrage movements in Boston,” according to a press release. “A Light Under the Dome” started on Monday, Aug. 12 and runs through Thursday, Aug. 15. The play — written by Patrick Gabridge, producing artistic director at Plays in Place, and directed by Courtney O’Connor, director at Lyric Stage Company of Boston —- revolves around political activist Angelina Grimke’s speech supporting abolition and women’s rights in 1838. The second play, “A New Era,” recounts discussions with women led by publisher and journalist Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin during the First National Conference of Colored Women, and the final production, “Nothing But Victory!,” explores local suffragists reorganizing after a women’s suffrage amendment lost in 1915. “A New Era” will go up next year, and “Nothing But Victory” will be performed in 2026. Performances of “A Light Under the Dome” take place at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts State House, and tickets are free.

Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston are hosting a Community Canvas Series in Mattapan from July through September, bringing pop-up cultural events to Mattapan Square. On Saturday, Aug. 17, community members can attend the Mattapan Farmers Market and shop immigrant-owned businesses on Immigrant Small Business Day. The following Saturday, Aug. 24, is Teen Day at the farmers market where teens can purchase items from local vendors, participate in activities and watch other teens perform. The event is supported by Mattapan Food and Fitness’ Vigorous Youth program. Both days are free to attend.

If your little ones are fascinated by the ocean and its creatures, head to the Peabody Essex Museum on Saturday, Aug. 17 to visit Nile, a lifesize inflatable whale modeled after a real humpback living in the North Atlantic. The Whalemobile is a science education program from Topsfield. Kids will have the chance to journey into the belly of Nile and learn about why whales are crucial to their ecosystems. They will also play games and take part in interactive science activities. The experience is included in museum admission, and timed entry takes place every 30 minutes.

It wouldn’t be summer in Greater Boston without a multitude of productions to attend, and “An American in Paris” is a classic. The Oscar-winning 1951 film features Gene Kelly as Jerry Mulligan and Leslie Caron as Lise Bouvier, a former American soldier turned painter and a French woman who fall in love in Paris post-World War II. Their romance is complicated by a rich woman fighting for Jerry’s attention and Lise’s fiancé, but don’t worry, it’s a happy ending. Reagle Music Theatre in Waltham is putting on the production with popular songs “I Got Rhythm” and “S Wonderful” through Sunday, Aug. 18. The show is recommended for ages 10 and older, and tickets range from $25 to $69.

Are you a parent or caregiver who wants to get back into an actual movie theater but feel bad bringing an infant and potentially ruining another moviegoer’s experience? The Coolidge Corner Theatre has a solution: The Box Office Babies series is back to welcome guardians and their little ones to baby-friendly screenings of new releases. Viewings of “Dìdi” (Aug. 16) and “Between the Temples” (Aug. 30) will take place in the main theater with slightly brighter lighting and lower volume. The lobby will have stroller parking available, and the restrooms have two Koala changing tables. Admission for parents is $13.25, and children under 12 months are free.