50 things to do this fall

Surrender to pop
You’re going to lose major hipster cred, but maybe that’s not the worst thing. It’s good to enjoy something non-ironically for once, and pop music is a great way to start—ditto tribute bands. Really go for it with Who’s Bad at the House of Blues ($15.25–$30; Sep. 17, 7pm), a tribute to the late King of Pop himself, or ABBA: The Concert at the Wilbur Theatre ($35–$55; Sep 22, 8pm). Because if you aren’t at least tapping your feet to “Waterloo,” then who are you, really? House of Blues: 15 Lansdowne St, Fenway, Boston (888-693-2583; houseofblues.com); Wilbur Theatre: 246 Tremont St, Theater District, Boston (800-745-3000; thewilburtheatre.com)

Baby panda twins at Franklin Park Zoo
Baby panda twins. Seriously, do we need to say more? OK fine: the Franklin Park Zoo’s red panda couple Stella Luna and Yang welcomed a pair of twins in early August. Zoo-goers will be able to coo uncontrolably at the fuzzy little things come mid- to late October. The zoo participates in the Red Panda Species Survival Plan in hopes of reviving this dwindling species, which is threatened by habitat loss in the wild. $16. 1 Franklin Park Rd, Mattapan (617-541-5466, zoonewengland.org)

Fall Wine Fest
Put on your classiest drinking pants and join Boston Event Guide for ten hours of sipping, swishing and spitting (or, let's be honest here, swallowing). Staying for the full ten hours may require multiple ticket purchases and is probably generally frowned upon, but you can choose between three sessions. The event space will be organized by region for maximum education—and also maximum impact of that fake French accent you’ll probably put on around taste number seven before you need to move along to a different part of the globe. $39–$59. Nov 5, noon–2:30pm, 3pm–6pm, 7pm–10pm. Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, South End, Boston (bostoneventguide.com)

Learn a language
Even if your student days are behind you, there’s always more to learn. Pick up a new language (and maybe plan a future trip to somewhere where it’s spoken) at one of Boston’s many learning centers. The prestigious Boston Language Institute offers courses in a vast array of tongues, from Arabic to Zulu. You can sign up for a six-week session of weekly classes, or take the plunge and go for full language immersion (prices vary). Head to the BLI’s free open house on September 13 if you’re feeling skittish and want to find out more (648 Beacon St, Kenmore Square, Boston. 617-262-3500; bostonlanguage.com). You can also find cheaper, less intense classes at the Boston Center for Adult Education, with three- to eight-week classes in French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and American Sign Language that’ll cost you between $65 and $195 (122 Arlington St, Back Bay, Boston. 617-267-4430; bcae.org).

Topsfield Fair
In 1820, Timothy Pickering walked away from the first Topsfield Fair with a premium for “superior performance of his plow.” Nearly two centuries later, the Giant Pumpkin Contest is the most competitive—a 1,689-pound pumpkin captured the Guinness World Record at the Fair in 2007. If gourds of unusual size aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of chances to view animals of adorable proportions, including a Baby Bunny Room and the Great American Duck Race. For a little more action, check out a demolition derby or demonstrations by the Royal Candian Mounted Police. $10 weekdays, $12 weekends. Sep 30–Oct 10. Topsfield (978-887-5000; topsfieldfair.org)

TD Bank Mayor’s Cup
Watching cyclists try to maneuver the streets of downtown Boston is an exciting prospect any day of the year, but to watch a more sanctioned event, check out the Mayor’s Cup. Some of Boston’s busiest streets are shut down while kids, mascots, women and men race a 0.7-mile course. For the best viewing, grab a spot on the corner of Congress Street and watch racers zoom past at nearly 30 mph. To put your own feet to the pedals, choose one of the three routes of the Hub on Wheels charity ride that takes place before the Cup races. Free. Sep. 25. City Hall Plaza, Downtown Boston (tdbankmayorscup.kintera.org)