Anime Boston, Memorial Day Parades, MFA Free Day, Drive-in Movies, Outdoor Festivals

05/20/09 by

Here’s your week in weird. Enjoy it! Want this weekly? Please subscribe.

-Johnny


The Week in Weird
Anime Boston 5/22 – 5/24 Boston Metro
Besides Memorial Day parades, it’s not a big week for activities, but here are a few! Anime Boston is the big annual festival for people who love Japanese cartoon movies, and they’ll have a costume contest, game shows, dancing, and a music video contest.
Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA. more
J. Michael Straczynski lecture 5/22 Boston Metro
Also geeky is a lecture by “JMS”, the author behind Sci-Fi series Babylon 5, and “Changeling”, the Clint Eastwood film. Get your tickets immediately because this will sell out.
MIT, Room 10-250, Cambridge, MA. more
Faneuil Hall Street Performers Festival 5/23 – 5/25 Boston Metro
More outdoorsy is this annual event at Faneuil Hall, where you can see street performers. I’ve seen both the Aerial Angels and the USA Breakdancers before — they’re really good! 11am-10pm.
Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA. more
African Liberation Day 5/23 Boston Metro
Nearby on Boston Common is an african festival. It’s a little unclear what this is, but it involves drumming and ‘spoken word’, which is like a poetry slam, I think. 11am-5pm.
Boston Common, Boston, MA. more
Discovery Day in Lexington 5/23 Metro West
There’s a small town festival in Lexington. I love these small events because often you’ll find something special. (I’m not sure what’s so special about a municipal parking lot with 70 vendor booths and high school music, though. ) 10am-3pm. Rain date 7 days later.
Muzzey Street at Waltham Street, Lexington, MA. more
Newburyport Spring Fest 5/24 – 5/25 North Shore
This one will have a teddy bear parade but is even less well detailed. I called and basically: vendors & music! 10am-5pm.
Downtown Newburyport, Newburyport, MA. more
Spring Planting Moon Pow-Wow & Crafts Festival 5/23 – 5/24 South Shore
This one’s the clear pick of the lot. Come see native american dancing, demonstrations, and crafts.
Marshfield Fairgrounds, 140 Main St., Marshfield, MA. more
Strange Creek Campout Festival 5/22 – 5/25 Western Mass
Camp out an entire weekend for this music festival! And they’ll have a bonfire!
Camp Kee-Wanee, Greenfield, MA. more
Preview of Falcon Ridge Folk Festival 5/23 Boston Metro
Or check out this preview of “Best Of” music from the upcoming Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in upstate New York.
Church, 50 Paul Revere Road, Arlington Heights, MA. more
US Air Guitar Championships – Boston 5/27 Boston Metro
If you prefer your music fake, there’s a nationwide championships and it’s coming to Boston as part of a tour.
Harper’s Ferry, Boston, MA. more
Animal Intelligence lecture at Museum of Science 5/27 Boston Metro
Did you hear in the news about the intelligent parrot who died recently? Well, its owner and researcher comes to the Museum o’ Science to discuss.
Museum o’ Science, Boston, MA. more

Memorial Day
Sudbury Memorial Day Parade 5/25 Metro West
It’s not hard to find Memorial Day events. I suggest traveling to some small town and catching the enthusiasm of the event organizers. This one’s notable because it will have re-enactors and native americans.
Sudbury, MA. more
Concord Memorial Day Parade 5/25 Metro West
Concord will have some re-enactment action as well as part of their parade.
Concord, MA. more
Dunstable Memorial Day Parade 5/24 Northern Mass
There are really too many to list but here’s another, focusing on WWII.
Dunstable, MA.978-649-6425. more
Somerville Memorial Day Parade 5/24 Boston Metro
And one in my town, Somerville. 8am procession down Highland Avenue. And parade begins at 1 p.m. from Somerville High School, ending with afternoon ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Broadway.
Somerville, MA.
MFA is free on memorial day 5/25 Boston Metro
The MFA is free on Memorial Day.
Museum o’ Fine Arts, Boston, MA. more

Also Fun
Gardner Museum’s 3rd Thursdays 5/21 – 6/18 Boston Metro
Some Thursday nights the Gardner is open late. They have a scavenger hunt, food, participatory arts & gardening, music, tours, and lectures.
Museum o’ Gardner, 280 The Fenway, Boston, MA.(617)566-1401. more
Mass MOCA 10th Anniversary Ball 5/23 Western Mass
And way out in Western Masscahusetts, the Museum of Contemporary Art is turning 10 and celebrating with a ball instead of a festival.
Museum o’ Contemporary Art, 87 Marshall St, North Adams, MA.413-662-2111. more
Attleboro Spring Carnival 5/20 – 5/25 Southern Mass
Fiesta Shows continues shlepping their carnival around. Check website for coupon.
Attleboro, MA. more
Lowell Spring Fair 5/20 – 5/31 Northern Mass
Apparently they can be in two places at once! Check website for coupon.
Lowell, MA. more
Annual Beacon Hill Hidden Gardens Tour 5/21 Boston Metro
Beacon Hill is the home of a lot of rich people, and some of them have private gardens. Heres’ your chance to meet and mingle. Dress up. 9am-5pm, $25.
Beacon Hill Garden Club, Charles & Mt. Vernon Streets, Boston, MA.617-227-4392. more
Small Fry Festival 5/23 Cape Cod
Or dress down and learn to fish with the locals. 1-3pm.
Lyman Reserve, Red Brook Road, Bourne, MA. more
Massachusetts Sheep and Wool Show 5/23 – 5/24 Western Mass
This is the oldest sheep festival in New England, they say. They will have sheep. And bunny wabbits!
Cummington Fairgrounds, Cummington, MA. more
Gaspee Days Arts & Crafts Festival 5/23 – 5/25 Rhode Island
They claim that 50,000 people will come to this crafts show, with live music and pony rides, with 150+ exhibitors.
Pawtucket Village, Wartick, RI. more
Lincoln’s John Hay/John Hay’s Lincoln – Lecture 5/22 New Hampshire
This one’s a lecturer by a historian who has written about John Hay and Abraham Lincoln. 1:00 pm. Free, but pre-register.
The Fells, Newbury, NH. more

Recurring Events
Fireworks every Wednesday @ Hampton Beach 5/24 – 9/12 New Hampshire
It bears noting that Hampton Beach begins its regular fireworks this week.
Ocean Boulevard, Hampton, NH.603-926-8718. more
Carousel on Boston Common 5/1 – 6/21 Boston Metro
And the carousel on Boston Common remains open daily 11-9 through June 21. Only $2.
Boston Common near Frog Pond, Boston, MA. more
Charles River Canoe & Kayak Apr 1 – Nov 15 Metro West
Here are some extras: things that happen regularly throughout the summer or all year. Here’s a place to rent a canoe or kayak. Rt 90E to ex 15 to Rt 30E. Go thru two lights. Brown boathouse is immediately after crossing the river on the left. Lessons. Or www.sacobound.com in NH.
2401 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA.617 965-5110. more
Stone Zoo Jan 1 – Dec 31 North Shore
The Stone Zoo is the smaller brother to the Frnaklin Park Zoo and worth a tri. 617-541-LION. AAA discount. Free day after Thanksgiving.
149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA.781-438-5100. more
Participatory International Folk Dance Jan 1 – Dec 31 Boston Metro
Finally, here’s a sampling from local dance groups. No experience necessary. Fridays 8pm-11pm, Sept thru June. Includes lessons.
Park Ave & Paul Revere Rd, Arlington, MA.781-662-7475. more
Participatory “Dance Freedom Jan 1 – Dec 31 Boston Metro
Every Wednesday 7:30-10:30. Encourages, um, carefree dancing.
Church @ Mason & Garden Streets, Cambridge, MA.508-405-0908. more
Drive-In Theater – Mendon May 1 – Sep 30 Worcester
Drive-in movie theatres are a great summer nighttime event when you’re looking for something to do! This one’s my favorite. It’s the closest to Boston and has a 1950s style diner. The trick is that you show up early and think of it like a night in the park. Bring a frisbee or just go for a walk while waiting for the film. Rt 90W to 495S to exit 20, Rt 85 S to Rt 16 W to Mendon, MA. 56 minutes from Boston. See http://www.driveinmovie.com/MA.htm.
35 Milford Street, Mendon, MA.508 473-4958. more
Drive-In Theater – Cape Cod May 1 – Oct 31 Cape Cod
This one has an antiques show during the late summer. On Rt 6, on the Eastham / Wellfleet line.
Wellfleet, MA.508-349-7176. more
Drive-In Theater – Lunenburg (Rt 2) Apr 1 – Sep 30 Northern Mass
This one is 66 minutes from Boston. Mendon is closer. See http://www.driveinmovie.com/MA.htm.
3 Youngs Road, Lunenburg, MA.978-345-5062. more

 

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