Sep 8-15, 2010: Caribbean, Brazilian, Greek, Auto, & Kite Fests, Concord’s Bday, Tons of Music & Arts Fests, Mud Bowl, & Free Zoo Day

09/08/10 by Johnny Monsarrat

This is it! Outdoor events continue through December, but the main season for oudoor movies, theatre, and music is coming to an end. Get out and see some!

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-Johnny

The Week in Weird
Perfect Harmony – Free ticket		Thu 9/9	Boston Metro
If you’re a fan of this blog you’ll know that I’ve got a soft spot for a capella. And now here’s a musical based on an a capella contest. I’m going as “press” and have a free ticket if someone would like to come along. I got some free movie tickets this week, too, but it was crap and I don’t pass that along to ya. Stoneham Theatre, Stoneham, MA. more
Cambridge Carnival Internationale		Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
It’s still summer and the weird event of the week is Carnival! They say 150,000 will attend. 12-7pm. Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA.617-492-2518. more
Brazilian Independence Day Festival		Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
The Brazilians want a festival too! This one has a parade, music, and the usual kids stuff like balloon animals. It’s free! DCR Herter Park, 1175 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA. more
Boston Arts Festival		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
The Boston Arts Festival is sort of a “preview” of the music and theatre season. It starts with music and short theatre performances on just 2 stages, but adds in glassblowing, steel drums, Blue Man Group, and even poetry reading. Christopher Columbus Park, Boston, MA.617-635-3245. more
Life is Good Festival		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
I would recommend this event instead, from the people with the t-shirts. They’ll have live music, a sack race, obstacle course, a rock climbing wall, a dog acrobatics show, and a seed spitting contest. Prowse Farm, Canton, MA. more
Celebrate 375 in Concord		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Metro West
Concord is having a birthday, with a parade Saturday at 10am, a concert, and a ball at 7:30pm. Then Sunday, a concert and fireworks. Concord, MA. more
Captain David Brown`s Concord Minute Company		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Metro West
Meanwhile, an “encampment” of re-enactors basically means guys in costume bring tents and pretend to be old-timey people. These ones are minute men, which I’m pretty sure refers to bedroom performance. North Bridge, Concord, MA. more
European Motorcycle Day at Larz Anderson Museum		Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
The season of lawn car shows won’t last forever. Here’s the next one! 15 Newton Street, Brookline, MA.617-522-6547. more
Acton Day		Sun 9/12	Metro West
Acton’s annual festival is happening too, but I couldn’t find a description. It looks like they’ll have music, a moonbounce, and some kind of “animal adventures”. Please let this be good. NARA Park, Acton, MA.978-264-9608. more
Clinton Olde Home Day		Fri 9/10 – Sat 9/11	Worcester
Also out west, this is the perfect New England home town experience, complete with a demo of crash test dummies, a pie-eating contest, martial arts, live music, arts & crafts, step dancers, you name it. This is VERY close to Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA. Central Park, Church St at Union St, Clinton, MA.978-365-6723. more
Chelsea Kite Day		Sat 9/11	Boston Metro
Summer’s not going to last much longer! Get OUTDOORS and enjoy it! I’m sure the Chelsea Kite Festival will be worth seeing. No details are given about kite competitions or vendors, so I’m guessing basically it’s people flying kites in a park with no real scheduled ‘event’. Mary O’Malley Park on the Mystic River, Admiral’s Hill, Chelsea, MA. more
Northampton Cooperative Bank Hot Air Balloon Festival & Car Show		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	Western Mass
Balloons and a car show… and these aren’t just tethered balloon rides, I think! I want to go!! :). Look Memorial Park, 300 North Main St, Florence, MA.413.584.5457. more
Audubon Society – Raptor Weekend		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Rhode Island
Finally! A good photo from ASRI. It’s the largest show of eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls in New England. Audubon Center, 1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI.401-245-7500. more
Somerville Greek and Music Festival		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
Now for a few small little festivals that warm the heart. I love to go out and see people who are enthusiasts, and small settings can bring you closer to their culture. The Somerville Greek and Music Festival has been well-advertised and seems like fun. Church, 29 Central Street, Somerville, MA.617-625-2222. more
Greek Fest		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
Another small Greek festival. I wonder if these guys know they are competing with each other. Of course, you could go to both! Brookline, MA. more
Festival of the Healing Saints Cosmas and Damian		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
It’s Cambridge vs. Somerville and Brookline! Italian vs. Greek! Maybe you could sneak into both festivals. This one features the healing saints, so there might be a lot of sick people there, I dunno. Wear a mask and try not to touch anyone. They’ll have a small carnival and a parade Sunday. Personally I would pick Somerville this time. Warren St at Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA. more
Armenian Street Fair & Festival		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
There aren’t many Armenian events in New England. This one is bound to be unique, the uniquest. Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, 47 Nichols Ave, Watertown, MA.617-926-6067. more
Cast of TV’s “Deadliest Catch” Visits		Sat 9/11	Lowell
How crazy is this? If you love this TV show where they play up the dangers of crab fishing, you can see them live for just $30. Lowell Auditorium, Lowell, MA. more
Annual Banjo & Fiddle Contests		Sat 9/11	Lowell
I think I’d rather see this music contest! I love banjos! Boarding House Park, Lowell, MA.978-970-5028. more
Marini Farm Corn Maze		Sat 9/11 – Sun 10/31	North Shore
Yet another corn maze opens this week. This one seems to be pretty good! 259 Linebrook Road, Ipswich, MA.978 356-0430. more
Annual Seafood Festival at Hampton Beach		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	New Hampshire
I generally look down on single-food events, but this one seems to pack a punch and the location is beautiful. As well as the seafood, they’ll have a ton of art vendors, chef demonstrations, two stages for live music, and they’ll have fireworks Saturday and a skydiving performance Sunday. Ocean Boulevard, Hampton, NH.603-926-8718. more
Grotonfest		Fri 9/10 – Sat 9/11	Metro West
This festival has the usual live music, artists and vendors, but adds an animal show and fireworks! Yippee! Legion Common, between Route 119 and Hollis Street, Groton, MA. more
Mud Bowl: World Championships of Mud Football		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	New Hampshire
So there’s a “mud parade”, and then… football! North Conway, NH.603-356-2096. more
Harwich Cranberry Festival / Beach Day		Sat 9/11	Cape Cod
Another nice surprise is this cranberry festival. It’s hard to base an entire festival on cranberries, but they seem to be up for it, including a parade, fireworks, a carnival and a craft show. It’s also a beach festival! Harwich, MA. more
Also Fun
Massachusetts Day at Southwick’s Zoo		Sat 9/11	Southeast Mass
What’s better than the largest zoo in New England? Free admission!! Bring a Massachusetts state ID. Bless them for doing it on a Saturday. While you’re out there, check out the Mendon Drive-in Theatre at http://www.mendondrivein.com. 2 Southwick Street, Mendon, MA.800-258-9182. more
Wings of Freedom Tour		Wed 9/15 – Mon 9/20	North Shore
This traveling show lets you walk through this aircraft for $12, or go for a flight for $425! 9/13-15 Lincoln, RI, 9/15-17 Hyannis, MA, 9/17-20 Beverly, MA, and so forth through 10/1. This one you actually get to fly in an old bomber aircraft and it’s far more expensive. Various Locations. more
Drummers Call & Evening at the Kiln		Sat 9/11	Southeast Mass
I’m going to tell you a secret about Sturbridge Village. JUST GO. It doesn’t matter that they’re having hundreds of historical re-enactors come and demonstrate military drumming. The village itself is a marvel, with tons of live actors representing 19th century New Englandy goodness. Just go, for Pete’s sake. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA.508-347-3362. more
King Richard’s Faire (Ren Faire)		Sat 9/4 – Sun 10/24	South Shore
New England’s largest renaissance faire continues. Weekends & holidays only. Plenty of Ren Faire vendors and people-watching, with 8 performance stages. Only 1/3 of the acts are worth watching, but definitely see the Aerial Angels, Paolo Garbanzo, and especially the jousting! Rt 3 S to Rt 44 W to Rt 58 S. Carver, MA.508-866-5391. more
CollegeFest		Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
Every year the vendors who target college students hold a merchant event which I have no idea why anyone would want to attend. Except that they’ll have top music performers, and you’ll pick up $100 or so in free samples if you go. I went last year and grabbed a bunch! Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA. more
Free Will: An Open Shakespeare Slam		Sat 9/11	Boston Metro
Run by a storytellers’ group, this is a night of comedy, stories, and “spoken word” about the BAHD. The Burren, 247 Elm St, Somerville, MA. more
Franklin County Fair		Thu 9/9 – Sun 9/12	Western Mass
Fiesta Shows will have their traveling carnival here. It’s an agricultural fair! Fairgrounds, Greenfield, MA. more
Hillsborough County Fair		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	New Hampshire
And here…. Rt 13, New Boston, NH. more
Hebron Harvest Fair		Thu 9/9 – Sun 9/12	Connecticut
But the Reithoffer show is rarer and much bigger, if you’re willing to travel 2 hours from Boston! Hebron Lions Fairgrounds, 347 Gilead Street, Hebron, CT. more
Eastham Windmill Weekend		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	Cape Cod
About as far away, and on Cape Cod, this fest comes with a parade and a sand sculpture competition. Eastham, MA. more
Reading Fall Street Faire		Sun 9/12	North Shore
This festival has a car show, street performers, a chili contest, and the usual vendors, music, and more vendors. Reading, MA. more
Wachusett Mountain Music Festival		Sun 9/12	Worcester
One notch further down the classy-ness pole, this one’s probably good to skip. The problem is, it’s too expensive for an event where the vendors and attendees are sort of “agricultural fair”, complete with racing pigs. However, it’s a beautiful mountain venue, and so much fun to ride the gondola (which costs extra) or go to a hike in the nearby Wachusett Mountain state park (free). While you’re in the area, check out Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA for their petting zoo and corn field maze, http://davisfarmland.com. Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Princeton, MA.978-464-2300. more
Pet Rock Festival		Sun 9/12	Worcester
This is a benefit for animals, with a bunch of pet competitions, live music, the ubiquitous kids “face painting and unspecified and probably lame crafts”, and a vegetarian food court. The real drawn here is that you can see dogs playing frisbee and baseball! Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, MA.508-832-8918. more
Verrill Farm Barbecue		Sun 9/12	Metro West
This one’s small but good. It’s a farm but it’s in classy Concord, and they’ll have hayrides. And BBQ!! Unfortunately the ponies and clown are just for kids. 11 Wheeler Road, Concord, MA.978-369-4494. more
Music Festival at Sweetwilliam Farm		Sun 9/12	Worcester
This is an outdoor concert series at a farm, where presumably they’ll have animals and fresh veggies. 153 North St., Upton, MA.508-529-2000. more
Charlestown Art in the Park Festival		Sat 9/11	Boston Metro
Although outdoors, it seems this is simply art vendors, a small draw kind of festival. Rain date: the next day. Charlestown, MA. more
Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival		Sat 9/11	Metro West
This event goes without description, but last year it seemed pretty good. Basically art vendors show up and they call it a festival. Well, at least they’re giving tours of this historic mansion! 36 Codman Road, Lincoln, MA.617-227-3957 X270. more
Pawtucket Arts Fest		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Rhode Island
More art is for sale in Pawtucket as part of a larger event. Slater Memorial Park, 401 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. more
Mattoon Street Arts Festival		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Springfield
There’s really not much reason to visit Springfield, except for some decent museums, or if you’re on your way to Six Flags New England. But if you’re going to go, why not go now and see a local arts festival? Mattoon Street, Springfield, MA.413-736-0629. more
Sandwich Glass Museum Glass Show & Sale		Sat 9/11 – Sun 9/12	Cape Cod
If you like glassblowing, this is the place to be. (Perhaps on your way back from the Heritage Museums & Gardens.) I stopped here once and was given a spontaneous demonstration with no pressure to buy anything. This event will likely be worth a visit. Sandwich Glass Museum, Sandwich, MA.508-888-0251. more
Applecrest Antique Tractor Show		Sun 9/12	New Hampshire
Tired” of car shows? Try this tractor show. “Tired”… get it? They’re also having an apple harvest festival. Rt 88, Hampton Falls, NH.603-926-3721. more
Boston Improv Festival		Wed 9/8 – Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
My favorite comedy club brings in comedians from all over the nation for this annual fest. Cambridge, MA. more
USS Constitution Sunset Cruise & Victory Dinner		Wed 9/15	Boston Metro
I went to an event here once and all I can tell you is that the only thing more excruciating than a high school band performance is a high school band performance that, to honor veterans, is done over-the-top seriously without smiles or a sense of pacing. That being said, I’m sure their historic dinner & cruise is lovely. Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA.617-426-1812. more
BeanTown Jazz Festival		Wed 9/15 – Sat 9/25	Boston Metro
Does anyone under 40 care about jazz? The serious part of this festival, which is really a series of performances, is a big street festival on 9/25. Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA. more
American Heart Walk		Sat 9/11	Boston Metro
If you like hearts, and don’t like heart disease, consider this Yet Another Charity Walk for a really good cause. 1mi, 3mi, or 6mi route along the Charles River. Hatch Shell, Esplanade, 10 Storrow Drive, Boston, MA. more
Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk		Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
It’s yet another charity walk. This time for Cancer, a good cause. Maybe they should merge them all together into one humongous walk on just one day of the year. It runs along the Boston Marathon route. Register ahead of time. Various, Boston, MA.800-632-3562. more
MSPCA Walk for Animals		Sun 9/12	Boston Metro
This time animals do the walking! Also events in Springfield and Hyannis. Boston Common, Boston, MA. more
Gloucester Best Dressed Dog Parade		Sun 9/12	North Shore
But here the animals are dressed up! Adorable or abusive, you decide! 260 Main St. Gloucester, MA, Gloucester, MA. more
WCPA Poetry Contest Winners’ Reading		Sun 9/12	Worcester
I’m not sure how much poetry I can sit through without screaming. But if you like this stuff, here’s the best of the best, from Worcester. Worcester Public Library, Salem Street, Worcester, MA. more
Songfest – Pete Seeger and Songs of Conscience		Tue 9/14	Worcester
Pete Seeger will not be attending, but this is a participatory chorus where you can join the singing of some of his folk songs. 7-9pm. Note: the guy in the photo is Jim Scott, who’s leading the event. Church, 90 Main St, Worcester, MA. more
Brimfield Antiques Festival (Fall)		Tue 9/7 – Sun 9/12	Springfield
The antiques festival continues. They’re the largest in New England and I’m sure it’s great if you’re an antique, um, antique collector. Off of Rt 20. Rt 20 at Rt 19, Brimfield, MA.413-245 3209. more
Travel
Vermont State Fair		Fri 9/3 – Sun 9/12	Vermont
This festival has a carnival, live music, and lots of agricultural goodness. 175 South Main St, Rutland, VT. more
Connecticut Folk Festival & Green Expo		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	Connecticut
Yet another music festival… and a lot of vendors crazy with the desire to sell stuff to people who think if they don’t buy they’ll destroy the Earth. Now that’s a sales pitch. New Haven, CT. more
Danbury Day – 325th Anniversary Celebration		Sun 9/12	Connecticut
Danbury’s having an anniversary, just like Concord. Maybe they should compete? They’ll have a parade and fireworks — too bad they’re nearly 3 hours’ drive from Boston. Danbury, CT. more
Eastport Pirate Festival		Fri 9/10 – Sun 9/12	Maine
The good news: there’s a pirate festival! The bad news: it’s more than a 6 hour drive from Boston. Eastport, ME. more

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