Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 06/27/07
Hello everyone,
This is the scoop on wacky fun amazing New England adventures this week.
You want strange, we got it. “Strangers In Arms” is an annual re-enactment with 100+ re-enactors of both loyalist and rebel soldiers circa 1775. Military drill, firings, cooking, laundry, competitions, ending with General Washington’s review of the troops. Hartwell Tavern, Lincoln, MA. http://www.nps.gov/mima/hartwell-ta
I found a new sandcastle sculpture festival! This one’s at Yirrell Beach in Winthrop. It’s a little known town immediately northeast of Boston which means you get amazing views of the airplanes which land directly overhead. And I do mean directly, flying at less than 100 feet. June 30th. Contest fee is $10, music, food, games like hula hoop and bubble gum contest. Also a mile swim competition for adults 16+, $20. Yirrell Beach, Shirley Street, Winthrop, MA. 617-846-8243. http://www.discoverwinthrop.com/eve
Another one is the Old Orchard Beach Parade & Sandcastle Sculpture Competition. This one sounds really well run, and I believe they have an amusement park there as well. Old Orchard Street at West Grand Avenue, Old Orchard Beach, ME, 207-934-9068. July 2-4. http://www.oldorchardbeachmaine.com/Act
There will be a nighttime hike called the Full Moon Hike, 9-10:30pm, at Bartholomew’s Cobble way out in Sheffield, MA. June 30. You don’t see a lot of evening outdoor events so I thought I’d list it. http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/27590_
Every Sunday at the Longfellow Historic Site in Cambridge, they have a program they call the Longfellow Summer Festival. It’s music or poetry, participatory painting or drawing. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Every Sunday June-August, poetry & classical music. Most events 4-5pm but see website.
The Marblehead Summer Festival of Arts has 7 or 8 disparate events such as theater, arts, and even some street performances, June 30 – July 4. It includes a kite festival June 30! http://www.marbleheadfestival.org/event
Boston Harborfest is Jun 28 – Jul 4. It sounds pretty touristy and generic until you read their Web site which is quite interesting. This is not really one event (although there is a festival at City Hall Plaza), but rather every museum along the Freedom Trail has special events including concerts, tours, and reenactments. For example, re-enact the Boston Tea Party Thu June 28! And later that evening, meet a re-enactor of Paul Revere. Boston Chowderfest (not to be confused with Cape Cod Chowderfest which I advertised last week) is July 1. http://www.bostonharborfest.com
Holy pig squealing, Batman! Check out the Brockton Country Fair, Jun 28 – Jul 8. It’s one of numerous agricultural faires, and one I haven’t been to, but it’s bound to contain sheep contests, rabbit contests, cow contests, dog contests, and apple pie baking contests. And sometimes you’ll get gems like Robinson’s Racing Pigs (not something I am making up). It’s quite fun to visit, even if you’ve no plans to be a farmer. Historic Brockton Fairgrounds, RT. 123, Brockton, MA. 508-586-8000. Rt 24S to Exit 17A, Rt 123E (Belmont St) two miles on the right. http://www.brocktonfair.com
Is Cape Cod too far for you? Check out St. Peter’s Fiesta, in Gloucester, MA, which is pronouned “GLAHOWSTAH”. There will be a quiz on this later for you out-of-towners. This is a very serious Catholic holiday complete with Mass. It honors the patron saint of fishing. June 27 – July 1. http://www.stpetersfiesta.org/
There’s an acting troupe called Pasttimes Entertainment that does interactive events, such as the Salem Pirate Faire. Instead of being stuck on a stage they mingle with guests, and they’re doing a production that sounds sweet. It is The Scarecrow of Rumney Marsh, a swashbuckling adventure in the style of Zorro, set in 18th century Revere, MA. June 29-30, Revere City Hall, 281 Broadway, Revere, MA. Also Gloucester July 6-7.
Here’s an item about which I’ve been unable to learn much. The USS Constitution Sunset Parade is some kind of parade involving a old warship from the Revolutionary War era. http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/Eve
Cirque du Soleil is performing in Boston at the TD Banknorth Garden, June 29 – July 1. You know, they’re the acrobats who fling themselves around, dangling from these super long silk ribbons. http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuS
Ongoing events I’ve mentioned before: Riverdance, June 20 – July 8. http://www.citicenter.org. Indian Ink is a play by Tom Stoppard, to July 1, http://www.smallworldbigsky.com. Garrison Keillor at Tanglewood June 30. Re-enactments of Judy Garland, to July 1, http://www.andnowjudygarland.com, and Robert F. Kennedy, http://www.stuartstreetplayhouse.co
Outdoor movies: Movies by Moonlight at the Boston Harbor Hotel, Boston, MA. 617-439-7000. Goodbye Mr. Chips 6/29, http://www.bhh.com/pdf/movies
Finally, my little company has just launched its first product, a database of activity listings. Right now we are listing about 20,000 events which is the result of 3 weeks’ labor since our software started working June 5. We should be able to grow it enormously in the next 3 weeks, and the next, and the next. Check it out at http://activity.basespace.net
Anybody have a rich uncle or aunt who likes to invest in small companies? We are starting fundraising now that we have this product out and a verbal “yes” from a customer prospect. Also we need suggestions for Web sites we should be gathering info from. 🙂
I’ll do something special Monday for July 4th.
-Johnny