Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 08/30/06

08/30/06 by

Tomorrow, August 31st, catch the King Richard’s Faire Preview at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade, http://www.mass.gov/dcr/events/hatch.pdf. King Richard’s Faire is a Renaissance Festival with music, juggling, magic performances, and jousting tournament with real stunt horseriders. Unfortunately their performers aren’t paid much, and the place is jammed with merchant booths, but it’s worth a trip if you like Harry Potter stuff. http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net. Carver, MA. Rt 3 S to Rt 44 W to Rt 58 S. Weekends and Holidays. MITAC discount. (508) 866-5391. Also, it’s right next door to Edaville Railroad. King Richard’s Faire is weekends only, Sep 2 – Oct 22.

This weekend, check out the Seakonke Wampanoag Tride Annual Pow-wow. I went to last year’s event and it was worth seeing. There is a ring of vendor booths and then in the center, dance performances and speeches are made. Some of the dancing is participatory! http://www.wanderingbull.com. Redway Plains, Bay State Road at Winthrop Street (Rt 44). Rehoboth, MA. 401-723-1563. 6,000 people attend. Come early and camp there, volunteer to help Friday morning? Also see www.500nations.com/Massachusetts_Events.asp

It’s also the Newport Waterfront Irish Festival, Sep 2-4, Newport Yachting Center, Newport RI. newportfestivals.com/Irish_Festival. Newport Yachting Center.
which probably isn’t worth visiting by itself, but a great excuse to check out the Newport mansions and cliffwalk.

There is also an Indian festival (Asian Indian, not Native American Indian) called the Radhastami Festival, Sep 2, run by VPS International (www.vps-international.org). I don’t know about this one, as it is held in a public school, but there are so few Indian events it’s probably worth it. Broad Meadows School Auditorium, 50 Calvin Road, Quincy, MA. 617-512-0073. 3pm. Free. Indian cultural dance, music, food, theatre.

Also the Tanglewood Jazz Festival is this weekend, Sep 1-3, way out in Western Mass. http://www.tanglewoodjazzfestival.com.

While you’re out west, check out the Brimfield Antiques Festival (Fall), which is held three times a year. Sep 5-10, http://www.brimfield.com. Rt 20 at Rt 19. Brimfield, MA. (413) 245 3209. Largest in NE.

And you should probably skip the Spencer Fair, but it is the largest agricultural fair in central Massachusetts. http://www.spencerfair.org. Spencer, MA.

Also, Cirque du Soleil is performing Sep 8 – Oct 8, see http://www.cirquedusoleil.com. They are the acrobats hanging off of silk ropes people.

The MIT Geology Department is having its MIT Annual Geology Trip during orientation week which is approximately now-ish. I don’t really care, but if you do give ’em a ring. 617-253-1000.

Recurring things, Publick Theatre runs to Sep 10th. AeroBalloon Rides end this weekend, to Sep 3. And the Maryland Renaissance Festival goes to Oct 22.

This week’s bonus event, and definitely the weirdest — I went to Dinosaur State Park, which is south of Hartford CT. http://www.dinosaurstatepark.org. They have the largest set of dinosaur tracks in North America, it’s 200 million years old. Only takes 30 minutes but if you’re in the area, definitely see it. Rocky Hill, CT. 860-529-8423.

I also saw Gillette Castle while I was in the area, dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/gillettecastle.htm, and it was basically an old and weird-looking mansion. Not really worth visiting, I think, but thought I would mention it. The Mark Twain House is much better, that’s actually in Hartford, http://www.marktwainhouse.org.

Get out there and go to a zoo, an amusement park, before the summer’s over! See http://www.serpermethod.com/johnnys-activities.htm for a full list of summer events.