Pirate, Chinatown, Beach, Music, Catholic, & Solstice Festivals, Scavenger Hunt, & Roller Derby
06/17/09 by
Johnny Monsarrat
Welcome to everyone who found this blog from the Wheel Questions project! Please email all your ideas for outdoorsy, interactive, off-beat things happening in New England to me, johnny at weirdbostonevents.org! Want this weekly? Please subscribe.
-Johnny
The Week in Weird |
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| New England Pirate Faire | 6/20 – 6/21 | North Shore | |
| The weird event of the week is the New England Pirate Faire! I’ve been to this and it’s sort of a Pirate-themed Renaissance Faire, about 5% the size of King Richard’s Faire but highly reecommended. They have a dozen live actors portraying pirates and doing a play (in segments) that lasts all day. There will be vendors of appropriately themed goods, with food and music. 10-5. Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, MA. more |
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| Sand Sculpting Competition (Hampton Beach) | 6/13 – 6/28 | New Hampshire | |
| Also in the northerly direction, the sand sculpture competition award ceremony is this weekend. You can sign up to take sand sculpting lessons. Ocean Boulevard, Hampton, NH.603-926-8718. more |
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| Life is Good Festival | 6/20 | Boston Metro | |
| They’ll have live music, an ice cream eating contest, plenty of interactive games, and a Chinese lion dance. 11am-5pm. This year they’re adding a walk, too. All for a kids charity. Boston Common, Boston, MA. more |
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| Carousel on Boston Common | 5/1 – 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| While you’re there, this is the last week for the carousel. Daily 11-9 through June 21. Only $2. Boston Common near Frog Pond, Boston, MA. more |
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| Chinatown Main Street Festival | 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| The real lion dance action, though, will be in nearby Chinatown. I’ve been and it’s wonderful, especially the cute kids doing the martial arts. Free. 11am-5pm. Near 2 Boylston St, Boston, MA.617-350-6303. more more |
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| Banditos Mysteriosos Scavenger Hunt | 6/20 | Boston Metro | |
| This local group runs pranks across the city, and this time it’s a scavenger hunt, where instead of stealing traffic signs they’ll ask you to take photos instead. 12:30pm. TBD, See Website, Boston, MA. more |
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| Make Music Cambridge | 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| In nearby Cambridge, lots of semi-homeless musicians (and some great ones, I bet) will play outdoors for your donations. They’re expecting 150 performers outdoors in and around Harvard Square. 1-10pm. Harvard Square area, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Music and Art Day Celebration at Old Sturbridge Village | 6/20 | Worcester | |
| In a similar concept, 50 musicians will perform old timey style, with instruments from the 1830s. And you can learn 19th century dance. OSV is great! You need to go! 9:30am-5pm. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA.508-347-3362. more |
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| Summer Revels | 6/20 | Boston Metro | |
| More music! This indoor / outdoor festival has Irish stepdancing, world music, and more. Outdoors, morris dancing, a traditional Maypole, and more spiritual hoo ha. Boston, MA.617-972-8300. more |
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| Jazz / Blues Festival | 6/20 | Boston Metro | |
| There’s also a music festival in Davis Square! And Powderhouse Park (near 136 College Ave). 1-9pm. Davis Square, Somerville, MA. more more |
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| Printing Arts Fair | 6/21 | Northern Mass | |
| Also old-timey, learn about printing and bookbinding. (For those of you in high school, this is what people did before the Internet.) 10am-4pm. The Museum of Printing, 800 Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover, MA. more |
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| Animals All Around — Opening Day of Trash Menagerie | 6/20 | North Shore | |
| This arts event is the one to pick though. Besides, you need to check out the Peabody Essex Museum anyhow! Some artists from their new exhibition will come and do demonstrations about making recycled art. Make your own giant sea turtle! And a 12-foot long snake! East India Square, Salem, MA.978-745-9500. more |
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| Summer Solstice Sunset: River Solstice Celebration on The Old Manse grounds | 6/21 | Metro West | |
| The summer solstice is here, and there are a few events to mark the day. My favorite would probably be the Old Manse, with live music followed by a sunset paddle. Bring a flashlight! Old Manse, 269 Monument Street, Concord, MA. more |
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| Nara Park Family Campout & Campfire | 6/19 | Metro West | |
| Nearby, a local park is having a campground night. You have to register in advance to camp, but I have to believe that if you simply want to show up and enjoy the campfire, you probably can. Nara Park, Acton, MA. more |
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| Summer Solstice by Candlelight | 6/20 | Southern Mass | |
| OK, back to some more solstice events. I really like nighttime outdoor summer events! You’ll make a candle lantern and go on a guided night hike. Copicut Woods, Indian Town Road, Fall River, MA. more |
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| Summer Solstice Celebration | 6/21 | South Shore | |
| This one’s more for people who like to sit. World’s End, 250 Martin’s Lane, Hingham, MA. more |
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| Summer Solstice Sunrise | 6/21 | Metro West | |
| And this one’s for insane people who want to get up at 5am. To entice you, no details are provided about music, food, hiking, etc. Half Moon Meadow Brook, Boxborough, MA. more |
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| German Car Day @ Larz Anderson Museum | 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| Yet another auto show at the Museum of Transportation. (Just go!). 15 Newton Street, Brookline, MA.(617) 522-6547. more |
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| Night at the Museum @ Harvard Museum of Natural History | 6/18 – 8/20 | Boston Metro | |
| Harvard’s museum of animals and plants and rocks is having a half-price evening from 5-8pm, including a lecture on “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Primate Sex”. Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Roller Derby | 6/20 | Northern Mass | |
| And booties meet booties with everyone’s favorite roller derby athletes. Ladies on wheels. 5pm. Also, an afterparty. Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington, MA. more |
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| St. Peter’s Fiesta | 6/24 – 6/28 | North Shore | |
| They’re also doing it in Gloucester, which is 90 minutes away, that’s no short drive. Religious activities, music, food, sporting events, parade, culminating with the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet from the Boulevard (near Fishermen’s Memorial Statue). Gloucester, MA. more |
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| Day of Portugal Parade | 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| The Portuguese “festival” is a loosely connected series of events from April to June. There really is a parade June 21st though! Church, Cambridge St at Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Cambridge, MA. more |
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Also Fun |
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| Hellenic Festival (Greek) | 6/19 – 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| But this one’s much closer to home. Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 14 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Boston Tango Festival | 6/17 – 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| Tango is the hardest of the dances to learn, but I called and they swear this festival is for beginners of all ages, even kids. 16 Bow St, 2FL, Somerville, MA. more |
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| MFA Community Day (June) | 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| The MFA is free again. (Thanks!). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. more |
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| Free day at the DeCordova | 6/21 | Metro West | |
| Not to be left out, since it’s Fathers Day, dad get free admission to the DeCordova Sculpture Museum today. But how are they going to verify that exactly? Bring a fake mustache (even you gals). DeCordova Sculpture Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, MA.781-259-8355. more |
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| Be Our Guest, free admission to Concord Museum | 6/24 – 8/19 | Metro West | |
| The Concord Museum refuses to be left out of the rush. And July 23 and Aug 20. 200 Lexington Road, Concord, MA.978-369-9763. more |
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| Annual Arts Fest Beverly | 6/20 | North Shore | |
| OK! Here are some lesser festivals around New England, starting with this admittedly vendor-oriented street festival. Beverly, MA.978-922-8558. more |
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| South Shore Art Center’s Arts Festival | 6/19 – 6/21 | South Shore | |
| Also another “juried” arts festival. Cohasset, MA. more |
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| Hull-of-a-Day Celebration | 6/20 | South Shore | |
| This one’s much more real, with a parade at 11am from A Street & Nantasket Avenue to N St. 12pm Festivities with music, food, games, exhibits, activities for kids & adults, at the L Street Playground. Rain date the next day. L Street Playground, Hull, MA.(781) 925-2295. more |
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| Taste of Cambridge | 6/25 | Boston Metro | |
| 5:30-8pm. Benefits Boston Area Rape Crisis Center & Transition House. MITAC discount. Buy tix in advance for discount. It’s $50. Charles Hotel Courtyard in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Bird Park Annual Ice Cream Social | 6/20 | Metro West | |
| More food, this time, it’s ice cream!! And it’s free, with music and storytelling. 4-6:30pm. Bird Park, Washington Street, Walpole, MA. more |
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| A Wild Affair @ Stone Zoo | 6/20 | North Shore | |
| Also expensive (fundraisers are like that!) here’s a food tasting event, with live animals and music. $40 in advance, $50 at the gate. 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA.781-438-5100. more |
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| Kink 101 Club Party | 6/20 | Boston Metro | |
| Speaking of a ‘wild affair’, this one’s for people with way too much gutter in the mind. Not that that’s bad? Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Lynn Carnival | 6/24 – 6/28 | North Shore | |
| Yet another festival with Fiesta Show’s traveling carnival. Lynn English High School, Lynn, MA. more |
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| South End Garden Tour | 6/20 | Boston Metro | |
| 10am. An opportunity to see how the better half lives, and their gardens. Library, 685 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. more |
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| Special Olympics – Summer Games | 6/19 – 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| I vounteered for this once, it was fun. On the campuses (campi?) of Harvard, MIT and Boston University. Various, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Boston Prostate Cancer Walk | 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| Yet another charity walk. Boston Common, Boston, MA. more |
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| Provincetown International Film Festival | 6/17 – 6/21 | Cape Cod | |
| Although I’m against film festival during warm weather, you’d never get me to Provincetown in January anyway, so sure, have it in June! Provincetown, MA.508-487-3456. more |
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| Nantucket Film Festival | 6/18 – 6/21 | Cape Cod | |
| Ditto with Nantucket, a great place to visit. (But it’s Martha’s Vinyard that has the big public beaches.). Nantucket. more |
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| 106 WCOD Cape Cod Chowderfest | 6/21 | Cape Cod | |
| This is a live music event where you get to eat. I’m sold! Just $10. Cape Cod Melody Tent, 21 West Main Stree, Hyannis, MA. more |
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| Charles River One Mile Swim | 6/21 | Boston Metro | |
| There’s some kind of race. Or thecharles.org. Arthur Fiedler Dock, Boston, MA. more |
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| EurekaFest | 6/24 – 6/27 | Boston Metro | |
| And the geeks at MIT will be creating giant robots to take over the planet. (Cool!!). MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Earthdance SEEDS Festival | 6/14 – 6/28 | Western Mass | |
| This organic festival is for the seriously green-hearted. Plainfield, MA.413-634-5678. more |
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Performance |
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| Murder Mystery & Evening With the Astors @ Beechwood Mansion | 6/18 – 10/31 | Newport Area | |
| The murder mystery events begin for the season in Newport. I really want to go someday! Every Thursday at 7pm. Reserve in advance. Also “Evenings with the Astors” events. Newport, RI.401-846-3772. more |
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| Capitol Steps | 6/20 | Boston Metro | |
| The singing, dancing, theatre troupe that parodies national and world news. For serious news junkies. Majestic Theatre, Cambridge, MA. more |
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Travel |
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| Vermont Quilt Festival | 6/19 – 6/21 | Vermont | |
| Finally, here are some events that may draw you to Vermont. First is New England’s oldest and largest quilt event, so they say! Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, VT. more |
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| Quechee Balloon Festival & Crafts Fair | 6/19 – 6/21 | Vermont | |
| Book rides early for discount. Main Green, Route 4, Quechee, VT.800-295-5451. more |
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| Ethan Allen Days | 6/20 – 6/21 | Vermont | |
| Before the furniture store, there was a hero. Before there were mountain men, there were mountain boys. Bennington, VT. more |
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