Ren Faire, Scavenger Hunt, Silent Rave, Smellovision, & Irish, Native Am, Brazil Fests
09/01/09 by
Johnny Monsarrat
Still recovering from my wrist injury & my hard drive crash, this week I manage to publish on time at last! Next week: should be able to return to including images. 🙂
Here’s your week in weird. Enjoy it! Want this weekly? Subscribe to email, Facebook, or Twitter.
-Johnny
The Week in Weird |
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| Back to School Silent Rave | 9/4 | Boston Metro | |
| The weird event of the week is a dance party with no music! Bring an iPod with music to dance to. Or just dance to the music in your head! 7:30-10:30pm. Copley Square, Boston, MA. more more |
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| King Richard’s Faire preview event | 9/3 | Boston Metro | |
| Also weird!! King Richard’s Faire is the big Renaissance Faire in Massachusetts and to attract customers they are doing a free preview! They’ll have baby tigers, jousters on horseback and performances by the royal court set up all along the river. 11am-3pm. Hatch Shell on the Esplanade, Boston, MA. |
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| Carousel on Boston Common | 9/8 – 10/20 | Boston Metro | |
| Also in Boston, visit the carousel on Boston Common! The merry-go-round is open daily from 11am to 9pm, next to Frog Pond. Only $2. Closing whenever weather gets cold. Boston Common near Frog Pond, Boston, MA. more |
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| Now in Smellovision | 9/4 | Boston Metro | |
| This is so creative!! l really want to see this! Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the original from 1971 was filmed in a way that can be set to smells. Come see, hear, & smell the show — it’s free! 6:30 – 9:30pm. Union Square, Somerville, MA. more |
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| GO Urban Adventure Race | 9/5 | Boston Metro | |
| This urban scavenger hunt is where you walk around the city collecting clues. It’s touring the nation and making just one stop in Boston. Boston, MA. more |
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| Battle Road Trail Walk | 9/5 | Metro West | |
| But if you’re going to walk for hours, why not learn something. This is a 3.5 hour walk along the “battle trail” that was basically one long car chase, sans cars, circa 1775. 12:30pm. Free. Minute Man Visitor Center – Rt 2A, Lexington, MA.978-318-7825. more |
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| Our Friend the Fugitive | 9/6 | Metro West | |
| Yet another program from the creative people at Minuteman Park is about fugitives from slavery. 2pm. And Oct 25. Lexington, MA. more |
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| Labor Day parade (Marlborough, MA) | 9/7 | Metro West | |
| I usually work on Labor Day but here’s an entire community organizing a parade to celebrate. Marlborough, MA. more |
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| Bread and Roses Festival | 9/7 | North Shore | |
| This music and dance festival is more like it! It celebrates a famous labor strike in American history. Lawrence, MA. more |
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| Newport Waterfront Irish Festival | 9/5 – 9/7 | Rhode Island | |
| I’ve been to this event, and with 5 music stages, it’s worth a visit, but doesn’t go much beyond the typical music and vendors that many fairs feature. However, it’s the largest Irish event of the year in New England. Newport Yachting Center., Newport, RI. more |
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| Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks | 9/5 | North Shore | |
| While you’re in the area, get a picnic lunch & watch the ships go by! The best view is on the left side of the harbor (as you face the water). Gloucester Harbor, Gloucester, MA. more |
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| Gloucester Schooner Festival | 9/4 – 9/7 | North Shore | |
| No doubt this ship & waterfront festival are related to the boat parade! Gloucester, MA. more |
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| Brazilian Independence Day Festival | 9/6 – 9/15 | Boston Metro | |
| I also recommend the Brazilian Independence Day Festival, even though I’ve never been, because Brazilians really know how to party. They’ll have a parade, music, and the usual kids stuff like balloon animals. Artesani Park, Soldier’s Field Road, 1234 Charles River, Boston, MA. more |
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| Seakonke Wampanoag Tride Annual Pow-wow | 9/5 – 9/6 | Southern Mass | |
| This small native american festival takes place in my hometown and I’ve been. It’s at the corner of Rt 44 & Bay State Road, call 401-723-1563. They have a ring of vendors and ethnic music and dance, including participatory. It’s a wonderful chance to learn. Redway Plains, Bay State Road at Winthrop Street, Rehoboth, MA.401-723-1563. more |
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| End of Summer Bash & Fireworks | 8/22 – 9/4 | New Hampshire | |
| If you are up in the White Mountains for hiking and touring, stop by for the fireworks. Waterville Valley, NH.603-236-8175. more |
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| Three Apples Storytelling Festival | 9/7 | Metro West | |
| Here’s a storytelling festival! It’s definitely for adults and not just a kids thing. It’s like a one-person theatre show. I’ve been to this and it’s fantastic! But this year it’s just one day. See http://www.storynet.org/Calendar/massachusetts.htm. At the Bedford Farmer’s Market, Bedford, MA.617-499-9529. more more |
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| Kimball Farm Corn Maze — Night Maze! | 9/4 – 9/5 | Northern Mass | |
| What’s better than a corn maze? Doing one at night by the light of the full moon! Kimball Farm Corn Maze, 780 East Broadway, Haverhill, MA.978 521-3990. more |
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Also Fun |
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| Massachusetts Day at Southwick’s Zoo | 9/5 | Southern 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 |
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| Free Admission @ Old State House | 9/7 | Boston Metro | |
| This historic site (think Revolutionary War) is free for Mass residents, too. Old State House Museum, Boston, MA. more |
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| Festival of Saint Lucia | 9/4 – 9/7 | Boston Metro | |
| I believe this is a street festival, but no details are given! Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Vintage Baseball Doubleheader | 9/5 | North Shore | |
| Once in a while, teams demonstrate the old-timey rules of baseball. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, MA. more |
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| Rocktucket | 9/6 | Rhode Island | |
| It’s not just a music performance. It appears to be a genuine festival. They’re going to have “roller races”. 4-11pm. 215 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI. more |
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| Spencer Fair (Agriculture Fair) | 9/4 – 9/7 | Worcester | |
| It’s the largest agricultural fair in central Massachusetts. Spencer, MA. more |
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| Hopkinton State Fair | 9/3 – 9/7 | New Hampshire | |
| Yet another agricultural fair. I only list the big ones, but I’ll list this too because Fiesta Shows will have their traveling carnival there. Hopkinton Fairgrounds, Contoocook, NH. more |
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| Brimfield Antiques Festival (Fall) | 9/8 – 9/13 | Springfield | |
| It’s completely commercial, but probably a lot of fun! 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 |
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| New England Arts & Crafts Festival | 9/5 – 9/6 | North Shore | |
| This one’s even more commercial, but at least it takes place outdoors with live music. Topsfield Fairgrounds, RT 1, Topsfield, MA.603-332-2616. more |
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Recurring Events |
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| King Richard’s Faire (Ren Faire) | 9/5 – 10/25 | South Shore | |
| As I mentioned, King Richard’s Renaissance Faire is here! 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 |
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| Welcome Students Block Party | 9/2 – 9/3 | Boston Metro | |
| As I said last week, this one I’m listing on the off chance they really will have a “block party”, where a street is closed off and there’s dancing. But… from the event description it appears to be simply a set of coupons to local businesses. Sweet but not arty. 2-8pm. Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. more |
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Performance |
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| Tanglewood Jazz Festival | 9/4 – 9/6 | Western Mass | |
| The Boston Symphony Orchestra hosts a music series every summer in Western Massachusetts, including this. Seiji Ozawa Hall, Lenox, MA. more |
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| Rhythm & Roots Festival | 9/4 – 9/6 | Rhode Island | |
| This festival seems to have a real soul, including 4 stages of music. Charlestown, RI. more |
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Travel |
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| Champlain Valley Fair | 8/29 – 9/7 | Vermont | |
| The Champlain Valley Fair continues. Includes a demolition derby, a tractor pull, and a ton of famous names. Champlain Valley Exposition, 105 Pearl St., Essex Junction, VT.802-878-5545. more |
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| County Bluegrass | 9/4 – 9/6 | Maine | |
| Yet another music festival. Fort Fairfield, ME. more |
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| Plymouth Folk and Blues Concerts | 9/5 – 9/6 | Vermont | |
| Yet another music festival. Plymouth, VT USA. more |
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| New World Festival | 9/6 | Vermont | |
| Yet another music festival. Randolph, VT. more |
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| Woodstock Fair | 9/4 – 9/7 | Connecticut | |
| Fiesta Shows will have their traveling carnival there. I just saw the film “Taking Woodstock”, so I feel like I’m ready for anything! Oh wait. Wrong state. Woodstock Fairgrounds, Woodstock, CT. |
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