Sep 14-22, 2010: River Sing, Canobie Lake Park Tix, Highland Games, Pow-Wow, SculptureFest, Civil War Re-enactments, & Helicopter Rides!

09/13/10 by Johnny Monsarrat

This is the last week I’ll be posting recurring outdoor “series”, but next week, the very first haunted houses open!

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-Johnny

The Week in Weird
Free Tickets to Canobie Lake Park, & Movie Previews		Sat 9/18 – Sun 10/31	New Hampshire
Summer is ending, but the rides at Canobie Lake Park, the big amusement park, are open through the end of October! And they’re stepping up the action with an “Oktoberfest” (adding German themed performances, and Prince and Ozzy Ozbourne tributes) and Screeemfest (adding haunted houses). I have 4 tickets a week to give out through Oct 31! I also have free tix for the film Secretariat, Thu 9/16 in Boston. Canobie Lake Park, Salem, NH. more
Revels RiverSing		Sun 9/19	Boston Metro
Every year this local chorus has a participatory sing-a-long along the Charles River near JFK Street. It’s one of my favorite events on the year! Half of you are on the Boston side and the other half on the Cambridge side. Picnic at Winthrop Park in Harvard Square at 5pm and then at 5:45 a procession to the river. Then sing 6-7:15pm. Participatory. Bring a flashlight and a blanket. Over 2,000 attend. No sign-up needed. Free! Weeks footbridge, Charles River, Cambridge, MA. more
The New Hampshire Highland Games		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/19	New Hampshire
I haven’t been to this one but another Highland Games I’ve visited makes me a real believer! These people know how to party! It’s at a major ski resort so they’ll probably have gondola rides and hiking trails. They’ll have a fiddle championship, band marching, athletics & dance competitions, tons of music and vendors, and “sheepdog trials”. Loon Mountain Ski Resort, Lincoln, NH. more
North American Indian Center Pow-Wow		Sat 9/18 – Sun 9/19	Boston Metro
Although there are pow-wows (native american festivals) all over New England, this is the only one that’s actually in Metro Boston. Rain or shine. Outdoors. Bring a blanket or chair. They’ll have singing, dancing, drumming, ethnic food and vendors. The Native American Indian Center of Boston, 105 South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA.617-232-0343 x26. more
Family SculptureFest at The Decordova		Sun 9/19	Metro West
The DeCordova is my favorite museum in New England. They always have accessible yet intriguing sculpture, and the museum is surrounded by a park that’s dotted with sculptures. Now they’re having a huge celebration that’s likely their new annual event, a replacement for the old Art in the Park. Meet artists, make sculptures and join in making a huge mural! DeCordova Sculpture Museum, Lincoln, MA. more
South Boston Street Festival		Sat 9/18	Boston Metro
I went to this festival last year in South Boston. It’s a ton of vendors and some live music, but they also have a small carnival! 11am-4pm. East Broadway, between I and L Streets, Boston, MA. more
Billerica’s Yankee Doodle Homecoming Festival		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/19	Northern Mass
This one’s bigger, with a parade, magic and storytelling, and colonial re-enactors, with a pie-eating contest, a dance-a-thon, fireworks, and a skyjump demonstration. Awesome! Billerica Common, 365 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA. more
Battle of Windy Knoll – Civil War		Sat 9/18 – Sun 9/19	Worcester
Somebody with a car take me out to Worcester! This seems to be a major Civil War re-enactment festival, with battles and… whatever else it is that re-enactors do. Virginia re-enactors will be there, too. Alta Vista Bison Farm, Rutland, MA. more
Rhode Island Living History – Civil War		Sat 9/18 – Sun 9/19	Rhode Island
This one’s civil war also, but it’s the Union army only. They’ll still have some artillery demos and an encampment, but I would pick the Worcester one if I had to. Governor Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston St, Cranston, RI. more
Battle Road Homes Open House and Historic Trades Day		Sat 9/18	Metro West
Here’s another. The “battle road” is the road that the British chased the minute men out of town on, on the Battle of Lexington. Local rich people have bought up the old-timey homes and once a year they open them to the public. Sort of an awesome version of the rich-people-tour of “gardens” they do in Boston once in a while. Minute Man National Historical Park, Concord, MA. more
Eastern States Exposition		Fri 9/17 – Sun 10/3	Springfield
The good news: with over a million people in two weeks, it’s one of the biggest 5 events in New England. The bad news: it’s an agricultural fair. So you’ll see hokey vendors, an okay traveling carnival, a horse show, actual famous musicians, and a great circus! They’ll also have a slightly alarming “New England in Miniature” called Storrowton which is the only part of New England that many tourists will ever see, and possibly tethered balloon rides. Rt 90W to exit 4. Rt 5S. 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield, MA. more
Railfan’s Weekend at Conway Scenic Railroad		Sat 9/18 – Sun 9/19	New Hampshire
Trains are the gee whiz fantasy that was surpassed by airplanes, which was surpassed by the moon landing, which is now passe. But people love ’em! Come on a scenic train ride and see the vendors and model train enthusiasts at this annual event. Unfortunately, the event isn’t well described — how is this different than their regular train tours? Conway Scenic Railroad, North Conway, NH.800-232-5251. more
Helicopter rides at Davis MegaMaze		Sun 9/19	Worcester
I’d rather ride in a helicopter! My favorite amusement park is Davis Farmland out near Worcester. In the Spring and Summer they have a petting zoo, water spray park, and hay rides (but you must have a child along to enter), and in the Fall they have apple picking and the most fantastic corn maze in the world. I’ve been for their helicopter rides and it’s great — you get a top-down look at whatever they’ve carved their corn maze into! 145 Redstone Hill, Sterling, MA.978-422-8888. more
Coppal House Farm Corn Maze – Night Maze		Sat 9/18 – Sat 10/30	New Hampshire
There are other mazes that aren’t quite as sweet — but are open at night! And this one comes with a bonfire! Bring a flashlight, and get a peek of their Haunted House in construction. 118 North River Road, Lee, NH.603-659-3572. more
SerbFest		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/19	Boston Metro
This is the only Serbian event I’ve ever heard of near Boston. Like many of these small ethnic festivals, it’s church-related. St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 41 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA.617-876-0707. more
Irish Connections Festival		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/19	Southeast Mass
They’ll have three stages of music and dance, and a few booths. I didn’t find Irish Connections particularly innovative or different, unlike the Scottish Festivals I’ve been to. But then, I did go on a rainy Sunday. Off Rt. 138. Largest on the East Coast. 200 New Boston Drive, Canton, MA.781-821-8291. more
Lecture: On the Origins and Development of Writing		Thu 9/16	Boston Metro
You’re classy, right? Walk over and gets youse some learnin’. This one is all about the history of writing, including caligraphy and pictograms, and it’s free and followed by a public reception. Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA. more
Literally Salem (Literature Festival)		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/19	North Shore
Of course you’re classy. So check out this literature festival and go to author talks, parties, open mics, and workshops. See especially Ethan Gilsdorf give a talk on his book, Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, Sep 19th! Various Locations, Salem, MA. more
Naked Girls Reading		Sat 9/18	Boston Metro
Since we’ve agreed that you’re classy, you won’t have any interest in naked women reading science fiction. Coolidge Corner Theatre, Boston, MA. more
MassCann Freedom Rally		Sat 9/18	Boston Metro
Nor will you try to see what happens when a bunch of stoners try to organize a festival…. Boston Common, Boston, MA.781-944-2266. more
Panel discussion on the A.R.T.’s production of Caberet		Mon 9/20	Boston Metro
The ART is doing a production of Cabaret, the musical set in Germany’s pre-war period. I’m sure it’s good but I don’t list much performance. Anyway, they’re doing a panel including Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls, whose music inspires goth kids. Goth kids aren’t nazis, but both groups love dressing in scary black a little too much for me. 6pm. Come early to make sure you get a seat. Oberon, 2 Arrow Street, Cambridge, MA. more
BioBlitz at the Seacoast Science Center		Sat 9/18	New Hampshire
This “marathon” involves finding and counting animals, presumably for some kind of biodiversity research. 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, NH.603-436-8043. more
Fish Box Derby Race		Sun 9/19	North Shore
Also north of Boston, a derby car race! I’ve always wanted to see one of these. Kids and home-built high speed vehicles. What could go wrong? Rogers Street under the Gorton’s sign., Gloucester, MA.978-283-1932. more
Harvard Fall Festival		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/19	Northern Mass
Yet another small town event, with a BBQ cookoff, a carnival that only kids can ride (*pout*), and a craft fair. However, they’ll have fireworks! Hazel’s Farm, 150 Ayer Road, Harvard, MA. more
Talk Like a Pirate Day		Sat 9/18	Worcester
Finally! An actual event for Talk Like a Pirate Day, provided by the Higgins, which is a fantastic museum of medeival armor great to visit anytime. Come take a pirate talking workshop! 10am-4pm. Higgins Armory Museum, 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA.508-853-6015. more
stART on the Street		Sun 9/19	Worcester
All near Worcester, they say it’s the largest arts festival in central Massachusetts. And they could be right. If you’re in the area (for example visiting Davis Farmland or the Ecotarium), it looks like fun, featuring over 240 artists & crafters, 10 live bands, street performers, kids activities and a food court. 11am-5pm. Park Ave. and Elm St., Worcester, MA. more
Intertribal Powwow at Sweetwilliam Farm		Sun 9/19 – Mon 9/20	Worcester
In addition to the pow-wow in Bosto, here is another. If anything it looks like it may be bigger than the Jamaica Plain one. They’ll have drumming, singing, dancing, including a “pumpkin dance” and a “blanket dance”, storytelling. And of course it takes place on a farm, with animals, hay rides, and ice cream. Sweetwilliam Farm, 153 North St, Upton, MA.508-529-2000. more
Family Paddle & Overnight on the Charles		Sat 9/18 – Sun 9/19	Metro West
Also out to the West, register for this paddle and overnight camp-out! Rocky Narrows, Sherborn, MA. more
Earthdance		Sat 9/18	Western Mass
Earthdance is one of these Internet events where everyone dances with music that’s synchronized all over. There may or may not be a site in Boston, I didn’t look that hard, but there is one way out in Stockbridge, where the Norman Rockwell Museum is (it’s okay). Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge, MA. more
Falmouth Old Time Fiddle Contest		Sat 9/18	Cape Cod
This is going to be small, but I can’t resist a fiddle contest (or banjo) and small events can be fun because the people who do it are so passionate. 2009: 11am-4pm. Have you figured out yet that when there’s no photo, I just grab a random one, like, from Missouri? :). Falmouth, MA. more
Also Fun
Jack Goes Boating – Free Movie Preview		Sun 9/19	Boston Metro
No celebrities, but this is a free preview of Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut! 12pm, but come early to make sure you get a seat. Brattle Theatre, Cambridge, MA. more
RI / CT Day at Southwick’s Zoo		Sat 9/18	Southeast Mass
This time it’s the turn of people with Rhode Island or Connecticut IDs to have free admission to the largest zoo in New England. 2 Southwick Street, Mendon, MA.800-258-9182. more
College Night at The Museum of Science, Boston		Mon 9/20	Boston Metro
Students also get in for free at the Museum of Science. Museum of Science, Boston, Boston, MA. more
Edgerton Strobe Light Party		Fri 9/17	Boston Metro
Speaking of college, MIT is holding a party that’s apparently open to the wider public in honor of the MIT professor who invented the stroboscope. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more
Contra Folk Dance – Beginner’s Night		Tue 9/14	Boston Metro
And I happened to spot this folk dance event at MIT. Contra is a social dance that gets you interacting with everyone who comes and is easy to pick up. It tends to attract creative, intelligent people. Check it out! MIT, Cambridge, MA. more
Urban-Ag Fair in Harvard Square		Sun 9/19	Boston Metro
Nearby, this ‘event’ seems to be a farmers market with some judging competitions and workshops. Not bad if you are in the area, I suppose. Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. more
The New England Dessert Showcase		Sat 9/18	Boston Metro
How F’d-up is this? Cooking demos, party, concert, but basically — you eat. Basically the opposite end of the spectrum from Harvard’s organic food fest. Tickets start at only $15. Hmm. Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. more
Trails & Sails Weekend		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/26	North Shore
This ‘festival’ continues, a series of 140 independent events all over the region. Take shuttle at http://ipswichessexexplorer.com/. Various areas, Ipswich, MA. more
Rochester Fair		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/26	New Hampshire
Fiesta Shows’ travel carnival visits New Hampshire, and they’ll have racing pigs, a giraffe exhibit, and a demolition derby. Rochester, NH. more
The Soule Homestead Harvest Fair and Joe Davies Folk Festival		Sat 9/18 – Sun 9/19	Southeast Mass
Birds of prey and sheep dog demonstrations, “trick horse show”, and lots of craft demonstrations are featured in this small fest. Soule Homestead, 46 Soule St, Middleborough MA. more
Norwood Day		Sun 9/19	Boston Metro
Norwood is having a street festival. A small one. Norwood, MA. more
Old Deerfield Fall Craft Fair		Sat 9/18 – Sun 9/19	Western Mass
One step down, this one’s pretty concretely commercial, and they fail to mention music or street performers. However they’ll have demonstrations of rug hooking, glassblowing, and “lampwork” and free museum admission. Free shuttles take you around. Deerfield, MA. more
Annual Car Show at Old Orchard Beach		Fri 9/17 – Sat 9/18	Maine
This car show comes with a parade and a beach! Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach, ME.207-934-2500. more
Boston Film Festival		Fri 9/17 – Thu 9/23	Boston Metro
The Boston Film Festival is your alternative to enjoying the last few warm days of the year. Imagine yourself in February thinking “I’m glad I spent time indoors in September!” No doubt several of the filmmakers and actors will attend, but they neglected to annotate that on their schedule. Stuart Street Playhouse, Boston, MA.617-621-1202. more
Provincetown Music Festival		Sat 9/18	Cape Cod
Do you really need an excuse to visit Provincetown before the summer ends? Here’s one. Provincetown, MA. more
Register for Folk Song Society’s Fall Getaway Weekend		Fri 9/17	Worcester
A local folk song group has a campout on October 11, but they’d like you to RSVP by September 17, so I’m listing it now. Prindle Pond Conference Center, Charlton, MA. more
Recurring
Perfect Harmony		Thu 9/9 – Sun 10/3	Boston Metro
Last week I saw this stunning musical, where high school teams compete for the a capella nationals. It’s both hilarious and dramatic enough to make you cry. Um, the guy next to me was crying, I mean. It’s lewd like a lot of comedy these days, but in a great way, and the songs and plot twists build the whole thing to a higher level. You really need to check it out!! Stoneham Theatre, Stoneham, MA. 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
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
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
Travel
British Invasion Weekend		Fri 9/17 – Sun 9/19	Vermont
I’m not likely to drive to Vermont for a car show, considering I live right next to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, MA which is constantly having lawn shows all summer. But hey. It’s probably the biggest thing happening in Vermont. I’ll list it. Stowe, VT. more
Fifteenth Annual Northeastern Open Atlatl Championship Festival of Nations		Sat 9/18 – Sun 9/19	Vermont
How wacked out is this? The atlatl is an ancient spear, the kind of thing that helped humans hunt mammoths to extinction. Learn to make ’em and see the national championships! Orwell, VT. more
Civil War Living History Weekend		Sat 9/18	Connecticut
What is it with Civil War re-enactments this weekend? Here’s another in Connecticut. It’s free, but not well described, so I would tend to say, do the Rhode Island one. Roseland Cottage, Route 169, Woodstock, CT. more
Incredible India Festival		Sat 9/18	Connecticut
There’s an Indian festival in Connecticut… South Asian Indian, I mean…. Hartford, CT. more
Milford Irish Festival		Sat 9/18	Connecticut
And Irish. Maybe someone should call these guys and tell them they’ve chosen the same weekend as the huge event near Boston. They’ll have “music” and “sports” and “shopping”. Milford, CT. more

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