Water Boarding, Puerto Rican, Folk, Shark, Auto, Maritime, Celtic, Tibet, Catholic Fests.

07/21/09 by Johnny Monsarrat

This weekend’s group trip is to the Lowell Folk Festival! Email me about your availability and if you can drive: johnny@weirdbostonevents.org

Here’s your week in weird. Enjoy it! Want this weekly? Please subscribe.

-Johnny

The Week in Weird
Water Board: A Play About Torture	7/23	Boston Metro
The weird event of the week is torture, live on stage. Amnesty International and theatre. Does it mix? Come find out at this show about torture. It’s mainly satire and political fun, but they’ll also demonstrate waterboarding. I’m told the part that’s horrific is limited, but it’s not for kids. 8pm. YMCA Theater, 820 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA.617-797-1981. more
Lowell Folk Festival	7/24 – 7/26	Northern Mass
Also the event of the week is the Lowell Folk Festival: the largest free folk festival in US. Lowell, MA.978-970-5000. more
Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament	7/23 – 7/25	Southern Mass
And now time for some revenge on sharks for what happened in the documentary Jaws. Oh wait. That was fiction? Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vinyard, MA. more
Puerto Rican Festival	7/26	Boston Metro
I’ve been to this festival. They have a traveling carnival with tons of vendors, sort of corny but lots of ethnic pride and happy kids. Rain or shine, but it will be so muddy if it rains, skip it. Free. Parade on Sunday @ 12pm, from 55 Malcolm X Boulevard, down Columbus Ave, Seaver St, Blue Hill Ave, and into Franklin Park. Playstead Field, Franklin Park, Boston, MA.866.481.0695 or 617-635-3911. more
St. Joseph Feast Celebration	7/24 – 7/26	Boston Metro
The Italians in Boston’s North End have a number of Catholic Festivals. This one’s the biggest I believe. I’ve always been put off by the hammering religious nature of the events. Are the rest of us welcome? I suppose. Battery St & Hanover St, Boston, MA.617-720-1368. more
Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival	7/25	Worcester
The Irish have their priorities straight. Religion takes a back seat to parades, music, and dance. Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Rd, Webster, MA.508-943-3871. more
Merrimack River Maritime Festival @ Salisbury Beach	7/25 – 7/26	North Shore
Sailors have their day on the north shore. Fireworks Saturday @ 10pm. Salisbury Beach, Salisbury, MA.978-462-7274. more
Olde Ipswich Days	7/23 – 7/26	North Shore
They’ll have a block party & an old time baseball game. Crafts fair on the South Village Green and a book sale on the library lawn. Opening of a new 17th restored home. Take shuttle at http://ipswichessexexplorer.com/. South Village Green, Ipswich, MA. more
Salem CultureFest	7/25 – 7/26	North Shore
Also on the North Shore, Salem is throwing what looks to be a slightly bigger festival. Salem, MA. more
Yankee Homecoming Festival	7/26 – 8/2	North Shore
But the real North Shore festival this weekend is in Newburyport. Printmaking, food & music & art, festival, historical tours, Irish & Greek performances. fireworks Aug 1, and a parade Aug 2. Various, Newburyport, MA. more
Day of Triumph @ Larz Anderson Museum	7/26	Boston Metro
Of course I can’t resist the Museum of Transportation, again. I’m just going to keep posting these until you go! So don’t fight it! Car show for people who own Triumph cars. 15 Newton Street, Brookline, MA.(617) 522-6547. more
Sol LeWitt Gallery Quest @ Mass MoCA	7/25	Western Mass
You don’t really need an excuse to get out to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, which is always amazing yet accessible. However, this scavenger hunt may give you an extra reason. 87 Marshall St, North Adams, MA.413-662-2111.. more
YAK Breakdancers	7/23 – 9/1	Boston Metro
I came across these breakdancers. They’re genuinely amazing. Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, they perform all day from 1pm+ in front of the statue at Faneuill Hall. Faneiul Hall, Boston, MA. more
Also Fun
Barnstable County Fair	7/17 – 7/25	Cape Cod
There are tons of fairs all over New England. I only list the biggest but more are out there! Rt 28S to Rt 151E, 4.7 mi. Largest annual event on Cape Cod. Rt 151, East Falmouth, MA.508-563-3200. more
Canterbury Fair	7/25	New Hampshire
This one’s much smaller but looks fun. Canterbury, NH. more
North Haverhill Fair	7/22 – 7/26	New Hampshire
Fiesta Shows will have their traveling carnival there. A rodeo & Guitar Hero tournament. North Haverhill Fairgrounds, North Haverhill, NH.603-989-3305. more
Family Fun Night Under the Canopy Tent	7/22	Metro West
The Ancient Order of Fife and Drum performs live & outdoors. Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury, MA. more
Provincetown Rocks: The Festival	7/22 – 7/26	Cape Cod
5 days / 4 nights of rock, comedy, & burlesque. Provincetown, MA. more
Be Our Guest @ Concord Museum	7/23 – 8/19	Metro West
Free admission to the Concord Museum. And Aug 20. 200 Lexington Road, Concord, MA.978-369-9763. more
Woods Hole Film Festival	7/25 – 8/1	Cape Cod
Cape Cod can be excused for having a film festival in the summer. Because when else would you go there? Woods Hole, MA. more
Recurring
The Underpants	7/16 – 8/2	North Shore
A comedy written by Steve Martin. In Salem. Church, 316 Essex Street, Salem, MA.978-790-8546. more
French Film Festival	7/9 – 7/26	Boston Metro
Summer isn’t a great time for a film festival, but the MFA has a movie theatre, so they persevere. MFA, Boston, MA. more
Newport Music Festival	7/10 – 7/26	Rhode Island
To me, a ‘festival’ has to involve an open social space, and can’t be a series of concerts over 2 weeks. But everyone should visit the mansion in Newport, so here’s your excuse. Newport, RI.401-849-0700. more
Travel
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival	7/23 – 7/26	Eastern NY
Its just over the border from Western, MA. This year includes The Strangelings w/ Chris Thompson. Dodds Farm, County Road 7D, Hillsdale, NY. more
County Bluegrass	7/24 – 7/26	Maine
Here’s a festival you come camp over for. Fort Fairfield, ME. more
Tibet Fest	7/25 – 7/26	Connecticut
This one is totally unique and probably worth the trip! Rt 63, Goshen, CT.(860) 491-3655. more