Bluegrass, jazz, and bagpipe music may waft on the breeze across Fruitlands Museum’s grounds in the coming months. But hot-air balloons might not float overhead. These are the possible results of conditions set forth in Fruitlands’ new entertainment license, approved by the selectmen at their meeting last week.
The license allows Fruitlands to offer entertainment within specified hours, no later than 9 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and 11 p.m. on weekends, with a special extension for New Year’s Eve. The license covers a variety of indoor events that Fruitlands might host, such as auctions, story-telling, and choral performances.
In addition, Fruitlands can present up to 10 outdoor concerts between May 15 and Oct. 15. Six of those events, said Fruitlands CEO Tim Firment, will be the traditional Concord Band concerts. This year marks the band’s 24th season at the museum. Other performances will feature bagpipes, blues, jazz, and a local bluegrass band called Loose Ends.
Fruitlands has considered hosting a hot-air balloon festival, Firment said. However, the license sets a limit of three balloons on the premises. According to Firment, it is not clear whether such a small event would be worthwhile.
Firment said he believes the licensing terms have met the major concerns of all parties involved. “I think everybody walked away feeling comfortable with the conclusions—the neighbors, the town, and the museum,” he said. He points out that Fruitlands has a written policy affirming its commitment to noise control, saying, “We work with sensitivity to the fact that we are in an agricultural and residential zone.”
