Harvard’s Fourth of July Activities
The Fourth of July fireworks show will take place at Fruitlands Museum on Prospect Hill Road Friday, July 1. Gates open at 5 p.m. There will be food, entertainment, and patriotic music. A $10 parking donation will support the fireworks fund.
On Monday, July 4, the Great Harvard 4th of July 5-Mile Road Race will start from the Bromfield School at 8:15 a.m. The Kids’ 1-Mile Fun Run will start at 9:30 a.m.
The Kids’ Bike-Decorating Contest will take place on Harvard Common at 10:30 a.m., at which time there will also be a reading of “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America” in front of the old library. The Fourth of July Parade will take place in town center, starting at 11 a.m. It will be followed by field events at the Bromfield School fields at noon.
Bird Walk at Fruitlands
Fruitlands Museum and the Brookline Bird Club will host a morning bird walk led by local birder Pat White Saturday, July 9, at 7 a.m., starting from the top parking lot. All the nesting birds will still be around, with good views of parents feeding fledglings who are out of the nest: Indigo Bunting, Veery, Catbird, Wood Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, possibly meadowlarks. Walk one to two miles on trails through meadow and woods with some steep sections. For questions call Pat at 978-456-8127.
Night Hike at Oxbow Wildlife Refuge
The staff of the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge will host a night hike on the Oxbow Friday, July 15, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. to explore nocturnal wildlife on the trails of the refuge. Registration is required and is limited to 20 participants. To sign up, e-mail Daniel_Cannata@fws.gov or call 978- 562-3527, ext. 115. This is a free program and is open for all ages. Hikers should plan to walk at least 3 miles. Be sure to bring bug spray, water, a headlamp, and wear appropriate shoes and clothing.
OUT OF TOWN
Nashoba Valley Concert Band
The Nashoba Valley Concert Band will participate in several upcoming Fourth of July celebrations: Friday, July 1, at 6:30 p.m. at Old Shirley Center; Saturday, July 2, at the Ayer Parade and Fireworks Concert; Monday, July 4, at 10:30 a.m. in the Harvard Fourth of July Parade; and before the Groton Fireworks, Friday, July 8, at 7:15 p.m.
Assabet River Morning Walk
Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge and Sudbury Valley Trustees will sponsor a free early morning walk Saturday, July 2, at 8 a.m., beginning at the Refuge Visitor Center, 680 Hudson Road in Sudbury. No registration is required.
Fourth of July Strawberry Shortcake
Caleb Butler Lodge and the Ayer Masonic Association will hold their annual fundraiser at the town of Ayer Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 2, at Perone Park. Their popular strawberry shortcake, as well as hamburgers, sausages, hotdogs, soda, and water, will be for sale. Tattoo artist Mr. Josh will have a variety of temporary tattoos available.
Icon Museum Gallery Talks
The volunteer docents at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton will lead free evening gallery talks for nine summer Thursdays, from July 7 through Sept. 1, each focusing on a different aspect of the museum’s collection. Talks start at 5:30 p.m. Preregistration is not required; just drop in. Free with admission. For more information visit www.museumofrussianicons.org.
Northeast Organic Farming Association Summer Conference
The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) 2011 Summer Conference will take place Aug. 12 through 14 at UMass-Amherst. Keynote speakers will include perennial edibles expert Eric Toensmeier and Dr. Ignacio Chapela, activist from University of California/Berkeley. There will be more than 200 workshops on organic gardening, farming, food politics, permaculture, homesteading, landscaping, draft-animal power, alternative energy, livestock, cooking, and more, as well as vendors, exhibitors, live entertainment, a children and teen conference, a country fair and farmers’ market, and a silent auction. For details and to register, visit www.nofasummerconference.org, e-mail info@nofasummerconference.org, or call 978-355-2853.
Summer Film Series
Sustainable Sudbury and the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge will sponsor a series of documentary films, followed by a discussion beginning with No Impact Man Thursday, July 7, 7 p.m. For more information contact Kizette at kizette_ortizvanger@fws.gov or all 978-562-3527, ext. 117.
