Celebration 2013 Open House
Sure to delight and surprise, the Celebration 2013 open house will offer the community a sneak preview of Celebration’s themed transformation of the Bromfield School Friday, May 17, from 9 to 10 p.m.
VNS Kids’ Fun Fest Postponed
The Village Nursery School Kids’ Fun Fest originally scheduled for Friday, May 17, has been postponed.
Four Stories at the General
Four acclaimed writers—Dillon Bustin, Linda Hoffman, Pagan Kennedy, and Lauren Slater—will read selections from their writings on the theme “Beneath the Surface: Confessions, Guilt and Redemption” when Four Stories, the Boston-area literary series comes to the Harvard General Store on Saturday, May 18. Wine tasting and live music will begin at 6 p.m., and the General Store café will be open for light fare at 5 p.m. Readings will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission and wine tasting are free.
Fort Devens Museum: Armed Forces Day
Fort Devens Museum will hold an open house Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 94 Jackson Road in Devens to celebrate Armed Forces Day with a day of history, memories, and guest speakers.
Garden Club Plant Sale
The Garden Club of Harvard will hold its annual plant sale on the Common Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine. Vegetables, annuals, perennials, and herbs will be available.
Apple Blossom Festival
The Apple Blossom Festival on Saturday, May 18, in front of the Harvard Public Library, will feature crafts and other vendors, food, and music—Jeff Jam with sing-alongs for all ages, and the Nashoba Valley Concert Band. The festival is also the last chance to buy a ticket to the Ducky Wucky River Race. The Ducky Wucky River Race and Apple Blossom Festival are fundraisers sponsored and organized by the Ayer Rotary Club, which serves the communities of Ayer, Harvard, Shirley, and Devens.
Ducky Wucky River Race
Win dinner for two anywhere in the world if your entry out-floats all the other rubber ducks in the 23rd annual Ducky Wucky River Race Saturday, May 18, at 4:30 p.m. on the Nashua River at Still River Depot Road. Tickets are available earlier in the day at the Apple Blossom Festival in front of the Harvard Public Library.
Lego Club
The Lego Club, for ages 5 and up, will meet at the Harvard Public Library Saturday, May 18, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. to build creations with other Harvard Lego fans. Parents are encouraged to join in the fun and assist with supervision. See the Children’s Librarian for more information and to preregister.
Wicked Hangin’ Chads Performance
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden’s next Concert at the Garden will feature The Wicked Hangin’ Chads, a Reggae music group from Boston, Sunday, May 19, at 3 p.m. at 145 Bolton Road. Admission is $10 for Garden members, $15 for nonmembers. Visit www.healinggarden.net for event updates or cancellations.
Birding at Oxbow
Naturalists Dick and Peggy Knowlton will lead a birding walk Sunday, May 19, at 7:30 a.m. at Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, beginning at the Oxbow parking lot at the end of Still River Depot Road. Birders of all levels are welcome. Binoculars are suggested, as well as a drink and insect protection if desired. Register at 978-779-2259 or at ada@FriendsoftheOxbowNWR.org.
Free Kids Crafting Event
Evergreen Garden Playschool, a Waldorf preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten, will host a morning creating flower crowns, enjoying healthy snacks, and playing Monday, May 20, from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. at 270 Barnum Road in Devens. Babies and children to age 5 and their caretakers are welcome. (www.evergreengardenplayschool.org; 978-772-9595)
Well-Adult Clinic
Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, in conjunction with the Harvard Board of Health, will hold a well-adult clinic Tuesday, May 21, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Hildreth House. Drop in for blood pressure and pulse screenings and diet information. No appointment is necessary. For more information, contact Nashoba Associated Boards of Health at 978-772-3335 or 1-800-427-9762, ext. 333.
Controlling Invasive Species at Home
Each year, invasive plants become an increasingly destructive and challenging presence in our landscape, requiring skill to outwit and manage. Ted Elliman, senior botanist at New England Wildflower Society (NEWFS), will give advice on managing invasive plants on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at Volunteer’s Hall. The talk , which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Harvard Conservation Commission and the Land Stewardship Subcommittee.
‘Girl Rising’
A free screening of “Girl Rising” (PG-13) will be shown Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m. in Cronin Auditorium. Filmmaker Richard Robbins, working with the non-profit 10×10, followed nine girls from all over the world as they faced tragic injustice. The film focuses on the power and importance of girls’ education and the unfortunate lack of women’s education—66 million girls do not have the chance to go to school. Open to all; parental guidance recommended for chilren under age 13.
Teen Craft Afternoon
The Harvard Public Library will host a teen craft afternoon Thursday, May 23, at 2:45 p.m. for grades 6 and up to make beads from recycled paper.
Family Movie Night
The Harvard Public Library will host a family movie night for all ages, rated PG, Friday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m., with complimentary water and popcorn. The library can’t tell you the title of the movie here, but it is a recently released animated Dreamworks movie based on the “Guardians of Childhood” book series by William Joyce. Preregistration is requested.
Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast
A Harvard tradition begun in 1997, the 17th annual Memorial Day pancake breakfast to benefit the Loaves and Fishes food pantry will take place Monday, May 27, before the parade, between 8 and 9:30 p.m., at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Building. Donations are $8 for adults; $4 for children under 12. Last year’s event raised $1200.
Circle of Songs
The Harvard Public Library will host “Circle of Songs” with Hugh Hanley for infants through age 6 and their caregivers.Tuesday, May 28, at 10:30 a.m. Hanley—an early childhood educator, music specialist and entertainer—has been singing with young children for over twenty years. He draws from a wide and varied repertoire of songs, fingerplays, and music activities that are appropriate and accessible. Preregistration is requested.
Shakespeare in the Park
The Bromfield Drama Society will present Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” Friday, May 31, Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. in front of the Harvard Public Library on an outdoor stage built by the Bromfield School Stage Technology and Production Design classes. Admission is $5 for students and senior citizens and $10 for adults. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. In case of inclement weather, the performance will be in Cronin Auditorium.
OUT OF TOWN
Concert Series at the Bull Run
At the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley:
- Saturday, May 17 Roberto Morbioli
- Saturday, May 18 John Ford Coley and Terry Sylvester
- Saturday, May 18 Chris McDermott
- Thursday, May 23 Royal Southern Bortherhood
- Monday, May 26 Blind Boys of Alabama
- Thursday, May 30 Dave Davies
- Friday, May 31 Papa Chubby
- Friday, May 31 Rod MacDonald Trio
- Saturday, June 1 Loudon Wainwright III
- Sunday, June 9 Bare Hill Band
Tickets at bullrunrestaurant.com.
Electronic Waste Collection Day
Caleb Butler Lodge, in cooperation with All American Recycling, LLC, will conduct an Electronic Waste Collection Day Saturday, May 18, from 8 to 2 p.m. at 60 Main St. in Ayer. For information contact Rick Dickson, 978-400-1100, or frecycling@CalebButlerLodge.com.
Aine Mintogue in Concert
Harpist Aine Mintogue will perform a concert, “To Welcome in the Spring,” Saturday, May 18, at 7 p.m. at First Church Lancaster, 725 Main St. in Lancaster, to benefit the Friends of the Lancaster Seniors. (friendsofthelancasterseniors.org)
