Benefit Coffeehouse
Local artists will perform music and read stories, Saturday, Sept. 6, 4 p.m. at the Congregational Church. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is two canned goods for Loaves & Fishes. Additional donations welcome. Cash not needed.
Harvard Farmers’ Market
The Harvard Farmers’ Market will take place Saturday, Sept. 6, from 9 a.m. to noon in front of the Hildreth Elementary School. Produce, meat, dairy products, baked goods, seafood, and other products will be available. Bring knives for sharpening at the Venier Forge Knife Sharpeners booth. Music will be by the Wild Edibles band. Guest chef is John Calabria, who will have garlic for tasting and planting. (harvardfarmersmarket.org)
Opening Reception for Fruitlands Exhibit
Fruitlands Museum will continue its centennial celebration by opening the exhibit “100 Objects, 100 Stories, 100 Years” on Saturday, Sept. 6; a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the art gallery. The exhibit, which will run through March 29, highlights the most popular items in the museum, as determined by a vote of 1,000 members of the public. Admission will be free all day on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the museum will offer gallery tours, live music, games, food, and crafts. Attendees may also take part in the museum’s scavenger hunt. Those who complete the hunt will be entered into a drawing for a free one-year family membership or a centennial book, which is the companion book to the exhibit. Illustrated with color photographs, the book is the first comprehensive catalog of the museum collection ever published and includes essays about Fruitlands history.
Family Association Social
The Harvard Family Association will host a get-together for families to kick off the beginning of fall programming Saturday, Sept. 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Volunteers Hall at the Harvard Public Library. It’s a chance to welcome new members, say hello to old friends, and enjoy entertainment by Pat & Vic of Music Together.
‘Run for the Hills’
The Harvard Conservation Trust and the Harvard Road Race Association will host “Run for the Hills 5K Trail Race” Sunday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m., at McCurdy Track on Lancaster County Road. Runners of all ages will traverse the picturesque trails and fields abutting the track for a fun, flat, fast walk or run. Proceeds from the race will fund the trust’s mission: “to preserve the unique character and natural resources of Harvard.” To register go to www.HarvardConservationTrust.org. Online registration closes Sept. 6; same-day registration available at the track.
Hike for Women
The Harvard Conservation Trust and Harvard Conservation Commission will host a hike through the trails of Prospect Hill Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 9 a.m. starting at the playing fields on Depot Road. This moderately difficult walk will take hikers through a hardwood forest containing specimens of beech, white birch, hemlock, and witch hazel trees. Participants should bring water, a light snack, binoculars, field guides, and bug repellent. For information, contact Harvard’s conservation agent Liz Allard at 978-456-4100 ext. 321 or at lallard@harvard.ma.us.
WBN Meeting and Presentation
The Women’s Business Network will hold its monthly meeting Thursday, Sept. 11, at 7:15 p.m. at the Center on the Common. Meg O’Leary of Inkhouse Marketing will present “Content Marketing: Your New Marketing Machine.” For information, to receive monthly announcements, or for membership information, go to www.wbn-ma.org or call Renee Senes at 978-456-9600.
Access Digital Books
The Harvard Public Library will host two sessions to teach people how to download magazines, eBooks, and eAudiobooks from the library system. Participants should bring their tablets, eReaders, and other devices to the library Thursday, Sept. 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Build Gnome Homes
The Harvard Conservation Trust will host a village-building event Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon on the conservation trail behind Hildreth Elementary School, where families will transform the trail into a gnome and fairy village. Feel free to bring some natural backyard trimmings. (harvardconservationtrust.org)
Fall Festival
The Harvard Lions Club will present its annual Fall Festival Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 150 Ayer Road. The event will include live music, a craft fair, games and activities for kids, hot-air balloon rides, food, adult and teen challenges, and much more. Saturday night’s highlights are fireworks and the Satisfaction, a Rolling Stones tribute band. For the full schedule of events, go to www.harvardfallfestival.com.
Outdoor Poetry Walk
Poet Susan Edwards Richmond will lead a plein air poetry walk through the landscape of pond, waterfall, stream, fields, and forests at Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road, Sunday Sept. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. Poems related to growing food on the farm will be featured. Register at www.oldfrogpondfarm.com.
Artist Reception
The Center on the Common will host a reception to celebrate the work of photographer and Harvard resident Chet Hooper Sunday, Sept. 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Center. Hooper’s photos will be on display between Sept. 4 and Sept. 27.
Art and Reading
Bromfield student Ariel Dwyer will lead a series of programs integrating art and literacy beginning Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 3:30 p.m. at the library. In this program, Ariel will use the Berenstain Bears book “Trouble with Friends” as inspiration for making two friendship bracelets, one for a friend, and one to keep. Enrollment is limited to eight children; register now in the Children’s Room.
Girl Scout Registration
The Harvard Girl Scouts will host a night of information and registration for all girls, grades K to 12, Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Harvard. For more information contact Janice Kennedy at kennedyshome@charter.net.
In-Town Courses
- At Old Frog Pond Farm: Native plant walk with ecological horticulturist Anna Fialkoff Sunday, Sept. 7, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Bird-watching with Susan Edwards Richmond Saturday, Sept. 13, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Register at www.oldfrogpondfarm.com.
- At Bromfield: Register for fall tennis lessons, ages 4 to adult. Taught by Marcus Lewis Tennis Center staff. Call 978-456-4118 or jcavanaugh@psharvard.org.
- At Unitarian Church Fellowship Hall: Wednesday morning Zumba classes, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Register at http://lisabradley123.zumba.com.
- At Congregational Church: Qigong classes on Monday evenings. Contact master instructor Robin Bonazzoli, 978-618-3450.
- At Center on the Common: After-school classes, including:
- Paper Quilling, ages 5 to 8, Mondays 3:30 to 4:30, $15 per class. Register at Kabil.gangai@gmail.com.
- Paint Rhythm, grades 2 and up, early release days. Art and music led by Rachel Manly and Mike Geezil, each class devoted to different genre. $35 per class or $180 for six classes. Register at www.paintrhythm.com.
- Yoga, Art and Nature, ages 7 to 10, early release days. Class will meet behind HES and walk to Center. Register at sarahepyne@gmail.com.
- Art and Cloth. Grades 2 to 5 on Wednesdays 3:30 to 5 p.m. Grades 5 to 8 on Thursdays 3:30 to 5 p.m. Register at www.artandcloth.org.
- Glass Painting, ages 8 and up, Fridays 3:30 to 5 p.m. $30 per class. Register at Kabil.gangai@gmail.com.
- Private music lessons on guitar, bass, ukulele, drums and hand percussion, piano. More information at michaelgeezil@gmail.com.
Save the Date (in town)
- Sept. 20: Rummage sale at Center on Common
- Sept. 21: Bare Hill Rowing Tour de Pond
- Sept. 27 and 28: Craft festival at Fruitlands
- Sept. 27: Apple Harvest Ramble road race
OUT OF TOWN
Concerts at the Bull Run
Tickets available at www.bull-runrestaurant.com
- Sept. 5: Occidental Gypsy
- Sept. 5: Paul Thorn Band
- Sept. 6: Will Dailey and Friends
- Sept. 6: Joanne Shaw Taylor
- Sept. 7: Jeff Root
- Sept. 10: John Mayall Band
- Sept. 11: Asleep at the Wheel
- Sept. 12: Asia
Boxborough Harvest Fair
The Boxborough Harvest Fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Boxborough Town Hall and the Congregational Church, both on Middle Road. Artists, crafters, and gardeners from Boxborough and surrounding towns will display and sell items at the fair. (www.boxboroughfair.org)
Breakfast at Masonic Lodge
The Ayer Masonic Association will hold its monthly fundraising breakfast Sunday, Sept. 7, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at 11 Sculley Road, Ayer. Menu includes eggs cooked to order or pancakes with bacon or sausage, waffles, omelets, potatoes, toast, juice, and coffee.
Edible Plant Walk
The Sudbury Valley Trustees will host a walk to look for edible wild plants Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Stearns Farm in Framingham. Russ Cohen, foraging expert and author of “Wild Plants I Have Known … and Eaten” will lead the walk. Registration is required at www.svtweb.org or 978-443-5588.
Open House at Indian Hill
The Indian Hill Music School will host an open house for prospective students and their parents Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 36 King St., Littleton. Participants can try instruments, tour the building, ask questions, meet faculty and staff, and register for classes. Learn more at 978- 486-9524 or www.indianhillmusic.org.
Out-of-Town Classes
Tai chi club: Wednesday evenings at First Parish Church of Bolton; contact master instructor Robin Bonazzoli, 978-618-3450.
Free figure-skating lesson: Sunday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to noon at 34 Mass Ave., Boxborough. Register at basicskills@colonialfsc.com.
Docent training: The Fitchburg Art Museum is accepting applications for volunteer tour guide positions. Training begins Sept. 17 and runs through December, with meetings on Wednesday mornings and some Tuesday afternoons. For more information call Ann Descoteaux 978-345-4207, ext. 302.
Save the Date (out of town)
- Sept. 18: Worcester Chamber Music Society concert, Grafton
- Sept. 20: Worcester Chamber Music Society concert, Worcester
- Sept. 27: Tour of old barns, starting in Hollis, NH
- Sept. 28: Holdenwood Trail Run, Shirley
