Painting Skills Class
Fruitlands will hold a painting skills class with Jill Pottle Fridays, Oct. 2 through Nov. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pottle will instruct students of all experience levels in contemporary approaches to painting with oils and acrylics. Register by email at programming@fruitlands.org or call 978-456-3924, ext. 239. Member cost $225, nonmembers $250.
Manufacturing Day Celebration
Mount Wachusett Community College will celebrate its third annual National Manufacturing Day Friday, Oct. 2, with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. at 27 Jackson Road, Devens. This free event features demonstrations from 10:30 to noon that will include CAD design, 3-D printing, mechatronics, and a manufacturing aptitude challenge. To register call the Devens campus at 978-630-9569 or email devens2@mwcc.mass.edu.
Harvard Farmers Market
The Harvard Farmers Market will take place Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hildreth Elementary School. Music will be by Sweet Connections. Special guest will be Elizabeth Gordon with her root vegetables. Note that the Great Dog Rescue New England event has been postponed until Oct. 17. (www.harvardfarmersmarket.org)
Local Mushroom Walk
The Harvard Conservation Trust will host a mushroom walk and talk Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10:30 a.m., beginning at 56 Stow Road. Join mushroom enthusiast Al Ferry for a walk in the woods and learn about Harvard’s fungi. Rain or shine unless a major downpour. For information call Abbe Alpert at 978-456-6892.
Oktoberfest—With Beer
The Harvard General Store will host Oktoberfest, Saturday, Oct. 3, from 3 to 7 p.m. There will be a competition for best American pale ale. See the events page at www.harvardgeneralstore.com for detailed information. If interested in competing, email dominique@harvardgeneralstore.com. $10 cover charge plus food.
Pastels Workshop
Fruitlands will hold a pastels workshop with Joelle Feldman Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This workshop will address all aspects of pastel painting. Register by email at programming@fruitlands.org or call 978-456-3924, ext. 239. Cost for members is $100, nonmembers $125.
Rogers and Fisher Concert
The Harvard Public Library will host a concert with folk artists Garnet Rogers and Archie Fisher Saturday, Oct. 3. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. To reserve tickets call 978-456-4114.
Lecture on Hudson River School Art
Fruitlands will host a lecture by nationally recognized, contemporary plein air artist Erik Koeppel about paintings in the style of the Hudson River School movement of the mid-1800s Sunday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 2 p.m. Cost for members is $5, nonmembers $10. To register email programming@fruitlands.org or call 978-456-3924, ext. 239.
African Drumming
Old Frog Pond Farm will host African drumming with Moussa Traore and friends Sunday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Traore, who is native to Mali, is considered one of the world’s top djembe players. (www.oldfrogpondfarm.com)
Oneness Blessing
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden will host a oneness blessing event, open to the community, Sunday, Oct. 4, from 3 to 5 p.m. The blessing will be accompanied by the music of Bernadette Yao, a mind-body music and reiki therapist. Cost is $10. To register and for information go to www.healinggarden.net/educational.programs.
Fashion Talk
The Harvard Woman’s Club will host a fashion talk by Pat Goddard from Gould’s at its meeting Monday, Oct. 5, at Holy Trinity Parish. Luncheon is at 11:15 a.m. followed by the program at 12:15 p.m. All are welcome. For information call 978-456-9645.
Bargains in the Belfry Opens
Bargains in the Belfry—Harvard’s gently used clothing consignment shop run by the Women’s Alliance of the Harvard Unitarian Church—opens Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church. Donations may be brought during shop hours or dropped off at the church office. The shop will be open Tuesdays and the first and third Sundays of each month starting Oct. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Profits benefit both the church and the community. For information call Dorothy Solbrig at 978-772-9245.
Teen Book Groups
The library will host monthly book groups for teens in grades 7 through 12 starting Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The library will provide copies of the book for use. New members welcome. Register with the children’s librarian by calling 978-456-2381.
PTO Kickoff Meeting
The Harvard PTO will hold its first general membership meeting of the school year Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. upstairs at the Harvard General Store. All parents of HES and Bromfield students are welcome to attend. Learn about current projects, share ideas for new activities, and be involved in chairing or volunteering for a particular event. For information email info@harvardpto.org or go to www.harvardpto.org.
Mindfulness with Nature: Forest Bathing
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden will host a community event of mindfulness exercises followed by a tea ceremony and snacks in the garden’s gazebo Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Certified forest therapy guide Nadine Mazzola will lead. The cost is $10. To sign up and for information go to www.healinggarden.net/educational.programs.
Harvard Flea Market
The Harvard Flea Market—featuring 170 booths of antiques, collectibles, and miscellanea—will take place Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Bromfield School. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 11. Admission is $3 per person; $1 for children ages 6 to 12 and adults 65 and older; and $5 for early birds (those arriving between 7 to 9 a.m.)
Now in its 44th year, the Harvard Flea Market offers an eclectic array of goods, including vintage jewelry, artwork, handmade sweaters and baskets, glassware and china, sports memorabilia, toys, games, dolls, books, maps, comic books, musical and scientific instruments, Halloween costumes, oriental rugs, leather goods, video games, DVDs, and more.
The popular food court at the Flea Market boasts Thai, Spanish, and Chinese food, as well as the Harvard Lions Club’s hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, sausage and peppers, and its famous hand-cut regular and sweet potato fries. .
Bazaar at Still River
The Immaculate Heart of Mary School will host its annual yard sale and bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Benedict Center, 282 Still River Road. There will be apple pies, raffles, food, and entertainment, along with fundraising. For information go to www.school.saintbenedict.com.
Apple Festival on the Common
The Harvard Congregational Church will host its annual Apple Festival Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Common in front of the church. Home-made pies will be available, along with soup, local cheddar, popcorn, and more. There will be live music. Rain or shine.
Workshop on Managing Sports Anxiety
Dressage Trainers Network will host a workshop with sports psychologist Dr. Jenny Susser Saturday, Oct. 10, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Harvard Unitarian Fellowship Building. This interactive event will offer tools and insights to help all levels of trainers, riders, and sports enthusiasts cope with fear and sports performance. A reception will follow. Cost is $60/NEDA members $55. For information email lisaterrell@charter.net or call 978-838-9408.
Harvest Festival Weekend
Fruitlands Museum will celebrate the bounty of the harvest Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, from noon to 4 p.m. Activities will include a pop-up farmers market featuring produce and livestock from Springdell Farm, farm animals raised by local 4-H groups, seasonal craft activities, apple tastings, and old-fashioned games. Fruits, vegetables, and a refreshing tonic of old—switchel—will be available for sampling. Free with admission. More information at www.fruitlands.org.
Dusty Fingers Pastels Demo
Fruitlands’ artist-in-residence Linee Baird will demonstrate techniques and approaches with pastels Monday, Oct. 12, from noon to 2 p.m. Cost is free with admission. (www.fruitlands.org)
Reiki Training Workshop
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden will host a two session, level 1 reiki certificate training workshop Tuesday, Oct. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reiki can help reduce chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. This event is open to the community. Cost for clients in treatment is $10; others on a sliding scale. Register at www.healinggarden.net.
The Emotional Side of Eating
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden is hosting a community talk about eating the right foods for healing Thursday, Oct. 15, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Certified psychological eating coach Kathy Elkind will talk about the emotional side of eating. Cost is $10. Register at www.healinggarden.net.
Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser
Habitat for Humanity, North Central Massachusetts, will host a wine, whiskey, craft beer, and chocolate tasting Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway. All proceeds benefit Habitat NCM. Tickets are $30 per person and may be purchased at ncmhabitat.org or by calling 978-348-2749.
Pub Night at the General
The Harvard General Store will host Pub Night featuring Celtic band The Kelly Girls (www.thekellygirls.com) Friday, Oct. 16, from 8 to 10:30 p.m. (www.harvardgeneralstore.com)
Native American Fall Feast
at Devens
The United Native American Cultural Center will host its 20th annual fall feast Saturday, Oct. 17, from noon to 5 p.m. at 29 Antietam Street, Building P-5, Devens. The feast will feature drumming, dancing, and feasting. There will be raffles along with a silent auction. This event is open to the community and free with a potluck contribution. For information email unacc29@gmail.com or go to www.unacc.org.
Gilbert Wine Tasting
The Harvard General Store is hosting Gilbert Wine for a wine tasting Saturday, Oct. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. For information go to www.harvardgeneralstore.com.
Book Group for Adults
The Brown Bag Book Club will be held every third Wednesday of the month at noon. Plan on discussing “Caleb’s Crossing” by Geraldine Brooks Wednesday, Oct. 21, at noon at the library. Drop-ins are welcome. For information email Susan Hardy at mhardy6647@aol.com.
In-Town Courses
- Harvard Library’s Bagels ‘n’ Books: Monthly youth book groups from 4 to 4:45 p.m.
- Third graders: starting Tuesday, Oct. 20
- Fourth graders: starting Tuesday, Oct. 27
- Fifth graders: starting Monday, Oct. 19
- Sixth graders: starting Monday, Oct. 26
- Healing Garden: The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden will hold 20-minute meditation sessions Mondays from Sept. 28 through Nov. 30, from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Free and open to the public.(www.healinggarden.net)
- Harvard Community Ed: Information is available online and from the Community Education office at 978-456-4118, or email jcavanaugh@psharvard.org. Education to Go, online learning at www.ed2go.com/harvardaded.
To register and for information, call the children’s librarian at 978-456-2381.
In-Town Save the Date
- Oct. 23: Ceremony honoring WWII Veterans at Devens
- Oct. 24: Harvard Historical Society House Tour
- Oct. 24: Apple Cider Festival at Harvard General Store
Out-of-Town Events
Book Discussion at St. Matthews
St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church will hold book discussions Sunday afternoons beginning Sunday, Oct. 4, at 4:30 p.m. in the St. Matthew’s Sanctuary, 435 Central Street, Acton. The book to be discussed is “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Boston surgeon Atul Gawande. For information call the church office at 978-263-2822.
Local Weasel Family Talk
The Nashua River Watershed Association will host a workshop on mustelids Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Townsend Public Library, 12 Dudley Road. This free workshop, led by Stacey Chilcoat, NRWA River classroom director, will discuss local weasel family members (mustelids) including the river otter, fisher, mink, and short-tailed weasel. This event is appropriate for ages 8 to adult and is free and open to the public. For registration and information email aif@nashuariverwatershed.org or call 978-448-0299.
Sustainable Foraging Walk
Sudbury Valley Trustees are offering a sustainable foraging walk Thursday, Oct. 8, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bower Springs Conservation Area in Bolton. In this forage-to-table walk, Rachel Goclawski will identify wild edibles and advise how to prepare them. Goclawski is a certified educator whose expertise is focused on foraging, science in the kitchen, and self-reliance skills. To register and for information go to www.svtweb.org/programs or call 978-443-5588. SVT members: $5, nonmembers: $15.
Ashley Jordan In Concert
The Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley will feature Harvard native and singer-songwriter Ashley Jordan Saturday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner and seating. Jordan recently was named a first-round Grammy nominee for her single, “Angels.” Her album “He’s Crazy” is slated for release in January. In 2015 at the Worcester Music Awards, Jordan was the recipient of the Best Vocalist, Best Country/Americana act. For tickets and information go to tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com.
Concerts at the Bull Run
- Oct. 2: Anthony Geraci & the Boston Blues All-Stars
- Oct. 3: Roy Book Binder
- Oct. 3: Shemekia Copeland
- Oct. 8: Vanilla Fudge
- Oct. 9: Al Kooper & the Funky Faculty
- Oct. 9: Seamus Kennedy
- Oct. 10: Ashley Jordan
- Oct. 16: Kathy Mattea’s “Acoustic Living Room” with Bill Cooley
- Oct. 17: Maria Muldaur’s “Way Past Midnight” Tour
- Oct. 17: Town Meeting
Tickets are available at tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com.
Out-of-Town Save the Date
- Oct. 16 to 18, and Oct. 23 to 24: “Steel Magnolias,” Theatre III, Acton Community Theatre
- Oct. 23: Threshold Choir at Indian Hill Music School
