All are invited to Firetruck Muster on the Common
The Wachusett Muster League will host its annual Firetruck Muster Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on and around the Common. Festivities begin with a parade of firetrucks at 11 a.m., followed by six separate events featuring teams of firefighters demonstrating their skill and speed in fire-related tasks. The muster coincides with the Harvard Fire Department’s 100th anniversary, so be prepared to root for the home team. Parking is at the Bromfield School’s lot; local traffic will be directed through the event, but trucks will be rerouted.
Opening reception for local artists on Sunday
Fivesparks will present the exhibit “in•sight: Together, Apart,” featuring local artists Ann Gillespie, Joe Faria, Didi Chadran, and Michelle Gendreau, who invite the community to share their journeys through work created during the pandemic. Opening reception Sunday, Sept. 12, 3 to 5 p.m. Get more details at fivesparks.org.
Donuts with Dusty
The Harvard Police Department’s assistance dog, Dusty, and her partner, Detective Daniele Fortunato, will be at the General Store Sunday, Sept. 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. to say hello to everyone.
Fivesparks programs
Register for all classes via the calendar at fivesparks.org. Fivesparks is located at 7 Fairbank Street, Harvard.
Sketching basics: 10 weeks, Tuesdays 9:30 a.m., starting Tuesday, Sept. 14.
Dance, yoga, pilates fusion for adults: 10 weeks, Wednesdays 9:30 a.m., starting Wednesday, Sept. 15.
Introduction to still-life painting: 10 weeks, Thursdays 9:30 a.m., starting Thursday, Sept. 16.
School early-release class: felted jack-o’-lantern. In-person class with Rachel Benson. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1:45-3 p.m. Ages 8-11.
Felted candy corn Zoom class: Thursday, Sept. 30, 4 p.m. Ages 8-adult.
Painting with wool, fall scene Zoom class: Thursday, Sept. 30, 6 to 7:45 p.m. Ages 12-adult.
Apple Harvest Ramble
The Apple Harvest Ramble Half Marathon and 5K through the back roads of Harvard takes place Sunday, Sept. 19, with race headquarters at the Bromfield School, 14 Mass. Ave. Registration, 7 a.m., half marathon, 9 a.m., 5K race 9:15 a.m. Learn more and register at bit.ly/2VkwVpP.
Cub Scouts field day
The Harvard Cub Scouts will host a field day, open to all elementary school children, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2 p.m., at Harvard Park, 35 Lancaster County Road. Track and field events will include 100- and 200-meter dash, shot put, and javelin.
Free COA wellness classes
The Harvard Council on Aging offers free weekly wellness classes with instructor Nancy Webber. Stretch 101 takes place with an in-person option on the Hildreth House porch (weather dependent), 15 Elm Street, or online with Zoom. Tuesdays, September 14, 21, and 28, 9:30 a.m., or Fridays, Sept. 10, 17, and 24, 9:30 a.m. In-person spots are limited; call 978-456-4120 or email dthompson@harvard-ma.gov to reserve.
See the COA newsletter for more information, or call 978-456-4120.
Healing Garden benefit concerts
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden Cancer Support Center, 145 Bolton Road, will present two free benefit concerts in September. Elliott Steger performs a virtual jazz concert Sunday, Sept. 12, at 3 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 26, at 3 p.m., folk performer and songwriter Tom Smith plays outside at the Healing Garden. Registration is required for both virtual and in-person outdoor concerts. Visit healinggardensupport.org for more details and to register.
Out of Town
New England Symphony Orchestra reopens
The New England Symphony Orchestra returns to live in-person performances with “Re-opening: Bach, Beethoven, & Beyond” at Worcester’s Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Steeet, Worcester, Saturday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available through the orchestra’s website (newenglandsymphony.org) or from the Mechanics Hall box office at 508-752-0888. For more information go to newenglandsymphony.org.
Devens bike rodeo
September is Bay State Bike Month in Massachusetts! Join fellow bikers at Bob Eisengrein Community Center, rogers Field, 100 Sherman Ave., Devens, Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. to celebrate and raise awareness about cycling for transportation, fitness, and fun.
Learn how to fit a helmet properly, understand basic hand signals, decorate your bicycle, parade around Rogers Field, enjoy fun games. Kids of all ages welcome.
RSVP to Devens Recreation Coordinator Hillary Andrews at handrews@massdevelopment.com or 978-772-8876.
Habitat for Humanity: ‘A Toast to Hope’
Tickets are now available for “A Toast to Hope,” Thursday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m., at Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway, Devens. The event features tastings of wine, beer, spirits, and appetizers from local distributors and benefits Habitat for Humanity. Advance tickets $30; register at conta.cc/3jsZdrr.
Pick your own flowers
Community Harvest Project, 37 Wheeler Road, Grafton, is now open for pick-your-own flowers, with cosmos, celosia, zinnias, and multiple varieties of sunflowers. The field is open to the public Monday through Sunday; flowers are $1 a stem. All proceeds support CHP’s mission to engage and educate volunteers to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for hunger relief. Learn more at community-harvest.org.
Yoga on Rogers Field, Devens
Dragonfly Wellness Center presents free yoga on Rogers Field, Buena Vista Street, Devens, Wednesdays, Sept. 8, 15, 22, and 29, 5:30 p.m. Register at dragonflywellnesscenter.net/classes.
Live music resumes at Indian Hill
Indian Hill Music, 36 King St., Littleton, resumes its schedule of live performances, including orchestral, chamber, jazz, roots, and global music presentations. The Headliner Series opens Friday, Oct. 9 with jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner. On Saturday, Sept. 25, the Orchestra of Indian Hill performs Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Hailstork. Visit bit.ly/3DUJdGH for more information.
Freedom’s Way programs
Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area September programs:
- Saturday, Sept. 11: Old Home Day, Mason, New Hampshire.
- Wednesday, Sept. 22: “Concord’s Black Soldiers in the Revolutionary & Civil Wars: What were they fighting for?”
- Saturday, Sept. 25: “Letters From an Early Civil Rights Activist.”
- Wednesday, Sept. 29: “Free Blacks from the Revolutionary War-Civil War: How free were free people of color?”
Learn more at freedomsway.org.
