‘American Voices’ at Unitarian Church
The Worcester Chamber Music Society performs “American Voices” at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church, 9 Ayer Road, Friday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. Inspired by Antonin Dvorak, the program celebrates music influenced by American folk songs and spirituals. Adults $30-$40, students $10, EBT/WIC $5, Youth 17 and under free. A second performance will take place Sunday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. at the Jean McDonough Arts Center BrickBox, 20 Franklin Street, Worcester, which will be both in-person and live-streamed, and the concert will be available on demand Oct. 3 through 10. Information and tickets are available at worcesterchambermusic.org, or by calling the office at (508) 926-8624.
Baseball and softball skills for kids
The Harvard Youth Baseball and Softball Association is partnering with the Harvard Family Association to host “Have a Ball” on Saturday, Oct. 2, 10:30 a.m. at the Ryan Land, 71 Depot Road. Kids 4-6+ can play catch, run around the bases, and learn basic baseball and softball skills. RSVP at forms.gle/jjtgN3YCdLS7CL2L8.
Free family fun on the Common
Join the Harvard Historical Society for A Common History Day Saturday, Sept. 25, noon to 4 p.m., with a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. Featured will be a scavenger hunt for kids for important structures on the Common; strolling musicians; goats and oxen around the town pound; and a chance to sit in the town stocks.
At 1 and 2:30 p.m., Carlene Phillips will give a talk based on her book “A Common History: The Story of Harvard’s Identity,” followed by an opportunity to meet four living-history characters who will be in front of the houses on the Common where they lived in past centuries.
Self-guided walk
Arm in Arm will offer an opportunity to experience the joy of nature while learning how diverse peoples see their interrelationship with nature on a self-guided trail walk at the conservation land at Horse Meadows Knoll on Sherry Road. The walk will be posted from Friday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 31.
Townwide read
Arm in Arm’s townwide book read takes on “On Juneteenth,” by Annette Gordon-Reed, which considers “the country’s long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the enormous hardships that African-Americans have endured in the century since, from Reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond.” Enter a raffle to win a copy of the book at the library or email arminarm.townofharvard.com. Book discussion on Thursday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. via Zoom. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/ehfbev32
Open House at the orchard
Community Harvest Project will be holding an orchard open house, Saturday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 115 Prospect Hill Road. Visit the orchard and pick your own apples and pumpkins, and learn about the CHP mission, operations, and campaign to protect their land. Admission is free. All proceeds will support CHP’s mission to engage and educate volunteers to grow fruits and vegetables for hunger relief. Visit community-harvest.org for more information.
Harvard’s stone wall mysteries solved!
Have questions about Harvard’s old stone walls? Join Harvard Conservation Trust and professor of geology Dr. Robert Thorson as he decodes mysteries from the thousands of stones that make up stone walls laid by colonists, Native Americans, and enslaved people.
This interactive Zoom presentation takes place Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. Register by Sept. 25 at bit.ly/HarvardStoneWalls.
Outdoor story times and book groups
Weekday story times and book groups will be held outdoors on the library lawn, 4 Pond Road, socially distanced under a tent. Registration is required for all story times due to limited space. If a story time approaches capacity, priority will be given to Harvard/Devens/Hildreth Elementary School families. In case of rain or other predicted bad weather, story time will be moved to virtual format (Zoom links will be sent to all registrants). Sign up at forms.gle/ku8orCyKE8NYZXoC6.
Book groups are limited to Harvard residents and Hildreth students. Register at forms.gle/gg9xnRKxyFQyTkrh9.
- Infant story time for infants to 2-year-olds: Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
- Story time for 2s and 3s: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
- Story time for 4s and 5s: Mondays, 1:30 p.m.
- Virtual Saturday story time via Zoom: Ages 3 to 7: Saturday, Sept. 25, 10:30 a.m. Email childrensroom@harvardpubliclibrary.org to be added to the Saturday story time email list.
- Book discussion group for first- and second-graders: Monday, Oct. 25, 4 p.m.
- Book Group for Third-Graders: Monday, Oct. 4, 4 p.m.
- Book Group for Fourth-Graders: Monday, Oct. 18, 4 p.m. Fully registered—no spaces available.
- Book Group for Fifth-Graders: Tuesday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m.
- Book Group for Sixth-Graders: Tuesday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m.
Storytelling at Old Frog Pond Farm
Fugitive Productions will partner with Old Frog Pond Farm and Studio to present stories about “Cravings,” Saturday, Sept. 25, 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. Visit bit.ly/3krZfjy for tickets and more information.
Apple Festival is back
Attend the Congregational Church Apple Festival on the Common on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or order online. Pies are apple crumb streusel or traditional, baked or frozen. Preorder at http://congre gational-church-of-harvard.square.site.
Exhibits, classes, children’s activities at Fivesparks
Fivesparks is located at 7 Fairbank Street, Harvard.
- “in•sight: Together, Apart.” Four local artists invite the community to share their journeys through and work created during the pandemic. View Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 6 p.m., open periodically Saturdays.
- Sketching basics: 10 weeks, Tuesdays 9:30 a.m.
- Dance, yoga, pilates fusion for adults: 10 weeks, Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.
- Introduction to still-life painting: 10 weeks, Thursdays 9:30 a.m.
- School early-release class: felted jack-o’-lantern. In-person class with Rachel Benson. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1:45 p.m. Ages 8-11.
- Felted candy corn Zoom class: Thursday, Sept. 30, 4 p.m. Ages 8-adult.
- Fall painting with wool, in-person session. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m. Ages 12-adult.
- Create a wizard chest: in-person, two-part class with Rachel Benson. Wednesdays, Oct. 13 and 20, 4 p.m. Ages 9-12.
- Felting open studio. Come for guidance on completing or starting a new project. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 6 p.m. Ages 10-adult.
- School early-release class: Sculptural graveyard. In-person class with Rachel Benson. Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1:45 p.m. Ages 10-13.
Register for all classes via the calendar at fivesparks.org.
Out of Town ‘Trad Day’ at Indian Hill
Bring your instrument and participate in a variety of free Celtic and roots jams, Sunday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m., at Indian Hill Music, 36 King St., Littleton. Irish session, ukulele club, old-time Appalachian, and multi-genre acoustic jams, all to be held outdoors. Advance registration required at bit.ly/3nMQdjv. Learn more about Indian Hill at indianhillmusic.org.
‘Icons For Our Time’
Starting Friday, Oct. 15, the Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton, will celebrate its 15th anniversary with an exhibit of 15 contemporary icons from around the world. This multi-sensory exhibit will examine the spread of Orthodox Christian art through the medium of icons and explore the icon as a living tradition and a signature feature of Orthodox Christianity, and the concept and relevance of the contemporary icon in modern culture. More information at museumofrussianicons.org.
Autumn at Sturbridge Village
On Saturday, Sept. 25, Old Sturbridge Village will host its first-ever Fall Folk Festival from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is included in the price of admission. More information at osv.org/event/folk/.
“Phantoms and Fire” will return to Old Sturbridge Village, featuring family-friendly Halloween activities including “Clues & Candy,” an outdoor twist on trick-or-treat, live music with Mysterious Melodies of Lawrence Trailer, and themed food and beverage offerings at Prospero’s Tavern. Wednesdays through Sundays, Oct. 13 through 31, from 5-8:30 p.m. Tickets with early bird rates are on sale through Sept. 30 at: osv.org/event/phantoms-and-fire-2021.
