‘Nature: A Walking Play’ at Fruitlands
The Fruitlands trustees and TigerLion Arts present “Nature: An Outdoor Walking Play,” celebrating the dynamic connection between humanity and the natural world. This immersive and family-friendly telling of Emerson, Thoreau, and their mutual love of the natural world runs through Monday, Sept. 6, at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road. Visit thetrustees.org/program/nature-play to purchase tickets and see the full performance schedule.
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.
- Felting open studio: Bring incomplete projects to finish with guidance from Rachel Benson, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m. Ages 10-adult.
- Introduction to still-life painting: 10 weeks, Thursdays 9:30 a.m., starting Thursday, Sept. 16.
- 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.
‘The Gruffalo’ storybook trail walk
The Harvard Conservation Trust is offering a self-guided storybook trail walk starting at the Burgess-Brown land trailhead at the end of Murray Lane, through Monday, Sept. 6. The trail offers an opportunity to experience a children’s story, “The Gruffalo,” while wandering along a half-mile path through the woods. To learn more about the walking loop at the Burgess-Brown land, go to harvard-trails.com/brown.html.
Cub Scouts field day
The Harvard Cub Scouts field day takes place 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. The event is open to all elementary school children.
Free wellness classes
The Harvard Council on Aging will offer two months of free weekly wellness classes with instructor Nancy Webber. Stretch 101 will be offered with an in-person option on the Hildreth House porch (weather dependent) or online with Zoom. Tuesdays, September 7, 14, 21, and 28, 9:30 a.m., or Fridays Sept. 3, 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.
The East Passage express cruise to Newport, Rhode Island, takes place Wednesday, Sept. 8, leaving Hildreth House at 9:30 a.m.
See the COA newsletter for more information, or call 978-456-4120.
Healing Garden Benefit Concerts
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden Cancer Support Center presents two free benefit concerts in September. Elliott Steger performs a virtual jazz concert Sunday, Sept. 12, 3 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 26, 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.
Local artists at Fivesparks
Fivesparks will present the exhibit “in•sight: Together, Apart,” featuring four local artists who invite the community to share their journeys through work created during the pandemic. Opening reception Sunday, Sept. 12. More details on page 13 and at fivesparks.org.
Healing Garden Walk and Ride benefit
Registration is open for the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden Cancer Support Center’s 2021 Perennial Walk and Ride to Thrive, to be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2 and 3.
Saturday, riders can choose a 12-, 33-, or 66-mile ride through Nashoba Valley towns. On Sunday, walkers will have the option of a 1- or 5-mile walk on the back roads of Harvard. Proceeds will be used to continue free programs and services to cancer clients and their families. Register at healinggardensupport.org or call Maddie Phadke at 978-456-3532, ext. 105.
‘Emergence 2021’ at Old Frog Pond Farm
Old Frog Pond Farm’s 15th annual outdoor sculpture exhibit, “Emergence 2021,” is now open. Enjoy a self-guided tour and see the work of more than 40 New England artists along the farm’s tracks and trails at 38 Eldridge Road. The self-service farmstand is open every day, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., for freshly picked organic fruits and vegetables. Exhibit hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $10, seniors $8, children under 12 free. For more information: www.oldfrogpondfarm.com or fruit@oldfrogpondfarm.com.
STORYfest save the date
Fivesparks STORYfest, first weekend of October.
Out of Town
Appleseed Country Fair
The Appleseed Country Fair, at Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave., Phillipston, takes place Saturday, Sept. 4, through Monday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Featuring over 20 musical acts including guitarist/vocalist Ralph DeFlorio with fiddler Danielle Fennema, both of Harvard. Admission $15 per car. For more information, visit appleseedcountryfair.com.
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 Pkwy., 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.
Grafton Flower Festival
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
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.
Free class day atIndian Hill Music
Saturday, Sept. 18 is free class day at Indian Hill Music, 36 King St., Littleton. Aspiring musicians ages 1 to 13 can enjoy free classes, instrument exploration, and snacks. Learn more and sign up at indianhillmusic.org/freeclassday.
At the Museum of Russian Icons
The museum, at 203 Union Street, Clinton, is open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks required. More details at museumofrussianicons.org.
On view now is “The Long Way Home: A Photographic Journey with Gordon Lankton,” an exhibition of more than 40 photographs taken during Lankton’s journey from Germany to Japan on an NSU motorcycle in 1956-57.
Camera obscura at the Fitchburg Art Museum
Opening Sunday, Sept. 5: “Abelardo Morell: Projecting Italy.” Camera obscura photographs of sites in Italy. Two exhibits, “Joyride: Cars in American Art,” and “Uncovering the Human Condition,” open Saturday, Sept. 25. The museum is located at 26 Merriam Parkway, Fitchburg. More information can be found at https://fitchburgartmuseum.org.
