Fun on the Fourth
Independence Day is Harvard’s hometown celebration and longest-running tradition. It is run entirely by volunteers.
Gates open at 5 p.m. for the concert and fireworks on Monday, July 4, on the hillside of Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road. Bring your own picnic or enjoy food prepared by Dean’s Concessions, with music by the BarnBurners and Ashley Jordan. Park in the fields of Fruitlands or take a shuttle bus from the Bromfield School. Admission is $40 per car or $10 to walk in. Round-trip shuttle bus fare including admission is $15.
On Saturday, July 2, the town celebrates with a bike-decorating contest for kids, a downtown parade, an antique car show, and an afternoon of field events for all ages, with food by the Lions Club.
Fourth of July T-shirts and other items are available Saturday, June 18, and Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to noon next to the General Store. Visit harvard4thofjuly.org for more information.
At the library
Children’s Programs
- Summer Reading Kickoff, Tuesday, June 28, 4 p.m., with lawn games, popsicles, and classic rock and pop songs performed by local band Electric Orange. Outdoors on the library lawn. Register at forms.gle/F7w9CcEwStuXB8nF6. Rain dates are Wednesday, June 29, and Thursday, June 30, at 4 p.m.
- Davis Bates, storyteller: “The Places You’ll Go,” Tuesday, July 12, 4 p.m. A mixture of family, Native American, international, and regional songs and stories. Outdoors on the library lawn. Register at forms.gle/EmD6r6ECAzdfjBiY6.
- Yo-Yo Guy, Thursday, July 21, 4 p.m. A high-energy comedy yo-yo show. Outdoors on the library lawn. Register at forms.gle/WGUYQq79mAUqpJDw6.
- Animal World Experience, Wednesday, July 27, 4 p.m. Travel beyond the beaten path to discover the world of unusual and amazing animals. Register at forms.gle/8iY1UYXssrnLrNZ56.
- Camp Balloon Magic with Jungle Jim, Wednesday, August 3, 4 p.m. Big balloon sports (volleyball and basketball), animal identification, Magic 101, and a giant 6-foot balloon. Outdoors on the library lawn. Register at forms.gle/a5b62ynTxsMSdoFN6.
- Mr. Vinny the Bubble Guy, Wednesday, August 10, 4:30 p.m. Bubble fun on the library lawn. Register at forms.gle/
- e5hEmy4ArTUHzJJd9.
- Circle of Songs with Hugh Hanley, Tuesday, August 16, 10:30 a.m. Outdoors on the library lawn. Register at forms.gle/ShNjbmBVvzvYiDZo7.
Story times
Registration is required for all story times. Story times will be held outdoors under the tent. In case of inclement weather, outdoor story time will be canceled (all registrants will be notified in case of cancellation). Register at forms.gle/31ncCNkwptBUT1VH8.
- Ages 0-2: Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., July 7-August 18
- Ages 2 and 3: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., July 13-August 17
- Ages 4, 5 and up: Mondays, 1:30 p.m., July 11-August 15
- Saturday story times: ages 3 to 7: Saturdays, June 25, July 16, and August 13, at 10:30 a.m. With teen volunteers, on the library lawn.
Fivesparks exhibits, classes, activities
Fivesparks is located at 7 Fairbank Street and will stay open during the ongoing roof repair. Get more information and register for all classes via the calendar at fivesparks.org.
- New Class: Zen Enso Circles, Japanese art-making, moving meditation. Sunday, July 17, 1-3:30 p.m.
- Art Is Sweet, kids’ summer three-day workshop with Rachel Benson, Monday, July 18-Wednesday, July 20, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Journal art, kids’ summer three-day workshop with Rachel Benson, Monday to Wednesday, August 8-10, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- In the Little Art Gallery: Works by local watercolorist, Ana Hedberg.
- Ongoing: Drop in to work on a community puzzle on the indoor porch.
‘Alaskan Nets’ screened at Bromfield
The Bromfield School, Fivesparks, and the Harvard Schools Trust present a screening of the documentary “Alaskan Nets,” Friday, June 17, 6:30 p.m. at the Bromfield School, 14 Mass. Ave. Director and Bromfield alum Jeff Harasimowicz and Bromfield alum and Harvard Press film critic Danny Eisenberg will moderate a discussion and Q&A. Learn more about the film and purchase tickets at tinyurl.com/nets01451.
Benefit concert at the General
On Saturday, June 18, at 8 p.m., the band 5th Gear will appear at the General Store in a fundraising event, with all donations going to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. $10 cover, reservations recommended. Donations may also be made at tinyurl.com/bdhv634s.
Music festival
Reserve for ticketed events at Fivesparks’ Fifth Annual Harvard Music Festival at tinyurl.com/5thHMF; no registration needed for “drop-in” sessions or “Asymmetries.”
- Monday-Friday, June 20-24: 9 a.m.-noon and 1:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m.: Drop in to a coaching session or master class at:
– Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary, 9 Ayer Road
– Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Building, 7 Elm Street
– Congregational Church Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall, 5 Still River Road - Tuesday, June 21, 4 p.m.: Ticketed open master class: Listen as ensembles play for a coach and a small audience.
- Thursday, June 23, 7 p.m.: Ticketed music salon: An informal house concert where musicians share excerpts from works being rehearsed for performance.
- Friday, June 24, 7:30 p.m.: Performance of Jackson Mac Low’s “Asymmetries” (location to be announced).
- Saturday, June 25, 7:30 p.m.: Ticketed celebration concert: Musicians present their final performances.
Learn more at fivesparks.org/hmf2022.
Nature and art
Beginning Tuesday, June 21, Fivesparks, 7 Fairbank Street, will present “Nature’s Magic: Sharing the Whimsy of Nature Through Art.” The exhibit features fiber art by Rachel Benson, pastels by Pam Short, and illustrations and watercolors by Colleen Sgroi. An opening reception takes place Sunday, June 26, at 3 p.m. The exhibit runs through July 29.
Concord Band returns to Fruitlands
The Concord Band will play at Fruitlands Museum for the first time since July 2019. Concerts take place Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. with “Musical Road Trip’’ on June 22; “Spectacular Broadway” on June 29; “America Celebrates” on July 6; and “Summer Retrospective” on July 13. Online reservations at tinyurl.com/fruitlands are encouraged to reduce wait times at the entrance; admission is per carload with Fruitlands/Trustees members receiving a discount.
Shaker open house
Join the Harvard Historical Society Sunday, June 26, 1 to 4 p.m., at 215 Still River Road for an open house featuring its Shaker collection, including the newly arrived Shaker desk. Refreshments available, along with an opportunity to taste Shaker recipes prepared by the members of the Historical Society. Learn more about the society at harvardhistory.org.
Row your boat
Bare Hill Rowing Association offers recreational learn-to-row classes for youth and adults as well as opportunities to row for experienced adults and collegiate rowers on Bare Hill Pond, beginning Monday, June 27. Visit barehillrowing.com/summer for more information.
- Learn-to-row (2 oars): Introduction to sculling for youth (rising sixth-graders) to adults. Open to the public. Three stand-alone classes offered at different skill levels. No experience needed. Program runs through August 13.
- Level II sculling: For those who have completed the learn-to-row course, intermediate level or have previous sculling/sweep rowing experience.
- Experienced adult and collegiate rowers: For adults with sculling experience. No water supervision or instruction is provided. Open to Harvard residents, collegiate alumni and parents of Bromfield Acton-Boxborough team members.
Fourth of July race and fun run
The Fourth of July 5-mile race and 1-mile fun run start at the Bromfield School, 14 Mass. Ave. Registration opens Monday, July 4, at 6:30 a.m. with the 5-mile race starting at 8:15 a.m. and the 1-mile fun run at 9:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in six different divisions, and postrace refreshments will be available. Learn more at www.harvardraces.org/races/july-4th-5-miler.
OUT OF TOWN
Music lessons
Register for short-term group classes and flexible summer lessons at Groton Hill Music. Sign up for New Horizons Concert Band and ukulele groups for adults, early childhood and beginner instrument classes for young learners, the online Jazz Hang, or Youth Chorus Week. Private lessons are also available. Summer programs are held at 36 King Street, Littleton. Learn more and register at grotonhill.org.
Stretch!
Dragonfly Wellness Center presents “Yoga on Rogers,” every Wednesday from June 15 through September 28 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Rogers Field, 37 Buena Vista Street, Devens. Learn more and register for these free sessions at tinyurl.com/3bt94ctt.
Judaism and the Soviet Union
The Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union Street, Clinton, presents “Growing up Jewish in the Soviet Union,” a virtual conversation with author Margarita Gokun Silver, Sunday, June 26, 1 p.m. Free; registration is required by Saturday, June 25. The Zoom link will be emailed the morning of the event. Silver’s work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, BBC, the Guardian, and the Christian Science Monitor. Register at tinyurl.com/3mpjkyhv.
