At the library
The library is located at 4 Pond Road.
Story times
Registration is required for all story times. All story times will be held outdoors under the tent through Oct. 27. In case of inclement weather, outdoor story time will be canceled (all registrants will be notified in case of cancellation). Register at forms.gle/TNAtQgJxCgVMoVUR6.
- Ages 2 and under: Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
- Story time for ages 2 and 3: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
- Stories for ages 4, 5, and up: Mondays, 1:30 p.m.
Presenting the new Bromfield garden
A recognition event will take place on Friday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. outside the Bromfield School entrance, 14 Mass. Ave., to present a new garden created by the Bromfield Green Team, a group of environmentally concerned students. The team removed invasive species and created a native landscape planting at the entrance. A second phase of the project, to replace invasive plants outside of Cronin Auditorium, is currently underway. The goal of the project is to educate students, faculty, and the community about the importance of native plants and the dangers of invasive plants.
Fivesparks exhibits, classes, activities
Fivesparks is located at 7 Fairbank Street. Details on programs, events, classes at fivesparks.org.
New: Children’s Music, semester-long classes:
- Children’s choir: Mondays through Jan. 10, 4-5 p.m., ages 8-12.
- Music for little kids: Tuesdays through Jan. 9, 4-4:45 p.m., ages 5-7.
- Private/small group music instruction on recorder and/or guitar: Mondays or Tuesdays through Jan. 9/10. 30-45-minute sessions between 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Upcoming programs, events, classes
- Storyfest 2022: Saturday, Oct. 1. A full day of live storytelling with six professional storytellers.
- Oct. 1-2: Harvard/Bolton open studios. Select artists on view Saturday, Oct. 1. Full exhibit on view Oct. 2-28. Public reception on Sunday, Oct. 9, 3-5 p.m.
- School early-release crafting with Rachel Benson: Wednesdays 1:45-3 p.m. Oct. 19, clay tea light ghost.
- Exploring nature with pencil and watercolors, workshop with nature artist Barry Van Dusen. Saturday. Oct. 8, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Back by popular demand: Silk painting workshop with Johanna Tiemann. Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Felting open studios, Oct. 19, 5:45-7:30 p.m.
- Watercolor techniques for nature artists, workshop with Barry Van Dusen. Saturday, Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Healing Garden Walk and Ride
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden’s Walk and Ride concludes on Sept. 30. Celebrate the participants at the garden, 141 Bolton Road, Sunday, Oct. 2, 1-3 p.m. The Healing Garden offers services to improve the quality of life for those affected by cancer. For more information and to register, go to secure.qgiv.com/event/hgcscp2p.
Bolton and Harvard Open Studios
Local artists will open their studios as the Bolton and Harvard Open Studios takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2, at various locations throughout Bolton and Harvard. For a list of participating artists and for more information, visit openartstudios.org.
Woman’s Club meets at Harvard Alpaca Ranch
The Harvard Woman’s Club will meet Monday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Harvard Alpaca Ranch, 58 Mill Road. Learn about alpacas: their origin, their light footprint on the land, why their fiber is highly valued; and about the ranch’s alpaca therapy program. Guests of HWC members are invited, as well as those interested in learning more about the HWC and its mission. For more information and carpooling, visit harvardwomansclub.wordpress.com.
Folk-blues, fiddle music at Fivesparks
notloB Parlour Concerts presents two upcoming shows at Fivesparks, 7 Fairbank Street.
- Friday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.: Geoff Bartley, folk-blues guitar player, singer-songwriter, and recording artist.
- Friday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.: Traditional music with 17-year-old fiddler Owen Kennedy, accompanied by Ethan Tischler Stokes and Fern Tamagni- O’Donnell.
Admission is by free-will offering, suggested cash donation: adults $15-20; teens and seniors $10; children $5. 100% of patron donations go to the artist. Reserve a spot at notlobmusic.eventbrite.com.
Yoga at the orchard
Renee Laurencelle will be leading a gentle vinyasa yoga class, Friday, Oct. 7, 6-7 p.m. at Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road. The cost is $10 cash or Venmo on the day of the class. Arrive early to enjoy some cider and food offerings from the orchard; be sure to bring your own mat. Email reneelaurencelle@gmail.com
for more information.
50th Annual Flea Market
The 50th Annual Harvard Flea Market will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the grounds of the Bromfield School (Rain date: Sunday, Oct. 9). Admission is $3 per person for adults and seniors; $1 per child ages 6-12; and $10 for early birds (7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.). For more information, including directions and booth availability, visit www.harvardfleamarket.com.
Fall bazaar
The fall bazaar and giant yard sale takes place at Saint Benedict Center, 282 and 271 Still River Road, Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature bargain hunting, ethnic food booths, games, baked goods, and raffles. This event takes place rain or shine.
Apple pie on the Common
The Congregational Church of Harvard will host its Apple Festival on the Common Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pies are apple crumb streusel or traditional, baked or frozen; slices and whole pies will be available.
OUT OF TOWN
Ayer fair
The Newton Street Folk and Arts Festival takes place in downtown Ayer Saturday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy live heritage music, dance, theater, and storytelling for children, as well as local food, artisans, and community booths.
Bookworms take note
The Friends of the Thayer Memorial Library, Lancaster, will host their annual book sale the weekends of Oct. 1 and 2 and Oct. 8 and 9, at Lancaster Old Town Hall, 695 Main Street, Lancaster. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays noon to 4 p.m. $2 per hardcover book; $1.50 softcover; and 50 cents for paperbacks; “fill a bag” prices vary by date.
Fall at Old Sturbridge Village
Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge, presents a variety of fall events.
- Oct. 1 and 2: “Kicking Off The Harvest,” with hands-on harvesting, picking and preservation activities.
- Oct. 8, 9, and 10: Agriculture fair weekend, recreating a 19th-century cattle show and exhibition of domestic manufacture.
- Oct. 22 and 23: “Celebrating the Harvest.”
See the full lineup at osv.org/fall-2022-at-the-village.
Musical ensembles forming now
The Groton Hill Music Center, 122 Old Ayer Road, Groton, is offering ensembles for all ages.
- Youth and teens: audition for regional youth orchestras and wind ensembles featuring renowned conductors and guest artists. Sign up at grotonhill.org/school/saturday-ensemble-experience.
- Youth chorus for kids 4-13. Meets Tuesdays beginning Oct. 4. Learn more and register at grotonhill.org/school/ensembles/#YouthChorus.
- Groups for adult learners include the New Horizons concert band for beginners and the New Orleans second line band, flute orchestra, recorder ensembles, and ukulele club for experienced players. Various starting dates in October. Sign up at grotonhill.org/school/adult-ensembles.
The play’s the thing
The Theatre at the Mount, 444 Green Street, Gardner, will present “The Play That Goes Wrong,” Oct. 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. The play combines Monty Python hijinks and the mystery of Sherlock Holmes with an amateur troupe of comically clumsy actors. Tickets are available online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or by phone at 978-630-9388.
Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome presents ‘The Sound of Color’
Harvard pianist Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome will present “The Sound of Color: An Evening of Piano Music Inspired by Visual Artists,” Saturday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m., at the Museum of the Modern Renaissance, 115 College Avenue, Somerville. The recital will feature works by Debussy and Mussorgsky with discussion of the history and inspiration behind the pieces. For tickets and more information, visit sonyaovrutskyfensome.com.
Workshop for aspiring iconographers
The Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union Street, Clinton, is offering an icon drawing class with Ileana Barbu, Monday, Oct. 10, through Friday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This intensive workshop focuses on developing the aspiring iconographer’s drawing skills, using the ideal models of the Theotokos and Christ prototypes. Members $450; others $500.
Limited to 14 participants, registration is required by Oct. 1. All materials included. Learn more at tinyurl.com/y7c9cazu.
‘A Toast to Hope’
Experience tastings from local restaurants and spirit distributors at Habitat for Humanity’s “A Toast to Hope,” Thursday, Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m. at Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway, Devens. Tickets $30 in advance; $35 at the door. Proceeds support Habitat’s building and home repair projects. Register at tinyurl.com/yc382x8k.
Devens Dog Festival
Bring your dog to the fourth annual Devens Dog Festival, Saturday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain date Oct. 30). Hosted by Clear Path for Veterans, the festival takes place at Museum Park, 29 Antietam Street, Devens. This family-friendly event will feature food, entertainment, music, demonstrations, and more. Admission is $10 for adults; children 12 and under, military and veterans, and dogs get in free. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Owners must bring proof of up-to-date vaccinations for all dogs.
