Current & Virtual Events: September 29, 2023

At the library

The library is located at 4 Pond Road. Visit harvardpubliclibrary.org/services/events for a full calendar of events. Register for all children’s programs at eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=Harvard.

Story times

• Ages 2+ and younger: Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Registration not required. (No story times Oct. 9 and 30.) Saturday, Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m.; registration required.
• Ages 2 and 3: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 4 through Nov. 8.
• Art and stories for ages 4, 5, and up: Mondays, 1:30 p.m., Oct. 2 through Nov. 13. (No story times Oct. 9 and 30.)
• Saturday story time (no signup required). Ages 3 to 7, Saturdays, Oct. 14 and 21, 10:30 a.m.

Children’s programs

• Write Stuff, grades 4 to 6, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 4 p.m.
• Kids’ afterschool movie: Thursday, Oct. 5, 3:45 p.m. Film is rated PG.
• Paws and Read: Grades K through 6: Wednesdays, Oct. 11 and 25. Read to therapy dogs. Appointments at 3:45, 4, 4:15, and 4:30 p.m.
• Twisted critters: ages 8 and up: Thursday, Oct. 12, 3:45 p.m. Create pipe cleaner animals.
• Family movie night: Friday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m. Film is rated PG.
• AbraKidabra! Magic show for all ages: Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m.
• Children’s literature book discussion group for grownups. Thursday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. “Big Tree” by Brian Selznick.
• GraviTrax challenge: ages 8 and up: Thursday, Oct. 19, 3:45 p.m. Work as a team to build a marble raceway.
• Lego club: grades K-6, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Book discussion group for first- and second-graders, Monday, Oct. 23, 4 p.m.
• Third-grade book group, Monday, Oct. 2, 4 p.m.
• Fourth-grade book group, Monday, Oct. 16, 4 p.m.
• Fifth-grade book group, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m.
• Sixth-grade book group, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 3 p.m.

Teen programs

• Teen maker program, grades 6 to 12: Thursday, Oct. 12, 3 p.m. Create craft projects.
• Teen advisory board, grades 6-12: Tuesday, Oct. 17, 3 p.m. Help the library shape its teen collections and programs. Sign up at forms.gle/Bz RtW9V6JFZHYWnz8.
• Teen treats program, grades 6-12. Thursday, Oct. 26, 3 p.m. Decorate cookies and cupcakes.

Adult program

• Cookbook Club, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m.: Browse a cookbook featuring the cuisine of a specific region or culture and bring a dish to a potluck meeting.

At Fivesparks

Fivesparks is located at 7 Fairbank Street. Closed Sunday and Monday; open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Visit fivesparks.org for the complete schedule and more information.

• Art Exhibit: “Marks of Distinction,” national juried art show by the Central Massachusetts Pastel Society, through Sept. 30.
• New art exhibit: “Rural Reverie,” Carolyn Letvin and Gretchen Fogelstrom. Oct. 3 through Nov. 4. Opening reception Saturday, Oct. 7, 3 to 5 p.m.
• Group strength, stability, and balance training. Wednesdays through Oct. 18, 9:30 a.m.
• “Drawing from the Present: Mindfulness and Art.” Introductory classes Saturday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m.
• Kids’ music classes and lessons with Steve Peisch. Little kids’ music and movement, Tuesdays, 4 to 5 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Private or semiprivate lessons on recorder, guitar, or keyboard, Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Eco art nature walk, Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m.
• Japanese gyotaku fish printing workshop, Saturday, Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Neurographic sketching, Sunday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to noon.
• Beginning acrylic and mixed media, Mondays and Wednesdays, Oct. 16 to Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Felting on school half days. Pumpkin and ghost, Oct. 18 and 31, 1:45 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Evening felting. Acorns and pumpkin, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Gel plate printing and collage. Two-day workshop, Oct. 21 and 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Meditative zen enso circle painting workshop, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.

Apple Harvest Ramble

The Apple Harvest Ramble half-marathon and 5k run will be held Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Bromfield School. First-place prizes are homemade apple pies from Carlson Orchards. All proceeds go to Harvard schools and local charities. Sign up and learn more at www.harvardraces.org.

Devens events

• Oct, 1: Mustang Car Club of New England All Wheels Car Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 31 Andrews Parkway.
• Oct. 4 and 7: Devens Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit devenshhw.com for more information.
• Oct. 5: Devens Harvest Fest from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Verbeck Field Complex. Pumpkin painting and hay rides.
• Oct. 10: Devens Farmer’s Market, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.,  at the corner of Rogers Field (close to the Devens fire station at the intersection of Elm and Jackson roads).

Tour the farm

On Monday, Oct. 2, at noon, the Harvard Woman’s Club will meet at Community Harvest Project, 115 Prospect Hill Road. Learn about volunteer opportunities at CHP, a nonprofit that engages and educates volunteers to grow fruits and vegetables for hunger relief in eastern and central Massachusetts. There will be a brown bag lunch, discussion, and tour; wear comfortable walking shoes. All are welcome.

Harvard Flea Market

The 51st annual Harvard Flea Market, sponsored by the Harvard Schools Trust and the League of Women Voters, will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date Oct. 8) on the fields in front of the library and Bromfield. Vendors will fill 185 booths, and thousands of bargain-hunters are expected to attend.

Arm in Arm and the Harvard Climate Initiative will hold a local food tasting contest at the flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To contribute food, visit tinyurl.com/mr6pefrw.

Apple Festival

The Congregational Church’s Apple Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Common. Freshly baked or frozen pie slices, cheese, ice cream, soup, and cider will be on offer.

‘The 1619 Project’

Starting Oct. 8 at 7 p.m., and running every other Sunday through Dec. 17, there will be discussions of “The 1619 Project,” a best-selling book and Hulu docuseries about how slavery and the marginalization of Black Americans have shaped the American story. The six discussions will focus on the topics of democracy, race, music, capitalism, fear, and justice and will be held in the Fellowship Building, 7 Elm Street, and on Zoom. To attend, complete the sign-up sheet at tinyurl.com/y6dub39u.

Habitat for Humanity’s ‘A Toast to Hope’

Tickets are available for Habitat for Humanity’s event featuring food and spirits tastings, a silent auction, and wine pull, Thursday, Oct. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway, Devens. Proceeds from this event benefit the organization’s building projects and home repairs. Register at tinyurl.com/2fde4dt9.

‘To Walk It Is To See It’

Former Harvard resident Kathy Elkind will appear at the public library, 4 Pond Road, Thursday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. Elkind is the author of “To Walk It Is To See It,” a memoir that follows her and her husband’s adult gap year and restorative journey through Europe on the 1,400 mile Grand Randonnée Five (GR5) through The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.

Don White at Fivesparks

Storyteller/comedian/author/troubadour Don White will appear at Fivesparks, 7 Fairbank Street, Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. White has shared the stage with Arlo Guthrie, Taj Mahal, Richie Havens, Patty Larkin, Bill Morrissey, Tom Rush, Loudon Wainwright III, and Christine Lavin. Admission is by free-will offering; reservations recommended at tinyurl.com/wsdre74m.

OUT OF TOWN

Horseshed Fair

The 47th annual Horseshed Fair takes place Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the grounds of the First Church of Lancaster, Unitarian Universalist, 725 Main Street, Lancaster. The event will feature more than 70 artisan and craft booths, food vendors, a beer garden, and live music with the bluegrass sounds of USB (The Unrehearsed String Band). Learn more at firstchurchlancasterma.org/news-events/horseshed-fair/.

Run against hunger

The Nashoba Valley Medical Center Hunger Run takes place Oct. 14, starting at 10 a.m. at 200 Groton Road, Ayer. All proceeds go to Loaves & Fishes food pantry. Register at.runreg.com/9th-Annual-hunger-run-5k-2023.

Theater season starts

The Concord Youth Theatre, 53 Church Street, Concord, announces its fall season, which will include ”Little Women: The Musical,” “A Year with Frog and Toad,” “Frozen Jr.,” “Matilda Jr.,” and “Junie B. Jones.” The theater is a nonprofit that provides opportunities for young people to be involved in the creative process through participation in live theater under the leadership of professionals. For more information, visit concordyouththeatre.org.

At Groton Hill

Groton Hill Music Center is located at 122 Old Ayer Road, Groton. Visit grotonhill.org for more information and tickets.

• Saturday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m. The String Queens, classical, jazz, and pop in the concert hall. More info and tickets at grotonhill.org/concerts/the-string-queens/.
• Friday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m. Loudon Wainwright III, in Meadow Hall. grotonhill.org/concerts/loudon-wainwright-iii/.
• Saturday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. Vista Phil opening night. Classical music in the concert hall. tinyurl.com/3czjv2b8.
• Sunday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. Alison Brown & Her Band. Progressive banjo in the concert hall. grotonhill.org/concerts/alison-brown/.

‘Shucked’ in NYC

The Worcester County Light Opera Company is offering a trip to New York City to view the musical comedy “Shucked,” Saturday, Sept. 30. The bus leaves at 7 a.m. with time for lunch and sightseeing before the 2 p.m. matinee at the Nederlander Theater. Price is $185 for transportation and an orchestra seat. Learn more and reserve a spot at wcloc.org/about-1.

Rally and walk against hate

Arm in Arm will co-sponsor “Walk Against Hate,” Sunday, Oct. 15, beginning with a rally at 2 p.m. at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School’s upper gym. The 1-mile walk to Gardner Field begins at 2:30 p.m., followed by a concluding song and gathering at 3:30 p.m. This event against antisemitism, racism, and bigotry is family-friendly, bringing together people of all backgrounds and beliefs, along with a diverse group of community partners. To carpool from Harvard, email arminarm.townofharvard@gmail.com.

An afternoon of comedy

Political satirist and comedian Jimmy Tingle will appear at the Parish Center for the Arts, 10 Lincoln Street, Westford, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m., with a matinee of his show “For Comedy, God, and Country.” Tickets are $18 for members; $20 advance purchase; $25 non-member; $30 at the door, and are available by calling 978-692-6333 or at pcawestford.org.