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Clockwise from top left: Beneski Museum of Natural
History at Amherst College, Amherst; JFK Hyannis Museum on Cape Cod,
credit Paul Scharff; Magic Wings Butterfly Conservancy and Gardens,
South Deerfield; Rainbow Fleet at Brant Point, Nantucket, credit
Michael Galvin; Leroy Maddix - Grass Dancer, credit North American
Indian Center of Boston
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Massachusetts
is rich in arts & culture, so it's no surprise that exciting
events, exhibits and festivals are held in the state's 16 regions all
year long. Find out more!
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Celebrating
Independence of Summer
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So
much to celebrate in July - starting with Independence Day, with
parades, fireworks and community cookouts all across Massachusetts.
July also marks the high season of outdoor festivals, with seasonal
venues like Cape Cod Melody Tent, the Cohasset Music Circus, Lowell
Music Series, the Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport putting on the
best summer sounds.
And did you notice how fresh the food is in July - fruits and
vegetables from farm to table, fishing boats bringing in fresh
catches. And plenty of clam shacks, lobster rolls and to go
around.
Wherever you go in Massachusetts, enjoy your summer!
Plan
your next getaway to Massachusetts!
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Featured
Region: Hampshire County
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Try
something new in The Other Side of Massachusetts! Look Park
is a destination for every day, especially in the summer, but
this July check out special events at the park like the 23rd Annual
Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival on July 16 or the first-ever Pioneer
Valley Beer and Wine Festival on July 30. In bustling downtown
Northampton, enjoy the sounds of summer at the Northampton Arts Council's Summer Concert
Series on Fridays or our annual Sidewalk Sales July
28-31. Head to the hills for your fill of hands-on arts experiences.
Take a class at Snow
Farm: The New England Craft Program - it's essentially
like Art Camp for Adults! Or visit artist studios along the Hilltown6
Pottery Tour the weekend of July 23 & 24.
Find more information on Hampshire
County.
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Wave
the flag and watch the fireworks! The Fourth of July is a great time
to enjoy community gatherings throughout Johnny Appleseed Country.
The fun begins on July 2 just keeps going. Fitchburg pulls out all the
stops, with a downtown block party and fireworks on Saturday and
parade on Monday. For an old-timey celebration, swing by Templeton,
where the Declaration of Independence is read in a historic church,
followed by an ice cream social on the common. It's time to celebrate
America in Johnny Appleseed Country! Find more information on Johnny
Appleseed Country.
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Martha's Vineyard is
delighted to announce the inaugural season of two fabulous
performance series: the MV
Concert Series features Paula Poundstone, Alan
Cummins, The Moth, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Capitol Steps, David
Sedaris and more! Broadway
@ the Performing Arts Center features Tony winners
Audra MacDonald and Kristen Chenoweth, Megan Mullally and Nick
Offerman, Patti Lupone and more! For everything Martha's Vineyard,
including Last Minute Lodging, visit MVY.com. Find more
information on Martha's
Vineyard.
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The
enchanting Bridge of Flowers attracts visitors from around the globe
to the iconic Village of Shelburne
Falls. Folks return to take in other fabulous
events throughout the summer, including the Bridge of Flowers Classic
10k race and 3k Charity Run & Walk attracting over 1,000
participants (August 13) and the festive Iron Bridge Dinner serving
400+ patrons dining al fresco on the Iron Bridge (August 21).
Find more information on the Mohawk Trail Region. Find more
information on The
Mohawk Trail Region.
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Three
late-July events combine the best of MetroWest: art, gardens, food,
and history! Natick Center Cultural District's 9th annual ArtWalk on July 21 caps off
Restaurant Week, with 50 artists and restaurants stationed outside
local businesses and studios, 5-8:30 pm. At the Gardens
at Elm Bank's Arts on the Green on the 28th, walk
through the gardens' summer splendor to visit artists set up
throughout the grounds, 5-8pm, in Wellesley. On July 30-31, vintage
racecars, stagecoaches, biplanes vie against horseback-riders in Race of the Century in Stow.
Find more information on MetroWest.
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Join
us on Nantucket Sunday, July 3rd for an
unforgettable seaside fireworks
display! The morning of the 4th begins with a reading
of the Declaration Of Independence held on idyllic Main Street. Enjoy
traditional morning activities afterward including face painting,
watermelon and pie eating contests. Try your hand at the dunk
tank witness the epic water fight between rival fire departments.
Evening games including three legged, wheel barrow, potato sack races
and the famous tug of war all take place at Children's Beach. Find
more information on Nantucket
Island.
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Come
celebrate the 51st annual Beverly
Homecoming celebration. With over 40 events over the
course of 10 fun-filled days for everyone to enjoy all around
Beverly! Homecoming celebrations begin on Friday July 29th and
end with music and fireworks on August 7th. Make this tradition part
of your summer traditions. Find more information on North
of Boston.
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For over 30 years, Cultural Survival Bazaars
have brought together Indigenous artists and craftspeople from around
the world. Brimming with colors, sounds, and art, the Bazaars are a
celebration of the world's cultural diversity. On Saturday and Sunday
July 23rd & 24th, Plymouth will have its very first Bazaar in
Pilgrim Memorial State Park on the waterfront. Buy traditional and
contemporary crafts, meet the makers, get lost in the mesmerizing
sounds of various Native bands, and enjoy a summer day by the water! Learn more! Find more
information on Plymouth
County.
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Head to New Bedford
on July 9th and 10th for the 21st
Annual Folk Festival, voted one of "New
England's Greatest Celebrations" by Boston Globe. Celebrate
women artist with the Narrows newest exhibit, The Frame of Influence.
Each exhibiting artist has been asked to share the origins of their
creative process with the viewer through statement and
documentation. Find more information on Southeastern
Massachusetts.
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Shakespeare
& Company presents its 39th season, featuring the
works of Shakespeare in repertory with classic and contemporary
plays, on 4 stages in Lenox, located in the heart of the Berkshires.
Productions include Merchant of Venice, Two Gentlemen of Verona and
Twelfth Night from the Bard, and contemporary offerings from
award-winning playwrights Liz Duffy Adams (Or,) Nilo Cruz (Sotto
Voce), and Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies the Bone). Come and revel in
memorable theater and be sure to also enjoy our lectures, backstage
tours, studio readings, and free community events. Find more
information on The
Berkshires.
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The
Longest Running "Free" Folk Festival in America celebrates
30 years on July 29-31, 2016 on five stages in Downtown Lowell! Join
us at the Lowell
Folk Festival for Traditional Music & Dance from
National & International Cultures, enjoy Ethnic Cuisine, and
learn from Master Crafters. Visit LowellFolkFestival.org.
For more fun things happening in the Greater Merrimack Valley this
summer, visit merrimackvalley.org.
Find more information on Greater
Merrimack Valley.
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Celebrate
Summer to the fullest in Central Mass! If you're a pinball fan be
sure to check out New England's first ever Pintastic Pinball & Game
Room Expo in Sturbridge, July 7 -9! The expo is fun
for the whole family and kids will have a blast with a caricature
artist, face painting, balloon animals, magic, and a bouncy house!
For more adult fun, check out Worcester's
Beer, Blues & BBQ Fest on July 23 and enjoy local
restaurant and food truck fare paired with craft brews and some of
the city's favorite blues musicians! Find more information on Central
Massachusetts.
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Green
River Festival will be held July 8-10 at Greenfield
Community College (easy access from I-91 and Route 2). Good
music, good food, good fun for all ages! Line-up includes
Tedeschi Trucks Band, NRBQ, Los Lobos, Margo Price, Charles Neville
and many more. Hot air balloon ride reservations available by calling
413-773-5463 or at franklincc.org.
Off-site camping, parking and shuttles available. Festival tickets
and details at greenriverfestival.com.
Find more information on Franklin
County.
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July
in Boston always starts with a very big bang and rightly so when the
annual Harborfest
and the Boston
Pops Fireworks Spectacular celebrates the nation's
birthday and Boston's pivotal role in our
country's history. Make plans throughout the month to enjoy outdoor movies, farmer and
artisan markets, open-air concerts, fairs, feasts and
festivals
across the city- many of which are free. More
freebies include Free
Fridays at area museums, Outside the Box Boston,
Shakespeare on the Common and the International Sand Sculpting
Festival. Stroll the Greenway taking in special
events, especially the Ai
Wei sculpture, or simply relax and enjoy this
stunning urban park. Find more information on Greater
Boston.
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Hydrangeas
are the signature flower of Cape Cod, and the inaugural Cape
Cod Hydrangea Festival will celebrate these beautiful
blue, pink and white blooms at their peak! Take a glimpse into some
of Cape Cod's most spectacular private gardens during the 10-day Cape
Cod Hydrangea Festival, from July 8-17. Festival highlights include
over 90 garden tours organized by local nonprofits and museums, a
hydrangea-inspired Cocktail Trail, and other
special hydrangea-themed events & promotions. More at CapeCodHydrangeaFest.com!
Find more information on Cape
Cod.
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Star Spangled Springfield -
Fireworks, live music and food. Riverfront Park, Springfield. Entertainment
by Falcetti Music then Maxxtone at 7 pm. Fireworks start at 9:30 pm
on Monday July 4. Indian Motocycle Day - The
Springfield Museums celebrate America's first motorcycle, the classic
Indian "motocycles" (they spelled it without the R) that
were manufactured in Springfield from 1901 to 1953. Come see over 60
classic Springfield-built Indians, vendor booths and more.
Sunday, July 24, 9 am-3 pm. Go to VisitWesternMA.com
for more great ideas for July! Find more information on Greater
Springfield.
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