July
5 St. Anthony Parish Bazaar: Aug. 5 and 6, 14 Phoenix St., Shirley. Kick off is Friday at 5 p.m. with lobster and clams. Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m. Games and challenges for all ages, White Elephant tables and food.
Catherine O’Kelly: Concert featuring music of Bach, Albéniz, Villa-Lobos, Walton, Merlin and Koshkin, 7 p.m., Shirley Meeting House.
6 Living History: The 26th Infantry “Yankee” Division Living History Re-enactors will set up shop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fort Devens Museum courtyard. The group will offer a public lecture on the 3rd floor of the museum at 1 p.m.
8 Red Cross Blood Drive: 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 59 Andrews Parkway, Devens.
9 Pepperell Business Association Summer Band Concert Series: Flair… the Band (soft rock), 6:30 p.m., Town Field.
Bollywood Blast! Adult Dance Workshop: 7 p.m., Groton Public Library. Try something new in a relaxed setting! Dress comfortably. For adults 18 and up. Sign up at gpl.org, or call 978-448- 8000.
10 Dunstable Summer Concert: 6:30 p.m., Town Common, Strictly Overtime Band: Rock & Roll, Community Information Night.
11 Townsend Military Band: Lawn Party on Townsend Common sponsored by Townsend Fire/EMS Relief Association, food and entertainment for kids, concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
12 Bolton Fair: The 134th Annual Bolton Fair is Aug. 12-14 at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, Route 117. This popular regional fair offers animal exhibits, rides, games, craft and growers’ exhibits, hands-on experiences, demonstrations, a kids area, entertainers, a petting zoo, monster truck and demolition derby shows and countless attractions. 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Adults, $10; Seniors, $6; Age 5 – 12, $5; Military Personnel, $5; Age 4 and under free. Multi-day passes are available.
16 Pepperell Business Association Summer Band Concert Series: Terminal Velocity (classic rock), 6:30 p.m., Town Field.
Suburban Homesteader: Preserving Summer’s Bounty: Groton Public Library, 7 p.m. Preserve the bounty of your garden when everything seems to come all at once in late summer gardens. Jodie Gilson will give tips on drying, pickling, freezing, canning and vinegars for storage and winter use. Includes demonstration, participation, samples and handouts. Sign up at gpl.org, or call 978-448- 8000.
17 Natural Communities: The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) invites the public to a free presentation on “The Natural Communities of Massachusetts,” 7 p.m. at the NRWA River Resource Center at 592 Main Street (Rt. 119) in Groton. Learn more about the concept of natural communities, how they are identified and classified, why they are important to identify, and how that information is used to determine priority conservation projects. This talk will focus on natural communities in the Nashua River watershed area of Massachusetts.
18 Townsend Military Band: Lawn Party on Townsend Common sponsored by Baptist Church of West Townsend, food and entertainment for kids, concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
19 Concert: 7 p.m., Shirley Meeting House, Catherine O’Kelly will be joined by classical saxophonist Shane Rathburn (alto saxophone) and baritone Kevin de Benedictis. The program will feature Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango as well as works by Kechley, De Sermisy and Albeniz.
20 Townsend Backyard Theater: Movie TBA, gates open at 6 p.m.,, 47 Main St., Townsend. Food, DJ, games and fun. $4 per person or $12 per family.
Car Show: Pepperell Road Knights will hold a car show, 1 to 6 p.m., on the Town Field. For more information contact RoadKnightsPepperell@gmail.com.
Historic Pub Crawl: Starts at the Bull Run Restaurant, Shirley, at 4 p.m. and will include a bus tour of 21 sites of Shirley’s historic taverns and night clubs. The $20 ticket includes the cost of the bus tour, plus the cost of one libation at a local watering hole. Tickets for the event will be on sale at the Shirley Historical Society Museum on Mondays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., at the Shirley Center Farmer’s Market on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m., or at the Hazen Library during their regular open hours. For more information, contact the Shirley Historical Society at 978-425-9328 or mail@shirleyhistory.org.
September
10 St. John’s Bazaar: Auction starts at noon. Come and play games, and buy fresh home grown produce. Purchase wonderful local crafts. Stroll around listening to good music and enjoying great food. Take a chance to win amazing themed gift baskets and other great raffle prizes. It’s good old-fashioned fun for young and old. It’s all happening 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on scenic Townsend Common. Rain date is Sept. 11 at noon.
17 Volkfest: The Harvard Lions are holding their inaugural Volkfest, 3 to 10 p.m. in front of the Harvard Library, 4 Pond Road. The family fun fest, in the heart of apple country, will provide Harvard ‘s take on the traditional German festival. Another first for Harvard will be competitive Bed Races. The event is another unique Lions event with proceeds helping to fund the many charitable causes supported by the Lions.
24 Grotonfest: Grotonfest 2016 will take place on Legion Common from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Booths galore, artisans, non-profits, businesses and demonstrations, great food and terrific performances featuring Fiddlin’ Quinn And His Big Folks Band; Magician C.J. Diamond; Blues performer Peter Ward; Centerstage Dancers; Arts Nashoba;Nashoba Valley Dance Academy; Jeannie Mack Kids Music; and Animal Adventures.
The Craft Festival: At Fruitlands Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $5/member, $10/nonmember (children under 12 are free) The Craft Festival at Fruitlands juried craft show will be back for its 6th anniversary this fall, featuring artisans selling jewelry, ceramics, glassware, wood items, fiber arts and more. Set on the picturesque grounds of Fruitlands Museum, the show’s quality of craft has made the Festival a popular September destination. The Harvard Lions Club will supply the grilled goodies and The Summertime Trio will keep us tapping our toes with live music all weekend.
26 Beatles For Sale: Beatles tribute band concert, 6 p.m., Town Center Common, Shirley. In case of inclement weather, concert will be held inside the Meetinghouse, 41 Brown Road.
30 NMRHS Class of 1966 Reunion: The class will hold its 50th Reunion on September 30 and October 1. Classmates who have not yet been contacted should email peter.kontio@alston.com for further information.
October
1 Humble and Kind: Ayer Federated Church will host an evening event with entertainment, food and activities for the community. The building will be open between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. during the celebration.
8 Harvest Festival: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free with admission at Fruitlands Museum. Enjoy the abundance of the New England landscape in this celebration of the autumn harvest! Learn about Native American gardening and how local Native peoples prepared for the winter long ago. See examples of livestock raised in local farms and find fresh food sources near you. Make seasonal crafts for your hearth or front door. Taste local fruits and vegetables and quench your thirst with switchel – a refreshing tonic used by farmers of old!
15 Recycle Your Reusables: Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit recycleyourreusables.wordpress.com for details on acceptable materials.
29 Fruitlands Halloween Treats: Both Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free with admission. Calling all ghouls and goblins! Join us in the Family Learning Center where you can decorate a spooky mask. Don’t forget your goodie bag – we’re giving out treats at the museum buildings! Children who visit the museum in costume receive free admission this Halloween weekend!
30 Haunted Hillside: Fruitlands Museum, 6 to 9 p.m. Members$10/adult $3/child, Nonmembers: $15/adult, $5/child. Follow the candle-lit paths across the Fruitlands hillside and listen to tales of ghosts, spirits, and a foolish medical student from Harvard during this spooky storytelling event. Set amid Fruitlands historic hovels and over-grown thickets, this evening of eerie stories is sure to get everyone in the Halloween spirit. Hot cider, popcorn, and goosebumps await!
November
5 Annual Bonfire: At Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, 5 to 7p.m. Meet near the old elm tree at sunset when and close the 2016 season with a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. Arrive early to weave a special message of goodwill into the bonfire sculpture then watch as the wind carries our wishes to the stars. S’mores kits will be available for snacking, too!
