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Join the Concord Fife and Drum at the Old Manse as they share some of the music that was heard in New England throughout the Revolutionary War, including songs heard at the Battle of the North Bridge. July 3, 11:00 a.m.–noon. TheTrustees.org/place/the-old-manse
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Celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence with a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the hillside overlooking Concord’s North Bridge. Following the reading, park staff and volunteers will present a thrilling nighttime musket and cannon-fire salute and music of the Revolution. July 3, 8:30 p.m. Nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit
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Experience an Independence Day tradition that challenges, inspires, and sparks meaningful conversation. Gather on the lawn of The Robbins House for a community reading of “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?,” Frederick Douglass’ powerful reflection on freedom, justice, and the unfinished promise of America. July 4, 10:00 a.m.–noon. RobbinsHouse.org
Courtesy of The Robbins House4
Enjoy free admission to Concord Museum and access to the Revolutionary Legacies exhibition, special family activities, and more. July 4, 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. ConcordMuseum.org
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Four Score and Seven Years: The Wayside and the American Civil War. For President Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War marked the continuation of the struggles set forth by the Spirit of ‘76. Although separated by 430 miles, Concord and Gettysburg were linked together by blood and ideas. Join a park ranger to uncover the connections between Concord and the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. July 5, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit
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Declaring Independence: Then and Now in Concord. In July 1776, the citizens of Concord listened to a reading of the Declaration of Independence and then voted to accept it. The Wright Tavern and Freedom’s Way are recreating this experience on the steps of First Parish in Concord. Be a part of this inspiring afternoon. July 11, 1:00–3:00 p.m. To learn more about Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area and Declaring Independence: Then and Now, visit DiscoverConcordMA.com/articles/755-declaring-independence-then-and-now.
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Henry David Thoreau is known for the two years he spent living at Walden Pond. Did you know that he lived in other homes in Concord throughout his life? Join A Walk in Thoreau’s Concord and discover the domestic side of Thoreau’s life as you visit the homes where he lived and hear the stories told about him by family and friends. July 11, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ConcordMuseum.org
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It’s blueberry season! Reserve your spot today for Verrill Farm’s annual Blueberry Pancake Breakfast. Enjoy fresh pancakes prepared with locally grown blueberries, bacon, sausage, and real maple syrup. There will be hayrides and live music by Colonial Jazz. You can even enter a blueberry pie eating contest. July 11, 9:00–11:00 a.m. Reservations required. VerrillFarm.com
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Blooms, Bees & Butterflies: Discover Pollinators at Minute Man. This fun, free, hands-on program invites children and families to explore the fascinating world of pollinators and the important role they play in our environment. Through interactive activities, children will discover how flowers and pollinators work together, learn about the parts of a flower, and meet some of nature’s hardest-working helpers, including bees, butterflies, and more. July 15, 10:00–11:00 a.m. Registration required. FriendsofMinuteman.org/events
10Revolutionary Legacies: History Happy Hour. Celebrate Concord Museum’s special exhibition, Revolutionary Legacies, with a special guided tour following a festive happy hour of wine, beer, and light refreshments in the Museum’s courtyard. Reflect on the nation’s founding principles, their continuous reinterpretation over the past 250 years, and consider what they mean today through textiles, ceramics, and relics from the 19th century. July 16, 6:30–8:00 p.m. ConcordMuseum.org
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A Celebration of the Declaration: An Exhibition of Rare 1776 Documents. Don’t miss this extraordinary chance to view a selection of the surviving records of 1776 in Concord. The rare Ezekiel Russell Broadside Printing of the Declaration of Independence, issued July 17, 1776, by the Massachusetts Governor’s Council and delivered to Reverend William Emerson, will be on display along with other select documents. July 18, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ConcordLibrary.org
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Blooms at the Edge of the Battlefield. Join Kathleen Fahey, executive director of the Friends of Minute Man National Park, online as she presents the history and preservation of Buttrick Gardens at Minute Man National Historical Park. July 23, 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. FriendsofMinuteman.org/events
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Walt Whitman’s American Dream. Enjoy a staged reading and discussion of the new play Walt Whitman’s American Dream by Sarah Vander Schaaff. The play stirs the bigger questions still at the heart of our experience with an ensemble of characters, including Ralph Waldo Emerson. July 23, 6:30–8:00 p.m. ConcordMuseum.org
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Head to Concord Center for the Summer Sidewalk Sale and enjoy great deals, live music, and much more. August 1, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. ConcordChamberOfCommerce.org/events
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Old Hill Burial Ground Walking Tour. Tour Old Hill Burial Ground and learn about the Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Concord’s oldest cemetery. Visit the final resting place of some of the most well-known figures from April 19, 1775, including Emerson Cogswell, Colonel Barrett, and Captain David Brown. August 1, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ConcordMuseum.org
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Celebrate summer with a baby animal petting zoo featuring our friends from Barn Babies! The menagerie of baby animals will include a diapered baby goat/lamb, a piglet, puppies, kittens, bunnies, and chicks/ducks. Kids of all ages and abilities welcome. August 4, 3:00–5:30 p.m. Registration required. ConcordLibrary.org
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Concord’s Literary Lineage: History Happy Hour. Celebrate the illustrious literary and Transcendentalist history of Concord with wine, beer, and other beverages in the Concord Museum courtyard, followed by a tour of the Museum’s singular Thoreau and Emerson collections. August 6, 6:30–8:00 p.m. ConcordMuseum.org
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Join the Walden Woods Project for a viewing of Faith Johnson’s North Is a Circle and a guided meditation in Walden Woods. Filmed in the Nordic regions—primarily within the Arctic Circle—this poetic and meditative journey explores the complexities of ancestry in relation to Earth-based belonging, interspecies spiritual connection, and healing through subtle actions, original symbols, and metaphors. The work is paired with a symbol guide and a nature meditation facilitating connection to the sentience of the natural world. August 19, 6:30–8:00 p.m. Walden.org
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Staff Picks from the Collection: History Happy Hour. Enjoy a late-summer happy hour in the Concord Museum courtyard followed by a curated tour of staff favorites from the Museum’s collection. From beloved hidden gems to iconic highlights, discover what makes these pieces stand out through the eyes of those who know them best. August 20, 6:30–8:00 p.m. ConcordMuseum.org
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Souvenirs and Science: Flower Pressing and Herbarium Workshop. Sarah Alden Bradford Ripley, one of the many illustrious residents of the Old Manse and the finest Harvard professor who never attended, was a noted botanist who left behind her collection of pressed flowers and other plant material, known as an herbarium. Discover the fascinating histories of Sarah Ripley and herbaria and then explore the grounds of the Manse, collecting leaves and flowers from around the property to create your own pressed floral arrangements. August 30, 3:00–4:30 p.m. TheTrustees.org
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Rev up your veggie racers and head to the 21st Annual Concord Ag Day! Concord Ag Day is a once-a-year farmers’ market showcasing the bounty of Concord’s many farm businesses at the height of the growing season. Visit your favorite Concord farmers and the Vegetable Hall of Fame, and don’t forget to bring your veggie race cars! September 12, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. VisitConcord.org
New bathhouse at Walden Pond
| Courtesy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts22
The new Walden Pond bathhouse is open. It features men’s and women’s bathrooms with changing areas and toilets, three family restrooms, a lifeguard breakroom facility, and a first aid station. Make time this summer for a swim in this historic pond. Mass.gov/locations/walden-pond-state-reservation