Things to See & Do

Join the Thoreau Society during their Annual Gathering for a day of free programs to celebrate Thoreau’s birthday. 10:30 am Dana S. Brigham Memorial Keynote Lecture Camille T. Dungy “Against Solitude: Rethinking Thoreau” Camille T. Dungy is an award-winning author and poet, best known for Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden, which earned multiple honors including the 2024 Award of Excellence in Garden and Nature Writing.

Head over to West Concord for the annual Summer Concert Series. Each night, a live band will take the stage to play all your favorite songs, old and new, at Rideout Playground.

Thursday, July 10th -  The Reminisants

Join the Friends of Minute Man National Park Executive Director Kathleen Fahey as she presents the history and preservation of these beautiful gardens. The gardens feature viewing terraces, steps leading down to the Concord River, elegant wrought ironwork, and brick, bluestone, and cobblestone walkways.

June 26 in person

July 31 via Zoom

Learn about Henry David Thoreau and his ideas about nature, society, and living deliberately. Free Guided House Tours: 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. Admission is free and open to all ages. Suggested Donation $5/person

Written by Jason Robert Brown, "Songs for a New World" is somewhere between a musical and song cycle - a series of songs all connected by a theme: the moment of decision. Characters range from the mother of a Revolutionary soldier awaiting the end of the brutal war to a young man in the Bronx dreaming of becoming a famous basketball player to a forlorn and neglected Mrs. Claus lamenting as Christmas approaches. A diverse cast and rousing score blend pop, gospel, and jazz with tight harmonies and daring vocals that transport its audience from the deck of a Spanish sailing ship bound for a new land to the ledge of a New York penthouse. 

Concord Center is buzzing with excitement with the Third Thursdays event series. This Massachusetts neighborhood welcomes locals and visitors alike for art, culture, shopping, and dining. Taking place monthly from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Third Thursdays features more than 30 local businesses staying open late with special offerings and experiences. 

Join us for our 3rd Annual Juneteenth celebration on The Robbins House front lawn. There will be musical performances from area groups and food trucks. Come join the fun and celebrate this American holiday of freedom, resilience, and community. Free and open to the public, no reservations needed.

Join Randall Warniers for a talk about Twenty Classic Feature Animations and Why They Are Good for You! Short animated films—cartoons—have entertained audiences for over a century. In 1937 Walt Disney elevated the genre when his studio released the first feature-length animation—Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs— to widespread acclaim and box-office success.

Don’t miss Porchfest 2025, the grassroots community music festival in West Concord. Enjoy dozens of live acts on neighborhood porches as you stroll around town. June 14

Object Lessons, curated by Nancy Gruskin, is on view June 12th through August 10th at Concord Art. The Opening Reception will be Thursday June 12th, 5:30pm - 7pm. Image: Becky Street, Vessel Quilt, 2024, monoprint, 25.5 x 22 inches, courtesy of the artist