Discover Concord

Discover what's happening in Concord this fall!

Nestled in the sitting room of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s beautiful Concord home, I find myself in a cozy atmosphere that downplays the importance of the leather-bound volumes surrounding us as we chat. Photos of Doris and her late husband, Richard N. Goodwin (Dick Goodwin, as he was widely known), are hung alongside images of the Queen of England, Presidents – both Democrat and Republican, and even Che Guevara. These portraits are intermingled with family photos and treasures brought back from faraway lands. The impressive woman in front of me is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a frequent guest on news channels and talk shows, a world-renowned speaker, a powerful role model, and a sought-after mentor. Today, however, in this inviting home designed as much for family and entertaining friends as it is for creating award-winning books, I have the true pleasure of sitting with my friend and neighbor to talk about her amazing life.

The Concord Museum is unveiling a portion of its newly renovated and redesigned galleries on October 11, 2019. This is the first part of a multi-phased project that traces the lives of the people of Concord for over 10,000 years, beginning with the people of Musketaquid. The new galleries will also chronicle other key moments in Concord’s history –igniting the war for our nation’s independence, the blossoming in the American literary renaissance, and debates over slavery and women’s rights. 

“A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” Thus cried Shakespeare’s King Richard the III during the Battle of Bosworth as his horse was cut out from under him during England’s War of the Roses for control of the English throne.  No horse came for Richard, and his kingdom was lost to Henry Tudor (Henry VII).  But 290 years later, a horse did materialize in the darkness, galloped towards Concord, Massachusetts, and once again the power of the English throne was transformed. 

The Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM), founded by local resident Kate Yoder, has been part of the Concord arts community since 2005. The mission of the school is to foster a sense of community through music by providing accessible, high-quality music education and performance opportunities to all. The school offers private and group music instruction and workshops for young people and adults. CCM also partners with generous community sponsors to present a series of local concerts and other musical events throughout the year.

Have you ever felt a compelling need to be somewhere? More than a desire to visit a place and more, even, than a wish to learn. A need to experience and to understand? It was that kind of need that drew Kara Snyder of Pittsburgh, PA to Concord, MA this past summer.

After four years in the making, the documentary Orchard House: Home of Little Women was awarded the Emmy for “Best Historical/Cultural Program/Special” during the 42nd New England Emmy Awards ceremony on June 15, 2019.

Did you know that one of the country’s best providers of organic foods, natural medicines, and fair-trade goods is right here in West Concord? 

The foundation of Discover West Concord Day is the annual birthday bash for Debra’s Natural Gourmet. “The party we threw after our first year of business was a big hit – with vendors partner-ing with us to give away food, product samples, and to do live demonstrations,” said Debra Stark, founder of the beloved neighborhood store. “It was so much fun that we have thrown a party again every year for 30 years. All great parties involve friends – so we invited our neighbors in West Concord to join in the fun, and Discover West Concord Day was born!”

With the arrival of Fall, evenings become crisp and cool – sometimes even downright chilly! Thankfully, Concord has a range of wonderful bars and restaurants to help you unwind – and thaw out – at the end of your day. We spoke to some of our favorite bartenders and asked what they recommend on a chilly autumn night. They were eager to share with us – and are looking forward to welcoming you too. Cheers!

Just hours after their wedding on the 9th of July 1842, a honeymooning couple moved to Concord, MA and into the house they would rent for the next three years. Shortly after their arrival, the groom, who was also an aspiring author, noted the following, “Houses of antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.” 

Whether you love to hike, fish, canoe, birdwatch, or even camp, Fairhaven Bay is the perfect destination for an Autumn outing.

Ghoulies, ghosties, and Puritans. Now that’s a potentially horrifying combination. And who better to pen them loose on the page than Concord author Nathaniel Hawthorne?  Born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1804, Hawthorne came from a family steeped in history, scandals, and a curse put upon them by a young woman about to die.  

Test your knowledge of Concord history!

Art is everywhere in Concord, West Concord, and the surrounding areas. Whatever your medium of choice - watercolors, ceramics, photography, or sculpture - the area’s talented artists and remarkable galleries invite you to explore the world of fine art. Autumn brings some of the most important exhibits of the year. Seasoned collectors, as well as those who may be new to the art world, can rely on these galleries to guide them in the right direction.

Autumn in New England. Poems have been written about it, songs sung about it, and people have fallen in love under the red and yellow leaves of its trees. Autumn is also the time that you’ll find Concord’s farms offering the freshest produce, pony rides, cooking classes, and more. There’s something here for everyone, so don’t miss the chance to celebrate Autumn with the best our area farmers have for you.

Housed in the historic Emerson School building in the heart of the Concord Center Cultural District, The Umbrella Community Arts Center has, for decades, been a buzzing creative hub for the town. This September, following a complete renovation and expansion of the center, The Umbrella reopens as a contemporary arts complex that expands capacity for artists, students, performers, and audiences throughout Greater Boston and the Metro West region.  Highlights of the new programming include:

What was your first experience at your library? Was it a story hour? Or checking out your summer reading? With access to information now so freely available, we sometimes take it for granted, but it wasn’t always that way. Free and easy access to information, whether online or in a physical library, evolved from the beginnings of the country.

Change. The word resonates with possibilities. This year Earth Press Project: Witness is inviting people across America to answer the question: “What change would you like to witness on this Earth?”