A River Transformed Walking Tour
2026-01-27 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-06-15 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-06-16 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Lowell National Historical Park – Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 115 John Street, Lowell, 01852, United States
Discover how the power of the Merrimack River was harnessed into textile production in the 19th century. This tour combines a walk along the riverwalk accompanied by a park ranger with a guided visit to the River Transformed Exhibit at the Suffolk Mill.
June 15-August 31, 2025
Monday and Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Visitors should plan for a 75-minute tour, all of which will be spent on your feet. Visitors can expect to walk as much as 1.5-miles on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water. This tour meets and ends at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.)
This tour is free. To reserve your spot, call (978) 970-5000 or check in at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum front desk.

Boarding House Park
2026-01-28 10:00 - 12:15 | Boarding House Park, Boarding House Park, 40 French St, Lowell, MA, United States
Join Lowell National Historical Park for Free Fun for Kids with Lowell Summer Music Series at Boarding House Park. Each performance is unique and includes so many things to do. Starting at 10:00 am, have blast with music, performances, arts and crafts, free books, snacks, and organized playgroups. These events create joyful, enriching moments for kids and a welcoming space for families to connect and thrive. After the performance, climb on Lowell National Historical Park’s trolley for a free ride.
Learn more about the free concerts for kids on the Lowell Summer Music Series website: lowellsummermusic.org/pages/kids

HEARTS AND FLOWERS | February 4 – March 1, 2026| Loading Dock Gallery
2026-02-07 15:00 - 17:00 | Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, United States
This February, The Loading Dock Gallery invites the community to celebrate creativity, beauty, and connection with Hearts and Flowers, a vibrant mixed-media exhibition featuring work by Loading Dock Gallery artists and additional Western Avenue artists.
Filled with color, emotion, and the warmth of artistic expression, Hearts and Flowers showcases a juried collection of paintings, textiles, photographs, sculpture, and handcrafted art. Whether inspired by love, nature, or the quiet joy of winter, each piece offers a unique interpretation of the themes at the heart of the exhibition.
Visitors are invited to explore three rooms of artwork that highlight the depth and diversity of our local creative community. This show offers the perfect opportunity to support local artists while discovering meaningful gifts—just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Hearts and Flowers will be open weekdays 12–5:30 PM and weekends 10 AM–3:30 PM, February 4 through March 1. Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, February 7, from 3–5 PM, coinciding with Western Avenue Studios’ Open Studios.
Loading Dock Gallery is part of Loading Dock Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3). For more information, visit www.theloadingdockgallery.com.

Lowell’s Citywide “Kids Week” (Feb 14–22, 2026)
2026-02-14 - 2026-02-22 | Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, 115 Merrimack St, Lowell, MA, 01852, United States
Lowell Kids Week is a citywide free celebration with dozens of family-friendly activities hosted by area partners — museums, community groups, libraries, outdoor art, and more.
📌 Example Events (subject to confirmation as final schedule posts):
Hands-On STEM & History (Tsongas Industrial History Center) — STEM activities + historical exploration, part of the Kids Week lineup.
Art in the Park / Creativity Days — Artmaking stations at Boott Cotton Mills and other partners.
Valentine’s / Crafts & Story Time — Story time and themed activities for littles.
Garden-Themed Activities (Mill City Grows, Feb 17) — snacks + garden play with a fun twist.
📌 Calendar runs Feb 14 through Feb 22 with many free drop-in events across downtown Lowell, neighborhood cultural sites, and parks.

Poetry Corner featuring North Andover Poet Laureate Christa Lamb
2026-02-21 12:00 - 13:00 | The Purple Couch Bookshop, 350 Winthrop Ave unit 9b, North Andover, 01845, United States
Poetry Corner is back, featuring the return of our newest North Andover Poet Laureate Christa Lamb.
Christa April Lamb is a Massachusetts-based poet and writer whose work moves from close, intimate observation into embodied protest and participatory poems that invite shared responsibility. Shaped by neurodivergent perception, her poetry examines how language behaves under pressure — in the body, in relationships, and in the world. Her recent work engages directly with the present moment, including poems about democracy, voice, and interruption, alongside deeply personal poems about love, loss, and orientation. Christa is currently working on a memoir about growing up undiagnosed autistic and finding language for a life finally understood. She also serves as Director of Media & Communications for Revolutionary Valley, where she shapes stories rooted in place and history through language, design, and visual media.

Lowell Winterfest 2026
2026-02-28 | City of Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
Bundle up and head to downtown Lowell for Winterfest, a family-friendly celebration of winter fun in the city. Enjoy outdoor activities, live entertainment, seasonal treats, and hands-on experiences for kids and all ages. From festive energy to local flavor, Winterfest is a great way to get outside, explore downtown, and make the most of winter in Revolutionary Valley.
Good to know: Many activities are free or low-cost, and events take place throughout downtown Lowell.

FLICKERING FUTURES | March 4 – March 29, 2026| Reception on Saturday March 7, 3 - 5 pm| Loading Dock Gallery
2026-03-07 15:00 - 17:00 | Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, United States
Show: Flickering Futures – 9th Annual Greater Lowell Regional Art Show
Show dates: March 4 – March 29, 2026
Reception: Saturday, March 7, 3–5 PM
Loading Dock Gallery is proud to present *Flickering Futures*, the 9th Annual Greater Lowell Regional Art Show, on view from March 4 through March 29, 2026. This annual exhibition showcases artwork by student artists from high schools across the Greater Lowell region, offering a platform for emerging voices to reflect on the present while imagining what the future may hold.
The title *Flickering Futures* speaks to the ever-changing relationship between young artists and the world around them. Through mixed media works, students explore themes of future, change, difference, uncertainty, and self—sharing personal perspectives shaped by current events, individual experience, and creative curiosity. For many participants, this exhibition marks one of their first opportunities to present work in a professional gallery setting.
Featured students come from Innovation Academy Charter School, Billerica Memorial High School, Chelmsford High School, Dracut High School, Groton-Dunstable High School, Lowell Catholic High School, Lowell High School, Lunenburg High School, Notre Dame Academy and Tyngsborough High School. The artwork has been created within the past year through school art programs or independent practice.
A public reception will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
Loading Dock Gallery is part of Loading Dock Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3). For more information, visit www.theloadingdockgallery.com.

Hands-On History: Weaving and Engineering
2026-03-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Lowell National Historical Park – Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 3rd Floor, 115 John Street, Lowell, 01852, United States
“Hands-On History at the Tsongas Industrial History Center”
Saturday, March 14th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Drop in!)
Experience history by doing!
Lowell National Historical Park and the Tsongas Industrial History Center are excited to welcome you for “Hands-On History” — part of the City of Lowell’s Bicentennial celebrations and the Tsongas Industrial History Center’s 35th anniversary!
“Hands-On History” takes place the 2nd Saturday of each month through October.
3rd Floor, Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St., Lowell, MA)
This month’s activities include:
Weaving on a hand loom and taking on a fun engineering challenge inspired by the innovations of the Industrial Revolution.
These free, drop-in workshops are appropriate for all ages.
Explore our educational workshop spaces at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum and discover how the Industrial Revolution shaped life then and now. Whether you’re a returning visitor or brand new to history, there’s something hands-on for everyone.

Building a Welcoming and Inclusive Workplace for LGBTQ+ Communities
2026-03-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council, 240 Central Street, lowell, MA, 01852, United States
Join the first session of the Building Belonging LGBTQ+ Business Education Series, a free program designed to help businesses and organizations create more inclusive and welcoming workplaces. This session will explore practical strategies to foster inclusive workplace culture, better understand LGBTQ+ experiences, and implement policies that ensure all employees feel valued and supported.
Presented by Alexandria Eberhardt, Executive Director of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, this event is open to business owners, nonprofit leaders, and community members interested in strengthening inclusive practices in their organizations.

Easter Egg-Stravaganza 4th Annual Craft & Vendor Fair
2026-03-22 11:00 - 15:00 | The Sportsmen’s Club, 90 Westford Rd, Tyngsboro, 01879, United States
Mark your calendar & join us for our Easter Egg-Stravaganza 4th Annual Craft & Vendor Fair!
On March 22nd from 11a-3p head on over to the Tyngsboro Sportsmen’s Club, located at 90 Westford St in Tyngsboro, MA.
This fantastic fair promises a pleasant shopping experience, with over 25 amazing vendors showcasing their products, including attractive homemade crafts, special gifts, and tasty treats to help fill your Easter Baskets.
Link to the event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwgNgBpr1
Events By The Purple Butterfly is the only contact for this event

The Reverend and the Old North Bridge Battle
2026-03-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Historical Society, 16 South Road, Bedford, 01730, United States
Reenactor Henry Cooke will portray the life and preaching of a significant Concord resident, the Rev. William Emerson, during the weeks leading up to the battle at the Old North Bridge and his experiences on the day itself.
He will interpret Rev. Emerson’s artillery sermon on Muster Day on March 17, 1775, which presages the outbreak of hostilities a month later, and included this charge: “let every single step we take in this most intricate affair be upon the defensive…. God forbid it be said that we struck the first blow!” Cooke, who owns Historical Costume Services in Randolph, will also recount the feelings of ordinary Concord residents who watched the battle.
Doors open at 2 PM for a social period and refreshments
2:15 PM – Brief Society announcements followed by the Guest Speaker

Great Day to Be a Warrior | April 1-24, 2026| Reception on Saturday April 4, 3 - 5 pm| Loading Dock Gallery
2026-04-04 15:00 - 17:00 | Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, United States
The Loading Dock Gallery presents Great Day to Be a Warrior, an exhibition showcasing work by Merrimack College CADA students and alumni, curated by Allyson Lewis and Jonathan Latiano. Building on the success of Western Ave: Artists at Work, this themeless exhibition centers the artists themselves—highlighting ambition, experimentation, and creative range across disciplines.
Featuring work in 2D, 3D, drawing, and digital media, the exhibition celebrates the dynamic, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant voices emerging from Merrimack College’s visual and performing arts community. While diverse in approach, each piece shares a common foundation: a commitment to risk-taking, process, and artistic growth.
Great Day to Be a Warrior is a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the strength of a shared artistic community.
Great Day to Be a Warrior will be open Wednesdays-Fridays 12–5:30 PM and weekends 10 AM–3:30 PM, April1 through April 24. Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, April 4, from 3–5 PM, coinciding with Western Avenue Studios’ Open Studios.
Loading Dock Gallery is part of Loading Dock Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3). For more information, visit www.theloadingdockgallery.com.

Hands-On History: Weaving and Lowell's Many Cultures
2026-04-11 13:00 - 16:00 | Lowell National Historical Park – Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 3rd Floor, 115 John Street, Lowell, 01852, United States
“Hands-On History at the Tsongas Industrial History Center”
Saturday, April 11th and Saturday, July 11th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Drop in!)
Experience history by doing!
Lowell National Historical Park and the Tsongas Industrial History Center are excited to welcome you for “Hands-On History” — part of the City of Lowell’s Bicentennial celebrations and the Tsongas Industrial History Center’s 35th anniversary!
“Hands-On History” takes place the 2nd Saturday of each month through October.
3rd Floor, Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St., Lowell, MA)
This month’s activities include:
Weaving on a hand loom and explore cultural objects from a some of the many different cultural groups that call Lowell home.
These free, drop-in workshops are appropriate for all ages.
Explore our educational workshop spaces at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum and discover how the Industrial Revolution shaped life then and now. Whether you’re a returning visitor or brand new to history, there’s something hands-on for everyone.
Questions: Call 978-970-5080 or email: TIHC@uml.edu

A Bedford Assortment
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Historical Society, 16 South Road, Bedford, 01730, United States
Vocabulary.com describes an “assortment” as “a bunch of different things all together, whether they’re the same sort or not.”
“For example,” says Society President and Bedford Town Historian Sharon McDonald, “an assortment of chocolates would be a box of cherry-filled, nut, caramel, coconut, and orange crème candies.
Using her engaging story-telling style, McDonald’s “Bedford Assortment” program will be a bunch of assorted snippets from Bedford’s colonial history that may be funny, sad, surprising, or inspiring. She hopes you will say “Bon, bon!”
Doors open at 2 PM for a social period and refreshments
2:15 PM – Brief Society announcements followed by the Guest Speaker

FULL BLOOM 8| April 29 – May 31, 2026| Reception on Saturday May 2, 3 - 5 pm| Loading Dock Gallery
2026-05-02 15:00 - 17:00 | Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA, United States
Loading Dock Gallery
122 Western Avenue
Lowell, MA 01851
Show: Full Bloom 8
Show dates: April 29 – May 31, 2026
Reception: Saturday, May 2, 3 – 5 PM
Flowers hold a quiet mystery. They are fleeting, luminous, and generous—reminding us of what is briefly beautiful in our lives. Their glow feels like an invitation.
Loading Dock Gallery welcomes the warmth of summer with Full Bloom 8, a vibrant celebration of flowers, birds, insects, gardens, and the wonder found in small, radiant moments. Featuring work by Loading Dock Gallery members, this exhibition captures the color, energy, and renewal that define the season.
As daylight lingers and blossoms unfold, artists turn their attention to nature’s cycles of growth and transformation. The works in Full Bloom 8 evoke memory, hope, and the simple joy gardens bring. Though nature’s beauty exists to lure pollinators, it also calls to us—drawing us closer, inviting reflection.
Join us for a show alive with color and light.
Full Bloom 8 will be open Wednesdays-Fridays 12–5:30 PM and weekends 10 AM–3:30 PM, April 29 through May 31. Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, May 2, from 3–5 PM, coinciding with Western Avenue Studios’ Open Studios.
Loading Dock Gallery is part of Loading Dock Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3). For more information, visit www.theloadingdockgallery.com.

LGBTQ+ Meditation in Brighton | Rainbow Sangha (Boston)
2026-05-06 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-20 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-27 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-10 19:00 - 20:00 | The Presentation School Foundation Community Center, 640 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02135, United States
Rainbow Sangha is a weekly meditation circle created for the Boston LGBTQ+ community. This is a welcoming, beginner-friendly space to slow down, breathe, and reconnect — with yourself and with others.
Whether you’re completely new to meditation or have an established practice, you are welcome here.
What to Expect
• A warm, inclusive environment • A short guided meditation (20–30 minutes) • Quiet reflection time • Light community connection afterward
No prior meditation experience is needed.
This space is open to all LGBTQ+ identities and allies who respect and affirm queer community. Our intention is to create a calm, supportive space centered on wellbeing and belonging.
Details
📍 Location: New Balance Room, PSF Community Center (Lower Level), 640 Washington Street, Brighton MA 🕖 Wednesdays, 7–8 PM
Please arrive a few minutes early to settle in. Wear comfortable clothing.
We look forward to building a consistent and caring community together.

Intersectional Allyship
2026-05-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council, 240 Central Street, lowell, MA, 01852, United States
The final session of the Building Belonging LGBTQ+ Business Education Series focuses on intersectional allyship and how overlapping identities shape experiences of inclusion and belonging. Participants will explore strategies for strengthening allyship, supporting LGBTQ+ individuals across diverse communities, and building more equitable and inclusive workplaces.
This session offers actionable insights for businesses, organizations, and community leaders seeking to deepen their understanding of intersectionality and create lasting impact in their workplaces and communities.

Hands-On History: Weaving & Water Power
2026-05-09 13:00 - 16:00 | Lowell National Historical Park – Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 3rd Floor, 115 John Street, Lowell, 01852, United States
Saturday, May 9th and Saturday, October 10th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Drop in!)
Experience history by doing!
Lowell National Historical Park and the Tsongas Industrial History Center are excited to welcome you for “Hands-On History” — part of the City of Lowell’s Bicentennial celebrations, Doors Open Lowell and the Tsongas Industrial History Center’s 35th anniversary!
“Hands-On History” takes place the 2nd Saturday of each month through October.
3rd Floor, Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St., Lowell, MA)
This month’s activities include:
Weaving on a hand loom, test different types of water wheels, and build your own model
canal system to discover the innovative system that powered Lowell’s mills.
These free, drop-in workshops are appropriate for all ages.
Explore our educational workshop spaces at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum and discover how the Industrial Revolution shaped life then and now. Whether you’re a returning visitor or brand new to history, there’s something hands-on for everyone.
Questions: Call 978-970-5080 or email: TIHC@uml.edu

The Truth About Baked Beans: An Edible History of New England
2026-05-31 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Historical Society, 16 South Road, Bedford, 01730, United States
Meg Muckenhoupt will bring smiles—and a hunger for popular foods—during her discussion about the history of New England’s food, immigration, tourism, and how ideas about identity have shaped our menus from 1825 to today.
Author of “The Truth about Baked Beans: An Edible History of New England,” Muckenhoupt’s book began with a simple question: When did Bostonians start putting molasses in their baked beans? That question sent her on a lengthy journey through invented histories, selective memories, and changing tastes from colonial New England to the present day.
Her presentation will cap the Society’s Annual Meeting, including elections of Directors and reports from Society officers.
Doors open at 2 PM for a social period and refreshments
2:15 PM – Announcements and Annual Meeting, followed by the Guest Speaker

WE LIVE IN A RAINBOW| June 3 - 25, 2026| Reception on June 6, 3 - 5 pm| Loading Dock Gallery
2026-06-06 15:00 - 17:00 | The Loading Dock Gallery, The Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Ave, Lowell, MA, United States
Show: We Live in a Rainbow: A Celebration of Pride Month
Exhibition Dates: June 3 – June 25, 2026
Reception: June 6, 3 – 5 PM
A rainbow is more than a spectrum—it is a symbol of visibility, resilience, and belonging. It holds stories of identity, community, and the ongoing pursuit of equity and joy.
Loading Dock Gallery presents We Live in a Rainbow: A Celebration of Pride Month, an exhibition honoring LGBTQ+ voices, perspectives, and creative expression. Featuring work by Loading Dock Gallery members, WAS members, and invited guests, the show brings together a wide range of artistic approaches unified by the power of color, identity, and lived experience.
Across painting, mixed media, and sculpture, artists explore themes of self-expression, transformation, love, and visibility. Some works engage directly with Pride’s history and symbolism, while others reflect more personal or abstract interpretations of what it means to live fully and authentically. Together, they form a vibrant and layered exhibition—one that celebrates both individuality and collective strength.
We Live in a Rainbow invites viewers to experience color not only as a visual language, but as a cultural and emotional one—rooted in community, courage, and connection.
Join us for a show alive with color, meaning, and pride.
We Live in a Rainbow will be open Wednesdays-Fridays 12–5:30 PM and weekends 10 AM–3:30 PM, June 3 through June 25. Join us for the opening reception on June 6 from 3–5 PM.
Loading Dock Gallery is part of Loading Dock Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3). For more information, visit www.theloadingdockgallery.com.

Get Creative! Come to Bedford’s Music & Arts Experience 2026
2026-06-13 10:00 - 14:00 | Bedford Town Common -75 Great Road, 75 Great Road, Bedford, MA, 01730, United States
Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 13, and join us for the Music & Arts Experience 2026, where local artistry will meet local music in a celebration of craftmaking and community.
Sponsored by the Bedford (MA) Cultural District Partnership, the Music & Arts Experience 2026 will offer unique opportunities for all ages to experience art and craft making firsthand. There will be interactive workshops and inspiring demos under big tents. There will also be hands-on experiences at vendors’ booths, where shoppers can browse original handmade goods—jewelry, ceramics, baskets, digital art, handbound books, greeting cards, and more. Live music will provide a relaxed ambience, and refreshments and comfortable seating areas will offer comfort and respite.
The Music & Arts Experience 2026 will be held rain or shine on the Bedford Common, 75 Great Rd., Bedford, MA, on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you have questions, please e-mail Eric Salerno at esalerno@bedfordma.gov.

Hands-On History: Weaving and Working on the Line
2026-06-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Lowell National Historical Park – Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 3rd Floor, 115 John Street, Lowell, 01852, United States
Saturday, June 13th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Drop in!)
Experience history by doing!
Lowell National Historical Park and the Tsongas Industrial History Center are excited to welcome you for “Hands-On History” — part of the City of Lowell’s Bicentennial celebrations and the Tsongas Industrial History Center’s 35th anniversary!
“Hands-On History” takes place the 2nd Saturday of each month through October.
3rd Floor, Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St., Lowell, MA)
This month’s activities include:
Weaving on a hand loom and try working on a fun assembly line.
These free, drop-in workshops are appropriate for all ages.
Explore our educational workshop spaces at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum and discover how the Industrial Revolution shaped life then and now. Whether you’re a returning visitor or brand new to history, there’s something hands-on for everyone.
Questions: Call 978-970-5080 or email: TIHC@uml.edu
