Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council

UMass Lowell | 2025 Women's Leadership Conference
2025-06-12 | Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, 115 Merrimack St, Lowell, MA, 01852, United States
Get ready to be inspired at the 2025 UMass Lowell Women’s Leadership Conference—an empowering one-day, in-person event designed to ignite ideas, spark meaningful connections, and fuel your leadership journey. Join us for dynamic programming, influential speakers, and networking opportunities that will leave you motivated and ready to make an impact!
Morning Keynote Panel
Leading in Tough Times: A candid conversation with leaders in government, higher ed, and industry
– Jennifer Santos, vice president and chief strategy officer, Draper
– Julie Chen, chancellor, UMass Lowell
– Lauren Knausenberger, executive vice president & chief innovation officer, SAIC
Afternoon Keynote Speaker
– Amy Waryas, executive vice president/chief people & culture officer, Boston Red Sox
Moderator: Lynn Coutts, director of athletics, UMass Lowell

Trumpeters of Sedition: How the Printing Press created a Revolution
2025-06-28 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01832, United States
Gary Gregory, proprietor of the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, will talk about the role of the printing press in the American Revolution. Printed pamphlets, broadsides, and newspapers energized the revolution, and it was the printing press that produced the Declaration of Independence. Gary will use his replica of an English Common Press, a wooden hand-press that now resides at the Museum of Printing, to demonstrate the technology in use at the time of the American Revolution.
This event is funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) through the Massachusetts 250 Grant Program. This program supports the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution through programs that highlight historic themes of revolution and independence, celebrate significant ‘firsts’ in Massachusetts and commemorate the state’s past 250 years.

The Story Behind Paul Revere’s Ride — And More
2026-01-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Paul Revere is an American icon, but how much does the story of the Midnight Ride hold up, and why?
This program will explore Revere and his famous ride, and offer some insights into other aspects of his life. Revere was a silversmith with several side jobs, an active member of the Freemasons, and a father to a large family, as well as a politically active Patriot in the American Revolution.
Tegan Kehoe, Research and Adult Program Director at the Paul Revere House in Boston, will present Revere and his legacy, including the history of the Paul Revere House itself.
2 PM – Social period
2:15 PM – Brief Society announcements followed by the program
This event is free and open to the public.
Space is limited to 100 attendees. One registration per household, please.
Register for the event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Wdys173jTsCd9kvAxCICXg
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Presidential History Comes Alive at the Walden Pond Visitor Center
2026-02-20 11:00 - 12:30 | 915 Walden Street, Concord, MA, 915 Walden Street Unit 2 Unit 2, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Friday, Feb. 20
11am-12:30pm
at the Walden Pond Visitor Center
In honor of President’s Day, North Shore & NECC History Professor
Rich Padova will share some of his favorite presidential memorabilia from
his personal collection. A native Lawrencian, now living in Andover,
Padova’s historical expertise has been featured in numerous articles for The
Eagle Tribune, & he’s released several booklets on presidencies, first ladies, & contentious political
campaigns. In summers, you can find him at Lawrence Heritage State Park. Parking
fees apply. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Walden Pond.

A Journey to Find an Ancestor and Honor His Faith in Diversity
2026-02-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Old Town Hall, Great Room (3rd floor), 16 South Road, Bedford, 01730, United States
While researching her Revolutionary War ancestor, General John Glover, Jane Woolsey Gropp of Lexington learned about the Marbleheaders, a group of fishermen and sailors from the coastal town of Marblehead who played a crucial role in several key military operations during the war. They were a diverse group, including free African Americans and Native Americans, and were the first integrated institution in America.
Gropp’s intention to have a painting depict General Glover, who commanded the Marbleheaders, led instead to a painting honoring both her ancestor, a somewhat forgotten hero, and the Black Patriots, who were mostly unknown heroes of the American Revolution.
In recognition of Black History Month, Gropp will describe her journey that led her to commission the painting called An Appeal to Heaven, the interrelationships among the people in the painting (Washington, one of his enslaved men, others), and the Black Patriots who fought and secured a freedom that was not yet theirs.
Doors open at 2 PM for a social period and refreshments
2:15 PM – Brief Society announcements followed by the Guest Speaker

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

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, 2026-06-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-24 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.

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
