Concord250 Event: Music & Rebels

Meet music history’s rebels and revolutionaries, from Monteverdi and Beethoven to our contemporaries and witness how, by breaking the rules, these composers changed the course of history. In honor of the 250th&nbsp;anniversary of Concord’s role in the American Revolution, the program will feature the world premiere of&nbsp;Unrest&nbsp;by local composer and CCM faculty member Aaron Jay Myers, commissioned by Concord Conservatory. Highlights:<ul><li>World Premiere:&nbsp;Featuring the world premiere of&nbsp;Unrest&nbsp;by acclaimed local composer Aaron Jay Myers, commissioned specifically for this occasion.</li><li>Expert Commentary:&nbsp;CCM faculty speaker Jackson Carruthers will guide the audience through the program, illuminating the revolutionary spirit within each musical selection.</li><li>Stellar Musicians:&nbsp;Featuring a dynamic ensemble of CCM faculty and guest artists, including soprano Rose Hegele, cellist Steve Marotto, and violinist Nicole Parks.</li></ul>Date:&nbsp;Friday, February 7, 2025 Time:&nbsp;7:30 PM Location:&nbsp;1317 Main Street Concord, MA 01742 Tickets: $25 General Admission, Free for Students 18 and Under <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-rebels-tickets-971155541367?aff=oddtdtcreator">Purchase tickets in advance</a> or payable at the door for this event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-rebels-tickets-971155541367?aff=oddtdtcreator

Concord Conservatory of Music

Concord250 Event: "Where We Belong"

February 28- March 23, 2025 Umbrella Arts, Black Box Theater By Madeline Sayet, Directed by Tara Moses For REV 250 The Umbrella has programmed two events - a stage company production and an exhibit - to celebrate and amplify voices that have not historically been a part of the revolution story...which is in line with the celebration goals of the 250 plans. An indigenous theatre-maker journeys across geographic borders, personal history, and Cultural legacies in search of a place to belong. In 2015, Mohegan theatre-maker Madeline Sayet traveled to England to pursue a PhD in Shakespeare, echoing the path her ancestors took in the 1700's and leading to a remarkable journey of self-discovery. This ground-breaking, one-woman event weaves together humor, searing insight, and the timeless power of story-telling, to explore the importance of honoring our roots and the universal quest for belonging/where we belong. Following its acclaimed tour, developed in partnership with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in association with The Folger Shakespeare Library, with performances at Seattle Rep, Chicago's Goodman Theatre, New York's Public Theater, and more, The Umbrella is proud to present the play's New England Premiere in a new production.

Umbrella Arts

QUILTS 250 Stitching in the Spirit of Democracy

QUILTS 250 Stitching in the Spirit of Democracy March 22 - March 23 (All Day Event) Cost: Free Showcasing the creative energy of quilters near and far, Quilts 250 will display as many as 250 quilts that visually express through fabric and thread themes related to our country’s founding and evolution and the dynamic range of quilting arts in the last 250 years. The show is sponsored by the Concord 250 Celebrations Committee and is organized by the Concord Piecemakers, Quilters’ Connection, and Rising Star Quilters guilds. Planned Events<ul><li>Quilt show with “shows within the show” on the Spirit of 1775; Antique and Antique-Inspired Traditional Quilts; Quilts of Protest; Modern, Contemporary, and Pictorial Quilts; and Student Quilts and Fiber Arts</li><li>Boutique</li><li>Children’s Activities</li></ul>&nbsp; For more information and instructions on entering a quilt, visit https://www.quiltersconnection.org/Quilts250.html &nbsp;

Concord Academy

Concord Museum: Whose Revolution: Special Exhibition Opening Day

Whose Revolution: Special Exhibition Opening Day March 28, 2025 The first of three 250th special exhibitions at the Concord Museum, Whose Revolution will highlight the competing and contradictory meanings of revolution during the period leading up to the war. Through maps, documents, furniture, and other objects, this exhibition will explore the gradual shifts that led to broader support for independence. It will examine the experiences of Loyalists and the work of building consensus. It will also emphasize the experiences of enslaved people and Indigenous communities to examine questions of liberty, sovereignty, and protest during the period. Through objects and media installations, this exhibition will feature the different meanings of revolution for the individuals living through this period, revealing how the idea of declaring independence from England was far from inevitable and developed only gradually. &nbsp; To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Concord Museum will offer ongoing opportunities to gather as a community, reflect on the founding of our nation, and engage with the significance of our shared past for our present moment. Highlights will include three new special exhibitions, a special speaker series, a published catalog, and expanded educational resources. Together, these initiatives will showcase the incredible stories behind the eyewitness objects held at the Museum to illuminate the many different ways people experienced, shaped, and remembered the Revolution.

Concord Museum

Concord250th

CONCORD250! April 19 (All Day Event) April 19 Patriots Day Activities for Concord250 – details to come. 6:00am Dawn Salute 8:30am Parade Step Off 9:30am&nbsp;Old North Bridge Ceremony 1pm Parade Ends 2-7pm Concord250 Block Party Concord Museum: Free admission all day, including witness the brave Acton Minutemen company in an encampment&nbsp;outside the Museum as they drill with muskets to prepare for battle, cook over a firepit, and demonstrate colonial spinning and sewing. 7:45pm: Concord250 Patriots Light Drone Show

Concord, Massachusetts

The Taste of Concord

Join us at the Nashoba Brooks School gymnasium to enjoy the tastes from our local Concord restaurants, bakeries, and food establishments! Also providing a guided tasting experience with over 50 wines, craft beers, mocktails, and artisanal spirits provided by West Concord Wine and Spirits. This is a fund-raiser for the Concord Chamber, so come out, have a fun evening, and get to know each other. All welcome! You must be 21 years and older to purchase tickets &amp; enter event. Purchase tickets here on-line, OR stop by in person and buy your tickets at: West Concord Wine &amp; Spirits – 1216 Main St. Concord, MA Fiorella’s – 24 Walden St. Concord, MA

Nashoba Brooks School

The 250th Anniversary of the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress

The 250th Anniversary of the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress October 11 @ 9:30 AM The 2024 Massachusetts Provincial Congress “Exploring Democracy – Our Rights and Our Responsibilities” October 11, 2024 9:30am – 4:30pm First Parish in Concord and The Wright Tavern *<a href="https://www.wrighttavern.org/programs/#october11">Register here to attend</a>* In October 1774, the political conflict between Great Britain and Massachusetts reached a crisis. Parliament enacted the “Intolerable Acts” to punish the province for the Tea Party, and they revoked the charter of 1691 by which the popularly elected House of Representatives joined with the Council and Crown-appointed Governor to rule the Bay Colony. In the ensuing furor, county conventions protested the changes; crowds closed courts, Patriots took over county militias, and encouraged towns to resist the new regime of the General Court. Royal Governor Thomas Gage called the Court to meet in Salem, but the Assembly never convened. Although Gage canceled the session, the representatives decided to meet behind closed and locked doors and reorganize as the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Its first session opened a week later, on October 11th, in Concord, safe from the control of British authorities. The gathering was a landmark in the history of self-government. The Congress set the colony on a collision course with Britain and an eventual road to independence. Even as it proclaimed loyalty to the Crown, the Congress mobilized the province in a struggle to reclaim the rights and liberties Massachusetts had enjoyed. Without declaring independence, the popularly elected body seized the reins of power, charted a new future for Massachusetts, and set a model of self-government. October 11, 2024, marks the 250th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. To commemorate this occasion and honor our forebearers, the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust is sponsoring a gathering in Concord’s First Parish Meetinghouse and the Wright Tavern next door, where the delegates to the Congress met. This will be a day-long, engaging program. With noted historians to guide us, we will return to this crucial moment in the history of the American Revolution and ask what we can learn from the past. With state legislators joining us, we will examine the state of democratic governance in Massachusetts and the United States today. And, with students and teachers from Massachusetts schools, we will collaboratively explore the future of democracy. Come join us for this remarkable day. <a href="https://www.wrighttavern.org/programs/#october11">REGISTER for this historic event!</a>

First Parish & Wright Tavern

Charles Ives' "Concord Sonata" performance & lecture

Louise Bessette to Perform “The Concord Sonata” at 51 Walden, September 8. As part of the year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the fight at the Old North Bridge, Canadian pianist Louise Bessette will give a lecture and then perform The Concord Sonata by Charles Ives at The Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden on Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m. Admission will be free. She is recording it in Montreal this fall and drove to Concord last summer to “soak up the culture.” “She spontaneously popped into 51 Walden, which is how I met her. Louise said it would be a dream to perform this famous piece in Concord.” (Carole Wayland, Director, 51 Walden).&nbsp;Louise Bessette will also give a brief lecture about the piece. For more information about her, please visit her website:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.louisebessette.com/english/" target="_blank">http://www.louisebessette.com/english/</a>&nbsp;The Piano Sonata No. 2, Concord, Mass., 1840–60 (commonly known as The Concord Sonata) was composed by Charles Ives in 1915. It is one of Ives’ best-known and most highly regarded pieces. The sonata’s four movements represent figures associated with transcendentalism: Emerson, Hawthorne, The Alcotts, and Thoreau. The opening bars of Beethoven’s Symphony.&nbsp;Composer&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ives" target="_blank">Charles Ives&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;was born in Danbury Connecticut in 1874&nbsp;where his father was a band conductor.&nbsp;Ives was an actuary and businessman as well as a prolific composer known for experimental techniques including polytonality, polyrhythm, tone clusters, and dissonance. His earlier works include&nbsp;The Unanswered Question,&nbsp;Three Places in New England, and the&nbsp;Holiday Symphony.&nbsp;About Louise Bessette…&nbsp;Ms. Bessette, born in Montreal in 1959, trained and teaches at Conservatoire de musique du Quebec a Montreal (CMQM). She has pursued an outstanding career, characterized by the excellence of her performances, earning many laudatory reviews. In 2019, she received the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award in Classical Music from the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, Canada’s highest honor in the performing arts. In 2016, the University of Western Ontario conferred a degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa to celebrate her international career. Her other multiple awards include: first prizes at the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition (1981), the Concours international de musique contemporaine (Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 1986), and the international Gaudeamus Competition (Rotterdam, 1989), and the Prix Québec-Flandre (1991). She is a member of the Order of Canada (2001), an Officer of the Ordre national du Québec (2005) and Canadian Music Centre Ambassador (2009).&nbsp;As a pianist with an eclectic repertoire, eager to promote exchanges with other art forms, Ms. Bessette recorded works by Alkan and Grieg for a film soundtrack. In 2021, she received her tenth Opus Prize from the Conseil québécois de la musique in 2021. In 2015, she was listed as one of Canada’s top 25 pianists by CBC Music. She will be performing and recording The Concord Sonata in Montreal later this fall. &nbsp;<ul><li></li></ul>

51 Walden Performing Arts Hall

Lafayette Comes to Concord

On September 2, 2024, Concord, Lexington, Boston, and other towns will celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of America. Here is a description of the purpose and plans for this opportunity to recognize this major event as an integral part of the 250th celebrations of the start of the American War for Independence.&nbsp;Why This Is Important&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1824, President James Monroe invited General Lafayette of France to come to America and honor those who fought for and supported the War for Independence. France’s role was critical to George Washington and the American forces in the defeat of the British. Without their aid, it is unlikely we would have prevailed. Like now, those times were full of serious political polarization, and President Monroe wanted Lafayette to bring unity through our recognition and appreciation of the French’s contributions.&nbsp;This will also be an opportunity to broaden historical perceptions of the Revolution to be more inclusive of the contributions of African Americans, women, immigrants, and indigenous peoples. This commemorative event gives us the impetus for reflection and discussion of Concord’s legacy and future. According to historian David Hackett Fischer, “With much encouragement from his friend the Marquis de Lafayette, Washington’s thinking on race and slavery changed.” Lafayette had a profound impact on the early development of the United States.&nbsp;Overview of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour in 2024 –&nbsp;September 2 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM. The American Friends of Lafayette (AFL) is planning and organizing this twenty-five-day (August 16 – September 9) tour, including reenactors and events in over 40 towns. Each town, including Concord, will create its own ceremonies and coordinate the entry and exit of Lafayette’s entourage.&nbsp;Concord’s visit will be&nbsp;on Monday, September 2, 2024, (Labor Day Holiday)&nbsp;from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Lafayette will be arriving from Lexington. Our program for this day will include:<ul><li>Concord’s militia will greet him and march with him to First Parish/Wright Tavern.</li><li>Tents and a welcoming party will greet Lafayette with a welcome statement from Samuel Hoar, descendent of the original greeter of Lafayette to Concord.</li><li>We will have a wreath-laying ceremony by the Daughters of the American Revolution</li><li>Presentations in First Parish will reflect Lafayette vision and values for America:</li><li>Robert A. Gross, historian and author,</li><li>Jen Turner, Executive Director of the Robbins House, and</li><li>Sam Williams, Executive Director of the Prison Outreach Project.</li><li>Music will be provided by Anderson Manual of First Parish in Concord</li><li>A reception will follow in the Wright Tavern</li></ul>*For those looking to join us virtually through zoom, please register&nbsp;<a href="https://wrighttavern.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0c7d3833b9f4e33fab891a749&amp;id=c71ec2dc82&amp;e=57e5eddc75" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to get the zoom link.&nbsp;Come and Join Us&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, contact Shelley Hawks or the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@wrighttavern.org?" target="_blank">info@wrighttavern.org</a>. For more information, go to wrighttavern.org or email:&nbsp;info@wrighttavern.org or call First Parish office at (978) 369-9602. [The Wright Tavern has secured permission to use the image of Lafayette in publicity materials. The image cannot be cropped and must be accompanied by the following credit line: Lafayette Sulphide Paperweight, about 1820-1840. Concord Museum Collection, Gift of Mrs. Louis A. Sohier; G299.] &nbsp; <img src="https://visitconcord.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lafayette-image-250x323.jpeg"> &nbsp; The public is invited to this free event for all ages celebrating the 200th Anniversary of General Lafayette’s Farewell Tour and his visit to Concord. Meet the Lafayette reenactor on the lawn of First Parish in Concord this Labor Day afternoon on the very site and day he came to Concord in 1824. Hear the fife and drum of the Concord militia as “Lafayette” arrives in a carriage and is greeted at the tent before moving inside for a program in the First Parish sanctuary with remarks by historians and town leaders. Organized by the Wright Tavern and the Racial Justice Affinity Group of First Parish, the program will feature historian Robert Gross, Robbins House Executive Director Jen Turner, Concord Prison Outreach Director Sam Williams, and Gospel Choir Director at First Parish Anderson Manuel.&nbsp;A French-themed reception will follow at the Wright Tavern.

Wright Tavern

Spinning Tableau

2024 Spinning Tableau August 31 @ 10:00 AM 2024 Spinning Tableau: AUGUST 31st 10am-5pm In the lead up to the American Revolution, women in New England organized acts of resistance to protest taxation, including spinning matches. Visit the Lexington Women’s Monument on Labor Day weekend to commemorate the 1769 event held by Anna Harrington. Join us for demonstrations of traditional and contemporary textile arts. This will take place at the Lexington Women’s Monument, 1875 Massachusetts Ave in Lexington. www.concord250.org

Lexington's Womens Monument

250 Day Countdown to Concord250 Community Kick-Off!

Mark your Calendar for the 250 day countdown to Concord250! Join us Sunday August 11th, 2024, at the Concord Museum to celebrate the Concord250 Community Kick Off! 250 days to the 250th celebration of the start of the American Revolution. 5:30 - 7:30 PM on Sunday, August 11 Enjoy free admission to the Concord Museum and see the original lantern from Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride. Bring a picnic to eat on the Museum lawn and/or enjoy delicious food &amp; beverages you can purchase from Northeast Smokehouse Food Truck and the Decanted Wine Truck. Have family fun with music, cornhole, face painting, actors, more lantern making, light sticks for the lanterns, and recitations. Join the joyful march to Monument Square led by Fife and Drum for a special lighting ceremony &amp; special guest speakers. Make your own lantern (or bring one from home) or gather a template* from many diverse sources, and help us light the way to Concord’s kick-off of Concord250!

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.