Here is a list we have compiled of fun and inexpensive things to do around New England this weekend. We did not include any of the Memorial Day Parades as there are too many to list but get out and enjoy the fabulous weather. We will be at the Franklin Memorial Day Parade on Monday at 11am! Happy Memorial Day!
Friday, May 22nd
Bowling Gone Wild
Location: Pinz, 110 S. Main St, Milford, MA
Website: www.pinzbowl.com
Hours: 10:00am – 11:30pm
Cost: $20/hour for bowling. Includes 4 people and shoe rentals. Each additional person is $5
Description: With 20 lanes to choose from, there’s always fun to be found. Open bowling is offered throughout the day, so you’re free to walk in anytime without worrying about league play. Each futuristic glow-in-the-dark bowling lane features the latest technology, while the custom couch seating at the lanes creates a perfect place to relax and enjoy the experience.
Kids Polar Bear Ice Cream Pajama Party
Location: Polar Cave Ice Cream Palour, 22 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Mashpee MA
Website: www.polarcave.com
Hours: 5:00pm-8:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: Bring the kids down in the jammies along with their favourite stuffed Polar Bear (or other stuffed animal) and they will receive a FREE ice cream.
Rhode Island
Waterfire
Location: Waterplace Park, Providence, RI
Website: www.waterfire.org.
Hours: Sundown
Cost: Free
Description: Every summer through early autumn this installation sets ablaze the three rivers that converge in downtown Providence with 100 bonfires lighting up the water, as music plays throughout the downtown area. The result is an enchanting evening of art, music, and leisurely strolling. Fires start at sundown on the following days: May 23, 29; June 4, 13; July 25; August 8, 11, 22, September 5, 19; October 10.
New Hampshire
Super Stellar Friday: “Kung Fu on the Sun”
Location: 2 Institute Drive, Concord, NH
Website: http://www.starhop.com
Hours: 7 PM
Cost: $9 Adult, $6 Child (3-12), $8 Student/Senior. Free for Members. If General Admission is purchased earlier that day, program ticket is $3.
Description: Experience our star on a whole new level with ‘Walk on the Sun’, an exhibit where you’ll bring the Sun to life with music and imagery. Join “Walk on the Sun” exhibit designer and sonification researcher Marty Quinn, with martial arts instructor Aaron Butler, to learn about our Sun – Kung Fu style! Recommended for ages 8+. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday May 23rd
Fanueil Hall Street Performers Festival
Location: Quincy Market Colonnade, Boston, MA
Website:http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/entertainment2.html
Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: On Memorial Day weekend, Faneuil Hall comes alive with a Street Performers Festival. Enjoy performances by jugglers, mimes, magicians, puppeteers and musicians are just a few of over 50 entertainers presenting three days of entertainment and interactive activities .
Woodside Tales Puppet Show
Location: 22 Vinal Ave., Somerville, MA
Website: www.oldmichie.com.
Hours: 11 am and 4 pm
Cost: Free
Description: The Old Michie Theatre comes to Somerville! Puppets come alive in this fun new play on environmental change, habitat preservation and ecological stewardship. The show is geared toward the young (ages 3-6) but can be enjoyed by fun-loving people of all ages. There will be two shows, one at 11 am and one at 4 pm. The Growing Center will be open between shows as well, so come spend an afternoon at The Somerville Community Growing Center, a beautiful urban oasis near Union Square. In the event of rain, this event will be postponed to Sunday May 24.
Spring Planting Moon Pow-Wow and Crafts Festival
Location:140 Main Street, Marshfield
Website: www.wldwind.com/powwow.htm
Hours: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Cost: $5.00 Adults, $4.00 Seniors, $2.00 children 6-12, under 6 free
Description: Enjoy this Native American Moon Pow Wow featuring traditional drumming, singing & dancing, food, crafts and more at the Marshfield fairgrounds.
World Turtle Day at Turtle Feet
Location: 111 Belmont St, Easton, MA
Website: www.turtlefeetonline.com
Hours: 11am-12pm
Cost: $10
Description: Create turtle crafts and projects of all kinds while learning about the many types of turtles found all around the world. Call 508-238-1560 or email create@turtlefeetonline.com to register.
Tangelwood Marionettes presents “Sleeping Beauty”
Location: 160 Hollis Street, Framingham, MA
Website: www.tanglewoodmarionettes.com
Hours: 2pm
Cost: $10
Description: A classic tale which appeals to children of all ages, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ begins in King Felix’s great hall for the christening of Princess Aurora. The party goes awry when the wicked witch arrives and curses Princess Aurora. Will the curse come true? Will someone with a ‘true heart’ appear? You will know when you see Tanglewood Marionettes’ presentation of this best-loved tale. In this retelling, a painted story book opens to reveal each scene. Beautifully hand-crafted marionettes are brought to life by a master puppeteer as the dramatic events unfold
Entrain’s Multi-media Event: Drums for Peace
Location: Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Road (Rte. 28), Cotuit MA
Website: www.CotuitCenterForTheArts.org
Hours: Doors open at 3:30 PM and the show starting at 4:00 PM
Cost: Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Children under 12 are free
Description: Entrain’s energetic percussion-driven sound will captivate the audience with an explosive 2 hours of drum ensemble pieces with rhythms and instruments from all over the world, as well as the full band playing tunes from their extensive catalog that contains this positive message. The use of projected screen imaging will enhance the show and help to create a visual spectacle. There will be some audience participation as well as some special guests joining Entrain on stage.
Rhode Island
Gaspee Days Arts & Crafts Festival
Location: Narragansett Parkway, Warwick, RI
Website: www.gaspee.com
Hours: 10am –5pm
Cost: Free
Description: The annual arts and crafts Festival attracts approximately 50,000 people a day for three days browsing and purchasing the wares of the 150 to 200 craft exhibitors along Narragansett Parkway in Warwick. There is also a food court, free family music, entertainment, and pony rides for the children located in Pawtuxet Park.
Connecticut
Digging for Dinosaurs
Location: Bruce Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1 Museum Dr, Greenwich, CT
Website: www.brucemuseum.com
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am–5pm.; Sunday, 1 – 5pm.
Cost: Adults, $7; students and seniors, $6; children 5 and under, free
Description: Discover buried dinosaur bones in this interactive exhibition that re-creates an excavation site. Life-size fossils and casts of dinosaurs are on view with hands-on activities
Primitive Skills Day
Location: The Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Road, Washington Depot, CT
Hours: 11am
Cost: $10 Adults / $6 Children
Description: What would you do if you didnít have a match to start a fire, a metal pot to cook in or a grocery store to buy your food? How did early Native Americans survive without these luxuries? Come to Primitive Skills day and discover first hand. Join Primitive Technologists Jeff Kalin (Cherokee descent), Jamie Leffer, Andrew Dubos and Deneen Bernier for an afternoon learning about flintknapping, how to build simple survival shelters, create fire from friction and shoot with bows and arrows.
Revolutionary War Encampment
Location: Webb Deane Stevens Museum, 211 Main St, Wethersfield, CT
Website: www.webb-deane-stevens.org
Hours: 9am
Cost: Free
Description: Attend the town’s parade beginning at 9 a.m., then stroll over to the Webb Deane Stevens Museum to see the 5th Connecticut Regiment in period attire stage an authentic Revolutionary War encampment complete with musket demonstrations, cooking and traditions of that period. This event commemorates General George Washington and French Lieutenant Rochambeau’s meeting at the Joseph Webb House in 1781 to plan a joint military campaign that would defeat the British
New Hampshire
Lilac Festival
Location: Main St, Lisbon, NH
Website: www.lisbonmainstreet.org
Hours: 8am
Cost: Free
Description: The Lisbon Lilac Festival honors Memorial Day by recognizing New Hampshire’s official flower, the lilac, with a parade, local arts and crafts, food, entertainment and fun
Sunday, May 24th
Newburport Spring Fest
Location: Downtown Newburyport, Newburyport, MA
Website: www.newburyportchamber.org
Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free
Description: Welcome spring to Newburyport! Held annually on Memorial Day Weekend in historic downtown Newburyport, Spring Fest is a two-day festival featuring music, art, fine crafts, food from Newburyport’s best restaurants and a Kid’s Korner featuring entertainment for children and families.
Snow in the Summer: The Famed Zoo Shipwreck
Location: George’s Island, Boston, MA
Website: www.bostonharborislands.org
Hours: 1:00PM - 1:45PM
Cost: Free
Description: Writer, storyteller and island folk-hero Edward Rowe Snow (1902-1982) shared his love of the Boston Harbor Islands with the world. Hear the true tale of a shipwreck of the British freighter “The City of Salisbury” off of Graves Light. While the 56 man crew escaped unscathed, its unusual cargo did not.
Discovery Hike for Families
Location: Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, 291 State Highway Route 6, South Wellfleet MA
Website: www.massaudubon.org/wellfleet
Hours: 10am-11:30am
Cost: Adults $7m/$9nm, Children $5m/$7nm
Description: Join a naturalist for an indoor introduction to Wellfleet’s wildlife and then head out for a guided walk on the trails with engaging activities for children that will encourage observation and discovery. For families with children of all ages. Registration required.
Connecticut
Lime Rock Racing Classic
Location: Lime Rock Park, Lakeville CT
Website: www.limerock.com
Hours: 8am-1pm
Cost: Varies, Kids 12 and under are free
Description: Give your family a weekend to remember at exciting outdoor events and holiday inspired celebrations! Kick off the racing season at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville this weekend during the Lime Rock Park Road Racing Classic. Four completely different race groups take turns vying for your attention while you enjoy all the amenities of beautiful Lime Rock Park
Monday, May 25th
Museum of Fine Arts Open House
Location: Avenue of the Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA
Website: www.mfa.org
Hours: 10 am–4:45 pm, Family tours 10:30am & 1:30pm
Cost: Free
Description: The Museum opens its doors on Memorial Day for a day of celebration with free general admission for all, including free admission to the special exhibition “Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice” (available on a first-come, first-served basis). Highlights include films, art activities, and performances.
Rhode Island
Public Walk In Hours at Biomes
Location: Biomes Marine Biology Center, 221 Shady Lea Road, North Kingston RI
Website: www.biomescenter.com
Hours: 12:00pm-4:00pm
Cost: $5 per person for three years old and up
Description: Biomes is the only privately owned marine education center in the state focusing on marine fish and invertebrates collected from local waters. See all of these animals and get your hands wet with our hands-on exhibits featuring live sea creatures
