May 2010 - Events Calendar

Below is a list of what is going on in Johnny Appleseed Country during the month of May. If you are aware of an event that is going on in our region that is not listed here, email it to us, we will be glad to put it on for all our visitors to see!

1 Saturday, 8 am-noon. City-Wide/City Pride Cleanup. Meet at Leominster City Hall on West Street and help get the city sparkling clean. Return to City Hall for a pizza party when the work is done! To volunteer, call the mayor’s office at 978-534-7500. Rain date, May 8. 

1 Saturday, 10 am-1 pm. Fairy House Tour at Peirce Park, Doyle Reservation, Leominster. Join us for a May Day celebration of the wee folk, complete with a May pole dance and music. Build a Fairy House from natural, found objects and bring it along to share. Call 978-840-4446 x 1900. 

1 Saturday, 7:30 pm. Community Band 32nd Annual Pops Concert at the Orange Armory, 135 East Main Street. Stephanie Parker, conductor. 

1-2 Saturday-Sunday, 10 am–5 pm. Celebrate Arbor Day at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. Activities include tree plantings, pruning demonstrations, and walking tours. Admission $10 Adults, $7 Seniors & $5 Youth. Call 508-869-6111. 

1-2 Saturday-Sunday, 10 am–5 pm. Daffodil and Primrose Show at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. See hundreds of daffodil flowers and enjoy blooming primroses of every type, along with primrose plants and supplies for sale. $10 Adults, $7 Seniors & $5 Youth. Call 508-869-6111. 

1-2 Saturday & Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm. Farm Machinery Weekend Weekend at Davis’ Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. Tractors, dump buckets, what could be more fun? See farm machines and meet the real farmers who operate them. Climb in the tractors, beep the horn, dump the bucket. Don’t forget your camera! Call 978-422-MOOO. 

1-2 Saturday & Sunday. Art in Bloom at the Fitchburg Art Museum, 25 Merriam Parkway, Fitchburg. Enjoy floral interpretations throughout the Museum along with lecturers and workshops. Courtyard lunches available. Members, seniors & students, $7; Non-Members, $12; Children under 12, free. Call 978-345-4207. 

2 Saturday, 9am-2pm. NCCES Family Connection PTO Spring Fest Scholarship Fundraiser
North Central Charter Essential School at One Oak Hill Road, Fitchburg. No Admission, All are welcome. All proceeds go to benefit the NCCES Family Connection PTO Scholarship Fund. Flea Market & Craft Fair with Refreshments, Games, Springfest Spa, Book Fair and Enrollment Information Sessions. Kate Bean, PTO President (978) 345-2701 ext. 416 or PTO@ncces.org, 8-4:00 p.m.

2 Sunday, 4 pm. Historic Piano concert featuring Stephen Porter: Music by Liszt and Ravel at the Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel St., Ashburnham, on a 1877 piano by Erard, Paris. Admission $10, children and students, free. Call 978-827-6232 or visit www.Frederickcollection.org. 

5 Wednesday, 7:30 pm. Annual Spring Ensemble Concert at Weston Auditorium, Fitchburg State College. Free admission. Call 978-665-4694. 

8 Saturday, 9 am–3 pm. Spring Fair at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 26 West St., Leominster. Huge flea market and flowering plants outdoors, and jewelry, books, crafts, homemade baked goods, children’s face painting, Raffles and a silent auction indoors. Snack bar and lunch available. Rain or Shine. Call 978-534-5164 or visit www.pilgrimchurch-ucc.org. 

8 Saturday, 10 am–4 pm. 9th Annual Apple Blossom Festival at Sholan Farms, 1125 Pleasant St., Leominster (rain date May 15). The festival celebrates the advent of spring in the Central Massachusetts region as evidenced by the blooming of the apple trees. A civic celebration organized and operated by the Friends of Sholan Farms, with children’s activities, crafters, pony rides, music and food. Visit www.sholanfarms.com or call 978-840-FARM. 

8 Saturday, 10 am–4 pm. 58th Annual Apple Blossom Festival, Route 111, Harvard. Craft vendors, live music, children's games and food, fire truck rides. Festival vendors include fine jewelers, painters and others offering fashion accessories, organic and specialty foods, children’s books and toys, memorabilia and much more. Benefits Ayer Rotary Club, www.AyerRotary.com. 

8 Saturday, 4:30 pm. 20th Annual Ducky Wucky River Race, 4:30 pm, Still River Depot Road, off Route 110, Harvard. Grand prize of dinner for two anywhere in the world, including airfare and two nights’ hotel. Tickets available at the Apple Blossom Festival. Benefits Rotary Club, www.AyerRotary.com. 

9 Sunday, 2 pm. Clara Lane Memorial Mother’s Day Concert: Russian Duo on Piano and Cello at the Leominster Public Library, 30 West Street, Leominster. Free. 

9 Sunday, 4 pm. Historic Piano concert featuring Emma Tahmizian at the Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel
St., Ashburnham. Admission $10, children and students, free. Call 978-827-6232 or visit www.Frederickcollection.org. All pianos are from The Frederick Collection of original grand pianos by major European makers, c.1790-1928. 

10 Monday, 7:30 pm. Annual Spring Choral Concert at Kent Recital Hall, Fitchburg State College. Concert featuring the Fitchburg State College Choir and Chamber Singers. Free admission. Call 978-665-4694. 

13 Thursday, 6 pm. Dean’s Beans at the Gardner Museum, 28 Pearl St., Gardner. Dean Cycon, founder of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Company in Orange, MA, will give a talk on the topic of Fair Trade Organic Coffee. Coffee is more than just a drink. It is about politics, survival, the Earth and the lives of indigenous peoples. What’s in your cup? Wine & Cheese Reception from 6-7 pm, lecture 7-8 p.m. Call 978-632-3277. 

14-15 Friday & Saturday, 7pm (F) and 2pm (S). “The Diary of Anne Frank” by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman. North Central Charter Essential School Black $5 for students, $7 for adults, $3 for children under 8. Call to reserve your tickets. Tickets will be held at the door. Keri Boisclair, Director (978) 345-2701 ext. 540, 8-2:30 p.m.

14-16 Friday & Saturday, 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm. “What I Did Last Summer” at Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Ave., Fitchburg. A charming, coming-of-age tale written by A.R. Gurney, performed in the intimate theater in downtown Fitchburg. Admission : $12 (reservations preferred), 978-345-6066 or strattonplayers@hotmail.com. Repeats May 21-23. 

14-16 Friday & Saturday, 8 pm, Sunday, 2 pm. “Lion in Winter” at Barre Players Theatre, 64 Commons St., Barre.
King Henry II of England has three living sons by Eleanor of Aquitaine: Richard, Geoffrey and John. He wants the kingdom to stay united after his death, but all three sons want to rule and it is likely to be torn apart by revolution. Repeats May 21-23. Adults $14; Seniors $12; students $10; children 12 & under $7. For reservations, call 978-355-2096 or 800-733-2096. 

15 Saturday, 10 am. Shirley Town-Wide Yard Sale. Take any road, Route 2 (exit 36), 2A, 225, Leominster, Lancaster or Townsend, to The Shirley Volunteer Town-Wide Yard Sale. Free map with detailed official yard sale sites available from Hazen Library, M&M Convenience Store and True Value Hardware. 

15 Saturday, 9 am–3 pm. Flea Market at Holy Cross Church, 25 Lake Ave., East Templeton. Sponsored by the Rosary Sodality, the flea market offers household goods, toys, books and more. Call Joy Taintor, 978-632-1104. 

15-16 Saturday & Sunday, 11 am–3 pm. Heroes Weekend at Davis’ Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. Farmland celebrates local heroes. Firefighters, police officers and armed service personnel and their families are free with valid I.D. Put out a pretend fire, climb up onto a fire truck and even check out the inside of an Army Hummer! Get your fingerprints taken and talk with real police officers about what they do in your town! Heroes will be on hand all day. Call 978-422-MOOO. 

16 Sunday, 2 pm. “Go Fly a Kite” at Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum, 21 Prichard Street, Fitchburg. Participants will decorate and assemble a simple kite. Then, weather permitting, kites can be test-flown in Riverside park. In any case, the kite you make goes home with you for later flying—or just to admire your creation. Museum admission ($5 adults) plus $2 materials fee for program. Call 978-342-2809 weekends. 

18 Tuesday, 7 pm. Genealogy at the Westminster Town Hall, South Street, Westminster. View some of the resources
found at the Town Hall when starting to research a family tree, or see what kinds of information are available about people who've lived in Westminster. The Town Clerk will answer questions. Call 978-874-5569. 

19 Wednesday, 7 pm. History of Ellis Island at the Community Room, Leominster Public Library, 25 West St. A talk by UMass Boston history professor Vincent J. Cannato, author of “American Passage: The History of Ellis Island.” Free. No registration required. 

21-23 Friday & Saturday, 8 pm; Sunday 2 pm. “What I Did Last Summer” at Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Ave., Fitchburg. See May 14 listing for details. Admission Price: $12 (reservations preferred); call 978-345-6066 or email strattonplayers@hotmail.com. 

21-23 Friday & Saturday, 8 pm; Sunday, 2 pm. “Lion in Winter” at Barre Players Theatre, 64 Commons St., Barre. See May 14 listing for details. Call 978-355-2096. 

22 Saturday, 8 am–1 pm. Flea Market at the Finnish Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Road, Fitchburg. Call 978-582-7717.
22 Saturday, 1–7 pm. Opening day for swimming at Benjamin Hill Park, 93 Benjamin Road, Shirley. Admission available on daily or membership basis. Call 978-425-9536 from noon–7 pm daily. 

22-23 Saturday & Sunday, 11 am–3 pm. Kindermusik with Pam Espinoza at Davis’ Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. Shake, wriggle and giggle with celebrated children's performer Pam Espinoza! Sing along and make some silly music that is sure to make the whole family get up and dance! Show times at 11 and 2. Call 978-422-MOOO. 

23 Sunday, 8 am. Town-wide Yard Sale in Lunenburg. The whole community joins in as treasure-hunters travel town roads looking for bargains. Stop at the common on Route 2A in the center of townfor a map of homes participating in the fund-raiser sponsored by the Parent Teacher Organization. 

23 Sunday, 1 pm. Free Poetry Readings at the Rabbit Hole Bookstore, 805 Main Street, Fitchburg. Designed for kids age 12 and under. Bring a poem or come and select a poem to read. Call 978-345 -0040 or therabbitholeusa.com. 

23 Sunday, 4 pm. Historic Piano concert featuring Manabu Takasawa: Music by Cesar Franck and others at the Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel Street at Main Street (Rte. 12), Ashburnham. Admission $10; children and students, free. Call 978-827-6232 or visit www.Frederickcollection.org. Features 1877 piano from The Frederick Collection of original grand pianos by major European makers, c.1790-1928. 

28 Thursday, 6 pm. Wolf Talk at the Gardner Museum, 28 Pearl St., Gardner. Presenters are Michael and Amy LeBlanc. An educational program on wolves and Native American culture with a live wolf. It is a hands-on experience for adults and children. Free admission. Wine & Cheese Reception from 6-7 pm, demo and lecture 7-8 p.m. Call 978-632-3277. 

29 Saturday, 9 am-2 pm. Spring Fair sponsored by First Church of Templeton, on the Templeton Common, Route 2A and 101. Fair features vendor tables, flea market items, Ed the Wizard, a bake sale, theme basket raffle, and antique cars. Breakfast and lunch will be served. 

29 Saturday, 9am-2 pm. Perennial Plant Swap at Westminster Historical Society, 110 Main Street. Exchange your extra plants for someone else's. 

29-31 Saturday – Monday, 11 am – 3 pm. Construction Expo Weekend at Davis’ Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Get your hard hats on for Construction Expo Weekend!! Kids can climb on a bulldozer, move some sand and beep the horn or even operate a backhoe with Digger Doug! There’s fun for everyone on our construction site. Call 978-422-MOOO. 

30 Sunday, 3 pm. Architecture and Community in New England at the Bulfinch Church (First Church of Christ
Unitarian), Main Street, Lancaster. Jack Larkin revisits the architecture of America from 1775 to 1840 and finds the values and dreams of the young republic recorded in its homes, meetinghouses and town commons. This presentation is drawn from his 2006 book, Where We Lived: Exploring the Places We Once Called Home, 1775-1840. Call 978-772-5812. 

30 Sunday, 4 pm. Historic Piano concert featuring Shuann Chai: Music by Chopin, Liszt, Moscheles, Henselt, Alkan, Szymanowska, Robert Schumann at the Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel St. Ashburnham. Admission $10, children and students, free. Call 978-827-6232 or visit www.Frederickcollection.org. Features 1840 Erard piano, Paris, from The Frederick Collection of original grand pianos. 

31 Monday, 9 am. Memorial Day Parade in the center of Pepperell. Visit www.town.pepperell.ma.us. 

31 Monday, 11 am. Memorial Day Parade in Orange, beginning in front of the Post Office on South Main Street.