September 2010 - Events Calendar

Below is a list of what is going on in Johnny Appleseed Country during the month of September. 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!

September
2 Thursday, 3–9 pm. First Thursdays celebration in downtown Fitchburg. Scheduled venues include Destare, Goombas, Rollstone Studios, Design at 639, Umbrella Gallery, Boulder Art Gallery, The Total You, Fitchburg Senior Center, Fitchburg Public Library, Chaibo, Nefcam Photography, The Rabbit Hole and the Upper Common. Contact First Thursdays Director David M. Roth, 978-340-0486.

3-6 Friday – Sunday, 8 am – 9 pm, Monday 8 am – 7 pm. Spencer Fair, Smithville Road, Spencer. The Spencer Agricultural Association presents this annual fair that includes a carnival, demo derbies, truck pull, horse and oxen pulls, dairy cows and beef cattle, entertainment, food, fun. Call 508-248-5963 or visit www.spencerfair.org. Adults $10, children $6, under 7 free.

10 -11 Friday, 5 pm – 9 pm and Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm. Olde Home Day in downtown Clinton. Entertainment, crafters, local food vendors, and ethnic, civic and church organizations participate in this annual celebration. Call 978-733-1607.

10-12 Friday 5–11 pm, Saturday 9 am–11 pm, Sunday 9 am–5 pm. Sterling Fair at the Sterling Airport, Greenland Road, Sterling. This annual family event, with a local agriculture focus, features a midway, entertainment for all ages, fireworks, livestock shows & competitions, agricultural guest speakers, arts & crafts, helicopter rides and more! This year’s fair celebrates the history of Sterling’s own “Cider Mill”. Free parking and admission. Visit http://sterlingfair.org.

11 Saturday, 1 pm. Author talk and book signing at The Rabbit Hole, 805 Main St., Fitchburg. Meet world renowned historian and author on UFOs, Richard Dolan (as seen on the History Channel, SyFy and the BBC). Dolan has authored UFOs and the National Security State: An Unclassified History, 1941-1973 and the follow-up title Chronology of a Cover-Up, 1941-1973. Tickets are $15. Seating is limited. www.therabbitholeusa.com.

11 Saturday, 4:30–6 pm. Roast Beef Supper at First Church of Templeton, located on Templeton Common, Route 2A. Open seating. Adults-$10 Children 6-17 years of age-$5 and kids under 5 years of age are free. To make reservations, contact Laura Lawrence at 978-939-4021 or email fcsuppers@comcast.net.

11-12 Saturday & Sunday, 9:30 am-5 pm. Applefest Weekend at Davis Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. Pick your own apples, explore Farmland with the kids. Call 978-422-6666.

12 Sunday, 12–6 pm. MusicFest at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area at 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Six bands perform on two stages. Rain or shine. Ale fest, chili cook-off, car show. Tickets $20 adults, $6 kids. Call 978-464-2300 or visit www.wachusett.com for advance ticket discount.

12 Sunday, 4 pm. Pianist Constantine Finehouse in solo recital at the Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel St., Ashburnham. The opening concert in the Historical Piano Concert Series’ 26th fall season — the only concert series in the US using all restored original period grand pianos. For details, visit www.FrederickCollection.org. Admission $10, children and students free. Call 978-827-6232.

15 Tuesday, 6:30 pm. Gallery talk with Nina Bozicnik, assistant curator at the Currier Museum of Art at Hammond Campus Center, Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg. Free admission. Opening reception at 7 pm.

15 Tuesday, 7 pm. Loose Ends Bluegrass Band, toe tapping bluegrass and new grass concert at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. Final Sundown Concert of the season. Rain date Sept. 16. Admission $15 per carload. Call 978-456-3924.

18 Saturday, 10 am–6 pm. St. Denis Parish Bazaar, Main Street, Ashburnham. (Attic Treasures opens at 7 am.) Silent and Chinese auctions, raffles, Joe’s Food Booth, baked goods, jewelry, crafts, books, kids’ games. Rain or shine.

18 Saturday, 10 am–5 pm. Cactus & Succulent Show at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. The 4th Annual Show and Sale presented by the Cactus & Succulent Society of Massachusetts. Cost included with admission, $10 adults, $7 seniors, $5 youth. Call 508-869-6111.

18 Saturday, noon–3 pm. Teddy Bear Picnic at Smith’s Country Cheese, 240 Otter River Road, Winchendon. Sponsored by the Winchendon Historical Society. Bring your teddy bear and picnic lunch. Watch sheep shearing and learn why it’s done. Games, prizes, win a teddy bear. Call for details 978-297-2142. Cost, $15/family.

18 Saturday, 3 p.m. Lecture: Priscilla Hunt on Rublev’s Old Testament Trinity at Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton. This lecture will address how Andrei Rublev created a unique iconography of the Holy Trinity to celebrate St. Sergius Friday night is Cruise Night at Kimball Farm in Lancaster. of Radonezh and the mystical currents of 15th century Russia. The Orfeo Duo performs in the Historic Pianos Concert series at the Ashburnham Community Church. Photo courtesy The Frederick Collection. Dr. Hunt will discuss the existing hypotheses about the icon’s connection to the cult of St. Sergius, the relationship of the icon to the contemporary Vita of St. Sergius by Epiphanius the Wise, and the poetic language by which Rublev’s masterpiece expresses an inner vision that became iconic for Russian spirituality as a whole. Call 978-598-5000.

18 Saturday, 7:30 pm Wachusett Showcase featuring local singers/songwriters at First Church of Christ, 725 Main Street, Lancaster. Contact Denise or Jean at (978) 365-2043.

18-19 Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-5 pm. Kidsfest at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area at 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. BMX stunts, flying trampoline act, lazer tag, climbing wall, food, music and more. Call 978-464-2300 or visit www. wachusett.com. Tickets $10 adults, $6 kids.

19 Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm. Fall Tori – Scandinavian Marketplace at the Finnish Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Road, Fitchburg. Vendors with Scandinavian gifts, hand-made articles, food, candy, Finnish coffee bread, beef stew, ice cream with lingonberry sauce and other foods. Free admission.

19 Sunday, 11 am - 3 pm. On The Wing – Gallery Tours with Jim Baird at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. Join Jim Baird for gallery walk & talks on the Mass Audubon’s Collection exhibit. Topics covered will vary in each of the talks. Mr. Baird is Curator Emeritus of Mass Audubon’s Visual Arts Center and was involved in the creation of their art collection. He was Director of Natural History Services and a former vice-president at Mass Audubon in addition to playing an instrumental role in producing the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas 1. Included with full admission. Call 978-456-3924.

19 Sunday, 11 am - 3 pm. Family Festival and Chicken Barbecue at the Otter River Sportsman’s Club, Lord Road, Otter River. Raffles, games, crafts, baked goods, candy table, plants, family fun rain or shine. Sponsored by Holy Cross Church, East Templeton.
Contact Joy Taintor 978-632-1104.

19 Sunday, 1 - 4 pm. Kids Day Off at Nashoba Valley Winery, 100 Wattaquaddoc Hill Rd., Bolton. family concert and barbecue in the vineyards and orchards of Nashoba Valley Winery. Parents can have fun too! No admission or parking fees. Visit www.nashobawinery.com.

19 Sunday, 1 -2 pm. The Art of Shaker presentation by Hancock Shaker Village at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. Shaker craft oriented with collections objects. Call 978-456-3924 or visit fruitlands.org.

19 Sunday, 2 pm. 2010 Annual Paper Airplane Contest at the Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum, 21 Prichard Street, Fitchburg. Adult admission (which includes one child), $5. Bring your own best paper airplane creations or come early and fold airplanes at the Museum. But come join in the fun as participants compete in distance and accuracy categories. Prizes are awarded separately to youngsters and adults. 978-342-2809.

19 Sunday, 4 pm. Historical Piano Concert, Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel St., Ashburnham. The Orfeo Duo – Vita Wallace, violin, Ishmael Wallace,
piano – will play Beethoven’s “Spring” and “Kreutzer” sonatas, and other works to be announced, with a Viennese piano made c.1805-1810, by Caspar Katholnig, from The Frederick Collection of Historical Grand Pianos. Visit www.FrederickCollection.org. Admission $10, children, students free. Call 978-827-6232.

23 Thursday, 6:30-10 pm Fruits of the Land – Shaker Dinner in Alcott’s Restaurant and Tea Room at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. Short pre- dinner talk by Roben Campbell on Shaker Rugs. Call 978-456-3924.

23-26 Thursday–Sunday. Cream of the Crop Weekend at Sholan Farms, 1125 Pleasant St., Leominster. Join us as we unveil the finest eating apple in the region – The cream of the crop celebration begins Thursday, September 23 with open house and continues throughout the weekend. Want a perfect no-fat dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Macoun may just be your apple, but, hurry, these special apples are only available in the fall. Call 978-840-3276.

24 Saturday, 5:30 pm. Run for a Beer, a 5k run/walk in Gardner. Starts at Fitness Concepts health club on West Broadway, ends at the Gardner Ale House on Parker Street. For details and registration form, visit www.fitconcepts.net.

24-26 Friday and Saturday, 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm. Moonlight & Magnolias at Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Avenue, Fitchburg. The hysterical behind-the-scenes story of how the beloved novel Gone with the Wind was brought to the big screen. Tickets $12. Call 978-345-6066 or strattonplayers@hotmail.com. Repeats Oct. 1-3.

25 Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm. Johnny Appleseed Festival in downtown Leominster. A full day of activities, food, music, — and, of course, apples!

25 Saturday, 9 am–2 pm. Flea Market at Westminster Historical Society, 110 Main Street, Westminster. You never know what you’ll find. Call 978-874-5569 or visit www.westminsterhistory.org.

25 Saturday, 10 am–noon. Gardner Cemetery Re-enactment at Old Burial Ground on Green Street, behind the First Congregational Church, Gardner. City residents, wearing period costumes, portray figures from the city’s past, introducing visitors to their characters at their burial sites. A part of Gardner’s 225th anniversary celebration, the event offers a glimpse into the city’s history.

25 Saturday, 11 am. Oktoberfest in downtown Gardner. The Gardner Ale House on Parker Street sponsors a food- and brew-filled Oktoberfest celebration. Visit www.gardnerale.com for details.

25 Saturday, noon. Chair Luge Race on Parker Street in downtown Gardner. If it looks like a chair and it has wheels, it qualifies for entry into the Chair City’s newest signature event, the Chair Luge. Motors are not allowed; this is a people powered event as contestants race to the finish line. Visit gardnerale.com.

25-26 Saturday & Sunday, 9:30 am - 5 pm. Birds of Prey Weekend at Davis Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. See eagles, owls, hawks and more. Free with paid admission to Farmland. Call 978-422-6666.

25-26 Saturday, 10 am - 10 pm, Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm. Ferncol Fair at the Templeton Developmental Center, Freight Shed Road, Templeton. Live music, activities for adults and children, home-made clam chowder, agricultural exhibits and demonstrations, an antique car show, Native American pow-wow and fireworks on Saturday night. Call 978-939-2161 days.

26 Sunday, 1 pm. Gardner 225th Anniversary Parade in downtown Gardner. Starting at the American Legion hall, the parade travels down Central Street, through downtown, and down Parker Street, ending at Waterford Street.

26 Sunday, 1–2:30 pm. In Shaker Footsteps: A Walking tour of the Harvard South Shaker Village, at Harvard Shaker Village, sponsored by Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. Guided tour of the Harvard Shaker Village with Roben Campbell, Elsa Stroh and Nancy Reifenstein. Adults: $10 Seniors/Students: $8. For ages 12 and up. Call 978-456-3924.

26 Sunday, 4 pm. Historical Piano Concert, Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel St., Ashburnham. Sima Kustanovich, piano and Julian Milkis, clarinet, will play works to be announced, with an original piano of the time of the music, from The Frederick Collection of Historical Grand Pianos. For details, visit www.FrederickCollection.org. Admission $10, children and students free. Call 978-827-6232.