Annual & Special Events

January 4-6, 2008 -- The 2008 Colonial Classic Synchronized Skating Competition and the World Junior Challenge Cup Selection Competition will be held January 4-7, 2007. http://www.colonialclassic.org/index.html or Paul E. Tsongas Arena www.paultsongasarena.com, 978-848-6900, $, HA.

February 8-9, 2008 -- Lowell’s Annual Winterfest Celebration.  Enjoy live entertainment and children’s activities.  Human dogsled championships, fireworks display as well as gallery, arts and crafts displays. www.lowellwinterfest.org, 978-970-4257, Free, HA.

February 18-22, 2008 -- Kids Week.  Enjoy your February school vacation with a fun filled week of music, games, crafts, story telling, field trips and activities. For more information call the Lowell National Historical Park. www.nps.gov/lowe, 978-970-5000, Free, HA.

April 21, 2008 -- Battle of Lexington and Concord re-enactment. The entire battle, including the British retreat, is re-enacted every Patriot's Day at dawn with period clothes and weaponry, on Lexington’s Battle Green. Event is covered by the national media. www.lexingtonchamber.org, 781-862-2480 or www.battleroad.org, 781-862-0500, Free, HA.

April 21-25, 2008 – Kids Week.  Enjoy your April school vacation with a fun filled week of music, games, crafts, story telling, field trips and activities. For more information call the Lowell National Historical Park, www.nps.gov/lowe, 978-970-5000, Free, HA.

May 15-18, 2008 – Doors Open Lowell.  Come to historic downtown Lowell and tour a number of beautifully preserved historic downtown buildings. Includes Doors Unhinged!, a city-wide art exhibit and auction featuring artistically enhanced doors. Proceeds help to support Doors Open Lowell. www.doorsopenlowell.org, 978-970-4270, Free, Mostly HA.

June 20-22, 2008 -- Lowell’s Big Fat Greek Festival.  Held on the grounds of Lowell’s Tsongas Arena, the Greek Festival celebrates the rich culture of Lowell’s Greek community.  Visitors will enjoy games, Greek food, music, dancing and shopping in the Greek Marketplace.  The festival will also include a children’s area and a road race, http://www.helleniccomserve.com/lowellgreekfestival.html, 978-458-4321, Free, HA.

July 6, 2008 -- Lowell Puerto Rican Festival. The Committee of the Puerto Rican Festival "Hijos de Borinquen" have been organizing their annual celebration of the Puerto Ricans in the city of the Lowell, Massachusetts, since 1980. Throughout the years the Festival has given Lowell an introduction to Puerto Rican customs which include music, ethnic food, dance, poetry, drama and speeches. The festival is held in downtown Lowell’s Boardinghouse Park.  http://www.lowellpuertoricanfestival.org/, 978-884-2641, HA.

July and August – Lexington:  Friday Evening Summer Concert Serieson the Visitors Center lawn.  Bring lawn chairs and refreshments and enjoy a variety of styles of music including big band, country, 50's & 60's classic rock-and-roll; and jazz.  Concerts are free and begin at 6:30 PM.  www.lexingtonchamber.com, 781-862-2480, Free, HA.

July, August, September – The Lowell Summer Music Series.  Friday and Saturday evenings.  See live entertainment under the stars at Boarding House Park in downtown Lowell. Free children’s shows on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 11:00am.  www.lowellsummermusic.org , 978-275-1783, $ (Banjo and Fiddle Contest is free), Mostly HA. 

July 25-27, 2008 – The Lowell Folk Festival, America’s largest free folk festival, presented by the Lowell National Historical Park.  Three Days of great music on six stages, authentic ethnic food, crafts displays, traditional dance, parades and more. www.lowellfolkfestival.org, 978-970-5000, Free, HA.

August 7-10, 2008 – The Lowell Quilt Festival.  A city-wide celebration of quilts displayed at various venues throughout Lowell including the Tsongas Arena and the Radisson Hotel Chelmsford.  Proceeds from the show benefit the New England Quilt Museum. Have your quilt appraised by an expert or attend an auction, class or lecture. www.lowellquiltfestival.org, $, HA.

August 16, 2008 –   11th Annual Southeast Asian Water Festival. Held along the Merrimack River at the Lowell Heritage State Park’s Esplanade and Sampas Pavilion. Traditional live music and dance, fashion show, dragon boat races, games, activities, Asian Food, Southeast Asian arts, crafts and more. www.lowellwaterfestival.org, 978-596-1013, Free, HA.

September 6-7, 2008 –  Rib’n Brews 2007.  Massachusetts State BBQ Championship and the New England Microbrew Championship at Lucy Larcom Park in Lowell.  Sports bar tent, live entertainment and children’s activities.  www.ci.lowell.ma.us, 978-970-4257, $, HA

September 27, 2008 –  Fine Arts & Crafts Festival, Visitor Center Lawn, Lexington, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Shop the booths of New England’s finest artisans on the lawn of the Lexington Visitors Center opposite the Minuteman Statue.  The festival will feature numerous booths with original handcrafted items. Visit the web for exact date.  Rain date scheduled for the following day. www.lexingtonchamber.com, 781-862-2480, Free, HA.

October 3-5, 2008 –  22nd Annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!  Featuring tours of Kerouac’s Lowell places including many places described in his Lowell-based novels. http://www.cultureiscool.org, 978-446-7162, Various $,Mostly HA.

November 29, 2008 –   Lowell’s City of Lights Parade.  Kick off the holiday season watching the parade through historic downtown Lowell culminating in the lighting of City Hall and the community tree at the Ladd-Whitney Memorial.  www.ci.lowell.ma.us, 978-970-4257, Free, HA.

December 4, 2008 – Concord’s annual holiday stroll and open house in Concord’s beautiful historic downtown. 6 – 8 PM. www.concordmachamber.org, 978-369-3120, Free, HA.

 

   American Spirit
   Experience Revolution
   Home of the Alcotts