|
Fan and follow us!
|
|
|
Header Photos
|
Clockwise from top left: Strange Fruit, Outside the Box festival; Thomas Ortiz Dance, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival; Redcoats & Rebels, Old Sturbridge Village; Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Pow Wow; Lowell Folk Festival
|
|
|
|
Massachusetts is rich in arts & culture, so it's no surprise that exciting events, exhibits and festivals are held in the state's 16 regions all year long. Find out more!
|
|
|
The Merry Month of May!
|
|
May is all about brunching in good company, arts in the afternoon, and continuing to enjoy the rich offerings of springtime. With Mother's Day on the calendar, there are ample opportunities to celebrate Mom and make new memories. If there are little ones in the mix, you'll want to
make way for the ducklings - a Boston favorite. Or consider a step back in time with a tour of the luxe and scenic
Crane Estate in Ipswich. Then there's always
performing arts! With so many talented artists on stage in the Commonwealth, there's truly something for everyone.
Memorial Day, too, is on the horizon. History buffs should be keen to incorporate a
tour of sites that honor the brave throughout the centuries. Whatever you do, stop to smell the flowers because they're finally in bloom! For more highlights on the spring season, visit
massvacation.com/spring.
|
|
Featured Region: Greater Merrimack Valley
|
|
With the summer months approaching, there is so much to do in the Greater Merrimack Valley! On Friday, May 19th, guests and visitors have the opportunity to experience the rich and diverse culture Lowell has to offer.
MarketPlace is an evening event showcasing everything that's "Made In Lowell" - small businesses, artists and artisans, to non-profit organizations from all 11 neighborhoods of Lowell participate and showcase their work, talent, services and products. MarketPlace will happen at Lucy Larcom Park in Historic Downtown Lowell in collaboration with Doors Open Lowell. Find more information on
Greater Merrimack Valley.
|
|
Central Massachusetts
|
|
Spring is a great time to visit Central Massachusetts! Indulge your inner art-enthusiast with a visit to
The Seventeenth ArtsWorcester Biennial, on display from May 5-June 2. Looking to watch spring grow in your own backyard? Buy some plants at the Regional Environmental Council's
Spring Garden Festival & Plant Sale on May 20th. Itching to jump back in time? Join the DCU Center for the
I Love the 90's: The Party Continues Tour on May 12th. Find more information on
Central Massachusetts.
|
|
Franklin County
|
|
On May 13th,
Second Saturday in Shelburne Falls invites you to meet local artists, stroll the downtown, visit unique shops and try new restaurants. And those 21+ should not miss the Lefty's Brewing Company
Spring Fever Brew Fest on Saturday, May 20 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Franklin County Fair Grounds in Greenfield! Enjoy amazing food, craft vendors, a beer garden, games, live music and more. Find more information on
Franklin County.
|
|
Greater Boston
|
|
You're invited to enjoy Mozart's ever popular
Marriage of Figaro performed by
Boston Lyric Opera, the melodies of the
Boston Pops and the 3-day music festival
Boston Calling over Memorial Day weekend - all making for a very musically diverse May. While magnolias and tulips bloom, so do your theatre choices; "tomorrow" is here with
Annie, as is the tango-infused
Arrabal, the romantic, yet tragic
Camelot and Tchaikovsky's tale of true love,
Sleeping Beauty.
Botticelli and
Matisse are on display at the MFA, noted abolitionist
Frederick Douglass' photographs are on view at the Museum of African American History and
WOW, "getting art off the walls and onto the body "debuts at the
Peabody Essex Museum. And there's still time for the unique
ArtWeek! Find more information on
Greater Boston.
|
|
Cape Cod
|
|
 |
|
|
Courtesy of Paul Resika and Lori Bookstein Fine Art, New York |
Cape Cod's maritime heritage is legendary. Come, hear and experience this wonderful lore at the
24th Annual Cape Cod Maritime Days, a celebration of the Cape's rich maritime history happening throughout May! There is an exciting line-up of Cape-wide events, from lighthouse tours and nautical art exhibits to guided kayak excursions and walking tours. And check out our new maritime-themed itineraries around the region! Find all the events at
CapeCodMaritimeDays.com. Find more information on
Cape Cod.
|
|
Greater Springfield
|
|
 The Legend Lives On! On May 12th,
Springfield's Symphony Hall presents legendary balladeer Gordon Lightfoot. Featuring thought-provoking songs like "If You Could Read My Mind," "Sundown," "Early Morning Ran," "Carefree Highway," "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and many more. Go to
VisitWesternMA.com for more information and other great events in the region. Find more information on
Greater Springfield.
|
|
Hampshire County
|
|
Once spring arrives, the locals in western Massachusetts mark their calendars for the first-pick of the asparagus season and a summer's worth of local food and local festivals. To experience the best of both, plan a visit in June for the
WGBY Asparagus Festival on Saturday, June 3rd on the town common in Hadley, the "asparagus capital of the world" between the 2 college towns of Amherst and Northampton. For places to stay and a preview of the summer's food and festival line up, go to
visithampshirecounty.com. Find more information on
Hampshire County.
|
|
Johnny Appleseed Country
|
|
You know that spring has arrived when the hillsides of Johnny Appleseed Country burst forth in pink-and-white blooms. It's time to get outdoors! Visit the apple blossom festivals at
Lanni Orchards in Lunenburg or
Sholan Farms in Leominster to enjoy this all-too-brief scenic extravaganza! Take a "birds and flowers" canoe tour on the Nashua River with
Nashoba Paddler. Stretch your legs with a guided walk at
Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary or
Rollstone Hill in Fitchburg. Grab a camera - Mother Nature is putting on a show! Find more information
on
Johnny Appleseed Country.
|
|
Martha's Vineyard
|
|
Join us for the
MV Wine Festival May 11-14, an enticing weekend of private home dinners, adventurous oyster farm tours, and a grand tasting unlike any other, where wines are hand-picked for your enjoyment and paired with local Island foods for the best experience ever! Based in Edgartown, you'll find oystermen and artists, cooks and coffee drinkers, beach goers and wine lovers, hopefully, you. What a great Mother's Day gift idea! Visit
themvwinefestival.com and
MVY.com. Find more information on
Martha's Vineyard
.
|
|
Mohawk Trail Region
|
|
More art, more music, and a bike path through the building: Beginning May 28,
MASS MoCA in North Adams will double its museum space, with long-term exhibitions by Laurie Anderson, Louise Bourgeois, Jenny Holzer, Robert Rauschenberg, Gunnar Schonbeck, and James Turrell, making it the largest center for contemporary art in North America - and one of only two museum buildings in the world that you can pedal through. Come for the galleries and stay for a rock concert with CAKE! Find more information on
The Mohawk Trail Region.
|
|
MetroWest
|
|
Taste what's brewing in our region! At MetroWest on Tap, only locally crafted beers and ciders will be showcased in this first-time event taking place May 18th in the beautiful event tent at Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury. Enjoy the beverages from our region's growing craft industry, as well as Wayside Inn cuisine, live music, and lawn games at this historic venue. Other beverages will be available. ($60 of your ticket is a tax-deductible donation). Find more information on MetroWest.
|
|
Nantucket Island
|
|
Let the festivities begin! Don't miss the opening pop of Veuve Clicquot and raise your glass to toast the
21st Annual Nantucket Wine and Food Festival May 17-21! Greet brilliant chefs, winemakers and presenters and get a preview taste of the four days at the Nantucket Wine and Food Festival. Enjoy the wines of Domaine François Villard, Domaine des Deux Roches, Larkin Wines, Lede Family Wines, Opus One and Flowers Vineyard & Winery. Find more information on
Nantucket Island.
|
|
North of Boston
|
|
On Saturday, May 20th, celebrate the Arts in Rockport and the return of spring at
Motif No.1 Day! Motif No. 1 is one of the most-often painted and photographed buildings in America. On that same day, enjoy a self-guided house or landscape tour or join a curator-led talk at
Home Sweet Home at Castle Hill in Ipswich. Find more information on
North of Boston.
|
|
Plymouth County
|
|
James Library & Center for the Arts in Norwell presents
Mondays at the James in May! On May 1st, "Roofs of the Western Hemisphere" will let you experience mountain tops of America with photos and lively stories. On May 8th, "Benefits of Meditation" will teach you about meditation, its benefits, and the science behind its use as a wellness practice. On May 22nd, "Hamilton: The Man, The Musical, The Miranda" will let you discover how the musical Hamilton came to be and how it is relevant to today's world. Registration is not required, but is strongly encouraged. Find more information on
Plymouth County.
|
|
Southeastern Mass
|
|
Viva Portugal! The Zeiterion has brought together the leading Portuguese cultural organizations
for this
family-friendly downtown festa that celebrates the art, music and food of Portugal on Saturday, May 6th! Full of music, history, food and fun, this street fair showcases the richness of Southcoast's vibrant Portuguese-American culture! 1 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Fado legend Carlos do Carmo will perform on stage at the Zeiterion following Viva Portugal. Find more information on
Southeastern Massachusetts.
|
|
The Berkshires
|
|
Get your tickets now! Berkshire Theatre Group is a center for creative work that enriches, invigorates and transforms. Here are a few of their 2017 highlights: The Tony Award-winning The Music Man & Children of a Lesser God, At Home at the Zoo, by Pulitzer Prize-winning Edward Albee, Arsenic and Old Lace, featuring Tony Award-winning Harriet Harris, Southside Johnny and Janeane Garofalo. "Western MA explodes with the arts every summer and BTG is vital to that scene," NY Times stated. Come and enjoy a show with us in the Berkshires! F
ind more information
on
The Berkshires
.
|
|
|
