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Fan and follow us!
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Header Photos
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Clockwise from top left: Boston Bluegrass annual Joe Val Festival;
North Adams Fall Foliage Parade; Pilgrim girl at Plimoth Plantation, credit Don Teague; Central Massachusetts; American Textile History Museum in Lowell
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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!
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A September to Remember
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With one foot in summer and the other crossing into autumn, we cherish the seasonal change and all good things it brings. We're faced with tough decisions like, "Should we have ice cream or apple cider donuts?" and whether leaf peeping is best on foot or through a car window (that one's easy: must do both).
For antique collectors, treasure hunters, and shoppers, the
Brimfield Antique Flea Market (9/4-9/9) is a can't-miss. Not only is this America's oldest outdoor antiques flea market, it's also the largest of its kind in the country! In West Springfield,
The Big E takes the spotlight from 9/14-9/30 with family-friendly activities, performances, vendors, and classic fair fun. Moving further east, the Orchard House in Concord celebrates the
Sesquicentennial of the beloved story by Louisa May Alcott,
Little Women. With events throughout September and 2018, celebrate the 150th of this timeless classic with a visit to the home where Alcott lived that inspired the tale. Discover more ways to explore Massachusetts and jump into the fall season at
massvacation.com.
For more on what to see + do in Massachusetts, visit
massvacation.com.
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Featured Region: Greater Merrimack Valley
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Often referred to as the "Triathlon of the Art World," the
Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race is an organization whose mission is to host and produce an annual kinetic sculpture race within the city of Lowell. This year, the all-day event takes place on Saturday, September 22! Kinetic sculptures are all-terrain, human-powered, art sculptures made from repurposed materials and engineered to race over road, water, mud and sand. LKSR strives to inspire the engineers and visionaries of the future by promoting the synthesis of the STEM fields, the arts, disruptive innovation, and physical activity. The race is open to all ages and works with students of local universities, high schools, vocational schools, and after-school programs.
Find more events and information for
Greater Merrimack Valley.
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Franklin County
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The annual
North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival - "The Festival that Stinks" - is set for September 29-30 at Forster's Farm in Orange! Meander among 100 bountiful booths featuring regional artists, farmers, community organizations and garlic cuisine. Celebrate and relax with great bands, spoken word, and performances on three stages. Be inspired by exhibitor demos and ample activities for kids and families, with over eighty engaging workshops, activities and performances scheduled throughout the weekend! 10 am to 5 pm, rain or shine. For information, call 978-544-9023 or visit
garlicandarts.org.
Find more events and information for
Franklin County.
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Greater Boston
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If summer's over, then September in Boston is a terrific alternative! Enjoy the
Asian American Festival,
Cambridge Carnival,
Country in the City,
India Fest,
Jazz Along the Charles,
Local Food Festival,
Boston ArtsFest, and the
Beantown Jazz Festival. The new theater season opens with
The Niceties, Black Clown, Hamnet and Sherlock's Last Case and the Broadway hit
Hamilton. Make plans for
Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium,
Drake or
Bruno Mars at TD Garden or
Joan Baez and iconic Beatle (Sir)
Ringo Starr at the Boch Center. Choose from the legendary libertine,
Casanova or the delicate artworks of
French Pastels at the MFA and women artists are front and center at the ICA in
We Wanted a Revolution, highlighting the voices and experiences of women artists of color and the photography of pioneering artist
Sally Mann at the PEM.
Find more events and information for
Greater Boston.
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Cape Cod
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Fall is the perfect time to explore Cape Cod! Enjoy farmers' markets, New England's best golf, walking trails, beautiful beaches and fun-filled seaside festivals. The
Sandwich Arts & Crafts Show on September 1 features unique, handcrafted items by local artisans, and the
Truro Agricultural Fair on September 2 celebrates agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and farming. Experience the magic of a biergarten while admiring fall foliage at Heritage Museums & Gardens'
Hoppy Fall Festival September 22. And make your way on September 29 to the
Mashpee Oktoberfest for authentic German music & dancing, a beer garden, kids' activities and local crafters!
Find more events and information for
Cape Cod.
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Greater Springfield
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 September kicks off with a blast as MGM Springfield presents international megastar
Stevie Wonder in concert September 1 at 8 pm. The
Connecticut River Craft Brewfest returns September 7 in Holyoke, featuring 50+ craft beers and unlimited tastings of the very best creations by these passionate brewers. New England's Great State Fair,
The Big E, offers family fun and entertainment September 14-30, with The Beach Boys and Marshall Tucker Band among the top musical performers. Even more information is available at
ExploreWesternMass.com!
Find more events and information for
Greater Springfield.
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Johnny Appleseed Country
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It's harvest time in Johnny Appleseed Country - and the harvest includes a bounty of fairs and festivals! Start the season at the
Appleseed Country Fair on Labor Day Weekend at the Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, where you'll find plenty of fruit, fiddles and fun! Weekends at
Wachusett Mountain Ski Area are filled with music, BBQ and more. Leominster's
Sholan Farms features both produce and handcrafts, while the spotlight is on
"everything garlic" in Orange, and there's lots of craft beer on tap at Gardner's
Oktoberfest. It's a great time to visit Johnny's backyard!
Find more events and information
for
Johnny Appleseed Country.
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Martha's Vineyard
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Combining the laid-back beach style of the island of Martha's Vineyard, a passionate audience of film and culture enthusiasts, and the buzz and excitement of a festival celebrating films from across the globe -
The Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival is an amazing experience not to be missed! From September 4-9, come enjoy a selection of films from around the globe by international filmmakers drawn from top-notch festivals, with a few surprises thrown in. The movies are just the beginning! Guests from the film, media, politics, and art worlds will come together to celebrate, discuss and debate the films' issues.
Find more events and information for
Martha's Vineyard
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Mohawk Trail Region
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The
FreshGrass Festival is back September 14-16 at MASS MoCA in North Adams! Features Flogging Molly, Indigo Girls, Trampled By Turtles, I'm With Her, Yonder Mountain String Band, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Rhiannon Giddens, Steep Canyon Rangers, Béla Fleck, and more than 50 bands in total! Enjoy three days of indoor and outdoor concerts, workshops, and family programs and a bounty of Berkshire food and spirits. The FreshGrass Award includes cash prizes for breakout bluegrass artists.
Find more events and information for
The Mohawk Trail Region.
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MetroWest
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The air is getting crisp and so is the cider in Northborough as we inch closer to the
annual Northborough Applefest. Not your granny (Smith)'s fall festival, this exciting four-day celebration (September 13-16) will feature moonwalks, fireworks, robotics shows, and great food! Keeping with the theme of community and celebration, don't miss the
Ashland Day,
Natick Days and
Celebrate Holliston events, offering fun for all ages. Also, don't forget to march down to Wayside Inn on the 29th for a historical
Revolutionary War reenactment.
Find more events and information for
MetroWest.
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Nantucket Island
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September on Nantucket is dreamy with
Osona auctions,
The Cocktail Hour on stage,
White Heron performances,
whaling, ghost and scenic
walking tours,
Nantucket Culinary interactive dinner series,
book binding,
wax,
decoy carving,
painting and plein air and
writing classes! Add
photo tours,
Jazz Before Sunset,
Cisco bands,
Shipwreck Museum family day,
Island Fair,
Manhattan Short-Film and Maritime Fests and you'll be all art & cultured up. Don't forget
Nantucket Fall Restaurant Week September 24-30!
Find more events and information for
Nantucket Island.
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North of Boston
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The Schooners return to Gloucester on August 31-September 3 to celebrate the 34th
Gloucester Schooner Festival! Taking place in the harbor and nearby waters of America's oldest seaport, the festival honors the major role the fishing schooner has played in the city's heritage. On September 22, enjoy
Haverhill's River Ruckus, an annual festival featuring live music, classic cars, great local foods and much more. Then, help celebrate 200 years of the
Topsfield Fair inspiring agriculture September 28-October 8.
Find more events and information for
North of Boston.
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Plymouth County
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The
4th Annual Big Mass Tiny House Festival will be held September 28-30 at the Marshfield Fairgrounds in Marshfield! Tiny houses, vintage campers, tear drops, school bus conversions, gypsy wagons, and other styles of tiny structures will be available to view and tour. Tiny house celebrities in attendance! Highlights also include outdoor concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, multiple bands & daytime entertainment. Dog friendly PLUS a drawing for a Tiny Dog House on Wheels! In "Teenie's Tiny Wonderland" area, young ones will enjoy hands-on activities, arts, crafts, and lots of fun.
Find more events and information for
Plymouth County.
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Southeastern Mass
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 Each September during the weekend after Labor Day (this year September 8-9), the annual
Acushnet Apple Peach Festival is open for the public! The festival is a family fun-filled weekend with local live music from numerous groups, local vendors selling their homemade products/goods, and fun activities and crafts for children, including a bounce house, dunk tank and face painting. It all takes place at the Acushnet Historical Society, 1203 Main Street in Acushnet.
Find more events and information for
Southeastern Massachusetts.
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The Berkshires
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Discover the Whitney Center for the Arts in the Berkshires (the Whit)! In this gorgeous 1865 Victorian mansion in downtown Pittsfield, you will find two world-class art galleries, representing artists from over 200 countries. Adding to this is their ongoing schedule of performing arts, which range from comedies and dramas to musicals and opera nights. They also offer great programming for teens and children in their intimate performance space. This fall, the Whit presents the international sensation The Vagina Monologues and The Laramie Project. Tickets and more information are at thewhit.org.
Find more
events and information for
The Berkshires
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