Outdoor Events – Page 8 – Salem Happenings

Friday Fun: The Season of the Witch Has Begun

As we approach the end of the first week of October, many people are already in the process of planning out their Halloween costumes and looking for ways to partake in all of the merrymaking and treats that All Hallows’ Eve has to offer. Unfortunately, the celebrations that people typically associate with Halloween are now being overshadowed by the events that are dragging on in our nation’s capital. In fact, with the government shutdown, there are approximately 800,000 government employees wondering when they are going to see another paycheck and countless government contractors and other businesses that are trying to figure out what they’re going to do with their own employees if something doesn’t happen soon. As a result, there is a growing number of people who simply don’t have the funds to enjoy Halloween in the way that they typically would, and some of these people are already looking for a way to keep their kids happy this All Hallows’ Eve.

Fortunately, if you are one of the people looking for a way to keep your kids happy or just someone looking for a way to get your mind off of your politically-induced financial woes, there are a number of Halloween-themed activities that will allow you to get an early start on the festivities without breaking the bank.

First, if you’re a big fan of shopping or your friends and family members have a strange interest in shiny things, there’s no better way to start off the Halloween season then in the Witch City itself, Salem. This is because the Salem Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, which is more commonly known as the Bizarre Bazaar, this weekend from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday (October 5, 2013) and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday (October 6, 2013.) This street fair, located at the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, features over 75 vendors selling everything from doll clothes and jewelry to books and souvenirs. However, it is important to remember that the Biz Baz isn’t your typical street fair, as there will not only be vendors but also music and street performers as well. For more information, please visit the Salem Chamber of Commerce website or call 978-774-0004.

Secondly, if you’re already in Salem for the Biz Baz and you’re looking for something to keep your kids entertained, you may want to take a quick walk around the corner to Salem Common. The Common has a bunch of activities for kids this weekend, including contests, food, games, inflatable slides, moon bounces, and even a movie on Saturday night. For more information on the events taking place on the Common this weekend and other events happening in Salem throughout the month of October, please visit the Haunted Happenings website.

Photo credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection / Foter

Friday Fun: Wedding Weirdness

Anyone that has ever planned a wedding will readily admit that a wedding can be a strange, stressful, and expensive affair (and no, I don’t mean the word “affair” in the Panic at the Disco sense.) In fact, unless the word “stoic” is engrained in the DNA of every single person attending, there’s a pretty good chance that even the most well-planned wedding will include some family drama, some people taking their merriment a little too far, and/or some photographers or caterers who are more than happy to relieve the wedding couple of the enormous weight of their life savings. However, many brides-to-be, grooms-to-be, parents of the bride, married couples, and a number of other people who have or haven’t been involved with a wedding in some way will find it comforting to know that there are a couple of events this weekend that will allow them to unwind and look at their situation in a new way.

First, if you are a former bridesmaid looking for a reason to put on your old dress or someone who has always dreamt of being a bridesmaid, you may want to head down to Boston Common tomorrow. This is because Boston.com is hosting the 2nd Annual Running with the Bridesmaids on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. This event, which is a strange parody of the running of the bulls designed to raise money for The Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, will allow individuals and teams of up to six to compete in a one-mile run while they wear some of the most ridiculous bridesmaid’s dresses possible. Prizes will of course be awarded to the top fundraiser, worst dressed team, worst dressed individual, and the individual with the worst hair. And, if you really have no interest in actually running in a bridesmaid’s dress, don’t worry. You can always just watch. For more information and/or to register for the event, please visit Boston.com.

Secondly, if you want to try your hand at playing your own wedding music or any other music for that matter, you may want to check out the Street Pianos Boston Festival. The Celebrity Series of Boston is hosting Luke Jerram’s project Play Me, I’m Yours: The Street Pianos Boston Festival from today, September 27, to Monday, October 14, 2013. This festival features 75 pianos that have been placed throughout the Greater Boston area so that anyone can play them. In addition, each of the pianos has been decorated by a local artist or organization, and all of the pianos that survive the two and half week festival will be donated to charity. For more information on the Festival, please visit the Street Pianos of Boston website.

Photo credit: josemanuelerre / Foter / CC BY-ND

Friday Fun: Race for a Good Cause

Have you ever wanted to feel what it was like to drive a race car or run like a cheetah? Have you ever wanted to race down the middle of the street or another area where racing is usually frowned upon without getting in trouble? Have you ever thought about turning a corner so fast that you leave everyone behind you in the dust? Well, if you answered “yes” to any and/or all of these questions, you may be in luck because there are a couple of events this weekend that will not only allow you to demonstrate your racing prowess but will also allow you to experience a warm, fuzzy feeling whether you win or lose.

First, the Boston Police Athletic League (PAL) is hosting the 5th Annual Boston PAL Grand Prix tomorrow, September 21, 2013, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event, which takes place in the Seaport District of Boston, is a team go-cart race in which members of each team of six will take turns driving through a street course that is designed to mimic a Formula 1 race track. However, the race track is not the only thing designed to mimic the Formula 1 experience, as the go-cart that each team will drive is said to handle in much the same way as an F1 race car. In fact, each go-cart will allow racers to soar by their families and friends at speeds of up to 45 mph. Fortunately, any friends and family that are a little squeamish at the thought of watching their loved ones race around the track, let alone driving it themselves, will have plenty of face painting, balloon animals, food, drinks, and other activities to keep them busy at the Grand Prix carnival. Best of all, all of the proceeds from the event will go to help pay for PAL’s youth programs. For more information on the 5th Annual Boston PAL Grand Prix and/or to register for the race, please visit the Boston Police Athletic League’s website or call 1-617-699-7099.

Secondly, if you’re more interested in a race that allows you to put your feet to the test than your driving skills, the Franklin Park Zoo may have the answer. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo is hosting the Run Wild 5K on Sunday, September 22, 2013. This race, which begins promptly at 8:30 a.m., features a 3.1 mile course that will allow runners to race through the zoo, Franklin Park, and White Stadium. Then, once the race is over, everyone 21 or over is invited to join their fellow runners for a “wild” party with drinks, music, games, and more. For more information on the Run Wild 5K or to register for the event, please visit the Race Menu website.

Friday Fun: A Not So Scary Weekend

It’s Friday the 13th and many people are already crossing their fingers in the hope that nothing catastrophic will go wrong today. In fact, the more superstitious amongst us may be giving deep consideration to the dilemma of whether they should stay home and hide from the world in front of their TVs or carry a number of lucky charms to defend themselves from the chaos that may ensue on this “jinxed” day. However, if you’re one of the people that’s just looking for something to do after the day is over or you think the whole Friday the 13th thing is something to scare children and people that suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia (the fear of Friday the 13th), there are a couple of events you should definitely check out this weekend.

First, if you love big musical events, Mix 104.1 is hosting MixFest this weekend at the DCR Memorial Hatch Shell in Boston. This music festival will feature four bands, including Gavin Deshaw, the Backstreet Boys, Of Monsters and Men, and the winner of Mix 104.1’s “15 Seconds of Fame” contest. The festival will also feature a special area just for kids so that you can listen to the music without your kids driving you crazy. Best of all, the whole event is absolutely free unless you really just have to have VIP seats in which case you’ll probably have to win them. For more information on this year’s MixFest, which begins Saturday at 4pm (gates open at 1pm), please visit the Mix 104.1 website.

Secondly, if you’re more interested in gaming than big musical events or your kids are demanding something they can play, you may want to check out the Boston Festival of Indie Games. This festival, which is hosted by MIT, features over 25 independent board games and over 65 independent video games that you can play, vote on, and, if you so choose, purchase. In fact, the festival will not only give you the opportunity to play a whole bunch of games for free but will also give you the opportunity to attend a concert for a $25 fee that features music from well-known video game groups, including Bastion’s Darren Korb, Control Group, DJ Cutman, deadbeatblast, and last but certainly not least, the Video Game Orchestra. For more information on the festival, which begins at 10pm on Saturday, please visit the Boston Festival of Indie Games website.

Friday Fun: It’s Time to Get Medieval

Hear ye! Hear ye! All people of the realm, the summer may be coming to a close but that doesn’t mean that the fun has to end. In fact, if you’re a parent, it may mean that the fun is just beginning now that the kids are back in school. However, if you’re having trouble finding something fun to do this weekend, here are a couple of events in the Boston area that you should definitely check out.

First, if you and/or your kids have ever wanted to see a group of knights, clad in full armor, riding into battle, King Richard’s Faire may be just what you’re looking for. This faire, which is located in Carver, Massachusetts, is a renaissance faire that features armor, acrobats, comedy acts, costuming, fire-breathers and fire eaters, a human chess game, games for kids and adults, giant turkey legs, jewelry, jugglers, jousting, magicians, minstrels, swords, rides, and a whole lot more. In fact, the faire will not only give you the opportunity to watch a number of skilled performers carrying out amazing feats of skill and showmanship but will also give you the opportunity to get involved in many of the shows yourself (whether you want to or not.) The Faire will even give you the opportunity to watch a joust and root for the dashing hero or the cutthroat villain. For more information on the Faire, which runs every weekend from August 31st to October 20th, please visit the King Richard’s Faire website.

If, on the other hand, you and/or your kids are more interested in the armor than the people who wear it, you may want to check out the Higgins Armory Museum in Worchester, MA. This museum, which is open every day except Monday, features one of the largest collections of medieval arms and armor that you will probably ever see. Unfortunately, the museum is closing at the end of 2013, so it may be your last chance to see all of the armor, axes, crossbows, gauntlets, helmets, swords, and other amazing pieces from around the world that are featured at the museum. For more information on the museum and all of the amazing exhibits that it has to offer, please visit the Higgins Armory Museum website.

Friday Fun: Maritime Festivals and Movies

As the summer begins to wind down, it is usually a lot harder to find interesting things to do with your family. In fact, if you’ve been looking for something to do this weekend, you may have already realized that unless you consider barhopping to be a family activity, finding something that kids and parents alike will enjoy is quite a challenge. Fortunately, there are a couple of events going on in the Boston area and north of Boston this weekend that almost everyone will enjoy.

First, if you’re a big fan of antique boats or you simply like the sea, there is a festival in Salem, MA that you won’t want to miss. This festival, which is known as the Antique & Classic Boat Festival, features artists, a boat parade, a craft fair, music, photographers, over 40 vintage boats, and more maritime stuff than you can shake a stick at (or perhaps an oar.) Best of all, the Festival is a great way to entertain the family without breaking the bank as it is only $5 for adults and children under 12 are free. For more information, please visit the By The Sea website.

Secondly, if your family is more interested in movies than they are in maritime history, the HatchShell in Boston may have the solution. Tonight, August 23, 2013, the HatchShell will be showing Oz The Great and Powerful as part of their “Free Flicks” summer series. The movie, which is absolutely free, will begin at sunset and will end approximately 2 hours later (the total run time is 130 minutes.) For more information on the event itself, please visit the HatchShell website. For more information on the film, which tells the origin story of the wizard from the Wizard Of Oz, please visit the Oz the Great and Powerful website.

Friday Fun: Salem Heritage Days

There’s no question that Salem, Massachusetts is typically associated with witches as even the city’s police cars have the image of a witch emblazoned on them. In fact, the city’s police cars not only have the image of a witch, but also have the words “The Witch City” clearly printed below the word “Salem” in almost every logo. As you might guess, this fascination with the witch hysteria (or this hysteria about the hysteria if you will) has caused the month of October to become the city’s big draw because everyone wants to be in Salem for Halloween. However, even though the city is already preparing for the festivities that will occur in a couple of months, there is an event that started this past week and will continue into the weekend that is more aimed at the local crowd than the tourists that come for the witches. This event is Salem’s Heritage Days.

Salem’s Heritage Days is a week-long celebration of everything that Salem has to offer. The celebration, which began last weekend and runs until this Sunday, features an antique car show, a comedy show, a Jazz and Soul Festival, a Kid’s Night with rides and games, music, a street fair, a women’s 5k run that includes wine and chocolate for each of the runners afterwards, and a bunch of other events. Best of all, these events are just the events happening this weekend as part of the festival and most of the events are free. If you’re interested in finding out more about Salem’s Heritage Day celebration, you can find all of the information you need and more on the City of Salem website.

Friday Fun: Music and Art Weekend

I don’t know how the weather’s been where you are, but for most people, it’s been one strange summer. In fact, it was over 100 degrees in some places last week with the sun shining so brightly that most people were desperately trying to get out of the sun before they burst into flames. However, this week, at least in the Northeast, it’s 60 degrees and so wet that everyone and everything from the flowers to the small scurrying creatures that are trying to hide under the petals would really like to see that big, bright ball of flame in the sky dry things out a bit. To be honest, it’s just one of those summers where no one can really decide what they want because no matter what they wish for, they end up trying to hide inside where it is cool and dry. Fortunately, if you’re really getting sick of hiding inside your stuffy house with your A/C cranked up or your windows closed so the rain doesn’t get in, you’re in luck because there are a couple of interesting events happening in the Boston area this weekend.

If you’re a big fan of the arts, you may want to check out Copley Square. The Boston Globe, Citizen’s Bank, and WGBH are hosting the 2nd annual Summer Arts Weekend, which runs from tonight, Friday, July 26th at 7:00 p.m. to Sunday, July 28th. This festival, which celebrates art in all its forms, will feature a number of live performances by local bands and Grammy-winning musicians, panels with reality TV chefs, dancers, and a whole lot more. However, one of the best things about the Summer Arts Weekend is that almost all of the events are absolutely free. For more information on the festival, please visit the Summer Arts Weekend website.

If, on the other hand, you like your art to be a little more on the traditional side, Lowell may have exactly what you’re looking for this weekend. The City of Lowell, the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Lowell National Historic Park, the Lowell Festival Foundation, and the National Council for the Traditional Arts are hosting the Lowell Folk Festival from tonight, Friday, July 26th at 6:40 p.m. to Sunday, July 28th at 6:15 p.m. This traditional music and art festival features folk music, woodcarving, stone carving, and a whole lot more from both local and visiting artists and musicians. And, if all of this isn’t a good enough reason for you to attend, all of the events at the Lowell Folk Festival are completely free (you will have to pay for drinks, food, or merchandise if you want any of that though.) For more information on the Lowell Folk Festival, please visit the 2013 Lowell Folk Festival website.

Friday Fun: First Weekend of Summer

Today marks the first official day of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and it already looks like this weekend is going to be a great time to enjoy the nice weather if you live in the Northeast. In fact, the sun is shining, the temperatures are in the mid 70’s, and the cats of the world are already trying to figure out the best way to get to the birds singing outside. As a result, this weekend is offering up the perfect weather to start off the summer right, and if you’re looking for a good way to get out of the office and enjoy the weather this weekend, you may want to look into a few of these events.

First, if your kids are really into kites or they’re driving you so crazy that you’re ready to tell them to “go fly a kite!”, you may want to head on over to Spectacle Island this weekend. Spectacle Island is holding a kite-flying day tomorrow, June 22, 2013, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. This event will not only allow your kids to fly a kite in one of the best places to fly a kite in Boston, but will also allow your family to build their own kite for free. So, as Mary Poppins would say, “Let’s go fly a kite up to the highest height.” For more information, please visit the Boston Harbor Islands website.

Secondly, if you and/or your family are more into carnivals than kites, you can always head on over to Revere Beach. This weekend marks the last weekend of the Revere Beach Carnival, which means it’s your last chance to enjoy the food, rides, games, and petting zoo this year. The carnival is open from 1 pm to approximately 10:00 or 11:00 pm all weekend, and if you would like more information or discount coupons, check out the Fiesta Shows website.

Finally, if you’re really looking for some way to include your dog in your outdoor activities this weekend, the Avenue Marketing Group may have exactly what you’re looking for. The Avenue Marketing Group is hosting Pooch-A-Palooza on Saturday and Sunday this weekend from 10 am to 7 pm at Prowse Farm in Canton, MA. Pooch-A-Palooza is an outdoor dog festival featuring dog contests, music, kid’s games, food for both humans and dogs, and a whole lot more. For more information, please visit the Pooch-A-Palooza website.

Friday Fun: Patriots’ Day Weekend

For those of us who live in Maine or Massachusetts, this weekend is actually a three day weekend because of Patriots’ Day. Patriots’ Day, which marks the anniversary of the first two battles of the American Revolution, is only celebrated in Massachusetts because the battles took place there and celebrated in Maine because it used to be part of Massachusetts. As a result, if you live in one of these states (or you’re a student in Wisconsin, which gives public school students the day off because who can really resist a good excuse to cancel school), you may be about to get three days off in a row. The only thing is that if you live anywhere else, you probably don’t celebrate Patriots’ Day, you’re not getting a three day weekend, you’re not passing go, and you’re thinking that this all means absolutely nothing to you. However, if you’re in the area of Maine or Massachusetts this weekend and you’re looking for something to do, here are some of the things that you should definitely check out.

First, if you can’t resist a good road race or a bunch of sweaty people running miles and miles to prove that they are in much better shape than you or I, you may want to check out the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon is one of the largest long-distance running events in the world with well over 20,000 runners each year competing to be the first to run approximately 26 miles through the streets of Boston. In fact, the Boston Marathon is not only one of the world’s largest marathons, but also the world’s oldest annual marathon as the first Boston Marathon took place on April 19th, 1897. The Boston Marathon has been held on Patriots’ Day each and every year since it first began, and this year, as you might expect, is no different. More information about the Boston Marathon and the best ways to watch it can be found on the Boston Marathon’s Website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a race that’s a little shorter than the Boston Marathon or a little closer to Portland than Boston, the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Patriot’s Day 5-Miler may be the way to go. The Boys and Girls Clubs’ Patriot’s Day 5-Miler is, as you might guess, a five mile road race that takes place in Portland, Maine each year. This race, which is open to all ages, is a lot shorter, a lot younger, and a lot smaller than the Boston Marathon. However, the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Patriot’s Day 5-Miler has been around for quite some time (84 years to be exact), and it is a whole lot easier to enter if you’re interested in actually running. More information on the race can be found here, and if you’re looking for information on how to prepare yourself for a race like the Boston Marathon or the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Patriots’ Day 5-Miler, you should definitely check out Sports Fitness Advisor’s Marathon Training Guide. Running a marathon can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not in marathon shape, but the Sports Fitness Advisor Marathon Training Guide contains a number of articles that are designed to help runners at every skill level.

If you’re more into people who are slowly marching down the street than running down the street at high speed, however, you may want to check out Lexington’s Patriots’ Day Parade. Lexington has a huge Patriots’ Day parade every year that features a fife and drums corps, marching bands, floats, dancers, color guards, veterans and a whole lot more. In fact, if you want to find out more about the parade and a number of other events in Lexington during Patriots’ Day weekend, all you need to do is check out Lexington’s Patriots’ Day Website.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for an activity that doesn’t involve people walking or running down the street, you may want to head up (or down as the case may be) to Ogunquit, ME. Ogunquit has a huge Patriot’s Day celebration every year, and this celebration includes a wide assortment of events such as bazaars, concerts, craft shows, hay rides, kid’s crafts, kid’s games, reenactments, treasure hunts, wine tastings, and a whole lot more. For more information on Ogunquit’s Patriot’s Day Weekend celebration, which takes place all weekend long, visit Ogunquit’s Website.

Finally, if you’re just wondering why Patriot’s Day has the apostrophe before the “s” in some places and has the apostrophe after the “s” in others, the answer is that there are actually three different ways to write the name of the holiday. In fact, you can write it as “Patriots’ Day” (which is how it is typically written in Massachusetts and Wisconsin), “Patriot’s Day” (which is how it is typically written in Maine), or Patriots Day (which is how is it typically written by anyone who really just doesn’t care.) However, it doesn’t really matter which way you write it because all three ways are actually correct.