Friday Fun – Page 3 – Salem Happenings

Civil War Day: The History of a Country Divided

If you’ve picked up a newspaper lately, you’ve probably already realized that the United States doesn’t always seem so united. In fact, the two party system that we have in the U.S. has been working pretty hard to divide us since the time of George Washington (George Washington actually warned us to avoid political parties in his Farewell Address back in 1796, but no one really heeded his advice.) However, even though there’s no question that Americans have had their differences from the beginning and we certainly have our differences now, there has probably never been a time where our differences were more apparent than during the American Civil War. This is because the Civil War was the bloodiest conflict to take place on American soil since the country’s founding, and it was the only time in the history of the United States where brother regularly fought brother. As a result, it’s important to understand the history behind the Civil War in order put our differences into context and to ensure that we don’t repeat our past mistakes.

Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to learn more about the history of the United States as it relates to the American Civil War, you need look no further than the National Park Service’s Civil War Day. The National Park Service’s Civil War Day, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 31st, 2016 from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Georges Island, will give you the opportunity to see what life was like during the Civil War. This event, through the performances of a talented group of reenactors, will allow you to meet the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment (the first all-African American regiment of the Union Army and one of the first official African-American military units of the U.S. Armed Forces), listen to the stories of a confederate prisoner, learn what it would be like to dance at an authentic Civil War Ball, and watch a baseball game played using the rules that were in use in 1860. For more information on the National Park Service’s Civil War Day, which is free to attend, please visit the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park Calendar.

It is important to note that while there is no fee for the program, there is a fee for the ferry to get to Georges Island. The fee for the ferry is currently $17 for adults and children over the age of 12; $12 for active military, college students, and seniors over the age of 65; $10 for children ages 3 to 12; and there is no fee for children under the age of 3.

Photo credit: dbnunley via VisualHunt / CC BY

Finding Dory Under the Sea

Disney’s latest animated film, Finding Dory, has been taking theaters by storm for over a month now, and if your kids are just as obsessed with the film as all of the other kids out there, you may be looking for a way for your children to get their Dory fix without taking them to see the movie again. Well, if you would love a relatively inexpensive way to entertain your Dory fans and teach them something at the same time, you may want to check out a program offered by Boston Harbor Now, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the National Park Service entitled “Under the Sea.”

Under the Sea, which will take place on Peddocks Island from 1:30 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. on Sunday (July 24, 2016), will give you and your family the opportunity to learn about all of the things that live under the water in Boston Harbor. This event, which will be conducted by a ranger from the National Park Service, will feature a discussion of the unique marine life that lives in the water around the island and the impact that humans have on these creatures, a guided hands-on exploration of the island’s beaches, and a touch tank that will give you a chance to actually get up close and personal with some of the smaller animals living in the water (tide permitting.) For more information on the Under the Sea program on Peddocks Island, which is free and open to the public, please visit the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park Calendar.

Please note that although the program itself is free, you will have to pay for the ferry to get to the island. The ferry currently charges $17 a ticket for adults and children over the age of 12; $12 for active military, college students, and seniors over the age of 65; $10 for children ages 3 to 12; and no fee for children under the age of 3.

Photo credit: Sidneiensis via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Boston Harbor Pirate Ship Cruises

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the song, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” at some point. In fact, if you’re a true fan of fictional pirates (or just a fan of Disney), you’ve probably seen all of the movies and ridden the ride where the song first appeared at least once. However, have you ever had the chance to actually see what it might be like to be a pirate yourself?

Well, if you haven’t, you’re in luck because Massachusetts Bay Lines is conducting a series of pirate cruises this summer. These cruises, which will take place each day at 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M., and 4:00 P.M. from now until the beginning of September, will allow you to sail around Boston Harbor aboard a tall ship manned by the most motley crew that you will probably see in quite a while. This crew will brace the yardarms, hoist the sails, sing shanties, tell you tales of the sea, and, of course, fire the cannon. Best of all, if you can’t make it during the day and would really like to see the harbor at sunset, Massachusetts Bay Lines also offers a pirate sunset cruise daily from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. For more information on the Boston Harbor Pirate Ship Cruises, please visit the Massachusetts Bay Lines website.

Photo credit: Adam Purves (S3ISOR) via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Cirque du Soleil Boston: Kurios

“Curiouser and Curiouser!” The famous phrase from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland certainly sums up the fantastic world that Alice falls into in the story. However, Wonderland is not the only world that the phrase could be used to describe (and no, I’m not talking about our own world even though the phrase probably does apply.) In fact, these well-known words could probably be applied to any number of incredible realms that appear in artwork, books, movies, television, stage performances, and other artistic works. Yet, the one show that these words probably fit better than any other is Cirque du Soleil’s touring production “KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities.”

KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities, which will have its final performance in the Boston area this weekend at Suffolk Downs, is a circus like none you have seen before. This show features some of the most amazing acrobats, dancers, jugglers, percussionists, and other performers that you will ever see performing a series of acts with a steampunk theme. The element that truly makes the show amazing, however, is the huge number of curious objects or, in other words, curios that the performers will display and use throughout each of their acts. This combination of incredible performances and mechanical marvels will give you a chance to see (and, in some cases, not see) a world that is very different from our own. And, if you would like the chance to feel like Alice, you can always take the T from Wonderland to get to the show. For more information on KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities and/or to order tickets, please visit the Cirque du Soleil website.

Photo credit: fabola via VisualHunt / CC BY-SA

Boston’s Fourth of July Celebration

There’s no better time to enjoy fireworks and patriotic music than Fourth of July weekend, and if you’re looking for the best fireworks show around, there’s probably no better show than the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. However, the show, which has been a tradition in Boston for over 40 years now finds itself in sort of a precarious position, as the show’s founder, David Mugar, is retiring this year and the show has lost its primary sponsor. As a result, there will almost certainly be some changes on the horizon for the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular and the future of the event is certainly up in the air (even though it is unlikely that the show will disappear entirely.) This means that if you want to see what the event has traditionally been like, this is definitely the year to go.

The event, which takes place from approximately 8:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. on Monday (July 4, 2016), will feature performances by Demi Lovato, Little Big Town, Nick Jonas, and, of course, the Boston Pops. These performances will then be followed by a fireworks show carried out by Fireworks by Grucci, the current holders of the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Fireworks Display” and the “Largest Pyrotechnic Image.” There will also be a preview concert for the show on Sunday (July 3, 2016) from 8:30 to 10:00 P.M. that will feature all of the performances but none of the fireworks if you can’t make it on Monday or you have little ones that aren’t really that keen on the popping noise. For more information on the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular and the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular Preview Concert, which both take place at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, please visit Boston’s Fourth of July website.

Photo credit: Mike Halsall via Visual Hunt / CC BY-ND

MASSive Comic Con 2016

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Deadpool, Doctor Who, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wonder Woman, or any of the thousands of other comics out there, there’s no better place for a comic fan to find the things that they love than a comic convention. And, if you’re looking for a comic convention, you should definitely check out MASSive Comic Con. This is because MASSive Comic Con, which is scheduled to take place from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Saturday (June 25, 2016) and 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday (June 26, 2016) at the DCU Center in Worcester, will give you the opportunity to meet the artists and creators of a wide assortment of different comics.

In fact, you will not only be able to meet artists from all of the series that I mentioned above but will also be able to meet actors from some of your favorite T.V. Series like Gotham and Star Wars Rebels, peruse the wares of comic book dealers from around the Northeast, play a variety of video games, and do a whole lot more. Best of all, if you have a kid that’s into comics (or that you would just like to keep busy while you search for the one issue you’ve been missing), the convention also has a Kids Zone that is specifically designed to keep your children busy with comic book workshops, face painting, superheroes, Star Wars characters, and a variety of other kid-friendly activities. For more information on MASSive Comic Con, please visit the MASSive Comic Con website.

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Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market: Cole Porter

There’s a pretty good chance that, unless you’re a huge Broadway fan, you probably haven’t heard of Cole Porter. However, Cole Porter is the man behind many of the musicals (or at least the songs in many of the musicals) that have truly stood the test of time, including Paris, Fifty Million Frenchmen, and the show that he is best-known for, Kiss Me, Kate. As a result, the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market in Salem MA, has decided to celebrate what would be the Broadway songwriter’s 125th birthday if he was still alive.

This celebration, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow (Saturday, June 18, 2016), will bring together a number of local vendors that will be selling antiques, art, collectibles, handmade goods, jewelry, vintage clothing, vintage furniture, and a whole lot more. If you’re wondering what the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market actually is, it is a monthly pop-up market that occurs throughout the summer, and each market has its own theme. The theme of this month’s market, as you might have already guessed, is of course Cole Porter and some of the things that might be associated with him, including cocktails and garden parties. For more information on the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market, please visit the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art website.

Photo credit: GWP Photography via VisualHunt / CC BY

The 37th Annual Boston Dragon Boat Festival

The Rio Olympics are now less than two months away, which means that it won’t be long before we all have the opportunity to watch some of the most talented athletes in the world compete in everything from archery to wrestling. However, if you’re a huge fan of Olympic sports, two months may seem like an awfully long time to wait, and you may already be wondering how you’re going to survive the final stretch before the games. Well, if this is indeed the case and you’re a fan of rowing, you may be in luck because it just so happens that the Boston Dragon Boat Festival is scheduled to take place this weekend on the Charles River. The Boston Dragon Boat Festival, which is scheduled to take place from 7:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Saturday and 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, is a Chinese dragon boat race and Asian-American cultural festival. This festival will give you the opportunity to try your hand at creating Asian arts and crafts, sample a large variety of Asian cuisines, hear traditional music from China and Japan, see traditional dances and other performances from a number of different Asian countries, and, of course, watch the dragon boat races to see which dragon boat rowing team will emerge victorious. For more information on the Boston Dragon Boat Festival, which is free and open to the public, please visit the Boston Dragon Boat Festival website.

Photo credit: madprime via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-SA

A Creative Writing Workshop for Kids

Do you have a young aspiring writer in your household or a child that might like to explore the power of the written word? Well, if you do, there’s no better way for a young writer (or any writer for that matter) to improve their writing skills than to study the techniques of others and put those techniques into practice. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to give your young aspiring writer the opportunity to truly hone their craft, you may want to check out the Youth Creative Writing Workshop with Laura Lovett at Storybook Cove. Storybook Cove, which is a bookstore located in the Hanover Mall in Hanover, MA, is hosting a writing workshop for children ages 8 to 11 from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Saturday (June 4, 2016). This workshop will teach your child to craft plotlines, develop characters, and establish settings for poems and stories so that your child can create their own literary works and share them with the world (or, at the very least, the rest of the people at the workshop). For more information on the Youth Creative Writing Workshop and other Pen to Paper Workshops at Storybook Cove, please visit the Storybook Cove website or call 781-826-6060.

Photo via Visualhunt.com

Boston: The Road to Revolution

There’s really no question that Boston is a city overflowing with history, and what better time to explore that history than Memorial Day Weekend. In fact, if you’re looking for a way to see the sights and learn everything that you could possibly want to know about the locations involved in the American Revolution, Boston by Foot may have the perfect tour for you. This is because Boston by Foot is offering a tour entitled the Road to Revolution from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. every Saturday and 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. every Monday, Friday, and Sunday throughout the summer. This tour will allow you to walk the Freedom trail, visit the locations where a number of significant historical events took place, and learn about events such as the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s Ride, and a whole lot more. For more information on the Road to Revolution, which is $17 for adults and $10 for children under the age of 13 (there is a $2 discount per ticket if you order your tickets online), please visit the Boston by Foot website.

Photo credit: Sarah&Boston via Visualhunt / CC BY-SA