Free Events – Salem Happenings

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Boston Common

Star Wars fans of the Boston area rejoice! If you’ve been dying to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the big screen again or you missed it when it was on the big screen the first time around, you’re going to love this one. Mayor Martin J. Walsh, in partnership with the Skating Club of Boston, is holding the last of his 2016 series of movie nights at the Boston Common Frog Pond from approximately 7:00 P.M. to approximately 10:30 P.M. tonight (Friday, September 23, 2016).

This event, which is sponsored by Northeastern University and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department as part of their ParkARTS program, will let you see Star Wars: The Force Awakens in its entirety while you devour all of the free popcorn (courtesy of AMC Loews Theatres) that you can get your hands on. The movie itself will begin at dusk, but you may want to get there a little early to find a good spot to sit and make sure that you don’t miss the beginning of the film. For more information on the Boston Common Movie Nights’ presentation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which is completely free and open to the public, please visit the Boston Common Movie Nights’ Facebook Event page or the Boston Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page.

Photo credit: taymtaym via Visual Hunt / CC BY

It’s Time for Some Hocus Pocus

I have lived in the area north of Boston for most of my life, but before I lived on the North Shore, I really didn’t know the Witch City all that well. In fact, I had come to Salem a fair amount as a teenager, but usually only for a day here or a day there during Haunted Happenings. As a result, when I first saw the Disney film, Hocus Pocus, I knew it was set in Salem, but I really had no idea how much of the film was actually shot in Salem. I figured some of it probably was, but I really didn’t know how much of it was because, quite frankly, I couldn’t identify most of the landmarks that were used in the film. This, of course, has changed by this point, and I can tell you (with some help from my wife) that most of the film was, in fact, shot in a studio in California. However, there is a good chunk of the film, especially the scenes that take place during the day, that were actually shot in Salem.

This means that if you are familiar with the area you can have some fun identifying the various locations that appear in the film, and if you know absolutely nothing about the area, you can at least enjoy the Salem ambience. Now, if you would like the opportunity to see the film that has become a local favorite and a cult classic throughout the world, you’re in luck because the final film of Magic 106.7’s 2015 Haunted Movie Series is Hocus Pocus. This, of course, is quite fortunate because it means that you can see the tale of three bumbling sisters who are accidently resurrected on Halloween night to spread mischief throughout the world 300 years after they were executed for witchcraft, and you can see it in the city that the film takes place in. Best of all, the film is being shown free of charge, so you won’t have to pay a thing (unless your kids compel you to buy everything in sight.) For more information on the free showing of Hocus Pocus, which is scheduled to take place on Salem Common tomorrow, October 24, 2015 at 8:00 P.M., please visit the Magic 106.7 Haunted Movie Series page.

Photo credit: Alan Light / Foter / CC BY

Labor Day Weekend in Boston 2015

Another summer has come and gone, and the time to wish the warmer weather and your kid’s vacation a fond farewell is upon us again. In fact, I don’t know about you, but it seems like this summer went by at a scorching pace (both fast and hot.) As a result, it’s even more important to find a way to make this weekend, the unofficial end of summer, a memorable one because it’s your last chance to take advantage of all the things that the summertime has to offer. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to make this Labor Day Weekend memorable, you don’t have to look very far because these events are sure to help.

First, if you’re looking for a way for your kids to have some fun and beat the heat one last time before they go back to school (if they haven’t already), you’ll definitely want to check out the Watergun Wars. Cortège Fitness, a group dedicated to promoting exercise through social activities, is hosting an event entitled the Watergun Wars at the Water Fountain in front of the Christian Science Center in Boston from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Sunday (September 6, 2015.) This event will allow kids of all ages (regardless of how adult-like they may look on the outside) to grab their squirt guns and join the biggest water battle you have probably ever seen. For more information on the Watergun Wars and/or to RSVP for the event, which is absolutely free and open to the public, please visit the Cortège Fitness website.

Please Note: The Watergun Wars are a bring-your-own watergun event, so the event is free, but you will have to supply your own squirt gun. It is also important to note that for the purposes of safety, you should bring a squirt gun that does not resemble a real weapon in any way, shape, or form.

Secondly, if you’re looking for an event that will let you end the summer with a bang, you may want to head over to Boston Harbor on Saturday. This is because the 3rd Annual Labor Day Weekend Fireworks are scheduled to take place at approximately 9:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 5, 2015. This event will allow you to listen to music as you watch two barges loaded with fireworks duel in the sky to see which barge can light up the skyline in a more impressive fashion. For more information on the 3rd Annual Labor Day Weekend Fireworks, including the best locations to watch the fireworks from, please visit the Boston Harbor Association’s Summer on the Waterfront website.

Photo credit: Graham S Dean Photography / Foter / CC BY

Women in Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s plays contain a number of female characters, and the roles of these characters have been analyzed, reanalyzed, dissected, and discussed for over 400 years. In fact, the depiction of characters like Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), Hermione (A Winter’s Tale), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), and Katherina (The Taming of the Shrew) are still discussed today by students and scholars alike. However, one of the things that many people forget is that all of the female characters on stage were actually played by men during Shakespeare’s time. As a result, the portrayal of women in Shakespeare has become a fascinating topic for discussion not only for the way Shakespeare originally described his characters, but also for the way that male performers have traditionally portrayed them. Fortunately, there is no longer a taboo against women performing on the stage, and there are now a number of theatre troops that would be more than happy to provide you with a very different, and quite possibly a much more true-to-life, depiction of the women in Shakespeare’s plays.

First, if you’re looking for a Shakespearean comedy that is on the darker side and addresses issues like cruelty, gender politics, and gender roles, the Brown Box Theatre Project has you covered. This is because the Brown Box Theatre Project is performing The Taming of the Shrew from now until September 20th. This show, which is performed by an almost entirely female theatre troop (there is one man and nine women in the troop) will allow you to see a re-imagined version of Shakespeare’s play about a nobleman tricking a tinker into thinking he’s a nobleman watching a play about “taming” the strong-willed but often difficult Katherina. For more information on the Brown Box Theatre Project’s production of The Taming of the Shrew, which will be performed free of charge at 7:30 P.M. in Andover tomorrow night (Saturday, August 22, 2015) and at 7:30 P.M. in Boston on Sunday (August 23, 2015), please visit the Brown Box Theatre Project’s website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a Shakespearean comedy that drastically shifts from dark drama to lighter comedy at different points throughout the play while, at the same time, depicting a number of strong, intelligent women facing many of the same family issues and societal problems that women face today, the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company has the show for you. This is because the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company is performing The Winter’s Tale from now until August 30th. This show, which is performed by an entirely female theatre troop, will allow you to experience a re-imagined version of Shakespeare’s play about the families of two kings caught up in the arrogance, paranoia, and jealousy of their patriarchs. For more information on the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of The Winter’s Tale, which is scheduled to take place free of charge at Nathan Tufts Park in Somerville at 2:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. tomorrow and Sunday (August 22 and 23, 2015), please visit the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company’s website.

Photo credit: garryknight / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Leaving the AC’s Cool Breeze

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the phrase “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” somewhere before. In fact, if you have been anywhere on the east coast of the United States this week, you have probably not only heard the phrase, but also realized that truer words have never been spoken. This is because our bodies and the bodies of almost all warm-blooded animals are able to cool themselves better in dry weather than humid weather. As a result, it’s much harder for everyone to cool off when it’s hot and humid, and many of us turn to our air conditioners looking for the relief we seek. The only problem is that you can’t really take your air conditioner everywhere you go unless you’re planning to sit in your car all day, so when it is really gross out like it has been this week, you may have trouble finding the ambition to leave your home. Fortunately, if you and your kids have spent all week in your house praising Robert S. Sherman, the man that invented the first portable, window air conditioner, you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of events this weekend that will let your family get outside and enjoy the nice weather that we’re supposed to have.

First, if you’re looking for a fun but educational way to enjoy the nice weather, you may want to consider a Salem Kids Walking Tour. A Salem Kids Walking Tour is a special tour that is specifically designed to let children, ages 6 and up, experience all of the history and mystery that the Witch City has to offer. These tours, which typically take place on Saturday mornings from 10:45 A.M. to approximately 11:45 A.M., will allow you and your kids to wander the city with a licensed tour guide in full puritan garb while you hear stories about the people, locations, and superstitions that have helped to make the city famous. For more information on the Salem Kids Walking Tours, which begin at Wicked Good Books at 215 Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts, please visit the Salem Kids Tours website or stop by Wicked Good Books.

Secondly, if you think a tour would bore your kids out of their minds or they would be tired of walking after about 15 minutes, you might want to let your kids Play the Day Away at the Lawn on D. The Lawn on D, located at 420 D Street in Boston, is hosting a Play the Day Away event specifically for kids from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday (July 18, 2015.) This event will allow your kids to try their hand at arts and crafts, play a variety of different games, and enjoy interactive sculptures and works of art from the Boston Children’s Museum, the Museum of Science, and more. For more information on Play the Day Away at the Lawn on D, which is completely free to attend, please visit the Lawn on D’s Calendar of Events page.

Finally, if the only way that you’re going to get your kids away from their computer screen or their TV screen is to stick them in front of an even bigger screen, you may want to head over to the Prudential Center in Boston this weekend. This is because the Prudential Center is showing Frozen as part of the Mix 106.7 Family Film Festival at sundown on Saturday (July 18, 2015) in their South Garden. This event, which begins at approximately 6:00 P.M., will allow you and your family to enjoy a series of children’s activities, giveaways, pre-movie entertainment, and, of course, see the beloved Disney film that tells the tale of the Snow Queen, Elsa, and her sister Anna. For more information on the Mix 106.7 Family Film Festival at the Prudential Center, including upcoming shows, please visit the Prudential Center’s Events page.

Photo credit: Jan Tik / Foter / CC BY

Beating Summer Boredom This Weekend

Have your kids been sitting in the house all week hiding from the heat? Have they played with every toy and finished every game? Are they completely bored out of their minds? Well, if your kids haven’t done much this week and you are you desperately trying to find something for them to do this weekend, you’re in luck because there are a couple of events in the Boston area that are sure to put a smile on almost any kid’s face.

First, if your kids are huge fans of the Minions (you know, the little yellow guys from the Despicable Me movies) or they just like movies in general, they’ll probably love Minions Madness. Minions Madness is a celebration of the premiere of the new Minions movie that is scheduled to take place at the Showcase Cinema de Lux in Revere from 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, July 11, 2015). This celebration will feature airbrush tattoos, balloon twisting, face painting, photo opportunities, and a whole lot more. Best of all, it’s absolutely free until your kids make you buy them popcorn and take them to the new movie (which really shouldn’t come as much of a shock). For more information on Minions Madness at the Showcase Cinema de Lux in Revere, please visit the Minions Madness Eventful page.

Secondly, if your kids aren’t really into the Minions or you’re looking for somewhere that will allow your children to be a little more “active”, you may want to head over to the Children’s Museum at Holyoke. The Children’s Museum at Holyoke is designed to allow kids of all ages to learn, play, and explore a variety of exhibits. These exhibits include an ambulance, a bubble table, climbing and crawling structures, a fire station, a mailbox slide, a forklift, a theatre, a water table, and a whole lot more. The best part of visiting the museum today, however, is that the museum is taking part in the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays this week, which means that if you visit today (Friday, July 10, 2015), you can get in absolutely free. For more information on the Children’s Museum at Holyoke and the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays, please visit the Children’s Museum at Holyoke website or the Highland Street Foundation’s website.

Photo credit: avrene / Foter / CC BY

The Best Things in Life Are FREE

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the old line, “the best things in life are free”, and you may have even heard it in one of the many different versions of the song with the same name. In fact, there are at least ten different versions of the song that was originally written by Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, and Ray Henderson for the musical Good News in 1927. Some of the well-known artists to cover the song with or without drastically altered lyrics include the Ink Spots, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford, Hank Mobley, Sam Cooke, Lou Donaldson, and Janet Jackson. As a result, there certainly hasn’t been a shortage of artists trying to convey the importance of the free things in life, but finding things that are free to enjoy can be a lot more challenging than it should be. It is, therefore, fortunate that there are a number of free activities in the Boston area this weekend that are sure to put a smile on your face without forcing you to touch your hard-earned cash.

First, if you are a Shakespeare fan, you may want to head over to the Fairbanks House in Dedham, MA this weekend. This is because the Fairbanks House is hosting the Dragonfly Theater’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at 5:00 P.M. tonight and tomorrow (June 26th and 27th, 2015) and at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday (June 28, 2015.) This production will allow you to see Shakespeare’s classic comedy about a group of ancient Greeks caught up in fairy mischief from the comfort of this historic house’s lawn. For more information on the Dragonfly Theater’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is completely free and open to the public, please visit the Dragonfly Theater’s website.

Secondly, if you’re not really a Shakespeare fan or you would prefer wandering around an air-conditioned building to sitting on a lawn, there are a number of museums and historic locations offering free admission today. In fact, the MIT Museum in Cambridge, MA; the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA; Tanglewood and the Mount in Lenox, MA; the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester; and the Peabody Essex Museum and the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA are all offering free admission today as part of the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays. For more information on these locations and other locations that are offering free admission to everyone as part of the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays, please visit the Highland Street Foundation website.

Finally, if you’re looking for some free information on Norman Rockwell or any of the other artists that created the magnificent works of art that you may encounter at the museums above, you should definitely check out Artsy.net. In fact, Artsy will not only give you the opportunity to read biographies and articles on over 50,000 artists but will also give you the opportunity to see some of the amazing works of art that these artists have created.

Photo credit: Street matt / Foter / CC BY

Some Interesting Ways to Exercise

As the warmer weather begins to set in, more and more people are beginning to leave the comfort of their homes in search of all of the wonders of the outside world. In fact, a couple weeks ago, I talked about some of the events that might actually help you to get your kids outside. The only problem is that your kids are probably not the only ones in need of some time in the sun, and there’s a pretty good chance, after a long winter of hiding from the cold, ice, and snow, that you may be in need of some exercise as well (trust me, you’re not alone.) Fortunately, if you are looking for a way to eliminate some of the pounds that you put on over the winter, the City of Boston and the surrounding area has several events that are sure to help.

First, if you and/or your kids have watched any version of the Three Musketeers and thought to yourself “Wow, I want to learn how to swordfight like that guy”, you’re in luck. This is because the Olympia Fencing Center in Cambridge, MA is offering a free “Intro to Fencing Class” to anyone that is interested. These classes, which are offered to all ages throughout the year, are a great way to learn the basics of fencing and to teach your kids that it might take a lot more work than they think to fight off an entire army. For more information on the “Intro to Fencing Class” offered by the Olympia Fencing Center, please visit the Olympia Fencing Center website or call the Center at (617) 945-9448.

Secondly, if you’re really not too keen on the idea of your kids screaming “Have at thee” while they jab a long, pointy thing at other people or you’re just a big fan of bowling, the Kids Bowl Free program may be more up your alley (if you’ll excuse the pun.) This program consists of a collection of bowling alleys and schools throughout the United States that actually allow kids to bowl for free. In fact, every kid below the age limit set by each individual bowling alley or school will be allowed to play 2 free games a day every day all summer long. Best of all, if you want to join your kids, you can even purchase a family pass that will allow you and up to 3 other adults to play 2 games a day every day for one low price. For more information on the program and/or to find a participating bowling alley near you, please visit the Official Kids Bowl Free website.

Finally, if you would rather watch other people perform physical activities than perform those activities yourself, you may want to check out Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna. Amaluna, which is now appearing at the Marine Industrial Park in Boston, is a love story told through a series of circus acts performed by some of the best acrobats, dancers, jugglers, and other performers that you will ever see. For more information on the show, which runs until July 6, 2014, please visit the Official Cirque Du Soleil website.

Photo credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection / Foter / No known copyright restrictions

Friday Fun: How To Avoid Melting

Has your thermometer given up even trying to show a real temperature and is just reading “Hot, Hot, Hot? Has your air conditioner, realizing that there is no hope of cooling down your house, gone on strike? Are you afraid that if you don’t find something cool to do this weekend, you’re going to end up melting like the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz? Well, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re in the U.S. right now. With temperatures approaching 100 degrees in many areas throughout the country, finding a way to stay cool is definitely at the top of most people’s to-do lists. Fortunately, if you’re in the Boston area this weekend, there are a number of events that are not only taking place at cooler places or cooler times of the day, but a number of events that are also absolutely free.

First, if you and/or kids are looking for a cool and refreshing treat, you may want to head over to Taza Chocolate in Somerville, MA tomorrow (Saturday, July 20, 2013.) Taza Chocolate is offering free Mexican-style popsicles, which are also known as Paletas, from 12 to 3 p.m. as part of their Chill Out Saturdays. These treats are made by a local vendor based in Cambridge, MA, known as Real Pops, and they come in a variety of flavors. For more information about Taza Chocolate’s Chill Out Saturdays, please visit the Taza Chocolate website.

If you are looking for a way for your kids to have some fun in the water, you may want to check out the Frog Pond Spray Pool & Fountain, the Rings Fountain on the Greenway, or the Veterans Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool. The Frog Pond Spray Pool & Fountain, which is located on Boston Common, features a free wading pool for young children and a 70-foot spray plume for children and their parents. The Rings Fountain on the Greenway, which is located in the Wharf District Parks in Boston, features a giant circular spray fountain that uses 64 nozzles to spray water in a series of circles around the people in its center. The Veterans Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool, which is located on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, features a full-sized swimming pool that adults and kids can use for free and a free wading pool for younger children.

Finally, if you and your kids are looking for something that is a little dryer but still pretty cool, you can always head on over to the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The Faneuil Hall Marketplace not only has a number of shops, restaurants, monuments, and museums that everyone can enjoy, but also has a free light show called Summer Blink every night from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. until September 6th. This special show features over 350,000 LED lights that will allow you see the entire Marketplace and the entire Boston skyline light up as the Standell’s famous song about Boston, Dirty Water, plays in the background. For more information, please visit the Boston Blinks website.