City Celebrates! Summer Thursdays
| Hours: | 5-9pm |
| Ages: | Infants, Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults |
| In/Outdoor: | Indoor, Outdoor |
| Cost: | Free see below |
| Category: | Arts & Culture |
Urban Adventurers, get ready: Summertime is here, and Downtown New Bedford is ready to rock. Every Thursday this summer, the cobblestone streets of downtown New Bedford will be hopping with FREE festivities— City Celebrates! kicks off July 15 and continues on each of the six non-AHA! Thursdays this summer.
These six nights of celebration— July 15, July 22, July 29, Aug. 5, Aug. 19, Aug. 26— promise live music, walking tours, films, kids’ activities, galleries and museums open late, plus plenty of opportunities to shop and dine locally.
From shopping to rock climbing, there’s something for everyone at City Celebrates!
The YMCA will host a jam-packed Kid Zone, complete with a rock climbing wall, weekly skate jams, and art activities from the New Bedford Art Museum ArtMobile. Artworks! will also offer free hands-on activities for kids each week.
Each Thursday, the New Bedford Whaling Museum—the largest whaling museum in the U.S. by the way— will stay open until 9pm, so you can peruse and explore to your heart’s content.
Get some fresh summer peaches, ears of corn, honey, jams and more at the Farmer’s Market in Wings Court from 2pm to dusk.
And don’t forget about all the shopping and dining you can do in downtown New Bedford:
Enjoy sandwiches and homemade ice cream at Café Arpeggio, cheesy Mexican burritos and cold ales from No Problemo, wine and tapas on the waterfront at Cork, a bread-bowl of soup at Destination Soups or some fresh made sushi overlooking the fishing fleet at the Waterfront Grille.
Sit down for a family meal at Freestones or grab a cold fruit smoothie at The Green Bean or The Juice Box. On a Roll offers great paninis and sandwiches, Spicy Lime has the city’s best Thai, and Rose Alley Ale House offers a wide selection of beers and the best buffalo wings in the SouthCoast.
After you eat, shop at any number of boutiques in the area—Calico on Union Street is an amazing little vintage indie boutique; The Artificial Marketplace on William Street is a treasure trove of vintage antiques and collectables; BeJeweled on Centre Street has designer jewelry and you can’t leave New Bedford without a Black Whale T-shirt from Elaine’s on Purchase Street.
Here are a few more highlights. Mark your calendar:
Transport back to the 1950s on July 15 with “Fifties Night”. You’ll be zapped back in time with 50s-era music, dancing, cars and more. Presented by Joe Jesus to benefit the Veterans Transition House.
The New Bedford National Historical Park features Music in the Park each Thursday from 6:30-7:15pm. July 15 brings maritime music from Crabgrass.
On July 22, the National Historical Park’s concert will feature Sparky and Rhonda Rucker with African-American songs and story.
This night will also feature more music at the New Bedford Whaling Museum with an old-fashioned town band concert.
The concert on July 29 will feature Joao Cerilu and Pilon Batuku with Cape Verdean music and dance.
On Aug. 5, you can hear Debra Cowan with maritime ballads at the Historical Park and John Mock at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at 7:30pm. Mock will sing maritime-themed folk/classics music, performed on guitar, concertina and whistle.
Aug. 19 brings us another “Fifties Night” featuring music, dancing, antique cars and more. Presented by Joe Jesus to benefit the Veterans Transition House.
The Historical Park features the Iron River Singers with Native American song and dance.
New Bedford Whaling Museum hosts the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra String Quartet: “Elegant Evenings.”
On Aug. 26, the Thursday Concert will feature Portuguese music from GeraSons.
| COST | ↑ top |
FREE
| WEBSITE | ↑ top |
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
Downtown, New Bedford, MA, 02740 map
Phone: 508.996.8253 ext
From I-195 E or W. take Exit 15 (Rte. 18). Follow Rte 18 to 2nd traffic signal; take a right onto Union St. At the first traffic signal take a right onto Second Street and take your first left for parking in Custom House Square or continue two blocks to the Elm Street garage. On-street parking is also available for free after 6pm.
| RELATED LINKS | ↑ top |
- Profiles
Info changes frequently. We cannot warrant it. Verify with City Celebrates! Summer Thursdays before making the trek. If you find an error, please report it...