Aug 30 - Sep 7, 2010: Silent Rave, Astronomy, WWII, Tattoo, Native Am, Tattoo, Kite, & Renaissance Fests - Boston Events Insider

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-Johnny

The Week in Weird
Free movie preview tix to Machete & The Tillman Story	Wed 9/1	Boston Metro
Did you ever see Grindhouse, the Quentin Tarantino film? It featured a trailer for a parody called Machete, which was so popular that they actually made the movie. I have free preview tickets. The only catch is, it's at 10am in the morning. Also I've got tickets for The Tillman Story, Wed at 7pm. AMC Boston Common Theatre, Boston, MA. more
Tomb opens new attraction -- free tickets!	Wed 9/1	Southeast Mass
The largest amusement park in Boston proper has just one "ride" -- it's "Tomb", an ancient Egyptian pyramid that you actually walk through. The Pharaoah traps you inside and you solve puzzles and explore to escape. Well, the team at 5 WITS has now opened "Espionage", a walk-through spy game in Foxborough. Meanwhile -- big surprise!! -- they are CLOSING the Boston location on September 7, which to me sounds crazy. I still have 17 tickets to Tomb, so email me to win some and go! Patriot Place, Foxboro, MA. more
King Richard's Faire preview event	Thu 9/2	Boston Metro
Bigger and better than Tomb, King Richard's Faire is the big Renaissance Faire in Massachusetts and to attract customers they are doing a free preview! They'll have baby tigers, jousters on horseback and performances by the royal court set up all along the river. 11am-1pm. Hatch Shell on the Esplanade, Boston, MA. more
Anuna Hill Days (Stargazing Weekend)	Fri 9/3 - Mon 9/6	Boston Metro
I've always wanted to see this one! It's a weekend festival for serious astronomy buffs, but everyone is invited. You can camp or just visit, with model rockets and nature walks in the day and serious stargazing at night. Arunah Hill, Cummington, MA. more
Back to School Silent Rave	Sat 9/4	Boston Metro
Or spend the night dancing to no music! Bring an iPod with music to dance to. Or just dance to the music in your head! 7-10pm. Copley Square, Boston, MA. more
Adult Spelling Bee (and I do mean X-rated)	Sat 9/4	Boston Metro
How weird is this? A spelling bee with naughty words. Basement of student center. 9pm. BU Central, 775 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA. more
Marlborough's 350th Anniversary	Sat 9/4 - Mon 9/6	Metro West
Movie night 9/3 "Up", Ball 9/4, and scavenger hunt, opening of 50 year time capsule, and fireworks 9/5! Then a parade 9/6! Marlborough, MA. more
World War II Day at Battleship Cove	Sat 9/4 - Sun 9/5	Southeast Mass
Re-enactments in New England usually focus on the 1700s. Here's one focused on World War II, and it takes place at the largest naval museum in the world, right here in Fall River. Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA. more
Seakonke Wampanoag Tride Annual Pow-wow	Sat 9/4 - Sun 9/5	Southeast Mass
This small native american festival takes place in my hometown and I've been. It's at the corner of Rt 44 & Bay State Road, call 401-723-1563. They have a ring of vendors and ethnic music and dance, including participatory. It's a wonderful chance to learn. Redway Plains, Bay State Road at Winthrop Street, Rehoboth, MA.401-723-1563. more
Boston Tattoo Convention	Fri 9/3 - Mon 9/6	Boston Metro
If you're into tattoos, don't miss this opportunity to gawk and be gawked at. Just don't get a tattoo you won't still be proud of when you're 80! They'll have a burlesque show and tattoo contests. Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston, MA. more
Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks	Sat 9/4	North Shore
While you're in the area, get a picnic lunch & watch the ships go by! The best view is on the left side of the harbor (as you face the water). Gloucester Harbor, Gloucester, MA. more
Gloucester Schooner Festival	Fri 9/3 - Mon 9/6	North Shore
No doubt this ship & waterfront festival are related to the boat parade! Gloucester, MA. more
Stacked Kite Mega-Fly	Mon 9/6	North Shore
The experts at these kite festivals are friendly! Go and learn how to fly a stunt kite with two strings. Nahant Beach, Lynn, MA. more
Bread and Roses Festival	Mon 9/6	North Shore
This music and dance festival is more like it! It celebrates a famous labor strike in American history. Lawrence, MA. more
End of Summer Bash & Fireworks	Sun 9/5	New Hampshire
If you are up in the White Mountains for hiking and touring, stop by for the fireworks. Waterville Valley, NH.603-236-8175. more
Battle Road Trail Walk	Sat 9/4	Metro West
This is a 3.5 hour walk along the "battle trail" that was basically one long car chase, sans cars, circa 1775. 12:30pm. Free. Minute Man Visitor Center - Rt 2A, Lexington, MA.978-318-7825. more
Newport Waterfront Irish Festival	Sat 9/4 - Mon 9/6	Rhode Island
I've been to this event, and with 5 music stages, it's worth a visit, but doesn't go much beyond the typical music and vendors that many fairs feature. However, it's the largest Irish event of the year in New England. Newport Yachting Center., Newport, RI. more
Also Fun
Stone Zoo Free Fun Friday and others	Fri 9/3	North Shore
It's a zoo. It's free. Again thanks to the Highland Street Foundation! 149 Pond Street, Stoneham, MA.781-438-5100. more
Free Fun Friday at the USS Constitution Museum	Sat 9/4	Boston Metro
And a bunch of other things are free, too! See the website. The Concord Museum, EcoTarium, Buttonwood Park Zoo, and more! Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA.617-426-1812. more
Festival of Saint Lucia	Fri 9/3 - Mon 9/6	Boston Metro
I believe this is a street festival, but no details are given! Cambridge, MA. more
Labor Day Fest - Newburyport	Sat 9/4 - Mon 9/6	Boston Metro
This is a small music festival by the waterfront in a very tiny New Englandy town. Sounds quiet, but nice. Newburyport, MA. more
Hopkinton State Fair	Thu 9/2 - Mon 9/6	New Hampshire
Yet another agricultural fair. I only list the big ones, but I'll list this too because Fiesta Shows will have their traveling carnival there. Hopkinton Fairgrounds, Contoocook, NH. more
Spencer Fair (Agriculture Fair)	Fri 9/3 - Mon 9/6	Worcester
It's the largest agricultural fair in central Massachusetts. Spencer, MA. more
The Shire: A Mountaintop Music & Arts Festival	Sat 9/4 - Sun 9/5	Western Mass
An "intimate" music festival, i.e. small.... Washington, MA.413-623-5535. more
Rhythm & Roots Festival	Fri 9/3 - Sun 9/5	Rhode Island
This festival seems to have a real soul, including 4 stages of music. Charlestown, RI. more
Kimball Farm Corn Maze	Sat 8/28 - Sun 11/7	Northern Mass
Another corn maze is on the North Shore. I've been to this one. It's smaller, but worth the trip and very creative with clues in the maze! Kimball Farm Corn Maze, 780 East Broadway, Haverhill, MA.978 521-3990. more
The Real Inspector Hound - Theatre	Thu 9/2 - Sun 9/5	Boston Metro
Tom Stoppard is the famous playwright who wrote the script to Shakespeare In Love, the movie. This hilarious play is a parody on murder mysteries. I've seen it and it's highly recommended! Plus I have an extra ticket for the September 5th performance. Email me! Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston, MA.617-933-8600. more
King Richard's Faire (Ren Faire)	Sat 9/4 - Sun 10/24	South Shore
New England's largest renaissance faire. Weekends & holidays only. Plenty of Ren Faire vendors and people-watching, with 8 performance stages. Only 1/3 of the acts are worth watching, but definitely see the Aerial Angels, Paolo Garbanzo, and especially the jousting! Rt 3 S to Rt 44 W to Rt 58 S. Carver, MA.508-866-5391. more
Travel
Woodstock Fair	Fri 9/3 - Mon 9/6	Connecticut
Fiesta Shows will have their traveling carnival there. Woodstock Fairgrounds, Woodstock, CT. more
A-Maze-ing Story Slam	Sat 9/4	Connecticut
A story slam is a storytelling event where people essentially do one-person theatre shows telling a story. This one takes place on a public farm with a corn field maze! 260 Quaddick Road, Thompson, CT.860-923-3439. more
Bonfire at Nudist Resort	Sun 9/5	Connecticut
What can make a nudist camp better? A bonfire! Woodstock, CT. more
Blue Hill Fair	Thu 9/2 - Mon 9/6	Maine
This agricultural faire features ox & horse pulls, racing pigs, lumberjack show, fireworks, and sheep dog trials -- that's when they take naughty sheep and put them on trial. Blue Hill, ME. more
County Bluegrass	Thu 9/2 - Sun 9/5	Maine
Here's a festival you come camp over for. Fort Fairfield, ME. more
Champlain Valley Fair	Sat 8/28 - Mon 9/6	Vermont
The Champlain Valley Fair includes a demolition derby, a tractor pull, and a ton of famous names. Champlain Valley Exposition, 105 Pearl St., Essex Junction, VT.802-878-5545. more
Plymouth Folk and Blues Concerts	Thu 9/2 - Sun 9/5	Vermont
Yet another music festival. Plymouth, VT USA. more
Vermont State Fair	Fri 9/3 - Sun 9/12	Vermont
This festival has a carnival, live music, and lots of agricultural goodness. 175 South Main St, Rutland, VT. more
New World Festival	Sun 9/5	Vermont
Yet another music festival. Randolph, VT. more

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Outdoor Theatre & Events			Mon 8/30	Tue 8/31	Wed 9/1	Thu 9/2	Fri 9/3	Sat 9/4	Sun 9/5	Mon 9/6
Boston Metro	Cambridge, MA	Tango by Moonlight: 2009: 7:30-11pm. Rain date the next day. Also Oct 3. On the Weeks Footbridge by the corner of JFK Street and Memorial Drive more						S
Boston Metro	Cambridge, MA	Sunday Games @ Charles River Conservancy: 2010: Sundays 2-5pm. Free games & athletic activities like frisbee, horseshoes, hula hoops, tug-o-war, sack races. By the Weeks Footbridge, near JFK Street more							S
Western Mass	Lenox, MA	Free Outdoor Bankside Festival: I really don't understand this. Apparently their plays take place in a theatre, but are preceded by regular preview performances and lectures. So... it's daily? more		T
New Hampshire	Hampton Beach, NH	Fireworks @ Hampton Beach: Every Wednesday, plus holidays. 22 C Street, 603-926-8717. more			W				S
New Hampshire	Laconia, NH	Fireworks @ Weirs Beach: 2010: 10pm except 7/3. more							S
New Hampshire	Portsmouth, NH	Prescott Park Arts Festival: Outdoor theatre and live music. Peter Pan and The Who's TOMMY. Prescot Park, Marcy St at Mechanic St, 603-436-2848. more more			W
Maine	Old Orchard Beach, ME	Fireworks @ Old Orchard Beach: 2010: 9:45pm. Next to the Pier more				R

Outdoor Movies			Mon 8/30	Tue 8/31	Wed 9/1	Thu 9/2	Fri 9/3	Sat 9/4	Sun 9/5	Mon 9/6
Boston Metro	Boston, MA	Outdoor - Movies by Moonlight: Outdoor films. Fridays. Free. Start at "dusk". 2010: 8/20 All the President's Men, 8/27 Adventures of Robin Hood, 9/3 Raiders of the Lost Ark. 70 Rowes Wharf, 617.439.7000. more					F
Boston Metro	Boston, MA	Movie Mondays at Liberty Hotel: 2010: 7:30pm. Free but RSVP to moviemondays@libertyhotel.com. , 617.224.4000. more	M
Cape Cod	Sandwich, MA	Family Movie Night Under the Stars: 2010: Starts at 7:15pm. Also Sep 24. Heritage Museums & Gardens more					F
Connecticut	New London, CT	Summer Flickers: 2010: 8pm. Hygenic Art Park more			W
New Hampshire	Hampton Beach, NH	Monday Night Movies on the Beach: 2010: at dusk. more	M
Rhode Island	Providence, RI	Movies on the Block: 2010: Dusk. And 9/23 and 9/30. Westminster St at Union St more				R

Outdoor Music			Mon 8/30	Tue 8/31	Wed 9/1	Thu 9/2	Fri 9/3	Sat 9/4	Sun 9/5	Mon 9/6
Boston Metro	Boston, MA	Boston Phoenix/WFNX block parties: 2010: 3-8pm. more more				R
Boston Metro	Boston, MA	Special Live Concerts at Boston Harbor Hotel: Outdoor music: Soul on Tuesdays, Oldies on Wednesdays, Blues on Thursdays, all 6-10pm. Rowes Wharf, Boston Harbor Hotel more		T	W	R
Boston Metro	Boston, MA	Landmarks Orchestra or Oldies at the Shell: 2010: 7pm. Free. Every Wednesday. Esplanade more			W
Boston Metro	Cambridge, MA	Club Passim Summer Concert Series: 2010: Thu 12-1pm. 47 Palmer St. more				R
Boston Metro	Cambridge, MA	Kendall Square Concert Series: Sponsored by the Kendall Square Corporation. 2010: 12-1:30pm. 300 Athenaeum Street, 617 577-7354. more		T		R
Boston Metro	Jamaica Plain, MA	JP First Thursday: 2010: This is basically a chamber of commerce event where several art venues stay open late, 6-8pm. How excited can you get about businesses staying open late? Well, they'll include a lot of music and live performance. It might be good. Every first Thursday of the month. Centre & South Streets, 617-522-0300. more				R
Cape Cod	Harwich, MA	Harwich Town Band Free Concerts: 2010: 7pm. Brooks Park Band Stand, Harwich Center, Oak St more		T
Cape Cod	Onset, MA	Summer of Love Concerts: 2010: 6:30pm. Onset Bandshell more			W
Cape Cod	West Yarmouth, MA	Yarmouth Monday Night Concerts: 2010: 7pm. Mattacheese Middle School Bandshell, Higgins Crowell Road, 508-778-1008. more	M
Lowell	Billerica, MA	Summer Concerts on the Common at Billerica: 2010: 7pm. Town Common, 978-671-0921. more		T
Metro West	Concord, MA	Music at the Manse Concert Series: 2010: Most Sundays 2-4pm. And Sep 26. The Old Manse, 269 Monument Street, 978.369.3909. more							S
Metro West	Norwood, MA	Sunday Evening Concerts on the Common, Norwood: 2010: 7pm. Wed schedule best guess. Town Common, Washington St & Nahatan St more more							S
North Shore	Gloucester, MA	Gloucester Block Party: 2010: 6-11pm. Main Street, from Pleasant to Washington more					F
North Shore	Haverhill, MA	Winnekenni Castle Concerts: Free. 2010: 2pm or 7pm. If rain, concert will be indoors. Winnekenni Castle, 347 Kenoza Ave more								M
North Shore	Ipswich, MA	Castle Hill Summer Picnic Concerts: Dancing & music overlooking Crane Beach. Come at 6pm for swing dance lessons! Call ahead to order a picnic dinner basket. Castle Hill, 978-356-4351 x4015. more				R
North Shore	Lowell, MA	Lowell Summer Music Series: 2010: Music 7:30pm-10pm, and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night on Aug 29. Boarding House Park more					F	S
North Shore	Salisbury, MA	SurfSide Live!: 2010: 5pm. Salisbury Beach Center, 3 Broadway Street more						S
South Shore	Plymouth, MA	Wednesday Night Concerts: 2010: 6:30-9:30pm. Pilgrim Memorial Park, Water Street more			W
Southeast Mass	Dartmouth, MA	Summer Concert Series at Dartmouth: 2010: 6:30-8:30pm. Also 9/22 and 9/29. Each rain date next day. more			W
Southeast Mass	Nantucket, MA	Summer Concerts at Children's Beach: 2010: 6pm. Children's Beach more	M
Springfield	Springfield, MA	Bike Night at Stearns Square: 2010: 7:30-9pm. Rain or shine. Stearns Square more				R
Springfield	Westfield, MA	Sunday Night Concerts at Westfield: 2010: 6pm. Stanley Park more							S
Western Mass	Amherst, MA	Chandler's Summer Concert Series and BBQ: Thursdays. 2010: 6-9pm. Chandler's Restaurant at the Yankee Candle Flagship Store more				R
Western Mass	Greenfield, MA	Coop Concerts & More: Various times. Greenfield Energy Park, 413-774-9949. more				R
Worcester	Upton, MA	Sweet Summer Nights Music Series: 2010: 7-8:30pm and continues through the end of October. Rain or shine. more					F
Connecticut	Barkhamstead, CT	Summer Series at Barkhamstead: 2010: 2-4pm. The Green or The Courtyard, Town Center more							S
Connecticut	Fairfield, CT	Summer Concerts at the Sherman Green Gazebo: 2010: 7pm, except 9/1, 9/2 @ 6:30pm. Sherman Green Gazebo more			W	R
Connecticut	Middletown, CT	Summer Sounds: 2010: 7pm. Union Park, South Green, 203-343-6620 x201. more		T
Connecticut	Norwalk, CT	Norwalk Parks Concert Schedule: 2010: 6 or 7pm. Rain dates one day later. Calf Pasture Beach, 203-854-7806. more			W
Connecticut	Trumbull, CT	Summer Concerts at Trumbull: 2010: 7pm. Town Hall Gazebo more		T
Connecticut	Windham, CT	Free Concerts at Windham, CT: 2010: 2pm. If rain, Middle School on Quarry St. Alex Caisse Park, Rt 195 more							S
New Hampshire	Salem, NH	Talent Search Night at Canobie Lake Park: 2010: Hundreds compete for free park passes and a chance to record a professional demo CD. Register at 5:30pm. Canobie Lake Park more				R
New Hampshire	Waterville Valley, NH	Saturday Evening Concert Series: Town Square more						S
Maine	York, ME	York Beach Concert Series: 2010: 7pm. Ellis Park, York Beach, 207-363-1040. more					F	S	S
Rhode Island	Coventry, RI	Conventry Summer Concert Series: 2010: 6pm. If rain, Community Center Hall, 1277 Main St, Rte 117. Various more							S
Rhode Island	Westerly, RI	Watch Hill Summer Concert Series: Village Green, 401-596-7909. more more		T
Vermont	Stratton, VT	Saturdays Under the Stars - Summer Concert Series: 2010: 6-9pm. Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, 802.297.4FUN. more						S