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Header Photo Credits
 
July 2015
Massachusetts is rich in arts & culture, so it's no surprise that exciting events, exhibits and festivals are held in the state's 16 regions all year long. Find out more!
Iconic Massachusetts
Cellist at Tanglewood,
credit Stu Rosner
Rich Doucette, the new executive director of Mass Office of Travel & Tourism, talks a lot about the iconic people, places, events and businesses that make Massachusetts so distinctive and unique.  

We're proud of our artists, writers, musicians, dancers and cultural specialists who make Massachusetts such a well-spring of creativity.  
We're inspired by our museums, cultural venues and artist colonies that welcome visitors from around the world to experience the finest aesthetic and artistic expressions.  
And this July, we're thrilled by the quality and quantity of outdoor festivals, concerts, exhibits and special events, many of them free, that make Massachusetts a cultural destination.

Plan your next getaway to Massachusetts! 
Featured Region: MetroWest

Restaurant Week in the Natick Center Cultural District - happening July 12-18 -offers concerts, farmers markets and artwork, in addition to a variety of flavorful dining options! On July 13th, the town offers a free concert on the Town Common featuring Classic Groove. On July 14th at 9:30 a.m., enjoy a 90-minute OldTown Walking Tour through a half-mile of historic South Natick that includes stories of the Praying Indians and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Bring the kids back to the Town Common at 6:30 p.m. on July 15th for a free, 45-minute family concert. The centerpiece of Restaurant Week is Artwalk, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on July 16th. Washington Street will become a pedestrian thoroughfare as local restaurants vend tasty dishes. Along Main Street, businesses will host artists showcasing their work on the sidewalks, and musicians and dance troupes will perform throughout downtown. This special week ends with the Saturday farmers market on the Common from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring crafters along with locally grown produce and baked goods. Find more information on MetroWest

Nantucket Island

Participate in a delightfully traditional, small-town 4th of July on Nantucket Island! Start the morning off listening to the National Anthem at the top of Main Street. Join in watermelon or pie eating contests. Three-legged and potato sack races are great ways to spend the afternoon at Children's Beach. Evening fireworks at Jetties Beach provide the perfect ending to a memorable holiday weekend. Join us for festival season on Nantucket! From yoga to comedy, to garden and dance, there are several events for your entire family to enjoy the month of July! Find more information on Nantucket Island.  

North of Boston
All are welcome to join the MA Center for Native American Awareness for a Summer Moon Pow-Wow July 18-19 at Endicott Park in Danvers! A traditional Native American Cultural-Education event, the Pow-Wow features educational workshop discussions, dance-style demonstrations, storytelling in front of the tipi, eco-friendly craft-making, native games, and so much more. Don't forget to bring your positive energy to the circle!  Find more information on North of Boston.
Plymouth County

It's the time for gathering with friends and family to celebrate the beauty of the long awaited summer season, and what better way than with free live music against an ocean backdrop? Grab your blanket and lawn chair and bring the crew down to Pilgrim Memorial Park for the Project Arts of Plymouth Summer Concerts - every Wednesday evening through August from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Each week will feature a blend of local, regional, national and international music, preforming on Plymouth's new Harbor Light Pavilion. Find more information on Plymouth County.

Southeastern Massachusetts

Waterfront fireworks spectaculars and festivals galore! #SEMass is keeping the summertime feeling abuzz right into July. Enter for a chance to win tickets to a 4th of July Fireworks Harbor Cruise on America's #1 working waterfront in New Bedford. Battleship Cove is also hosting an Independence Day Fireworks display at Mt. Hope. Folk Festivals, Pirate Invasions and a public Beach Party that's sure to show up Margaritaville. Discover all of these events, and more on visitsemass.com/events. Find more information on Southeastern Massachusetts

The Berkshires

Image credit: James McNeill Whistler, Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 (Portrait of the Artist's Mother), 1871. Mus�e d'Orsay, Paris � RMN-Grand Palais/Art Resource, NY (photo: Jean-Gilles Berizzi)
It's an iconic summer at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown! Van Gogh and Nature heads the summer exhibition program with fifty works by the renowned painter, on view through September 13th. July 4th heralds the arrival of Whistler's Mother, on view July 4─September 27. The revered painting is the centerpiece of an exhibition featuring a selection of James McNeill Whistler's prints and drawings, Japanese woodblock prints that inspired the artist, and ephemera that explores the image's role in popular culture. Find more information on The Berkshires
Greater Merrimack Valley
Classic rock icons Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo will perform at the Lowell Summer Music Series at beautiful Boarding House Park on Friday, July 10th! Get tickets TODAY for an amazing lineup of performances, including the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Dave Mason, Tower of Power, the Official Blues Brothers Revue, Gordon Lightfoot, Lyle Lovett, Trombone Shorty, Bruce Hornsby, Lake Street Dive, Melissa Etheridge and more! Free Fun For Kids series begins on July 8th on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m.! Find more information on Greater Merrimack Valley.
Central Massachusetts

Come celebrate the best July 4th in history with old-fashioned, patriotic family fun at Old Sturbridge Village on Independence Day Weekend, July 3-5! Enjoy the firing of a new reproduction cannon and a host of other patriotic activities, including a citizens' parade, 19th-century style "base ball," a pie-eating contest, militia march, summer barbecue, fife & drum music, Farm Olympics and more! For more information, visit osv.org. Find more information on Central Massachusetts.
Franklin County

Get tickets now for the Green River Festival in Greenfield, coming up July 10-12! Interested in a Hot Air Balloon Ride at the festival? The cost is $225 per person until July 3rd. Book now and also get free one-day admission to the festival. It's the trip of a lifetime over the rolling hills and valleys of Franklin County - cornfields, rivers, village greens. Great for photography buffs! Find more information on Franklin County

Greater Boston

Celebrate July 4th with Harborfest, the Pops and spectacular fireworks! July also brings free artisan markets, outdoor movies, open-air concerts and performances of the bard's King Lear on Boston Common.  Outside The Box returns with with headliners Guster, Kacey Musgraves and Atlas Genius. The 4th annual Summer Arts Weekend entertains for 2 days in Copley Square. Thanks to Highland Street Foundation, free museum & attraction admissions can be found every Friday throughout July. North End feasts celebrate Italian culture, food and music every weekend. Sand morphs into monumental art at Revere National Sand Sculpting Festival. Find more information on Greater Boston

Cape Cod
Hydrangeas are the signature flower of Cape Cod, and the inaugural Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival will celebrate these
beautiful blue, pink and white blooms at their peak! Take a glimpse into some of Cape Cod's most spectacular gardens during the 10-day Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, from July 10-19. Festival highlights include over 75 garden tours organized by local nonprofits and museums, along with special hydrangea-themed events and promotions. More info at CapeCodHydrangeaFest.com! Find more information on Cape Cod.
Greater Springfield

Star Spangled Springfield takes place July 4th and includes fireworks, live musical entertainment and food at the Riverfront Park in downtown Springfield. This event is perfect for the whole family! July 11th is the Annual Big Band Concert at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site and includes free dance lessons plus great timeless entertainment for all! For more information on these great events and more, visit valleyvisitor.com. Find more information on Greater Springfield.

Hampshire County
The Hilltown 6 Pottery Tour (July 25-26, 2015) features a group of nationally recognized potters based in the scenic Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. Every year these artists open their studios for an annual coordinated, self-guided tour of their studios and pottery sale. There are eight locations featuring 21 artists, all within 45 minutes of Northampton. Visit hilltown6.com for a map and schedule of demonstrations that will take place during the weekend.  Find more information on Hampshire County.
Johnny Appleseed Country
Jazz icon Tom Harrell

Country music, fiddle favorites, and all that jazz! Johnny Appleseed Country is home to a host of music festivals - including the Farm Fresh Jazz festival at Hollis Hills Farm in Fitchburg on July 4th. Jazz icon Tom Harrell performs with TRIP, along with The Doug Lowe Group, the Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra and other jazz greats. In August, Wachusett Mountain's CountryMusic Fest is the place to be, and in September, fiddlers will dish up a foot-stomping time at the Appleseed Country Fair at Red Apple Farm. Find more information on Johnny Appleseed Country.

Martha's Vineyard 
Martha's Vineyard SOUND - happening July 11 and 12 - is a festival of music, food and the arts in Oak Bluff's Waban Park! Musical acts range from indie, rock, and folk, to reggae and hip-hop, appealing to a diverse set of tastes. Visual artists and food vendors peddle their wares and delicious eats. Festivities continue beyond the main event at satellite locations throughout downtown Oak Bluffs. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.  For more info and tickets visit, MarthasVineyardSound.com. Find more information on Martha's Vineyard.
Mohawk Trail Region
The enchanting Bridge of Flowers attracts visitors from around the globe to the iconic Village of Shelburne Falls.  Folks return to take in other fabulous events throughout the summer, including Art Walks (July 18 & September 12); the Bridge of Flowers Classic 10k race and 3k Charity Run & Walk attracts 1,000 participants (August 8); and the festive Bridge Dinner serves 400+ patrons dining al fresco on the Iron Bridge (August 16).  Find more information on the Mohawk Trail Region

Regional Tourism Councils  

The Berkshires  Cape Cod  Central Massachusetts  Franklin County  
Greater Boston  Greater Merrimack Valley  Greater Springfield  
Hampshire County  Johnny Appleseed Country  Martha's Vineyard  
MetroWest  Mohawk Trail  Nantucket Island  North of Boston  
Plymouth County  Southeastern Massachusetts