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First Fridays Plymouth, the monthly downtown gathering that takes place from May to October and highlights the town’s art, history, music, food, and independent shops, will be back on Aug. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m., with familiar favorites and some new additions.
Volunteer Beth Gragg says cofounders Gail Parker and Kat LiBretto were inspired to create the event about five years ago and began “brainstorming ways to elevate the arts in Plymouth” and to “make opportunities for people to see what downtown had to offer.” Turns out, there is plenty to offer.
During August’s event, people downtown might notice Pilgrim Progress (people dressed like Pilgrims from the 17th century marching), which will start at 6 p.m. from the Mayflower Society House, go past Plymouth Rock, and proceed up Leyden Street to the top of Burial Hill. They’ll hold a short Pilgrim church service at the original site of the first Fort Meetinghouse.
The Spooner House, Howland House, and Mayflower Society House will all be open for tours for those who want a bigger slice of history. Donations are welcome at these historic houses, but admittance is free.
Restaurants that regularly participate in First Friday – Cork & Table, Honey Baby, Mallebar Bistro, The Artisan Pig, and The Tasty – will be joined by a new one – The Edge Pizza, which serves thick-crust Detroit-style pizza.
The arts will be well represented by All Good Art, The Art Shoppe, and the Yankee Woodcarver. And the Plymouth Center for the Arts will welcome visitors to view current exhibits: “A Different Vision 2.0 – Stimulate the Senses” and the New England Watercolor Society’s “Celebrating New England.” There will also be a demo by printmaker Christine Yorty; and local band Raspberry Jam – featured in a recent Independent story – will perform in the center’s front yard on North Street.
For music that starts a bit earlier, Just Two Guys will perform from 4 to 6 p.m. on the street in front of the See Plymouth headquarters (in the former Citizens Bank building).
If you’re looking for theatrical entertainment with some mystery, Lau Lapides’s “Wicked Wild Murders” actors will roam Main Street leading interactive “who-done-its” and engaging with the public.
Sprezzatura will offer “Mocktails and Masterpieces.” People can browse the shop’s vintage clothing and accessories while sipping a mocktail that they create at a drink station.
The Black Dog (a new participant), Something for Your Dust, Heyday Supply, and eKnits4U Studio are also planning First Friday events – check the website for updates and any changes or additions.
Funding for the event comes from the Town of Plymouth Promotions Fund, the Mass Cultural Council, and First Fridays participants. For more information or to get involved, contact Gail Parker at parker6710@aol.com.
Monday, July 21
“Mr. Blake at Your Service!” starring John Malkovich, will screen at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., through Thursday, July 24.Malkovichplays a recently widowed English businessman who takes on the role of butler for a French manor house to feel closer to his late (French) wife. He must navigate the eccentric behavior of the lady of the manor, Nathalie, played by Fanny Ardant, and the rest of the household staff. “Bad Shabbos,” starring Kyra Sedgwick, David Paymer, Jon Bass, and Meghan Leathers, and featuring Method Man, will also continue through Thursday, July 24. Film times are 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card.
Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., will host Mike Piazza and his Flying High Dogs on the front lawn from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The family-friendly show will present a variety of frisbee tricks, along with examples of other doggie talents. For safety reasons, it’s best not to bring your own dog to the show. No registration is required. Everyone is welcome.
Take a Hat Burning Class at Uva Wine Bar, 46 Main St., at 7 p.m., and decorate your vegan suede hat (available in many styles). Lynda from Hot Hatz by PonyGirlz will lead you through the process. PonyGirlz will supply the materials, including a hat, patterns, instruction, use of the tools, and a variety of embellishments, such as ribbons, feathers, flowers, rivets, and more. Tickets are $75 and are available here
Tuesday, July 22
A Family Puzzle Race will take place at Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 2 to 4 p.m. Teams of two to four people, with children ages 8 and older, will compete to see who can complete a 500-piece puzzle first. The team that does so – or completes most of their puzzle before time is up – will be declared the winner and receive a prize. All the teams get to keep their puzzles. The program is limited to eight teams, and registration is required here. Please indicate how many people are on the team.
The Summer of Music Series will continue at the Craft Center Pavilion at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m., with singer/songwriter Kim Moberg. The daughter of a mother of Tlingit descent and a U.S. Coast Guard veteran father, Moberg, from Juneau, Alaska, has two albums that received critical acclaim on the folk music charts. The cost is $5 at the door, with children 5 and under and members getting in for free.
Wednesday, July 23
Join author Sarah Prager in the Fehlow Meeting Room at Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a talk on censorship titled, “Well‑Behaved Books Seldom Make History.” Prager’s books, which include “Queer, There, and Everywhere” and “Rainbow Revolutionaries,” have been subject to recent book bans across the nation. Prager brings a personal perspective to the topic, as she was harassed online for creating LBGTQ+ content for young readers. Registration is required for this in-person talk, and you can do so here.
The Town Hall Art and History Task Force will accept framed, display-ready artworks from local artists at Plymouth Town Hall for the “Flora and Fauna of Plymouth” art show between 1 and 4 p.m.; and on Thursday, July 24, between 9 a.m. and noon. Most framed, two-dimensional art can be submitted along with a completed application and $20 non-refundable fee. An opening reception will be held at Town Hall on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The art show will be on display for one year. The application and detailed instructions are available here. For more information, contact Jennifer Harris at jharrisplymouth@gmail.com.
The Project Arts free summer concert series at Pilgrim Memorial State Park on the waterfront continues with Booty Vortex performing funk, rock, and dance music from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, July 24
Join Chairwoman Melissa Ferretti of the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe for a talk at 7 p.m.at Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance headquarters on 158 Center Hill Road. Ferretti will discuss the tribe’s ongoing initiatives around Herring Pond – how it is reclaiming stewardship of their ancestral watershed, current environmental justice issues and programming, community-led restoration projects, and education efforts that center Indigenous knowledge and sustainability. Ferretti will also talk about the tribe’s state recognition and the cultural revitalization taking root throughout the region. The talk will be available on Zoom, and you can access it here.
Families are welcome to drop by Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, 60 Beaver Dam Road, to meet a naturalist. You can earn about the history and restoration of Tidmarsh, pick up a free scavenger hunt, or explore some nature artifacts. A naturalist will be stationed in the accessible lot at Tidmarsh (near the field) to share some nature facts. It’s free, but registration is encouraged – you can do that here.
Friday, July 25
“Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight,” directed by Embeth Davidtz, will begin screening at Plimoth Cinema in Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. The film takes place in Rhodesia during the final stages of the Bush War and follows eight-year-old Bobo (Lexi Venter), exploring her life on her family’s farm. “Oh Hi!,” directed by Sophie Brooks, also will be showing. Starring Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman, it’s a rom/com that takes a darkly comedic turn when they go on what’s supposed to be a romantic getaway. Film times are 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card.
The Ants on a Log Pride Concert will take place on the front lawn at Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 2 to 3 p.m. Ants on a Log perform humorous musical shows that are interactive and engaging for both children and adults. The performers are trans/nonbinary musicians, and their shows feature themes of inclusion, self-expression, community, and allyship. The concert is recommended for children ages 4 to 11.
The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance will recognize National Moth Week at 158 Center Hill Road with the family-friendly “Moth Ball” starting at 7 p.m. There will be crafts, root beer floats, a moth cake, and both gummi and live caterpillars. Special moth traps (sheets with lights) will lure the creatures for closer inspection. Lepidopterist Tea’ Montagna will return with her collection of caterpillars and deliver a short lecture, after which she will join in the fun of finding and identifying the latest arrivals. There will be prizes for the best moth costume. Although the event starts relatively early to accommodate children, it will go on into the night for the older set. Tickets are $10, and $20 for a family of four. Get tickets and find out more about the event here.
Comedian Mike Koutrobis will headline a show at the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Koutrobis is a regular at New England clubs such as the Comedy Connection, Nick’s, Giggles, Comix at Foxwoods, and Laugh Boston. He is a past winner of New Hampshire’s Funniest Comedian, and was a finalist at the Last Comix Standing contest at Foxwoods. Comedians Chris D. and David Twohig will also perform. Tickets are $22 and $24, and you can get them here.
Saturday, July 26
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society’s “A Roaring 20s Affair” Gala and Fundraiser will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on the lawn of Hedge House, 126 Water St. Tickets for the gala had to be purchased by Wednesday, July 16.
Zeppelin Reimagined will perform its unique tribute to the legendary band at the Spire at 8:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. The band sets itself apart from other Zeppelin tribute bands because of its use of technology combined with classic rock for a new experience. Tickets are $44.50 and $49, and are available here.
Sunday, July 27
CelloVoci, a newly formed classical crossover group starring cello and vocal duo Branden & James along with singer/songwriter Effie Passero, will perform at the Spire at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. This continues the Spire’s series, “Sunday Serenades: Matinee Performances with Timeless Charm.” James was a finalist on “America’s Got Talent,” and is an award-winning author. Australian cellist James Clark was a featured cellist for Olivia Newton-John, Bernadette Peters, and Idina Menzel before collaborating with James. Passero toured the world with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. The trio will include songs from The Eagles, Moulin Rouge, Judy Garland, Nina Simone, Andrea Bocelli, The Greatest Showman, QUEEN, and more. Tickets are $35.50 and $39, and you can get them here.
Tuesday, July 29
Kids are invited to show some chalk creativity at Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., with “Chalk the Walk” from 2 to 4 p.m. Chalk will be provided, and artists can decorate the veranda, part of the walk, and the parking lot. All ages are welcome, and no registration is required.
Friday, Aug. 1
Today is the deadline for local authors to submit their applications for an upcoming Local Authors Fair, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The fair is set for Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. It will showcase the talent and creativity of published authors who live in Southeastern Massachusetts. Applications are available at the library’s reference desk and at the Manomet Branch Library. You can also apply online here. For more information, contact outreach@plymouth.ocln.org or call the reference desk at 508-830-4250, ext. 205. Authors will be notified of acceptance by Friday, Aug. 8.
First Fridays Plymouth will bring the community together in downtown Plymouth with art, food and drink, music, shopping, history, and entertainment from 5 to 8 p.m. See the lead item in this column for more information.