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“Come Fly With Us,” the 15th annual fundraiser and gala for the Plymouth Education Foundation, takes flight from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on May 16 from the Mike Goulian Aviation Hangar at the Plymouth Municipal Airport, 648 Burke’s Way, Gate 6, Hangar SW-2.
Foundation Secretary Kathy Babini said when Goulian Aviation donated its space for this year’s fundraiser, the idea for a more casual approach rather the usual formal gala took off, leading to suggestions that attendees dress in “cocktail chic like a first-class passenger,” or in “your pilot’s hat, stewardess uniform, aviator glasses, flight suits, or leather jackets.”
“We were able to use the Goulian hanger, so we said, let’s have fun with it,” Babini said. The goal was to avoid a “stuffy” event.
Still, the event is more than “flight entertainment.” The foundation will present three education awards honoring people or organizations from the community who support education and children.
The Adele Manfredi Excellence in Education Award will be given to Kathy McMinn, a retired teacher who has not only shared her love of music with Plymouth Public School children but has highlighted the talents of children world-wide with our community.
The Robert C. Betters Award will go to the Plymouth Family Network, which is committed to supporting families with young children through early childhood playgroups, family education programs, developmental assessments, and the ParentChild+ home visiting program. This award includes a $1,500 donation to the network.
The 2026 Visionary Award will go to Womanadeat The Pinehills, an organization comprised of a group of women from the Pinehills that provides immediate, short-term emergency financial assistance to families with children in the town’s public schools.
“We would like to encourage ticket sales to honor these individuals and organizations who have done so much and whose missions support the schools to make it a community event,” said Babini.
She said the hangar – which is an airplane showroom – is a “gorgeous” space. There will be a small plane inside and a photographer available for attendees to have photos taken, whether in aviation garb or not.
A silent auction will feature donated prizes such as golf foursomes, grocery cards, restaurant gift cards, two Adirondack chairs donated by the carpentry department at Plymouth South High School, four tickets for the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, various artwork, and more.
Diners are all in “first class” – guests will enjoy pre-flight cocktails and a sit-down dinner served by Salt of the Earth Caterers. Music and dancing in the aisles will be encouraged – with minimal turbulence.
Prizes will be awarded for the best aviation-related outfits.
“I have a tasteful scarf with some airplanes on it,” Babini said. Board members have talked of wearing flight suits and other aviation-related clothing, she added.
Attending in costume enhances the theme of “Come Fly With Us,” Babini said, “As we fund-raise to help kids soar.”
“Boarding passes” for the gala are $100 each, and available to purchase here.
Monday, May 4
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” is screening at 4:30 and 7 p.m. in the Linn Theater at Plimoth Cinema in the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. This 20-years later sequel features original cast members Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci in their previous roles, but the power dynamic has shifted. Streep’s character is still running the fashion magazine, but losing money, and must deal with Blunt’s character, her former assistant, to garner needed advertising dollars. Hathaway’s character returns as a bridge between the two. “I Swear,” the film starring Robert Aramayo that follows the true story of John Davidson and his Tourette’s syndrome, will be showing at 4:30 in the Maxwell Theater. “Christophers,” about an art forger and starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, will screen at 7 p.m. in the Maxwell Theater. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card and can be purchased here.
The Dr. Robert M. Shiff Forum presents pianist Sergei Novikov in Concert from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. From Tchaikovsky to “Phantom of the Opera,” and from Duke Ellington to Billy Joel, Novikov’s performance promises to “delight the audience,” and include a “sense of humor.” Since moving to the United States from Russia in 1990 at the age of 21, he has become a major force in contemporary composing while traveling throughout the New England area. The event is free, but registration is required. To register, go here.
Tuesday, May 5
A workshop for writers who feel stuck, “The Next Right Step,” led by author Kendra Vaughan, takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. The workshop focuses on self-assessing, identifying realistic next steps, and making decisions with confidence. Register here for this free workshop.
Anne Jolles, founder of the Grace Trail, will be hosting a free “pop-up Grace Trail” in observance of “National Grace Trail Month” at the Plymouth Center for Active Living, 44 Nook Road, at 12 p.m. This will be an adapted, indoor version of the usual Grace Trail experience, which takes place on a seaside trail starting at Nelson Memorial Park, 235 Water St. For individuals who may not be able to access the physical trail, the pop-up event simulates the experience using Grace Trail Kit materials, displaying five questions about the words, Gratitude, Release, Accept, Challenge, and Embrace, and offering prompts tailored to the community. Additional Grace Trail related events will take place throughout the month, to honor National Mental Health Month. For more information click here.
Wednesday, May 6
Sustainable Plymouth is hosting an Hour of Action for climate advocacy from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Untold Brewing, 2 Loring Ave. No experience is necessary to join like-minded locals to advocate in support of the environment. The topic will be “plug in solar,” an innovative solution that allows residents to install small, standalone solar systems, with no permits or utility interconnection required. Learn together about these systems. Sign up to register here, or simply bring a laptop and show up.
Friday, May 8
The Boston-based group of singers, writers, and musicians who make up Session Americana will be joined by collaborator Kris Delmhorst and perform at the Spire at 8 p.m. The group tours internationally and performs the artists’ original songs as well as many from the American songbook. Tickets for the show are $35.65 and $39.15, and available to purchase here.
“Who She Is,” a film screening and discussion, takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. at Plimoth Cinema in Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. This special screening is presented in recognition of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Month. The documentary highlights the stories of four missing women, with a focus on the humanity behind these stories and the ongoing crisis of violence and disappearances of Native American women on Turtle Island. After the screening, guests may stay for a discussion with Junise Bliss, the founder and CEO of the Sweetgrass Cultural Enrichment Center, a Native-led nonprofit dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, honoring traditional knowledge, and empowering the next seven generations through advocacy and education. Bliss is an enrolled member of the Seaconke Pokanoket Wampanoag. Proceeds from the event will support educational programs like this one. Tickets are $6.24 and can be ordered here.
Saturday, May 9
The Pilgrim Festival Chorus will present its spring concert, “Evening and Morning – Music to Lighten Our Darkness,” at 7:30 p.m. at The Church of the Pilgrimage, 8 Town Square. Artistic directors William B. Richter, conductor, and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly, organ, will lead the chorus. The concert explores themes of illumination and transformation through two works: “Sunrise Mass” by Ola Gjeilo and “Vesperae solennes de confessore” (Solemn Vespers) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Tickets are $25, and $20 for seniors and students over 18. Card to Culture attendees and children 18 and younger are free. Tickets are available here and at the door, subject to availability.
America’s Hometown Garden Club will hold its plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St.
The DPW and Plymouth Recycling Committee’s Swap Shop, 33 Hedges Pond Road, reopens from 9 a.m. to noon, and will operate every Saturday through October. Recycling Committee Chair Ken Stone said anyone can pick up an item they want or drop off items they no longer want or need. The concept behind reuse and recycling helps reduce trash in landfills and saves the town money in tipping fees. The shop accepts numerous household items in working condition, with a drop-off table at the site. To find out more about what the swap shop accepts or rejects, go here.
“Band of Brothers,” a “Supergroup” tribute band to the Allman Brothers, will perform at the Spire at 8 p.m. The band consists of Johnny Trama on guitar, Ryan Taylor on slide guitar, Jesse Williams on bass, Tom Arey on drums, Brendan Tommaney on percussion, and Paul Wolstencroft on keyboards. The brainchild of Boston-based Taylor and Trama, the group aims to bring an exciting experience to each show. Tickets are $36.65 and $39.15, and are available to purchase here.
Sunday, May 10
The Pilgrim Festival Chorus offers another chance to see and hear its spring concert, “Evening and Morning – Music to Lighten Our Darkness,” at 4 p.m. at The Church of the Pilgrimage, 8 Town Square. Tickets are $25, and $20 for seniors and students over 18. Card to Culture attendees and children 18 and younger are free. Tickets are available here and at the door, subject to availability.
Enjoy Mother’s Day at a free, all-day “Grace for Mothers” walk that includes a scavenger hunt for pink hearts on the Plymouth Seaside Grace Trail, along the waterfront at Nelson Memorial Park, 235 Water St. The event is for all women, not only mothers. The trail serves as a permanent, self-guided walking experience featuring five reflection questions placed along the route. The entrance to the trail is located at the north end of the parking lot near the shark-shaped bike rack, and the trail continues along the path, about one mile. To find out more, go here.
Wednesday, May 13
The Plymouth Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 1 p.m. at the Chiltonville Church, 6 River St. Jack Alexander will present the program, titled “A Fresh Look at Lilacs.” Learn how to be choosy about shape, fragrance, hue, and bloom time. Alexander, a former Arnold Arboretum propagator, officially introduced a new lilac cultivar known as Syringa x chinensis, or Lilac Sunday, after requesting the original seed from a list provided by the Chinese Botanical Academy in Beijing. A traditional English Tea will be served at the meeting. Guests are welcome to attend for a $5 fee.
Saturday, May 16
The Plymouth Education Foundation’s fundraiser, gala, and awards ceremony, “Come Fly With Us,” takes “flight” at the Mike Guillian Hangar, 648 Burke’s Way, Gate 6, Hangar SW-2, Plymouth Municipal Airport, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. For more details, see the lead story in this column.
The Plymouth Garden Club will hold its Plant and Garden Sale at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale takes place rain or shine.
The Second Church of Plymouth, 518 State Road, will host its Annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring Memorial Day geraniums, locally grown annuals and perennials, gently used garden accessories, and homemade sandwiches and baked goods. The church, which is the oldest meetinghouse in Plymouth, celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, and has kicked off its Meetinghouse Restoration Project to make renovations to the building. The project includes reinforcement of the 200-year-old sanctuary floor, enhancing the primary meeting space, Trask Hall, which hosts community organizations and houses the food pantry. The project will include restoration of the bell tower, steeple, and the codfish weathervane. The church has planned monthly activities to highlight the church’s history and the Manomet and Plymouth communities. Every third Sunday of each month, there will be a presentation of noteworthy historical events spanning 20-year periods from 1826 to 2026. The church welcomes contributions for its restoration project, which will be accepted here.