One of the biggest community events of the weekend returns Saturday as the Plymouth Public Library hosts its 7th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival on Saturday, bringing more than 60 juried artisans, more than 5,000 visitors with live music, food trucks and family activities to its front lawn. The festival joins a packed week-long lineup that includes First Fridays, Pilgrim Progress, Tom Rush, Grace Kelly, and a Green Corn Celebration.
As summer begins its gradual turn toward fall, downtown Plymouth’s monthly First Fridays Plymouth celebration offers a chance to spend a summer evening wandering streets filled with music, art, history and local businesses. From 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, galleries, shops, museums and restaurants throughout the downtown district will stay open late, inviting residents and visitors alike to experience Plymouth’s vibrant creative community.
History plays an important role in the evening. The Spooner House, 27 North St., built in 1748, will offer free mini tours, giving visitors a glimpse into more than two centuries of everyday life in Plymouth. The Pilgrim Progress begins its August weekly walk through town at 6 p.m., beginning at the Mayflower Society House, 18 Winslow St. The reenactment recreates the Pilgrims’ walk to worship following their first difficult winter in Plymouth, continuing past Plymouth Rock and up Leyden Street to Burial Hill, where a brief worship service concludes the procession.
Music will spill onto the sidewalks throughout downtown. Folk musician Collette O’Connor performs outside See Plymouth, 4 North St., while Vinyl Lunatic Records, 65 Main St., welcomes the J Place Duo, featuring singer and harmonica player J Place and guitarist Darren King. The pair’s blend of acoustic blues, folk, soul and roots music promises an energetic soundtrack for an evening stroll along Main Street. Printmaker Kat LiBretto, owner of Inky Hands Print Studio, will lead a live community printmaking demonstration from 5 to 8 p.m. in Shirley Square. Visitors are invited to participate in the printing process.
The Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St. will be North Street’s center of activity. Visitors can enjoy live music by the Louise Adams Acoustic Duo, browse the final days of the Center’s popular “Ebb and Flow” exhibition, and explore the New England Watercolor Society’s “Celebrating New England” exhibit. Watercolor artist Tony Visco will demonstrate his painting techniques throughout the evening, while the Center’s recently inaugurated Sculpture Garden offers another opportunity to discover works by regional artists. The Artisan Shop will be open, along with light refreshments and a wine cash bar.
All Good Art, 65 Main St., will host an opening reception for its newest Local Artists Exhibit, with refreshments and a free community art activity, while The Art Shoppe, 84 Court St., Second Floor, will offer complimentary soapstone carving mini classes every half hour for adults and older teens. Visitors can also browse original paintings, handcrafted jewelry and enjoy the shop’s famously generous appetizer spread.
For those looking to unwind, Plymouth Bay Winery, 114 Water St. , celebrates summer with its popular Sunset Sips & Slushies on the Deck, featuring wine tastings, frozen wine slushies, gourmet bites and waterfront views overlooking Plymouth Harbor. Shoppers can browse late-night offerings at House Cat Vintage & Consignment, 1 Main St., while The Black Dog Plymouth, 14 Main St., continues its exclusive sale on select Plymouth apparel.
Whether visitors come for the music, the art, the history or simply the chance to spend a summer evening downtown, First Fridays offers a reminder that some of the town’s richest cultural experiences can be found simply by wandering from one doorway to the next.
Monday, August 3
Plimoth Cinema, 137 Warren Ave., presents “Hadestown: The Musical,” the filmed performance of the Tony Award-winning Broadway production, through Thursday, Aug. 6. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, Hadestown blends American folk music and New Orleans-inspired jazz to retell the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone. The production features the five original principals from the Broadway cast. Screenings are at 4:30 and 7 p.m. daily. Rated UN. For tickets and information, visit plimoth.org.
Plimoth Cinema, 137 Warren Ave, continues screenings of Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of “The Odyssey.” Shot around the world using new IMAX film technology, the film brings Homer’s classic tale to the screen with a cast that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya and Charlize Theron. Screenings once daily at 6 p.m. through Aug. 6. Rated R. For tickets and information, visit plimoth.org.
Tuesday, August 4
Join the virtual talk, Inside Julia Child’s Iconic Kitchen hosted by Plymouth Public Library: Home cooks, food lovers, and Julia Child fans can step inside one of America’s most famous kitchens during a free virtual conversation with Smithsonian curator Paula J. Johnson on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 2 to 3 p.m. The online program explores the lasting legacy of Julia Child through Johnson’s acclaimed book, “Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space.” Johnson will share the stories behind the more than 1,000 objects that make up the beloved culinary workspace. The online program is free; registration is required. Please register here.
Wednesday, August 5
Design a Wildlife-Friendly Garden — Young nature lovers can discover how gardens help birds, butterflies, bees, and other wildlife during a hands-on family program from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Manomet Public Library, 12 Strand Ave. Led by a Mass Audubon educator, children create their own garden dioramas using cardboard, paper, and other craft materials while learning how even small backyard changes can support pollinators and native wildlife. Presented through Mass Audubon’s America the Beautiful Initiative. For information go here.
Book Love, 7 Village Green South, will host Book Talk with Debra Curtis from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Curtis will discuss her debut novel, “Laws of Love and Logic,” published by Jenna Bush Hager’s Thousand Voices imprint. Set in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the novel follows a woman torn between her first love and her devoted husband, exploring whether one heart can truly hold two great loves. Registration is requested. For more information or to register, visit Book Love here.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts continues its intimate Lobby Series with singer-songwriter Lisa Bastoni. Presented by The Antonia and Vladimir Kulaev Cultural Heritage Fund. Bastoni, a multiple New England Music Award and Boston Music Award nominee and winner of the Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk competition, is known for her poetic songwriting and has shared the stage with artists including Lori McKenna, Dar Williams and Regina Spektor. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Spire Center for Performing Arts.
Project Arts’ Summer Concert Series continues at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12 with A Swingin’ Affair at DCR Pilgrim Memorial State Park, 79 Water St. The free waterfront concert celebrates the music of the big band era with an evening of classic swing performed by accomplished vocalists and musicians. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, or a picnic to enjoy the open-air performance overlooking Plymouth Harbor. Metered parking is available nearby. For more information, go here.
Thursday, August 6
Follow the Yellow Brick Road as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch take the stage when Priscilla Beach Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz, Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through August 15th L. Frank Baum’s beloved story comes to life in the classic musical featuring the memorable songs made famous by the 1939 MGM film. Audiences of all ages can journey through the colorful Land of Oz as Dorothy searches for home, discovering friendship, courage, heart, and wisdom along the way. Priscilla Beach Theatre, 800 Rocky Hill Road. For tickets go here.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society continues its Carriage Barn Talk series on at 4 p.m. with “Conservation Cautionary Tales from English Museums,” an illustrated presentation exploring the challenges of preserving historic collections and what museums can learn from conservation successes—and failures—abroad. The lecture takes place at the Hedge House Museum, 126 Water St. Admission is $15, or $12 for members. For tickets and information, go here.
Friday, August 7
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., continues to invite visitors to step into a 17th-century colonial wedding during “The Wedding of Mary Warren and Robert Bartlett,” held Friday through Sunday.Guests can help prepare for the celebration by decorating, cooking, setting tables and making flower crowns, learn traditional dances, and join other hands-on activities throughout the day. At 4 p.m., the wedding ceremony takes place on the Village Green in the museum’s 17th-Century English Village, followed by colonial music, dancing and games. For information go here.
First Fridays Plymouth returns to downtown from 5 to 8 p.m., with galleries, museums, shops and historic sites opening their doors for an evening of art, music and culture. See this week’s lead story for a guide to many of the evening’s featured events. For information, go here.
The historic Spooner House, 27 North St., will open its doors from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors can enjoy free mini tours of the 1749 home while learning how generations of Plymouth families lived over more than two centuries. For more information, visit plymouthantiquarian.org.
The first Pilgrim Progress of the season steps off from the Mayflower Society House, 18 Winslow St., at 6 p.m. Established by the Town of Plymouth in 1921 during the 300th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ landing, the procession recreates the settlers’ walk to worship after their first devastating winter. Visitors are invited to follow the costumed procession past Plymouth Rock and up Leyden Street to Burial Hill, where a brief worship service concludes one of Plymouth’s oldest and most cherished living traditions. For more information go here.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court St., presents The Music of The Beach Boys featuring Pet Sounds Live at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). More than a tribute concert, Pet Sounds Live recreates the landmark 1966 album that transformed rock music while weaving in narration, multimedia and behind-the-scenes stories from the recording sessions. The evening also features Beach Boys favorites including “California Girls,” “Surfin’ USA,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda” and “Good Vibrations.” For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Spire Center for Performing Arts.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road continues as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch take the stage when Priscilla Beach Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz, Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through August 15th L. Priscilla Beach Theatre, 800 Rocky Hill Road. For tickets go here.
Saturday, August 8
The Plymouth Public Library’s front lawn, 132 South St., will be transformed into an outdoor marketplace during the 7th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. One of the community’s largest annual arts events, the rain-or-shine festival draws thousands of visitors each year and features more than 60 juried artisans from across the South Shore offering handcrafted artwork, jewelry, ceramics, woodworking, textiles and other unique creations. The day also includes food trucks, live music, family activities, face painting, a LEGO exhibition, a used book sale, an art sale and a silent auction, with proceeds supporting the Plymouth Public Library’s cultural, artistic and educational programs. Complimentary shuttle service will run throughout the day between the Center for Active Living and the library, with additional parking available at several nearby locations. Drawing more than 5,000 visitors each year, the free festival has become one of the community’s signature summer events. For more information, including a list of participating vendors, go here.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., continues to invite visitors to step into a 17th-century colonial wedding during “The Wedding of Mary Warren and Robert Bartlett,” held Friday through Sunday. At 4 p.m., the wedding ceremony takes place on the Village Green in the museum’s 17th-Century English Village, followed by colonial music, dancing and games. For information go here.
For thousands of years, corn has served as a foundational pillar to the lifeways and spirituality of indigenous people, culminating in a Green Corn Celebration at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave,from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the Wampanoag, Weeâchumun (corn) holds deep ceremonial and seasonal importance, with its life stages honored throughout the year beginning in spring and culminating in the fall. In southern New England, the Green Corn moon in August marked a time of gratitude for a successful crop and hope for a bountiful harvest to come. Join the Historic Patuxet Homesite staff as they preserve these traditions. Educators will share hands-on activities, foodways, and storytelling. Access to all Green Corn Celebration events is included with admission to Plimoth Patuxet Museums. For information go here.
Jazz saxophonist, vocalist and composer Grace Kelly returns to the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., for two performances at 5 and 8 p.m. (doors open one hour before each show). An internationally acclaimed performer, Kelly has released 15 albums, performed at the Hollywood Bowl and served as a member of the band for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” For tickets and information, go here.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road continues as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch take the stage when Priscilla Beach Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz, Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Aug. 15. Priscilla Beach Theatre, 800 Rocky Hill Road. For tickets go here.
ResisDance is a free underground dance music event for the public, created to build community, bring cutting edge entertainment to the area, and showcase Plymouth’s natural beauty and public spaces. 7 – 9 p.m., Stephens Field, 126 Sandwich St.
Sunday, August 9
Follow the Yellow Brick Road continues — Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch take the stage when Priscilla Beach Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz, 2 p.m. at Priscilla Beach Theatre, 800 Rocky Hill Road. For tickets go here.
Folk music legend Tom Rush will perform at the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3 p.m.) A pioneering figure in the American folk revival, Rush helped launch the careers of generations of singer-songwriters and is known for classics including “No Regrets,” “Circle Game” and “Remember Song.” He will be accompanied by Brendan Cleary. For tickets and information, go here.
Wednesday, August 12
Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. will host a Tiny Clay Pilgrim House Workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Led by one of the museum’s potters, the adults-only workshop invites participants to create a miniature clay house modeled after the simple homes built by the Pilgrims in 1620. Using a guided pattern while adding their own creative details, participants will craft a keepsake that can later be used as an incense burner. After the workshop, each piece will be dried, fired, glazed and fired again, with finished houses available for pickup approximately four weeks later. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit plimoth.org.