Summer may be winding down, but this weekend there are plenty of reasons to get out and savor the season while it’s still in full swing. This Saturday, Aug. 29, the waterfront will be filled with antiques, arts and crafts, classic cars, live music, food, history — and even a ducky race — from two festivals along Water Street and a freebie celebration at Pilgrim Hall. From contemporary artisans and vintage treasures to centuries-old artifacts, Plymouth residents and visitors can enjoy the festivities, all within a short stroll.
The Plymouth Waterfront Festival will take over Water Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting at 130 Water St., bringing more than 230 arts and crafts exhibitors to the waterfront, along with food vendors, live entertainment and local nonprofit organizations.
Festivities include the popular Ducky Dash Race at 4 p.m. at Brewster Gardens, where 1400 rubber duckies will be released at Town Brook. A Kids Discovery Zone at Brewster Gardens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with martial arts, K9 demos, mini-golf and a young entrepreneurs marketplace make this a day of fun for the whole family. Live music abounds all day long, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Sam Luke Chase Trio, Jonny Bass Band, Vinyl Revival, DJ Buttah, Cold Start, The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, Carlin Tripp & Billy Thompson. The Rebels & Rods Cruise-in Car Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rendering the waterfront an all-day destination. Admission is free. For event and parking information go here.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society will turn the lawn of the historic Hedge House, 126 Water St., into an old-fashioned marketplace for its annual Summer Fair, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors will offer antiques and vintage finds beneath a tent on the Hedge House lawn, including timeless treasures, antique furnishings, classic vintage clothing, curated vintage and second-hand books, one-of-a-kind vintage-inspired jewelry, vintage records, and more. Participate in a featured raffle, live music, a beer garden and tours of the historic 1809 Federal-style mansion. The rain-or-shine event is free for browsers, with an admission fee for Hedge House tours. Proceeds benefit the Antiquarian Society and its work preserving and sharing Plymouth’s history. For information go here.
A few blocks away, another piece of Plymouth history will be celebrating as Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St., opens its doors free of charge from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The August Adventures & Birthday Celebration – Free Admission All Day, the Highland Street Foundation’s annual program, provides free access to cultural institutions across Massachusetts. The timing is especially fitting because the event coincides with Pilgrim Hall Museum’s Birthday Weekend. Founded in 1824, Pilgrim Hall visitors can explore its collection of Pilgrim possessions and artifacts and learn about the people and events that shaped Plymouth’s early history. Newfield House is supporting the festivities with birthday cupcakes, historical demonstrations and activities. For information, go here.
Monday, August 24
The much-anticipatedfilm Tony will be showing at Plimoth Cinema, 137 Warren Ave. this week. The film follows a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain as he travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, beginning a summer that will shape the course of his life. Part of the movie was filmed in Plymouth. The R-rated film runs 106 minutes and is showing at 4:30 and 7 p.m. in the Linn Theater. For more information or tickets, visit plimoth.org.
The Rivals of Amziah King is showing at Plimoth Cinema, 137 Warren Ave this week. The film centers on Amziah King, an Oklahoma beekeeper and bluegrass musician who reconnects with his former foster daughter, Kateri, only to find the family business threatened by beekeeping rivals. The R-rated film runs 131 minutes and is showing at 4:30 and 7 p.m. For more information or tickets, go here.
Wednesday, August 26
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., welcomes blues guitarist and singer Sue Foley, with special guest Rory Block, at 8 p.m. The evening brings together two acclaimed women of the blues: Foley, known for her fiery guitar work and Texas-influenced sound, and Block, an award-winning acoustic blues guitarist and longtime interpreter of traditional country blues. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $44.65 to $49.15. For more information or tickets, visit spirecenter.org.
Project Arts’ Summer Concert Series continues at 6:30 p.m. with Six Fox Whiskey with Gail McDonough opening. The free waterfront concert, at 79 Water St., 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 27
Book Love, 7 Village Green South, will host Poetry Night with the Good Harbor Poets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The evening features members of the Massachusetts writing collective whose recent and forthcoming collections are being celebrated at readings around the state. Participating poets include K.T. Landon, Kali Lightfoot, Rebecca Hart Olander and Carla Panciera, whose work spans award-winning and critically recognized collections from Ashland Poetry Press, Moon Pie Press, CavanKerry Press and Bordighera Press. For more information, visit book-love.com.
Shop fresh, local and seasonal at the Plymouth Farmers Market, where area farmers, bakers, food producers and artisans gather to offer everything from just-picked produce and flowers to baked goods, meats, seafood, honey and handcrafted products. The weekly market is a favorite summer tradition, giving residents an opportunity to support local growers while enjoying a lively community atmosphere. The market is open from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. For information go here.
Thursday, Aug. 27
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., welcomes Rhode Island indie pop singer-songwriter Lainey Dionne as part of its intimate Spire Lobby Series at 7:30 p.m. A Berklee College of Music graduate and New England Music Awards Songwriter of the Year, Dionne has had her music featured on television and streaming programs including “Love Is Blind” and “The Kardashians” and has opened for acts including The Head and the Heart. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $17.15. For more information or tickets, visit spirecenter.org.
Friday, August 28
The Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., hosts Mushroom Talk! from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Fehlow Meeting Room. Jonathan Kranz leads an entertaining exploration of the “fungus among us,” including how to identify mushrooms using sight, scent and surroundings; which varieties are safe to eat; how to recognize dangerous toxic mushrooms found in the region; and the important roles fungi play in local habitats. The program is geared toward adults. For more information, visit plymouthpubliclibrary.org.
Wildlands Trust, 675 Long Pond Rd., hosts Full Moon Yoga & Hike from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Davis-Douglas Conservation Area. Led by Grace Junek, the evening begins with an hour of yoga in the setting sun, followed by a two-mile hike through the forest by moonlight. The hike covers steep, rooted, rocky and pine-needle-covered terrain and is not recommended for beginner hikers. Participants should bring a headlamp or good flashlight and wear appropriate hiking footwear. For more information and registration, visit wildlandstrust.org.
The final Pilgrim Progress steps off at 6 p.m. from the Mayflower Society House, 4 Winslow St. Costumed participants representing the surviving members of Plymouth Colony following the winter of 1621 recreate the Pilgrims’ Sabbath procession to worship, assembling to the beat of a drum before proceeding down North Street, along the waterfront and toward Burial Hill. The historical reenactment is free to watch. For more information, visit seeplymouth.com.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., turns back the clock with Time in a Bottle: Songs of the ’70s with Swearingen & Kelli at 8 p.m. Nashville-based duo AJ Swearingen and Jayne Kelli, joined by tenor Jonathan Beedle, celebrate the singer-songwriters who defined the decade, with music associated with Jim Croce, Carole King, John Denver, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young and others. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.65 to $39.15. For more information or tickets, visit spirecenter.org.
Saturday, August 29
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society holds its annual old-fashioned Summer Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the lawn of the historic Hedge House, 126 Water St. Shop antiques and vintage finds from professional vendors, along with raffles, Hedge House tours, a beer garden and live music. The fair takes place under a tent and will be held rain or shine. Proceeds support the society’s work to preserve and share Plymouth’s history. For more information, go here.
Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St., offers free admission from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as part of August Adventures, a statewide program supported by the Highland Street Foundation. The day also falls during Pilgrim Hall Museum’s Birthday Weekend, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the museum. For more information, see the lead story or go here.
The Plymouth Waterfront Festival takes over Water Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The annual festival features more than 230 arts and crafts exhibitors, live entertainment, local nonprofit organizations, food vendors, the Ducky Dash race and the Rebels & Rods Car Show. Admission to the festival is free. For more information, see the lead story or go here.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., welcomes Improv Asylum at 8 p.m. The Boston comedy institution brings its signature fast-paced show to the Spire, with performers creating unscripted scenes, characters and songs on the spot using suggestions from the audience. With audience participation driving the action, no two performances are ever quite the same. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.65 to $39.15. For more information or tickets, visit spirecenter.org.
Sunday, August 30
Book Love, 7 Village Green South, will host an Author Signing with Kathleen Ready Dayan from 1 to 2 p.m. on the Pinehills Village Green. A former attorney, Dayan turned to writing following a personal spiritual journey and now writes novels inspired by spiritual principles and her experiences communicating with those who have died. For more information, visit book-love.com.
The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 1/2 Court St., presents Branden & James: Summer Nights on Broadway at 3 p.m. as part of its Sunday Serenades series. The duo brings its blend of vocals, cello and theatrical flair to an afternoon celebrating memorable music from Broadway and beyond. Doors open at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35.50 to $39. For more information or tickets, visit spirecenter.org.