You’re invited to submit a listing for this column: It’s easy. Email your information to listings@plymouthindependent.org at least 10 days in advance. A good quality photo without type on the image – sent as a jpeg attachment – helps.
Anne Jolles will speak at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and then lead a guided walk of the Plymouth Seaside Grace Trail – just off the Nelson Memorial Park parking lot,235 Water St. – at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 12. The event is free and open to the public and will happen rain or shine.
Jolles created the concept for the one-mile Grace Trail – which is part of the North Plymouth Rail Trail and runs along Plymouth Harbor – after struggling with a difficult time in her life. She said May is “Grace Trail Month.” Although Plymouth’s was the first, there are now more than 40 licensed Grace Trails across the country.
“The trail is a mental health resource woven into the landscape,” Jolles said. Appropriately, May is also Mental Health Awareness Month.
The word “grace” came to her in 2012, when a lot was going in Jolles’s life. Her parents were dying, her son was in Afghanistan, and Jolles said she had “lost her bounce.” (Her son made it home from the war.)
She found herself thinking about needing to find a state of grace. She used the word’s five letters to represent a path to resilience: Gratitude, Release, Accept, Challenge, and Embrace.
She also was inspired by stories of veterans hiking the Appalachian Trail to “walk off the war.” She wanted a way to walk off her own war.
So Jolles and her husband began to take walks, asking and answering questions suggested by the five words. What am I grateful for? What do I need to release? What do I need to accept? What is my next challenge? What can I embrace?
Jolles started putting smaller stones, with words written in marker, along the trail. In 2024, she received permission to place 300-pound boulders donated by local businesses. The stones were installed by the town. People can stop at the stones – each engraved with one of the five questions – and simply contemplate.
Jolles calls the trail a “gift from the universe.” She has also written a book, “Grace Trail,” and presented a TEDx talk about the hope she discovered through this simple method.
“I’ve been graced with this whole process,” she said.
Monday, May 5
“Secret Mall Apartment” screens at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums,137 Warren Ave. The documentary film is a about eight young Rhode Island artists who created a secret 750-square-foot apartment inside the busy Providence Place mall, and went undetected for four years, filming most everything along the way. “The Trouble with Jessica,” a dark comedy about a couple who finally find a buyer for their London home – and then trouble ensues. Both films continue at least through Thursday, May 8. 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.
Tuesday, May 6
State Representative Michelle Badger will hold community office hours from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Cedarville fire station, 2209 State Road. Badger invites constituents to attend to discuss local concerns, state issues, or simply to connect. No appointments are necessary.
Join a book talk with New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer on her latest book, “Summer Light on Nantucket,” from 6 to 7 p.m. at Book Love, 7 Village Green South in the Pinehills. Thayer will share about her writing process, the inspiration for her new novel, and her affection for the island of Nantucket. Tickets are $6.76 and available here.
Wednesday, May 7
Narcan training for teens will be held at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., at 11:45 a.m. This is an educational event geared toward teens, in partnership with the Plymouth Schools, Plymouth COPE Center, and Hardcore Connections. For more information, contact Maureen Coleman at 508-830-4250, ext. 230, or email her at mcoleman@plymouth.ocln.org.
Thursday, May 8
The All Worn Out Jug Band will perform in the Fehlow Meeting Room at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. from 4 to 5:15 p.m. The band celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and will present a retrospective on their interpretation of jug band classics, in the style of Jim Kweskin. The set list will include classics from artists like Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams. All ages are welcome. Registration is required, and you can do that here.
Friday, May 9
The Center for Active Living and Braver Angels will sponsor a debate on affordable housing, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Fehlow Meeting Room at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. Plymouth resident Rick Frazier will chair the debate. Come to learn, listen, ask questions, or share your thoughts on affordable housing in Plymouth. Registration is appreciated but not required. To register or for more information, contact Frazier at rfrazier@braverangels.org.
Darrell Scott, a Grammy-nominated storyteller and bluegrass legend, will be at the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Scott has written hit songs across genres for multiple artists. He was honored with the 2007 Song of the Year Award from the Americana Music Association for his song “Hank Williams’s Ghost.” He recently toured with Robert Plant and Zac Brown Band and produced albums for Malcolm Holcombe and Guy Clark. Tickets are $40.50 and $45, and you can buy them here.
Saturday, May 10
Bikes & Brews, a free event hosted by Old Colony Planning Council in partnership with Untold Brewing, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event starts at the brewery at 2 Loring Blvd., and aims to promote biking as a healthy, sustainable activity. Riders can choose from three routes designed for different levels of cycling. At the end of the ride, enjoy craft beers or other beverages from Untold Brewing, along with food from Jefe’s Food Truck. Members of the UB Cycling Club will provide guidance, and Serious Cycles will help with riders’ bikes. For more information and to register, go here.
Band of Brothers, an Allman Brothers tribute band, will perform at the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. The ensemble aims to deliver the Allman Brothers tradition for a unique experience every night. The band is the brainchild of Boston guitarists Ryan Taylor and Johnny Trama, and features Jesse Williams on bass, Tom Arey on drums, Brendan Tommaney on percussion, and Paul Wolstencroft on keyboards. Tickets are $31.50 and $35, and you can buy them here.
Sunday, May 11
A Mother’s Day Brunch will be offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1620 Winery, 55 Loring Blvd. in the winery’s rustic, elegant ballroom. The brunch will feature live music by Little Miss & the Boom, along with the menu and cocktails. Chicken fingers and fries will be provided for children under 12, and kids’ tickets are $10. The ticket price of $55 for adults includes one mimosa per person along with the menu. Buy tickets here.
There will be a free Red Glass Heart Scavenger Hunt at the Plymouth Seaside Grace Trail, 235 Water St., all day long in honor of Mother’s Day. Red glass hearts will be hidden along the trail, and according to Grace Trail creator, Anne Jolles, “anyone who is mothering another living thing is welcome to join the fun.” For more information on this free event, contact anne@gracetrail.com.
Monday, May 12
Sergei Novikov will return to the Fehlow Meeting Room in Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., for a performance from 7 to 8:15 p.m. A Russian immigrant who moved to the United States at age 21, Novikov has become a major force in contemporary composing. From Tchaikovsky to “Phantom of the Opera,” and from Duke Ellington to Billy Joel, the music will have something for everyone, presented with a sense of humor. Registration is required, and you can do so here.
The ribbon cutting ceremony and a guided Grace Trail walk will start at 1 p.m. at the Nelson Memorial Park parking lot, 235 Water St. See the lead item in this column for more details.
Tuesday, May 13
State Representative Michelle Badger welcomes constituents to attend office hours from 6 to 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the Atlantic Room, on the fourth floor. This session will include joint office hours with Representative Kathy LaNatra. No appointments are necessary.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society will host a “Historic Clothing Parlor Talk” at 2 p.m. at the Hedge House Museum, 126 Water St. The talk is part of a series highlighting pieces from the society’s historic clothing collection, which is undergoing conservation work this year. The discussion will explore examples of the styles and fabrics of the late 18th century, revealing how fashion reflected social status and the daily challenges of life during the Revolutionary Era. The cost is $10 per person, or $5 for members. You can get tickets here, and members can get a discount code by contacting info@plymouthantiquarian.org if they are purchasing online. You can also make a check payable to Plymouth Antiquarian Society (or PAS) and mail it to: Plymouth Antiquarian Society, P.O. Box 3773, Plymouth, MA, 02361.
Wednesday, May 14
Mike Paduch, the owner of Crystal Lake Greenhouses in Plymouth and Carver, will speak at the Plymouth Garden Club’s monthly meeting at 1 p.m., at the Chiltonville Congregational Church, 6 River St. Paduch will discuss his passion for growing and caring for begonias. He will also bring a variety of annuals to the meeting. Paduch holds a degree in horticulture from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass Amherst and has been growing plants for his family business for 50 years. A traditional English tea will be served after the program. Guests are welcome for a $5 fee.
The last lecture in a series titled “Plymouth in the Revolution” will take place in the Fehlow Meeting Room at Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 7 to 8 p.m. Donna Curtin, executive director of the Pilgrim Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum, will discuss “Dr. James Thacher and Plymouth’s Revolutionary Generation.” Army surgeon James Thacher, of Barnstable, opened a medical practice in Plymouth after the war. He and others from the Revolutionary generation helped reshape Plymouth’s historic landscape.
Thursday, May 15
State Representative Michelle Badger will hold community office hours from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Center for Active Living, 44 Nook Road. This event will be include joint office hours with Representative Kathy LaNatra. All constituents are welcome to discuss local concerns, state issues, or simply to connect.
Jen Kearney, a singerwhose original sound is a combination of Soul, R&B, Funk, Rock, and Latin,will perform on the main stage at the Spire at 7:30, with doors opening at 6:30. She has performed as a solo act and with a full band, and released a four-song EP in 2022 titled “Atlantic.” Tickets are $15, and you can buy them here.
Saturday, May 17
Inebri-Arts, in partnership with Plymouth Pride, will hold their arts and crafts fair on the Town Green from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be original art and crafts made by local creators for sale, as well as live music. Artists or performers interested in securing a spot should reach out to inebriart@yahoo.com.
The Plymouth Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. There will be a selection of native plants, shrubs, perennials, and herbs. There will also be a bake sale and a boutique table. This sale helps fund three $1,500 scholarships that will go to three graduates enrolled in a course relevant to the club from each local high school: Plymouth North High School, Plymouth South High School, and Rising Tide Charter School. The funds also support many other projects and activities carried out by the club.
Local guitar legend Duke Robillard will perform at the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Robillard founded the jump blues band Roomful of Blues in the late ‘60s with Al Copley. After a dozen years, he moved on to work with other artists and bands, including his Duke Robillard Band in the ‘80s and The Fabulous Thunderbirds after that. Tickets are $28.80 and $32, and you can buy them here.