Fun Freebies this Week
With the summer now coming to a close, this will be the last weekly posting for the Fun Freebies segment this year. I hope you have enjoyed the weekly feature and were able to take advantage of some of the many events that were listed here.
Maine Residents
Gov. Paul LePage has signed a financial order that grants Maine residents free day use of most state parks and historic sites. The program will be running through Labor Day. Maine State Parks and Historic Sites have experienced record-breaking attendance in recent years,” LePage said in a statement. “Our park staff have worked very hard to enhance the visitor experience with new offerings, year-round events and educational programs for all ages. Public support has never been higher. This is our way of saying thank you to the Maine people.” The fee for entrance into state parks in Maine ranges from $3-$6 for an adult. The fee for children between the ages of 5-11 is $1 everywhere. Children under the age of 5 can get in for free. Day use is defined as 9 a.m. until closing, which is sunset at most locations. The fee holiday does not apply to overnight camping, which is offered at many parks.
Gloucester Schooner Festival Friday-Sunday Gloucester Ma
Maritime Gloucester will be pulling out all the stops this weekend with its annual Schooner Festival. The festivities start Friday, with the arrival of the ships. Later in the evening, the monthly Gloucester Block Party will be sure to get the show going.
On Saturday, the annual Heritage Day Festival begins. Over 25 artisan vendors and community organizations will be set up along Schooner Way and down Webster Pier with demonstrations and family activities. From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, there will be a festive hub of traditional crafters, expert seafood demonstrations, foot stomping music with Old Cold Tater, impossible magic, schooner sails, and fun-filled family activities on the Harbor Loop. Schooners will be docked at Maritime Gloucester's Webster Pier with others throughout the city.
The annual Boat Parade of Lights begins later in the day on the Annisquam River and travels down the river and into Gloucester Harbor with a fireworks show at the end of the evening Sunday will feature a parade of sail and the Mayor’s Race.
Camden Windjammer Festival Friday-Sunday Camden Me
The Camden Windjammer Festival provides visitors with a unique opportunity to see most of the Midcoast fleet from the comfort of a bench at the Camden Public Landing. Celebrate Camden’s maritime heritage and living traditions from the great age of sail when coasting schooners were launched in the harbor. The Maritime Heritage Fair will feature booths and displays of maritime history, traditions and crafts. There will also be games, live music and fireworks to keep the visitors entertained.
Newburyport Riverfront Music Festival Saturday Newburyport Ma
This Saturday, “The River 92.5” will hold its annual Riverfront Music Festival in Newburyport Ma. Barenaked Ladies will be the Headliner for this years show. There will also be an additional three bands that will be performing at the Festival. Guests are encouraged to get there early for this huge end of the summer event. Don’t forget your beach blankets & chairs for a great day of live music!
Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival Saturday and Sunday, Plymouth Notch Vt
The annual Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival will take place at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. Stars from Vermont and nationally known musicians team up for a lively two-day festival of folk and blues music performed in the pure country air of historic Plymouth Notch. Please help support the food drive for the Vermont Food Bank by also bringing non-perishable food items to the concerts.
for the entire family and an appreciation for Chinese culture.
Bread and Roses Festival Monday Lawrence Ma
Enjoy performances from a wide range of genres, including American Folk, Jazz, Blues, Latin Rock, Merengue, Salsa, Celtic, Klezmer, Honk, Hip-Hop, Spoken Word, and much more.
There will also be FREE 50 minute Trolley Tour of the historic mill town of Lawrence. The tour departs from City Hall every 30 minutes starting at 12:00pm, with the last trolley leaving at 4:00pm. Get your TICKETS in advance at the Friends of Lawrence Heritage State Park tent. (these fill up quickly).
National Museum Day is next month on September 22nd. There are many museums all over the Northeast and over 1250 in the Country that participate in this program. The Smithsonian Museum will send you free tickets to visit the museum of your choice. To receive your free Museum Day ticket, enter your information into the request link provided here and send it to The Smithsonian Museum . Your Ticket will then be emailed back to you. You must print your ticket and present it at the facility you will be visiting to receive your free admission.
There are also many Cities and Towns that offer free weekly live music shows with a wide variety of different musical styles available. You can also find a lot of car shows in many areas here on the web site as well. Those event's can be found on the Good Diggin Free Weekly Town Concert listings or the Car Show page.
In addition, many museums throughout New England offer free admission during specified days of the week. You can find a large listing of them here in the Good Diggin Museum Listing page.
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