New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
This weekend’s weather may be the most ideal weather we’ve had so far this year! Rain, nope? Snow…don’t even go there. Sunshine? Yes. Mild temperatures for the mornings and evenings? Yes. A perfectly pleasant weekend in terms of weather is in store. Now, all you have to do is find perfectly pleasant people to be around and find some fun and interesting things to do! Here are some of the best cherry-picked just for you!
As always, click on the title for more or detailed information on the event. Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar where you can find hundreds of local area events each month. The event calendar is FREE, so if you are a local business, and not taking advantage of FREE publicity, shame on you! Are you a local business and want to sponsor this high traffic, weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details. Have an event to add? Add it here. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!
Friday, August 19th
Second Annual Hollihock Writers Conference (11:00am-7:30pm)
From August 26 to 28, 2016, published authors, educators, and industry professionals from the creative community of New England will come together to write, inspired, educate, and network. Over this three day conference, participants will take part in discussions about the literary world of creative writing, poetry, nonfiction, and more. The conference will offer panels that provide tips on all aspects of writing from finding inspiration to finding an agent. Writers are invited to get their hands dirty in workshops and master classes and will have the opportunity to hear professional writers share their work.
The theme for this year’s event is “What Scares You,” and each keynote speaker will address this topic in their own unique way. Keynote speakers include: Jennifer De Leon, Boston Public Library’s Children’s Writer in Residence; Mary Johnson, author of An Unquenchable Thirst and Christopher Boucher, author of Golden Delicious. UMass Dartmouth’s College of Visual and Performing Arts Center, 715 Purchase Street.
Fall River Grand Prix (1:00pm-8:00pm)
Offshore powerboat racing is possibly the most dangerous and definitely one of the most exciting forms of motorsports racing available today. Watching these ocean going machines race around Mount Hope Bay is nothing short of mesmerizing as the boats fly from wave to wave at speeds approaching 200mph. Borden Light Marina, 1 Ferry St
Fall River.
New Bedford Summer Movie Night (7:00pm)
Mayor Jon Mitchell presents the Summer Movie Night. Bring your own chair or blanket; snacks will be available for purchase. Celebrate summer under the stars! Free family friendly double feature starts at 7:00pm with Disney-Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur. (PG 2015) In this enchanting computer-animated fantasy, set in a world where the dinosaurs never went extinct, an amiable young Apatosaurus named Arlo (voiced by Raymond Ochoa) loses his father in a storm and is swept away by a vicious river current, stranding him in a frightening new place far from his home. He soon embarks on a journey to reunite with his family, and befriends a prehistoric human child known as Spot (Jack Bright) along the way.
Second movie, The Finest Hours, starts at 9:00pm. (PG-13 2016) This docudrama depicts the incredible true story of a daring Coast Guard rescue operation off of Cape Cod during a ferocious storm in the winter of 1952. When an oil tanker splits in half, trapping its crew aboard the sinking vessel, four brave Guardsmen set out to save them.
Saturday, August 20th
Second Annual Hollihock Writers Conference (8:00am-7:30pm)
From August 26 to 28, 2016, published authors, educators, and industry professionals from the creative community of New England will come together to write, inspired, educate, and network. Over this three day conference, participants will take part in discussions about the literary world of creative writing, poetry, nonfiction, and more. The conference will offer panels that provide tips on all aspects of writing from finding inspiration to finding an agent. Writers are invited to get their hands dirty in workshops and master classes and will have the opportunity to hear professional writers share their work.
The theme for this year’s event is “What Scares You,” and each keynote speaker will address this topic in their own unique way. Keynote speakers include: Jennifer De Leon, Boston Public Library’s Children’s Writer in Residence; Mary Johnson, author of An Unquenchable Thirst and Christopher Boucher, author of Golden Delicious. UMass Dartmouth’s College of Visual and Performing Arts Center, 715 Purchase Street.
Onset Beach Yoga (8:30am-9:45am)
Wear comfortable clothing, bring a towel or blanket and water to drink. This Hatha Yoga class is open to all levels of experience, even none. Suggested donation of $10 supports the Onset Summer of Love Concert Series. Shell Point Beach, South Boulevard, Wareham, MA.
Oxford Book Haven & Cafe Book Sale (Fairhaven) (9:00am-1:00pm)
We have a large selection of books–most are 50 cents. We currently have a special section for our DOLLAR- A-BAG-BOOK SALE. Coffee, tea, soda and home-made coffee breads are available. We welcome anyone to join us in working on our puzzle. Computers and WiFi is available to the public. 357 Main Street, Fairhaven.
3rd Annual “Chalk-Full-O-Fun” Onset Street Painting Festival (10:00am-6:00pm)
Join us for our 3rd Annual “Chalk-Full-O-Fun” Onset Street Painting Festival! $5 to enter gets you a box of pastel chalks and a square on the sidewalk surrounding the Lillian Gregerman Bandshell. Prizes given in multiple categories. Live music with Bill Reidy. Art and crafts fair. Story walk for the kids and much more! For more info email onsetstreetpaintfest@yahoo.com. Lillian Gregerman Bandshell, 188 Onset Avenue, Wareham.
Learn to Quahog: Mattapoisett (11:00am-1:00pm)
Learn to harvest your own quahogs. Coalition educators will teach you the basics of local quahogging – what you need, how to do it, and where to go. This will be a fun and educational event for the whole family. We will provide rakes, peck baskets, and some waders for you to use. If you have your own rake, waders, or other quahogging equipment, please feel free to bring it. We suggest you wear clothing and shoes that can get wet and sandy, as we will be wading into the water up to our waists. Additionally, unless you have a shellfish permit for the Town of Mattapoisett, this is a catch-and-release event.
Back to School-Family Fun Day-Monte Playground (11:00am-4:00pm)
Bounce house, popcorn, hotdogs, cotton candy, games, music… All are welcome to set up information tables. Volunteers are needed to help at the playground. Monte Playground, Acushnet Avenue-South End.
Cape Cod Food Truck Festival (12:00pm-6:00pm)
The festival will feature over 25 of New England’s most popular food trucks serving up a variety of fan favorites, including local seafood, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, cupcakes, whoopee pies, and more. The food trucks will be coming from Cape Cod, Boston, Providence and other towns throughout New England. The festival will also feature over 30 craft beers created by regional and national craft breweries! Cape Cod Fairgrounds, 1220 Nathan Ellis Hwy, Falmouth.
Music and Wine: Emily Mills Duo (1:00pm)
Come enjoy free music while enjoying our estate grown wine! Call to see if we have any food vendors onsite, or as always, pack some snacks and enjoy our wine while you listen to free, live local music! Running Brook Vineyards, 335 Old Fall River Rd., North Dartmouth.
Hydes Food Truck Festival Fundraiser (1:00pm-5:00pm)
Do you love food trucks? Come down and support the Volunteer Firefighters of Bristol, RI and a fun filled afternoon with some of the best food trucks around! Enjoy live music and giveaways by a local radio station. There will be several food trucks,live music, and raffles for everyone to enjoy! Admission is only $10 and kids 10 and under are free.. Food will then be available for purchase at each food truck. This event benefits Engine 1 of the Bristol Fire Department with the purchase of new equipment and training material. Food truck line up: Citizen Wing, Open Season, Championship Melt, Friskie Fries, Like No Udder, Del’s Lemonade & Refreshments, Inc., Portu-Galo, Elwood’s Dog House, and more to come! Independence Park, Bristol, RI.
Annual Illumination Night (9:00pm-10:00pm)
Join us on Onset Beach for our Annual Illumination Night! Hundreds of red flares illuminate the entire bay. Live band on Onset Pier! Fire dancer Jessie Stylz will be twirling and whirling for your entertainment. Free, but donations are welcome. Onset Beach, 182 Onset Avenue, Wareham.
Sunday, August 21st
Second Annual Hollihock Writers Conference (8:00am-6:30pm)
From August 26 to 28, 2016, published authors, educators, and industry professionals from the creative community of New England will come together to write, inspired, educate, and network. Over this three day conference, participants will take part in discussions about the literary world of creative writing, poetry, nonfiction, and more. 
The theme for this year’s event is “What Scares You,” and each keynote speaker will address this topic in their own unique way. Keynote speakers include: Jennifer De Leon, Boston Public Library’s Children’s Writer in Residence; Mary Johnson, author of An Unquenchable Thirst and Christopher Boucher, author of Golden Delicious. UMass Dartmouth’s College of Visual and Performing Arts Center, 715 Purchase Street.
New Bedford Wellness Initiative’s Wellness Program For Adults (11:00am-3:00pm)
Free Sunday Wellness Program with lots of great offerings! AC for exercise and yoga. #GetMovingGetHealthyBeWell with us this Sunday at the NB Well program. Great classes and Healthy Futures Farm will be with us. Also check out qigong with Marcia and Steve. Boys & Girls Club of Greater, 166 Jenney St., New Bedford.
Music and Wine: The Dave Charnley Band (1:00pm-5:00m)
Call to see if we have any food vendors onsite, or as always, pack some snacks and enjoy our wine while you listen to free, live local music! Running Brook Vineyards, 335 Old Fall River Rd., North Dartmouth.
