New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
When April vacation arrives, the children are thrilled to have time off from school, yet parents find themselves scrambling for activities to give them something new to do. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the New Bedford Whaling Museum have partnered to offer a week of fun, family-friendly children’s activities during the week of April vacation.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will feature an afternoon of free activities from 1-4 pm on Wednesday, April 18. All activities will be ongoing from 1-4 pm, and take place at the national park visitor center at 33 William St. in downtown New Bedford. Try your hand at playing croquet on the lawn with Ruth & Abby, the 1850s ladies. Look for interesting landmarks in the park’s scavenger hunt and see how many you can find! Celebrate Earth Day by making paper bead jewelry from recycled paper. Play carnival games, such as bean bag toss and Pin the Badge on the Ranger! Watch the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP!) videos, Get Outside and My Backyard series. Pick up a free copy of Burn While You Learn, the park’s map to explore history while you get outside and get some exercise.
Park partner, the New Bedford Whaling Museum kicks off the week with Right Whale Day on Monday, April 16 (10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.), with several free kids’ activities, a “whale cake,” and the film “Ocean Frontiers.” Museum activities continue through Friday, and include: Tour Below Lagoda’s Decks (Tues., Fri., 10-1); Moby-Dick Highlights Tour (Tues., 11-noon); Free Maritime Arts & Crafts (Wed., 10-noon); Free Sailors’ Valentines (Thurs., 10-noon); and All Aboard The Lagoda Tour (Fri., 9:30-10:30). Museum admission applies to tours. Cape Verdean weaving, beadwork, and shell art demonstrations, Tues.-Fri. 10-2. In celebration of the Town of Fairhaven’s Bicentennial, Fairhaven residents receive free admission to the museum, April 15-21 (proof of residency required).
