New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
It is going to be blazing hot this weekend! Mid-summer has brought a heat wave to New Bedford, with a National Weather Service alert for excessive heat on Friday with sun and a heat index of 98°F. According to weather.com, the air should cool slightly Saturday, but it will still be hot at 94°F. Sunday should bring a bit of relief with a prediction of partly cloudy skies and 83°F.
This weekend, definitely check out one or some of the many opportunities in the area to listen to local music, celebrate nightlife, enjoy the arts, benefit a good cause, avoid the heat, or support the zoos in our area. As always, most events discussed here are from LocalOracle. To have your events promoted for FREE, submit them HERE. If you need directions, simply click on the event name for contact info and directions.
FRIDAY, JULY 22
On Friday, protect yourself from the scorching temperature by staying hydrated and cool! Avoid the risk of suffering a heat disorder by keeping your body temperature down. Drink water, or replenish electrolytes lost from sweating by drinking Gatorade or Coconut Water. Find a pool, hit the beach, or run through the hose – do anything you can to protect yourself from over-heating.
New Bedford has prepared for the expected heat by making accommodations throughout the area for heat relief. The City of New Bedford Department of Emergency will be providing heat relief shelters throughout New Bedford, at the five libraries and five senior centers. From New Bedford Guide: “Due to the unseasonably hot weather conditions forecast by the National Weather Service for the greater New Bedford area, the City of New Bedford Department of Emergency Management has designated several city buildings as cooling centers.”
Another step the City of New Bedford has taken, is joining forces with the SRTA services to provide free bus transportation to all riders. The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority will offer free busing from noon today until final rides Friday at approximately 6 p.m. For more information, check here. For a list of locations to find reprieve from the heat, as well as additional ways to stay safe and avoid a heat related disease, check here.
Want to enjoy an evening outdoors? After temperatures have cooled into the evening, head into Rhode Island to the Roger Williams Park Zoo (1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence) for their ZooARTyssey. From Roger Williams Park Zoo: “Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you journey through Roger Williams Park Zoo on a summer evening during the magical sunset hours and discover enchanting and engaging living art characters created by Rhode Island’s renowned performance artists, TEN31 Productions. Enjoy the living art as well as all the animals on exhibit and live music. Delicious food and an array of beverages including beer and wine will also be available for purchase.” Tickets are $15 for Adults, and $10 for Children and Seniors. The event is from 6pm-9pm. Check here for more information.
There are many opportunities to experience live, local music Friday night. For music and a meal, head over to the Airport Grille (1569 Airport Rd.) to enjoy live jazz and rock by Greg Lee Ensemble, featuring Dave Richards, Mark C. Hadden, and Greg Motta, from 8pm-11pm. J. Kelley Band will be in Fairhaven, at Down the Hatch (56 Goulart Memorial Dr., Fairhaven) – a great outdoor bar located at Earl’s Marina on West Island – playing from 8pm-11pm. Ebony Keys featuring Michelle Hill will be playing at Candleworks Restaurant (72 N. Water St.) at 9:30pm. Get a drink at Pour Farm (780 Purchase St.) and enjoy live music from the Slow Burning Nuggets, at 10pm.
For more events, check HERE.
SATURDAY, JULY 23
Spend the day at the beach, making the most of the continued heat and hot weather! Horseneck Beach (5 John Reed Rd., Wesport) is one of the most popular beaches in the area and is part of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Day passes are $7/car or season passes are $35 for Massachusetts Residents. Bring a beach umbrella, a cooler stocked with waters, and enjoy the weather in true South Coast style. Wear SPF and stay hydrated!
Saturday nights brings the long-awaited and much-anticipated Wild Night at the Zoo, at Buttonwood Park Zoo (425 Hawthorn St.). This is the zoo’s 16th annual fundraising gala event and is a wonderful opportunity to experience Buttonwood Park Zoo in a new way. From New Bedford Guide: “This is the perfect opportunity to experience the zoo from a different perspective, as it becomes transformed into a ‘Wild Night at the Zoo’ with an open bar, dinner buffet, live and silent auction, as well as music! The Annual Fundraising Gala also brings an exclusive chance to meet the Buttonwood Park Zoo’s Asian elephants Ruth and Emily. Ruthy’s 25th Anniversary at the Zoo makes this year’s gala all that more special and celebratory!”
Tickets are $100/person, and are available now on pre-sale; tickets will cost $125/person at the door. Tickets are available for purchase here. Proceeds of the gala directly benefit the educational and conservation mission of the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society – which is directly responsible for the care of the animals at the zoo. From Buttonwood Park Zoo: “The mission of the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society (BPZS) is to support the Buttonwood Park Zoo so that the Zoo will be a significant contributor to the conservation of nature both at home and throughout the world. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.” Get dressed up and spend the night supporting an important local establishment and attraction. Don’t miss out on this amazing evening at the zoo!
For Saturday nightlife, don’t miss Daddy-O Band at Ice Chest Bar and Grille (136 Huttleston Ave., Fairhaven) at 9pm. Enjoy a bite from the new extended menu at No Problemo (813 Purchase St.) and stick around to listen to Cedros Highlites and the Riot after 10pm. Dance the night away to music by DJ A Tom Called Cooney at Rose Alley Ale House (94 Front St.) at 9:30pm.
For more events, check HERE.
SUNDAY, JULY 24
Start the morning with some exercise and go for a walk at Fort Taber Park. Fort Taber is located on Clark’s Point at New Bedford’s southern-most tip. Enjoy beautiful views of Buzzards Bay and the Elizabeth Islands while walking and exploring the Fort’s site. The park has a fishing pier, a playground for children, a small museum, and plenty of sidewalks and paths for walking, running, or bike riding. The park is open from dawn until dusk and is the perfect place to enjoy a beautiful day outside.
Enjoy a late brunch or lunch date at Cork Wine and Tapas (90 Front St.) or Dog Day Sundays with your BFF (best furry friend) at Hibernia Irish Pub (109 William St.). Kenny Richards will be on acoustic guitar in the evening at Rose Alley Ale House (94 Front St.), from 6pm-9pm. Or show up for Sunday Night Jam Session at Pour Farm (780 Purchase St); starting at 7pm and hosted by local musician Matt Antunes. Support independent, local musicians who are looking to get their music out to you! Want to jam? Give Matt a shout at straightlacedproductions@comcast.net.
Do something different this Sunday evening and support local athletics by attending a home game at Paul Walsh Field (230 Hathaway Rd.) to watch and cheer on the New Bedford Bay Sox. The Bay Sox are up against the Sanford Mariners at Sunday’s home game, starting at 6L30pm. To order tickets, check here. For more information on the New Bedford Bay Sox, or to check their summer schedule, check here.
For more events, check HERE.
Have a lovely weekend. Stay cool!
