New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park offers free Summer Programming

The summer of 2016 promises to be an engaging and activity-filled at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The park announces its summer programming, with highlights including walking tours, garden talks, living history, Thursday evening concerts, and special events such as AHA! Nights Dock-U-Mentaries film series. All of the park’s activities are free of charge.

New Bedford has a long and fascinating history, filled with stories of whalemen going to sea for years a time, wives left to run businesses, escaped slaves seeking freedom, and a connection to the sea that spans centuries. The public is invited to explore this history through free guided tours, offered on seven days a week from May 28 through September 5. The tours will be offered 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM. Tours leave from New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s visitor center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. In addition to the tours, this year the park will offer ten-minute talks on topics related to the whaling industry twice a day, at 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM, from May 28 through September 5.

The ever-popular Thursday evening garden concert series will be back starting July 14, with weekly concerts continuing July 28-August 25, with all concerts starting at 6:30 PM. The series features music for children, Cajun and zydeco, sea chanties, world music, Cape Verdean music and Native American singers. In case of inclement weather, the concerts will take place in the park’s theater.

Ruth and Abby, the park’s 1850s ladies, will be offering a number of programs, including Friday picnic in the garden, lawn games. In addition, Ruth and Abby will hosting special events on AHA! Nights, on June 9, July 14 and August 11, from 6:00-8:00 PM.

The park also hosts, in partnership with Working Waterfront Festival and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, the Dock-U-Mentaries series. Dock-U-Mentaries is a film series about the working waterfront, screened on the third Friday of each month beginning at 7:00 PM in the theater of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park on June 17, July 15 and August 19. All programs are open to the public and presented free of charge.