1 Minuteman Guitars presents the New England premier of the internationally acclaimed Boutique Guitar Showcase. Don’t miss this unique collection of 50 world-class guitars handmade by luthier artisans from around the globe. The show is free and everyone who preregisters will receive a free guitar pin at the show, so sign up today! Don’t miss this opportunity to view, play, or purchase one of these handcrafted instruments! September 4, from 10 – 6 pm, at The Umbrella Arts Center. theumbrellaarts.org/guitars
Veleno ankh-backed guitar
| Courtesy of Minuteman Guitars & the Boutique Guitar Showcase2 Concord Ag Day is always a highlight of autumn. This annual festival celebrates Concord’s farming community with stands from more than a dozen farmers and local organizations, great food, and events for the kids. September 10. concordagday.com
3 Workshops with The Write Connection at Thoreau Farm. Sharpen your pencils and develop your skills this fall with several in-person workshops at Thoreau Farm. Each workshop provides an opportunity to learn, craft, and consider the role of storytelling in creating change—personal and global. September 10 – 22. Visit thoreaufarm.org/the-write-connection for dates, times, and more information.
4 Load up the kids, a blanket, and some snacks and head over to Outdoor Movie Night at the basketball courts at Hunt (90 Stow Street) on September 16 to see Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. concordrec.com/1373/outdoor-movie-night
5 Don’t miss West Concord Porchfest
on September 24, from 1 – 5 pm. Stroll the streets and listen to more than two
dozen live acts while enjoying treats from local food vendors. A lovely way to spend
an afternoon. (Rain date September 25)
visitconcord.org/event/porchfest
6 On September 28, Concord Museum will present Monument Man: The Life & Art of Daniel Chester French. Harold Holzer, one of the leading historians of Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era, explores the long life and dramatic artistic career of pre-eminent American sculptor Daniel Chester French, whose statue for the Lincoln Memorial is arguably the nation’s most iconic statue. concordmuseum.org
7 Visit Concord Museum and explore their new exhibition, The Lincoln Memorial Illustrated. This year marks the centennial of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial and this fascinating exhibition explores the planning and construction of the Lincoln Memorial through illustrations, sculpture, archival materials, and ephemera. It also traces its role as a symbolic site in illustrations, political cartoons, and popular culture. The exhibition features works by numerous artists from the past century, including Norman Rockwell, Daniel Chester French, Henry Bacon, Tony Bennett, Istvan Banyai, and others. September 30 – February 26. concordmuseum.org/events/the-lincoln-memorial-illustrated
Courtesy of the Concord Museum
8 It’s time for cider donuts and pumpkin picking! See our article on p. 64 for a list of more than two dozen places to sip delicious apple cider, grab a donut, and pick the perfect pumpkin.
9 Join a special walk with the Thoreau Sauntering Society. Slow down. Be present. Look closely. Saunter with leading naturalists and learn directly from nature as you observe and reflect. Or saunter alongside historians in the footsteps of Henry David Thoreau and study the layers of history evident in our world. Fall saunters include a mushroom foray, a saunter through Thoreau’s bean field, and much more! Visit thoreaufarm.org/the-thoreau-sauntering-society for dates and more information.
10 Join the Concord Museum for the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Family Program with the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers. If you missed this event last year, or would love to see it again, this talented group of musicians and artists from the tribal communities of Mashpee on Cape Cod and Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard will present a program of eastern social songs and dances. October 10. concordmuseum.org
11 This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Concord Festival of Authors, a town-wide celebration of the written and spoken word. This year’s Festival will run October 13 – 30 and will feature over thirty online and in-person events. See the article on p. 26 to learn more about the Festival and visit concordfestivalofauthors.org for information on the events, registration details, and more.
12 Discover West Concord Day is here! Enjoy walking around West Concord and discovering new and old businesses in the area. Special sales and events will be taking place all day Oct. 15, 10 - 3pm. visitconcord.org/event/discover-west-concord-day-2
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
| Courtesy of The Umbrella Arts Center13 The Umbrella Arts Center will welcome Aimee Nezhukumatathil, New York Times bestselling poet and author of World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, & Other Astonishments on October 18 - 19. Join them for this not-to-be-missed reading, book-signing, and writing workshop. theumbrellaarts.org
14 It’s October and time for something scary! Take a tour through historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery with a Concord Museum guide. Learn about the lives and deaths of past Concordians through stories passed down through the generations. October 23. concordmuseum.org
15 Lace up those sneakers and join the annual Sleepy Hollow 5K & Fun Run. The Fun Run will begin at 9:00 am and the 5K race at 9:30 am. All participants who preregister will receive a t-shirt. The events will be held at the Beede Center. October 29. Visit concordrec.com/309/sleepy-hollow-5k to register.
16 The annual Trunk or Treat will be held October 30 from 2 – 3 pm. Bring your little ones to the Beede Center parking lot for a fun, and safe, trick or treat event. concordrec.com/1364/trunk-or-treat
17 The Tricon Antique Show returns November 4 - 5 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Go treasure hunting with more than 30 antique dealers on three floors. More information at triconchurch.org/mission-outreach/antiques-show
Kerri Greenidge
| Courtesy of the Concord Museum18 Join historian Kerri Greenidge to launch her newest book The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family. Reexamine the legendary abolitionists and the Black members of their family whose experiences had previously been obscured. November 9 at the Concord Museum. concordmuseum.or