Photo: Art in the Orchard, Lynne Graves

It’s happening in Hampshire County – indoors and out! Art meets agriculture at Art in the Orchard, an outdoor sculpture garden nestled into a working fruit farm. Enjoy outdoor dining at Summer on Strong, before you catch joyful string trio Hot Club of Cowtown at Northampton’s famous Iron Horse. In Amherst, bring the family out to Summer Nights at The Carle for an evening of food, music, and art at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. You’ll find live music of all stripes at The Drake, while Amherst Cinema dazzles with its twice-weekly Big Screen Classics series, where you can catch iconic Hollywood fare as it was meant to be seen. Experience the outdoors in a whole new light when you take a Full-Moon Paddle on the Connecticut River with Adventure East. Enjoy a 6-mile paddle bathed in the light of the stars and the full moon and surrounded by the sounds of nocturnal wildlife.

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The arrival of August means it’s time to bask in the waning days of summer—and what could be more summery than a field of bright yellow sunflowers? How about a festival devoted to those cheery plants? Head to Red Apple Farm in Phillipston or Hollis Hills Farm in Fitchburg to celebrate these bright beauties in mid-August. Need some down time? Band concert season is still in full swing across the region! Grab a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy!

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Dreamy August on Martha’s Vineyard is unforgettable. Glorious gardens burst with roses, flowers, tomatoes. Happy visitors’ unforgettable beach days and evenings are cherished memories. Menemsha Sunsets, Katama Beach surfing; Aquinnah Cliffs, lighthouses, verdant Tisbury and Chilmark. Parties, clambakes, Grace Church Lobster Rolls; get in line for Back Door Donuts; MV African-American Film Festival (8/2-8/10); Chilmark Road Race (8/10) ; spectacular Grand Illumination (8/14); MV Agricultural Fair (8/15-8/18); Vineyard Herreshof Cup (8/26-8/28); Built on Stilts Dance Festival (8/8-8/10; 8/17-8/19); more events here. Bike, beach, hike, kayak, shop, dine, golf, stay a night or longer, or buy a Vineyard home and stay in an enchanted island where everyone is welcome!

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The 47^th Old Deerfield Fall Arts and Crafts Festival will be held Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 on the lush and beautiful grounds surrounding Memorial Hall Museum

in Deerfield. Stop by and browse the creations of over100 artisan crafters!

Pottery, woodworking, jewelry, glass, apparel, fine art, mixed media, specialty foods, live music, craft demonstrations & more. Admission fee. And mark your calendar for the 36^th Old Deerfield Holiday Sample November 16-17!

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Make the most of summer! Check out MetroWest’s many Farmer’s Markets: Ashland (Sat 9-1), Framingham (Thurs 3-7), Franklin (Fri 2-6), Holliston (Tues 3-7), or Medway Community Farm (Mon/Thurs/Fri 9-1, Sat 10-4). Sample beers from over 42 local breweries at the 9th annual Spirit of Hudson Brewfest on 8/10! Visit the 5th annual Natick Multicultural Day on 8/24 offering ethnic foods, music, and dance. Plus live music around the region all month! See website for details!

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Photo: Jamie Holmes

Nantucket in August is the ultimate destination for everyone. Its seemingly endless pristine beaches, winding roads, 12 trails comprising 32 miles of bike paths and 9,000 acres of hiking paths beckon beyond the dazzling Cultural District. The Wave bus (free through September 30) delivers everyone corner-to-corner island-wide. Enjoy 49th Sand Castle & Sculpture Day (8/3), Boston Pops (8/10), and Nantucket Race Week (8/14-8/18). Tuck-in to one of Nantucket’s renowned eateries, party at Cisco Brewers and bars, live-music venues, dance clubs. Spend the night, weekend, week at a fabulous inn or hotel!

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Bring a picnic blanket and lawn chair and relax at the Castle Hill Picnic Concert Series! Each Thursday through August enjoy a different family-friendly band performing on Castle Hill’s Grand Allee overlooking Crane Beach. Don’t miss the 40th annual Gloucester Schooner Festival, where maritime history and wonder converge by the scenic harbor. This Maritime Gloucester event takes place August 28th – September 1st welcoming schooners from all over.

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“Pilgrim Progress” is a reenactment of the Pilgrims’ Sabbath procession to worship beginning at Plymouth Rock. Costumed participants assemble to the beat of a drum, to Burial Hill (Fridays in August at 6 pm.) A tradition since 1921! At the 55th Annual Scituate Heritage Days, enjoy

live music, artisan crafts, kids' activities, and historical site visits for one of the South Shore’s biggest outdoor events of the summer.

Heritage Days happens August 3 & 4, noon to 7 pm. For more August events click here.

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Spend the Dog Days of Summer in Southeastern Massachusetts! Start the day in Westport at Horseneck State Beach Reservation, have a bite on the water at The Back Eddy, The Bayside Restaurant or Westport Sea Farms, on the way visit Westport River Vineyards on the Coastal Wine Trail or the Open Studio Tours — South Coast Artists and New Bedford's Feast Of The Blessed Sacrament or Tours | New Bedford Harbor Tours in New Bedford, MA   End the day with an ice cream at Acushnet Creamery on the New Bedford Waterfront. It’s All Here and All Near!

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Did you know that the Berkshires comes alive with local music in the summer? Pack a picnic and bring a lawn chair for fabulous (and mostly free) entertainment. Check out the Downtown Pittsfield Summer Music Series, Lenox Concerts in the Park, Concerts at Windsor Lake in North Adams, and Berkshire Busk! in Great Barrington. Head to Race Brook Lodge for its Reggae Wednesday Pool Parties, find a jam-packed lineup at Dream Away Lodge, and enjoy the Sing for Your Slumber Series at TOURISTS. How about musical Den Sessions at the Lion’s Den? Ski resorts, including Catamount, Berkshire East, and Bousquet, showcase local pop, folk, and jazz artists. Craft breweries Hot Plate and Bright Ideas host popular vocalists. At Balderdash Winery, enjoy tunes (and a food truck) al fresco. Visit Clark Art for lively outdoor sounds, Berkshire Botanical Gardens for Music Mondays, and don’t miss the vibes at MASS MoCA’s The Chalet. Of course, this list would not be complete without including the magic of Tanglewood.

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Come see a variety of New England caterpillar species showcased on open-air displays of local plants at The Caterpillar Lab at Discovery Museum, Acton! Get up close to enormous giant silk moth caterpillars, fierce-looking snake-mimicking caterpillars, convincing twig-mimicking caterpillars, and bubbly butterfly caterpillars. Witness rare moments of metamorphosis and watch ecological relationships play out first-hand under a digital microscope. Be sure to chat with the educators from The Caterpillar Lab—you’re sure to discover something new! Open Thursday, August 15, 10 am to 12 pm & 1 pm to 4 pm, Friday, August 16, 1 pm to 4 pm & 5 pm to 7:30 pm, Saturday, August 17, 1 pm to 4 pm.

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Take advantage of the Central Massachusetts Passport to Summer Fun! Discover the best destinations in the region while enjoying exclusive discounts and the chance to win fantastic prizes. Participating attractions include New England Botanic Garden, Old Sturbridge Village, Samuel Slater Experience, Southwick's Zoo, and Worcester Art Museum. Collect stamps on your passport so you can enter to win the grand prize: family memberships at multiple attractions, free passes and more. Print your passport from here!

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Join the celebratory 11th Annual Pocumtuck Homelands Festival - honoring Native American art, music, and cultures - on August 3-4 at Unity Park Waterfront in Turners Falls!

Enjoy free performances by Mohawk elder Tom Porter, Hawk Henries, Morgan Toney, and more. Experience drumming, dancing, storytelling, and authentic cuisine from Native American chefs. Explore over 40 Indigenous artists and authors, children's activities, and history presentations. Rain or shine, there's something for everyone! Get more details here!

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Photo: Kyle Klein

Dine Out Boston® returns for its summer edition, August 4 through August 17. Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston) gives locals and visitors the opportunity to sample an array of dishes at special prices. This highly anticipated two-week program is the perfect way to take advantage of delicious deals at some of the city’s top restaurants.

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This summer, discover each of the family-friendly sand sculptures along the spectacular Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail, available for viewing until early October! Find a trail map here so you can spot all 30+ of the whimsical sculptures, which range from mermaids and ice cream cones to majestic whales. On Saturday, August 10th, the wildly popular Cape Cod Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival barrels into the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in East Falmouth. More than 30 food trucks from all over New England are on hand to serve up their best bites. There’s also a beer tent, live music, kids' activities, and a craft market to keep the festivities going! Find more of our best bets for August events on Cape Cod here.

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Summer is Spectacular in Western Mass and especially at the Springfield Museums! The Museums are open seven days a week, offering a variety of ways for visitors to play, explore, and create. In addition to daily hands-on activities designed for families to enjoy together, there will be weekly highlights and special guests, all presented free with museum admission.

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