Things to See & Do

Visit the exhibition Revolutionary Legacies at Concord Museum. How have we remembered April 19, 1775, and the American Revolution over the past 250 years? Featuring commemorative ephemera, unique relics, artworks, personal objects, and contemporary works that respond to the Revolution’s legacy, this special exhibition asks what we choose to remember—and what has been left out—as the public looks back to the founding of our nation. 

The Umbrella Arts Center of Concord, MA, presents its second Ceramics Biennial Exhibition, “Earthworks: Evolution”, a regional show celebrating the depth of history, tradition, and cultural expression in contemporary ceramics, and the ways in which artists continue to expand the field through innovation and reinterpretation.

Eight Artist‑Designed Pianos to Pop Up Across Concord This Spring. Get ready to play!  The Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM) is bringing music to the streets with Pianos on the Town—eight brightly painted upright pianos placed in public spots across Concord and West Concord for anyone to enjoy. The celebration kicks off with a lively “Piano Xtravaganza” on Saturday, May 30, at 10:30 AM at Brookside Square.

Pyrographer Alissa O'Brien rescues discarded wood to create extraordinary works highlighting the grain patterns revealed beneath the bark. For this special event, Alissa will show you the art of pyrography. Stop by the Visitor Center to view the exhibition of Alissa's wood-burnings and for the demo location at Walden.

Whether you’re new to the writings of Henry David Thoreau or a lifelong fan of his work, you’re sure to enjoy the Thoreau Farm Reading Group. The group meets once a month on a Thursday evening to discuss one of Thoreau’s essays. The June 18 meeting will delve into “Slavery in Massachusetts.”

Celebrate Juneteenth with an evening of wine, beer, and light refreshments in the Museum’s courtyard, followed by a guided tour of the galleries. Explore Concord’s rich Black and Abolitionist histories through powerful stories, images, and objects from the Museum’s collection. Your ticket includes drinks outside in the courtyard before the tour, which begins at 7:15 pm. Co-sponsored by The Robbins House. $15 Members | $25 Non-Members

Join us for a celebratory Juneteenth performance of the History of Hip Hop Dance from Arts for Learning Massachusetts. Tracing hip hop dance styles from the late 70’s through today, this acclaimed ensemble teaches positive messages, including “Think It—Do It—Become It.” The performance celebrates the art and movement of hip hop and includes a funky blend of locking, breaking, popping, tap, and house dancing, vocal percussions, D.J.ing, and modern and traditional dance forms.  Free | Advance Registration Required

Coinciding with the celebration of Juneteenth, join us for a walking tour introducing participants to the Concord women and men who played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement in the years leading up to the Civil War. This tour includes a significant amount (over 1.5 miles) of walking on hilly, unpaved terrain. $15 Members | $25 Non-Members. Includes same-day admission to the Concord Museum.

Henry David Thoreau described a loon's call as "Perhaps the wildest sound that is ever heard here, making the woods ring far and wide." Join us for a presentation about loons inspired by Thoreau's admiration for them at the Walden Pond Visitor Center Gallery on Sunday, June 21st, from 11 am to 12:30 pm.

DCR Wildlife Biologist Jillian Whitney and Loon Preservation Committee Outreach Coordinator/Biologist Caroline Hughes will discuss Common Loons, their distribution and presence in Massachusetts—including at Walden—and how we can protect them.

Join author Ken Lizotte for a fascinating discussion of his new book, Walden for Hire: Business Lessons from Henry David Thoreau. While many associate Thoreau only with Transcendentalism, a love of nature, and his iconic work Walden, Ken's talk reveals a different dimension: Thoreau as an innovative strategic problem-solver and successful serial entrepreneur. Topics include:

· Henry's lucrative curiosity.

· Henry's success in diverse business arenas, e.g., farming, manufacturing, surveying, and marketing.

· His long-lasting success as a best-selling author.

· His ingenious profit-building methods were generated on his own terms.

· His creative career independence decades before today's "gig economy."

Come prepared to rethink everything you thought you knew about Thoreau and leave with practical, timeless strategies for carving out your own unconventional business path.