Things to See & Do

Join us for an enchanting evening as handmade lanterns illuminate the historic streets of Concord. No need to register for the Parade. Light Up the Nig. Be a part of Brighter Together, Concord’s inaugural Lantern Parade and Party! With the Concord250 Lantern in the lead and hundreds of creative, handmade lanterns joining in, we will transform the dark, winter night into a celebration of light, creative expression, and community. Muster at 6:00 PM at the Alcott Elementary School. The 15-minute parade will wind through residential streets, ending at a party at the Concord Scout House. https://www.concordlanterns.org/

Witness the evolution of jazz at CCM. Join us for a milestone performance featuring a powerhouse lineup of the faculty and alumni who have shaped our sound for over two decades: Tucker Antell on saxophone, Brian Friedland on piano, Ehud Ettun on bass, Brooke Sofferman on drums, and Phil Sargent on guitar.

Join us on March 5th for a book club discussion of topics from Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane. Learn more about environmental legal personhood with Yenny Vega Cardenas, President of the International Observatory on the Rights of Nature, member of the IUCN Legal Committee, and the United Nations "Harmony with Nature" expert network, and champion for the Rights of Nature. This event is co-sponsored by OARS, Thoreau Alliance (formerly Thoreau Society), and the Concord Free Public Library.

Step into the magic of the nighttime world! Join the Concord Conservatory of Music for a special family performance featuring an original musical setting of Margaret Wise Brown’s beloved classic, Goodnight Moon. This unique event blends chamber music, storytelling, and captivating visuals to introduce children to the wonders of live performance. 

Join us for an Artist Talk with Marsha Wilcox (Ancient Light) and Carl Ristaino (Inspirational Jam) on February 21 at 2 PM in the Black Box Theater. Through their talks, the artists will speak on their process, inspiration, and artistic journeys. RSVP appreciated.

Join naturalist and avid outdoor enthusiast Jeff Adams for a winter walk featuring identification tips and natural history facts for some of the trees and shrubs along Walden's shore. We’ll discuss different techniques for identification of bare trees/ shrubs like branching, buds, bark, galls, and persistent leaves and fruit. We may also see some non-woody plants that remain erect in winter. 

Wit & Word is a literary event in the dead of New England winter, designed to warm post-holiday hearts sans shopping or screens. Featuring five area writers sharing sharp satire, candid confessions, and true stories that explore mysteries of middle age and realities of modern adulting, the night offers humor with heart, insight, and perhaps a little cringe. You’ll leave laughing, thoughtfully entertained, and hopefully, slightly more fortified to make it to spring. 

Are music and mathematics two sides of the same coin? Join us for a captivating evening that unlocks the hidden architecture behind some of the world’s most beautiful classical music. This isn’t just a concert; it’s a thrilling journey into the brilliant minds of Johann Sebastian Bach and Béla Bartók—composers who used mathematical patterns, symmetry, and structure to build music of enthralling texture and deep, timeless emotion.

Master the Foundation: The Science of Rhythm. Is rhythm the foundation of your musical voice? In this unique and essential Rhythmic Laboratory workshop, you will go beyond simple counting to truly feel the pulse that drives all music! Percussion instructor and renowned Jazz Jam leader Giuseppe Paradiso will guide you through an exciting, hands-on session focused on the essential rhythmic skill of subdivision. This dynamic workshop uses a powerful, physical approach, engaging your body as an instrument to help you deeply internalize and master complex timing.

Enjoy the best of classic, independent, and foreign films curated by The Concord Film Project at The Umbrella Arts Center, with pre-show dinner options. This February, join us for TORN CURTAIN (1966, dir. Alfred Hitchcock), a suspenseful Cold War spy thriller starring Paul Newman and Julie Andrews. This film is rated PG and runs 2 hours and 8 minutes. Optional pre-show dinners from Saltbox Kitchen are available.