Things to See & Do

Join us in tracing parts of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride on a ride through the historic towns of Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Bedford, and Carlisle. Starting at the Concord Museum near the historic town center, cyclists can choose to ride a 20- or 32-mile loop on paved roads, passing many Revolutionary landmarks like the North Bridge, the Lexington Green, the Paul Revere Capture Site, and much more!   All net proceeds from Paul Revere’s Bike Ride support educational programs at the Concord Museum that reach more than 15,000 students a year.

Stop in. Say hi. Talk guitars! Wilson Schünemann, Co-Founder and Curator of the Guitar Museum of New England, will be on hand to talk about the guitars featured in the pop-up 'sneak peek' from the Museum's core collection. While you're here, you can see a video with architectural plans of the future building, as well as highlights of previous exhibits we've done - so you have a good sense of the awesomeness coming when we finally open! This event is part of the Hidden Treasures Festival, sponsored by Freedom's Way National Heritage Area. It is FREE and open to the public. 12:00 - 5:00 pm

Historian Beverly Gage discusses This Land Is Your Land, a sweeping examination of American democracy, protest, and power. Drawing on vivid stories and deep research, Gage traces how struggles over rights, belonging, and national identity have shaped the nation and why those struggles continue to matter today. Supported in part by Mass Humanities.

Stop in. Say hi. Talk guitars! Wilson Schünemann, Co-Founder and Curator of the Guitar Museum of New England, will be on hand to talk about the guitars featured in the pop-up 'sneak peek' from the Museum's core collection. While you're here, you can see a video with architectural plans of the future building, as well as highlights of previous exhibits we've done - so you have a good sense of the awesomeness coming when we finally open! This event is part of the Hidden Treasures Festival, sponsored by Freedom's Way National Heritage Area

The Umbrella's beloved Open Studios is May 2 & 3, from 12 - 5 PM in Concord, MA. It's fun for all, FREE to attend, and priceless to get to know your local artists! The Umbrella Arts Center is home to more than 60 working artists skilled in a variety of fine and applied arts, including ceramics, glass, fiber arts, jewelry making, illustration, mixed-media, painting, photography, printmaking, illustration, sculpture, woodworking, writing, and more. Our annual Open Studios is an incredible opportunity to meet our artists, learn about their process, and share in celebrating their work.

Join the student artists featured in the new special exhibition Revolutionary Legacies, along with  Curator David Wood and Curator and Director of Exhibitions Christie Jackson, for a gallery talk.

Explore Concord during the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area Hidden Treasures Festival (May). A dozen+ partners present free, townwide events—from The Umbrella Open Studios and West Concord Art Loop to historic house tours, garden walks, poetry, family workshops, and a community treasure hunt. Discover pop-ups from the Guitar Museum, Revolution 250–inspired programs, and nature activities along the Concord River—revealing the stories, landscapes, and creative spirit that define this iconic New England town and 44 neighboring communities in the nationally designated Heritage Area.

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.

Legal scholar Gerard Magliocca explores Justice Robert H. Jackson’s landmark concurring opinion in the Steel Seizure Case, illuminating its enduring framework for presidential power. This forum connects constitutional history to current debates, examining how Jackson’s analysis continues to shape limits on executive authority in times of crisis.

Join 2026 CFPL Writer-In-Residence Danielle Bradley in conversation with celebrated local author Alan Lightman. Danielle Bradley is the winner of the 2025 Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award and a 2025–2026 Tin House Reading Fellow. Her debut novel, Crying in Baseball, is forthcoming from Avid Reader Press.