Labor Day Weekend comes with mixed emotions for many of us. A long weekend is always a blessing, but this weekend usually marks the beginning of the end…of summer. We had one full month of rain this summer and overall temperatures were not the best, but this weekend looks great and we’ve put together some ideas if you don’t have a trip out of town already planned.
Free Preview of Disney’s Video on Demand
Disney is starting an On Demand channel to showcase their catalog of movies. The new channel will provide unlimited access to 12-15 movies a month. These movies could be anything from the Disney catalog including classics, Pixar, and live action like the High School Musical series. Cable providers are providing a free preview of the new channel during Labor Day weekend, September 3 through September 7. I spoke with Charter and Comcast and both are offering this channel free. Find it by starting at channel 1 (video on demand).
Go Apple Picking (or just visit a family farm)
With Labor Day Weekend begins the start of Apple Picking Season in New England. While it is a little early to be picking apples, the farms are open and eager for you to visit. We’ve put together a map showing you close to 90 farms in Massachusetts. Click on a tree icon to get their phone number and some additional information. click here for a full version of this map
We are at the beginning of fair season in New England and this weekend there are plenty to choose from. Most of these are in Western Mass or Connecticut, but are worth a drive if you live near Boston. Most of these fairs can be a good half-day of entertainment, eating, and shopping.
Blandford Fair (9/4 – 9/7) – North Street, Blandford, MA
Agricultural Exhibits, Horse-Oxen-Pony Draws, Horse Show, Entertainment, Truck Pulls (Adults $10; Seniors $6, Servicemen $5; Children (7-12) $5; Under age 6 – FREE) – http://www.theblandfordfair.com
Three County Fair (9/4 – 9/6) – Bridge Street, Northampton, MA
Windham Mountain Wild West Show. Horse racing, demo derbies (Adults: $7, children $4) Carnival: Rockwell Amusements. http://www.3countyfair.com
Woodstock Fair (9/4 – 9/7) – South Woodstock, CT
(Adults: $12, Kids under 10 are Free). http://www.woodstockfair.com
King Richard’s Faire (9/5 – 10/25) – 235 Main Street, Carver, MA
At King Richard’s Faire, the New England Renaissance Festival, enjoy musicians, jugglers, acrobats, contests and games for all ages, and knights on horseback. Devour turkey legs, ears of corn, fresh baked cookies, chocolate, wine, and beer and check out a 16th-century marketplace. (Adults: $26; child age 5-11: $15; If you live in Carver; We haven’t confirmed this, but heard this is FREE on Saturday for Carver residents). http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net
Nantucket Arts Festival (through 9/7)
A week-long celebration of the cultural arts on Nantucket, featuring theatre, music, dance, visual arts and literary events. The Nantucket Arts Festival is annually organized by the Nantucket Arts Council. http://www.NantucketArtsCouncil.org
Hit The Beach
This may be one of the last weekends you have to spend at the beach, so if the weather is nice, here are some of our favorites broken down by area.
Boston Beaches
Boston Harbor Islands – This 17-island state park is part of the 34-island Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. They are a wonderful natural resource, only 45 minutes by ferry from downtown Boston. Spectacle, Lovells, and Bumpkin island all have beaches. Website
Revere Beach – Revere Beach, the oldest public beach in America, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1996. Today, this beach boasts miles of shoreline which welcomes throngs of visitors every summer. Website
Carson Beach – This sandy beach is one of the best swimming beaches in the area, with nearby public amenities and great views of the Harbor. Website
Cape Cod
Coast Guard Beach – This beach is a prime swimming beach during the summer months and was dubbed ‘The Great Beach’ by Henry David Thoreau. Website
Head of the Meadow Beach – An ocean-side beach in Truro known for towering sand dunes. Website
Marconi Beach – Up for a history lesson and some swimming? The Marconi Area obtained its name from the famous Italian inventor, Marconi. From a site here, Marconi successfully completed the first transatlantic wireless communication between the U.S. and England in 1903. Website
North Shore Beaches
Crane Beach – With its clean, inviting water, miles of shoreline, and mesmerizing views, Crane Beach has been a favorite with the ocean-loving public for generations. Website
Good Harbor Beach – A popular beach, but pricey with a parking fee is $20 during the week per car; $25, weekends and holidays. Parking is limited so plan to arrive early. Website
Nahant/Lynn Beach – 4 miles of waterfront and a boardwalk. Website
Salisbury Beach State Reservation – Salisbury Beach is one of the state’s most popular ocean beaches, stretching 3.8 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. This 521-acre park offers swimming, boating, fishing, and camping, and is very popular with trailer campers. Website
South Shore Beaches
Horseneck Beach State Reservation – Located at the western end of Buzzards Bay, the sandy, southwest-facing, 2-mile long beach is breezy all year round, providing excellent wind surfing and a dependable respite from sweltering inland temperatures every summer. Website
Nantasket Beach – The reservation encompasses 26 acres along one and a third miles of oceanfront. Website
Two-for-one in our blog this week: our 4th of July Planning Guide and “Day Out With Thomas” preview!
Edaville Railroad kicked off its 2009 season last weekend featuring “Day Out With Thomas” in addition to the usual attractions. Thomas will offer up train rides on three more weekends this summer and is a must-visit for fans of the show, books, and movies.
Our sister website in Chicago reviewed this event last year and said “If your kid wants to be a useful engine, Day Out with Thomas is a quick burst of excitement” and “It was really exciting for him to see the engine in person.”
Tickets for Thomas are $18.00 for anyone two and older. This price includes admission to Edaville and all rides and attractions, as well as the 25-minute ride on Thomas the Tank Engine, meeting Sir Topham Hatt, and other entertainment involving Thomas. Thomas will be at Edaville June 26-June 29, August 29-30, and September 4-7.
We’ll be heading to Edaville later this summer, so look for our complete review of that and Thomas then.
Your Massachusetts 4th of July Planning Guide
With all of this rain, it’s hard to believe that the 4th of July is quickly approaching next weekend! We want you to be prepared and have a great time wherever you may be, so we have compiled this guide with all the various events happening around Massachusetts. In alphabetical order…
City/Town: Acton Date & Time: Saturday, July 4, at 6 p.m. (rain date: July 5) Fireworks Time: around 10 p.m. Details: Enjoy live music, face painting, and food vendors at NARA Park, located off Route 27. Shuttle buses will run from Nagog Park starting at 6 p.m. Website
City/Town: Amherst Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 5 p.m. (rain date: July 5) Fireworks Time: 9:30 p.m. Details: The UMASS fields behind Alumni Football Stadium set the scene for the celebration. Activities include live music, a children’s carnival, a juggler, a clown, face painting, field races… the list goes on and on. Website
City/Town: Assonet Date & Time: Friday, July 3 from 6-10 p.m.; parade on July 4 Fireworks Time: not mentioned Details: Hathaway Park is the host of games, booths, and concessions, ending with the fireworks display over the Assonet River.
City/Town: Ayer Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 Fireworks Time: dusk Details: Stop by Pirone Park for a parade, food concessions, crafts, and children’s activities, followed by fireworks.
City/Town: Boston Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 from 8:30 pm until 11:00 pm Fireworks Time:10:30 pm Details: This may be better to Tivo for the kids to watch the next day, but if you kids are a little older and you are willing to brave the 500,000 other Bostonians, check out the web site for parking and other FAQs. The TV broadcast starts at 8:00 pm on WBZ-TV, so check that out if you didn’t make it to any other shows. Website
City/Town: Bourne Date & Time: Sunday, July 5 Fireworks Time: Dusk Details: On Main Street, Buzzards Bay
City/Town: Bridgewater Date & Time: Thursday, June 25 & Friday, June 26 from 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, June 27 from 12-6 p.m. Details: Three Day Carnival at Bridgewater Middle School, 166 Mt. Prospect St.
City/Town: Chicopee Date & Time: Thursday, July 2 through Saturday July 4 Fireworks Time: Saturday, July 4 at 9:30 pm (rain date: Sunday, July 5) Details: Szot Park (700 Front Street, Chicopee, MA) has tons of activities spread across three days this year. Starting on Thursday there will be softball games and several inflatable activities and train rides. On Friday there is a kids 3-on-3 soccer tournament, a Junior Karakoe Idol contest, and astronomy sessions. Saturday is the big event with fireworks at 9:30. Website
City/Town: Clinton Date & Time: Saturday, June 27 (rain date: June 28) Details: Fireworks at Clinton Middle and High School, located on Route 110. Sponsored by the Clinton firefighters. Website
City/Town: Dracut Date & Time: Friday, July 3 at 7 p.m. Fireworks Time: not mentioned Details: Concert and fireworks at Dracut Junior High School
City/Town: Edgartown Date & Time: Saturday, July 4, at 5 p.m. (rain date: July 5) Fireworks Time: 9 p.m. Details: The 4th of July parade starts and ends at Edgartown School, then go to Memorial Wharf for the fireworks. Website
City/Town: Fitchburg Date & Time: Friday, July 3 from 5-11 p.m. Fireworks Time: dusk Details: Downtown Fitchburg is the scene for the Civic Days 2009. The fun starts this weekend with a multitude of events; check out the Doll Carriage and Bicycle Parade at the Riverfront Park on Boulder Drive on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Block Party is on Friday on Main Street, including live entertainment, classic cars, food, and other vendors. Look for more events on July 4. Website
City/Town: Gloucester Date & Time: Friday, July 3 at 6 p.m. Fireworks Time: 9 p.m. Details: Gloucester Horribles Parade starts at 6 p.m. featuring bands, floats, and costume competitions, followed by fireworks over the harbor. Look at the website for more events on July 4. Website
City/Town: Hampton Beach Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 Fireworks Time: 9:30 p.m. Details: Hampton Beach hosts fireworks 15 times throughout the summer, though usually on Wednesdays. Website
City/Town: Harvard Date & Time: Friday, July 3 starting at 11:00 am (rain date: Sunday, July 5) Fireworks Time: Dusk Details: At Fruitlands Museum this start up at 11:00 am where you can tour the galleries, check out the art, listen to music or enjoy food and drink in the restaurant tent. Get a seat on the lawn for the fireworks at dusk. Website
City/Town: Hingham Date & Time: Fireworks are on Friday, July 3 and Parade is on Saturday, July 4 at 10:00 am. A road race and breakfast are before the parade. Fireworks Time: 9:00 pm Website
City/Town: Hyannis Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 4 p.m. Fireworks Time: 8 p.m. Details: Check out Aselton Park for a parade followed by a concert, then fireworks at Lewis Bay. Website
City/Town: Marblehead Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 8:45 p.m. Fireworks Time: 9 p.m. Details: The Harbor Illumination begins at 8:45 p.m., followed by the fireworks. Email your pictures of the event to them and they will be posted on the website. Website
City/Town: Milford Date & Time: Friday, July 3 (rain date: July 5) Fireworks Time: not mentioned Details: The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra is unable to perform at this year’s festivities, but the fireworks will go on as planned at Plains Park, Route 85, Cedar St.
City/Town: Natick Date & Time: Wednesday, July 1 from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Fireworks Time: No fireworks this year due to construction on the Natick Mall Details: Featuring a kids parade at 6:00 pm and other family fun Natick Friends of the Fourth of July host this event. Website
City/Town: Orleans Date & Time: Friday, July 3 (rain date: July 5) Fireworks Time: Dusk Details: Rock Harbor
City/Town: Pepperell Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks Time: Dusk Details: Music, games, concessions, and fun start at 6:00pm. Fireworks start at dark. Website
City/Town: Salem Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 4 p.m. Fireworks Time: around 9:15 p.m. Details: Festivities begin with Kids’ Space, which has a DJ entertaining the young ones with dancing, contests, and prizes. The fun continues all afternoon for the kids with face painting, games, and crafts. At 7:15 p.m. is the opening ceremonies, which includes an Air Force flyover, a Hillyer Festival Orchestra concert, and a performance of Footloose by the Salem State College Summer Theatre cast, concluding with the fireworks set off from Derby Wharf. Website
City/Town: Salisbury Beach Date & Time: Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5 Fireworks Time: Saturday, July 4 at 10 p.m. Details: Family events run all weekend! Sand Sculpting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, including tips and tricks on sand castle building at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Bruce Marshall Group performs a concert starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday and is followed by the fireworks over the beach, which are set off from a barge in the ocean. Website
City/Town: Sharon Date & Time: July 4 at 4 p.m. Fireworks Time: 9:15 p.m. Details: Check out Memorial Park Beach for classic field games, such as tug-o-war and potato sack races. Beech Tree Park is the start of the Bicycle & Doll Carriage Parade and travels to the bandstand, where you’ll find music for your enjoyment. The concert starts at 6:30 and runs until the fireworks over Lak Massapoag.
City/Town: Springfield Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks Time: not mentioned Details: Mix 93.1 will provide the musical entertainment while the fireworks are going off from the Memorial Bridge. Live entertainment and food as well. Website
City/Town: Upton Date & Time: Saturday, June 27 (rain date: Sunday, June 28) Fireworks Time: 9:45 pm Details: Tons of different events throughout the day including an auto show, skateboard expo, motorcycle show, tractor race, dance show, a magic show, kiddie train, rock climbing wall, and various food vendors on hand. This one looks great! It’s at the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical (BVT) High School located at 65 Pleasant St. Upton, MA Website
City/Town: Westfield Date & Time: Friday, July 3 at 5:30 p.m. (rain date: July 5) Fireworks Time: 9:15 p.m. Details: Concerts begin at 5:30 at Stanley Park, including the Young Singers of Westfield, The Soul Sensations, and Brass Attack, concluding with the fireworks. Don’t forget to look for the strawberry shortcake. Website
City/Town: Worcester Date & Time: Thursday, July 2 – concert starts at 8 p.m. (rain date: July 3) Fireworks Time: 8:30 p.m. Details: Join the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra for a concert at Cristoforo Columbo Park (East Park) on Shrewsbury Street. Concessions and 4th of July toys and gadgets are for sale. Website
The 2009 Sesame Street Live tour features four different shows—we went to “Elmo Makes Music” at Boston University’s Agganis Arena and had a great time singing and dancing along to the music. For all those that have had enough of Elmo (we don’t blame you), this show features all of your favorite Sesame Street friends, so do not despair.
This was our first Sesame Street Live show, so we were not sure what to expect, but will keep an eye out for the next time it rolls through town. Tickets ranged from $15 to $37 and with a half-arena setup, there were really no bad seats in the house.
“Elmo Makes Music” starts off when Jenny, a music teacher, moves to Sesame Street and finds out that her truck full of instruments is missing. Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, the Count, Zoe, and all of the other Sesame Street friends spend the rest of the show secretly scheming to surprise Jenny by gathering their own very interesting instruments.
Jenny sets the theme of the show at the beginning with the song “What Makes Music,” where we learn that almost anything can make music, including our feet, hands, and voice. Standard Sesame Street themes run throughout the show including the letter and number of the day, “The Alphabet Song,” and even a live version of Elmo’s World with Dorothy and Mr. Noodle’s cousin.
All of the kids are encouraged to use their own voice, hands and feet to make music throughout the show. Highlights for us included Cookie Monster’s “Crumba-Rumba,” Bert dancing to disco music in a white suit, and Big Bird and Baby Bear’s rendition of “Rockin’ Robin.”
Like any live show, there are plenty of souvenirs to entice the little ones. We estimate that every tenth kid had an Elmo spinning light and when the large Elmo balloons came out at intermission the lines formed immediately. These had to go under your seat for the second half, which required some teamwork to distract our son long enough to sequester the balloon.
Other Sesame Street Live shows that are performing across the country include “Elmo’s Green Thumb,” “When Elmo Grows Up,” and “Elmo! Ready for Action.” Performing live since 1980, Sesame Street Live is a great bet for keeping the kids and parents entertained.
Dad Says: The neon-high-top-feet-stomping-dance with black lights was fantastic and I found myself singing along quite often to songs that I knew. With any show like this, you are always worried about attention span, but this one seemed to keep everyone entertained and, at 90 minutes, it was a good length.
Mom Says: Some of the characters come down from the stage, which is great for the fans in the first few rows on the floor. The Agganis Arena was a great venue – very beautiful and very clean. Friday morning was the perfect time to catch the show as it wasn’t overcrowded… though somehow there was always a line at the women’s bathroom!
Web Site: http://www.sesamestreetlive.com/
If you missed Disney on Ice in Boston you have two more weekends to check it out with performances April 2-5 at the DCU Center in Worcester, and April 8-12 in Springfield at the MassMutual Center. Having been to last year’s Disney on Ice, we were pretty excited to attend the opening night in Worcester.
Spoiler alert: if you don’t want to know what happens in the show, stop reading now!
The show is emceed by Mickey and Minnie with Goofy, Donald and the Chipmunks helping throughout. You are taken on a whirlwind tour of the Disney library in this hour and 45 minute show.
The first half of the show included Aladdin, Nemo, Beauty and the Beast, the Princess dance, Toy Story, and a trip to It’s a Small World. These 45 minutes were packed with well choreographed numbers representing the main parts of each story. We were especially impressed with the huge shark chasing Nemo, which required two skaters working in perfect harmony. Beauty and the Beast performed a short version of their story, followed by a dance with the Princesses and their respective Prince; featured were Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine, Pocahontas and Snow White. The children in the audience screamed with delight when each one skated through smoke into the rink. The biggest surprise of the night was a trip to Disney’s “It’s a Small World,” ending with a classic rendition of the Electric Light Parade, including fireworks. Whether you are an old or new Disney fan, this was a spectacular sequence.
The second half of the show had fewer characters, but each sequence was longer than the first half of the show. It started with the fairy from Pinocchio being lowered from the ceiling to the ice, where she made Pinocchio come alive. We watched his growing nose as well as an enormous Monstro (sea creature) which swallowed Geppetto and Pinocchio in the middle of the rink. Don’t worry – they find a way to get out! The story of Mulan was presented next and included some great fight scenes and real-looking snow. Afterwards, Edna Mode, the costume maker for The Incredibles, hosts a fashion show featuring the entire Incredibles family followed by characters from Lion King. ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and ‘Hakuna Matata’ were highlighted during their performance.
The show ended with most of the key characters filling the ice and singing ‘Circle of Life.’ They spent time at the end shaking hands and waving to all the kids in the lower section. If your kids are huge Disney fans and you can afford the more expensive seats, you may want to think about sitting close up so they can see their favorites close up at the end of the show.
With any large arena show, plan ahead for snacks, bathroom breaks and other entertainment for any little ones. At our intermission the women’s bathroom lines were so long the women were sneaking their daughters into the men’s room. Our show started at 7:05 and each half was about 45 minutes long.
Dad Says: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah! This show was pretty much non-stop action. I didn’t see too many kids bored with this one. There are plenty of extras your kids might want such as keepsake slushy cups, pictures with Disney backgrounds, plastic knives and swords and many other Disney toys. It took a long time to leave the parking garage; my advice is to pack pajamas for the kids to change quickly in the car, making bedtime at home a lot easier.
Mom Says: I’m a HUGE Disney fan, so you aren’t going to get a bad word out of me. I went to the Princess show last year and as much as I love those ladies, this show was much better. The Small World/Light Parade sequence brings back a lot of childhood memories of Disney World, and I was overjoyed for my son to see that for the first time. He is on the younger side and I was worried that he wouldn’t last the entire time, but he takes after me and also appears to be a big Disney fan – he didn’t start to wipe out until the last couple of minutes.
What will I do with my Kids today is on the lips of every parent, every day. Once you get past breakfast, the grueling decisions start. Crazy Kids is the cure.
Dad Says: The neon-high-top-feet-stomping-dance with black lights was fantastic and I found myself singing along quite often to songs that I knew. With any show like this, you are always worried about attention span, but this one seemed to keep everyone entertained and, at 90 minutes, it was a good length.
Mom Says: Some of the characters come down from the stage, which is great for the fans in the first few rows on the floor. The Agganis Arena was a great venue – very beautiful and very clean. Friday morning was the perfect time to catch the show as it wasn’t overcrowded… though somehow there was always a line at the women’s bathroom!
The show is emceed by Mickey and Minnie with Goofy, Donald and the Chipmunks helping throughout. You are taken on a whirlwind tour of the Disney library in this hour and 45 minute show.
The second half of the show had fewer characters, but each sequence was longer than the first half of the show. It started with the fairy from Pinocchio being lowered from the ceiling to the ice, where she made Pinocchio come alive. We watched his growing nose as well as an enormous Monstro (sea creature) which swallowed Geppetto and Pinocchio in the middle of the rink. Don’t worry – they find a way to get out! The story of Mulan was presented next and included some great fight scenes and real-looking snow. Afterwards, Edna Mode, the costume maker for The Incredibles, hosts a fashion show featuring the entire Incredibles family followed by characters from Lion King. ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and ‘Hakuna Matata’ were highlighted during their performance.