An A-Z Guide to 2009 Summer Festivals in New England - Part 2
Thank goodness for the Zucchini Festival! Here's the rest of my A-Z round-up of great festivals in New England for the summer of 2009.
N ewport's Jazz Festival 55 - The 55-year-old Newport Jazz Festival has a new name, sponsor and organizers in 2009 but the same line-up of jazz greats concertgoers have come to expect and the same scenic location in Newport, Rhode Island. Tickets for George Wein's CareFusion Jazz Festival 55 go on sale April 23. The festival opens on Friday, August 7, with a show at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and continues Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9, in Fort Adams State Park. Headliners for 2009 include Tony Bennett, Branford Marsalis, Etta James and the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
O yster Festival - Veterans' Park in Norwalk, Connecticut, is the setting for the Norwalk Seaport Association's 32nd annual Oyster Festival. Highlights of the September 11-13 event include musical performances; the Bar-B-Q Pit featuring competitions, demonstrations and food; children's activities and rides, harbor cruises, an arts & crafts show, oystering and environmental exhibits and, of course, oysters galore! Tickets, including a weekend pass, may be purchased and printed online. For information, call 203-838-9444.
P otato Blossom Festival - The 62nd annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival is July 11 to 19 in Fort Fairfield, Maine. Did you know that potato plants have beautiful white, pink or lavender flowers? Join in the celebration of one of Maine's most important crops with dozens of events including the Farmer Olympics, fireworks over the Aroostook River and mashed potato wrestling. For more information, call the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce at 207-472-3802.
Q uilt Festival - The 33rd annual Vermont Quilt Festival is June 18-21 in Essex Junction and Colchester, Vermont. See hundreds of beautiful, hand-crafted quilts at one of America's oldest quilt events, shop for quilting supplies and participate in a choice of 82 full-, half- and multi-day classes taught by quilters from across the country. Call 802-872-0034 for information.
R ockport Chamber Music Festival - The Rockport Chamber Music Festival marks its 28th season of performances by some of the world's best chamber music artists. Performances are held between June 4 and July 2 in Rockport, Massachusetts. To order tickets or for more information, call 978-546-7391.
S hakespeare Festival - The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival offers summer performances under the stars of two of the Bard's classics--Pericles and Much Ado About Nothing--at Boscobel, a scenic Hudson River estate in neighboring New York State. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) will also be performed this season. Performances run between June 20 and September 6. To order tickets, call 845-265-9575.
T omato Festival - If you adore the flavor of heirloom tomatoes, then venture to Verrill Farm in Concord, Massachusetts, August 15-16 for the Corn & Tomato Festival featuring the chance to taste more than 30 varieties of tomatoes grown on the farm, plus several varieties of corn and other farm-fresh foods. There'll be pony rides, hayrides, and live bluegrass music, too. For details, call 978-369-4494.
U nicorn Theatre at the Berkshire Theatre Festival - It's the Berkshire Theatre Festival's 81st year, and in addition to the Main Stage performances, the Unicorn Theatre at this Stockbridge, Massachusetts, venue will be home to three different plays this summer including the Leonard Bernstein musical, Candide. For tickets and more information, call 413-298-5576.
V ermont Festival of the Arts - The towns and villages of the Mad River Valley in Vermont celebrate the arts during this month-long festival, August 1-31, which celebrates its 12th anniversary in 2009. Events include open studios, concerts, gallery exhibits, theater performances, demonstrations and workshops. For more information, call 802-496-6682 or toll free, 800-517-4247.
W haling City Festival - The 40th annual Whaling City Festival takes place July 10-12 at Veterans' Memorial Buttonwood Park in the historic whaling town of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Events include rides, a craft show and flea market, international food vendors, six stages with continuous entertainment and more. Admission is free. For information, call 508-996-3348.
Emanuel AX, famed pianist, plays a Friday evening concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on July 10 during the Tanglewood Summer Music Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts, one of New England's most beloved summer festivals. Tanglewood tickets can be purchased online or by phone. Ax will also join violinist Colin Jacobsen and cellist Yo-Yo Ma in accompanying the Mark Morris Dance Group during August 5 and 6 performances at Tanglewood this summer.
Y armouth Clam Festival - You'll find clams, crafts, clams, a carnival, clams, concerts, and, uh... clams! at this July 17-19 festival in Yarmouth, Maine, which marks its 44th year in 2009. Admission is free. Call 207-846-3984 for details.
Z ucchini Festival - If you're still in the mood to celebrate zucchini at the tail end of summer, head for Ludlow, Vermont, August 15-16 for the annual Vermont State Zucchini Festival featuring a craft show, kids' activities and the zukapult contest, which, take it from me, you have to see to believe (I've got pictures if you can't get there). For details, call the Ludlow Chamber of Commerce at 802-228-5830.
Previous page > Festivals A-M > Page 1, 2
More of this Feature
Related Resources
Top Events 2009 More New England Events Free New England Newsletter
Elsewhere on the Web
More from New England Travel
Looking for more New England travel information? Start with the New England Travel Home Page, where you'll find current features and links to the best of the Net for all of your travel planning needs.
Don't miss our free email newsletter, About New England Travel, which keeps you up to date on what's happening in the region. Subscribe today!
Read the Latest Headlines from your New England Travel Guide
