Arts and Culture

To submit an event for our Culture Calendar, please use our submission form. Please remember to heed the latest public health COVID-19 precautions.

HOLIDAYS

Saturday, Dec. 9, from 5–6 p.m.
NEW BEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

City of New Bedford Downtown Tree Lighting

New Bedford Festival Theater executive producer Armand Marchand will emcee this year’s tree-lighting celebration.

A parade will march from William Street, near the Whaling Museum, to the library steps at 4:30 p.m. New Bedford High School’s marching band, color guard, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will participate in the procession.

Mayor Mitchell will deliver remarks at the library, followed by a sing-along with New Bedford Festival Theater. A mix of classic holiday hits and new selections will be sung. Songbooks will be provided.

New Life Church and Community Services will provide free hot chocolate.


Sunday, Dec. 10 from 1–7 p.m.
THE VAULT

Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl

All proceeds will benefit the Friends of Jack Foundation. Participants are encouraged to wear an ugly holiday sweater and make a $20 donation. Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite or at the door on the event day.

Schedule of stops:
1 p.m.— Vault Music Hall & Pub
2 p.m. — Freestones City Grill
3 p.m. — Rose Alley Ale House
4 p.m. — Cork Wine & Tapas
5 p.m. — PLAY Arcade


Sunday, Dec. 10, from 1–5 p.m.
JAMES ARNOLD MANSION

29th annual Holiday House Tour

Discover what makes New Bedford architecture unique by participating in the annual Holiday House Tour. The tour begins with a brunch at the New Bedford Preservation Society headquarters at the James Arnold Mansion at 11 a.m. During tour hours, a holiday raffle and silent auction will be held. Brunch reservations are suggested but not required. Reservations for brunch can be made by calling 508-997-7431.

Tour tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members.


Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
NEW BEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL

NBSO: Holiday Pops

This season’s spirit is alive and well with Yaniv, NBSO musicians, and special guests, including The Showstoppers and Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestra. The 3:30 p.m. matinee is suitable for children and the young. The evening show has more music, but all ages will enjoy it. Both performances last about one hour without an intermission.

Tickets for both performances cost $20–43 and $10 for students.


SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

Marine Heatwaves Exhibit

New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

Marine Heatwaves is on view from May 23–December 31 in the museum’s Jacobs Family Gallery. This installation combines art with oceanography. The exhibit finds a common language between art and […]

Sea Monsters: Real and Imagined

New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center 38 Bethel St., New Bedford, MA, United States

"Sea Monsters Real and Imagined" is a new exhibit that opens on July 13 (AHA! Night) and will remain on view until December 31. The exhibit showcases real-life deep sea […]

Common Ground: Community Story

New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

Since 2018, the Museum has been engaged in an extensive oral history project called “Common Ground.” If you have not already, we need you to participate in this ground-breaking project. […]

Whaling Museum Call for Artists

New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

Applications for the museum's Local Artist Showcase display case are now being accepted from local artists. NBWM will accept submissions until December 2023 to fill the display case in 2024. Visit […]

All Hands Exhibit at the Whaling Museum

New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

"All Hands" explores the fascinating link between American whaling and the U.S. Navy. Michael Dyer, Curator of Maritime History, looks at the intersection of whaling and the U.S. Navy from […]

Gateways to Awareness Exhibit

New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA, United States

Gateways to Awareness explores the role of memory, perception, and the five senses in our appreciation of art and the world around us. The artworks in the exhibition engage the […]

Event Series Art Celebrated Exhibition

Art Celebrated Exhibition

Judith Klein Art Gallery 127 West Rodney French Blvd., Suite 287, New Bedford, MA, United States

The "Art Celebrated" exhibit showcases oil, acrylic, and mixed media paintings, printmaking and sculptures. Participating artist include: Alma Cummings, Mary Hurwitz, Judith Klein, Teresa Manning, Sheila Oliveira, Barbara Roessner and Suzanne […]

Meditations on Landscape III — Call for Submissions

Virtual

Meditations on Landscape is a ten-day exhibit and festival celebrating the landscapes of the South Coast. Now in its third year, the exhibit displays the work of local photographers alongside […]

Event Series Holiday Scarf Making Class

Holiday Scarf Making Class

New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA, United States

Learn how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off and become a confident knitter. The fee is $100 for members and $110 for non-members. All materials are included. Ages […]

$100 – $110

The Wandering Brush Holiday Watercolor Class: Ornament & Cards

Viva Fall River Maker Shop 333 South Main Street, Fall River, MA, United States

Discover the joy of watercolor with Lana of The Wandering Brush at Viva Maker Shop's festive event. This workshop is suitable for beginners, teens, and watercolor enthusiasts. Students will create […]

$35

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year Murder Mystery

Pub 6T5 736 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA, United States

In this seasonal standup show, the jolly jokester is upstaged by an event far worse than bad holiday humor: a murder. As humbug hovers over the holiday season, it's up […]

$25

Elegant Earrings: Exquisite Figures

New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA, United States

The class will shape earrings into exquisite shapes and figures. Each student can make a couple of pairs of French hook earrings with an assortment of beads in a variety […]

$81 – $90

Jackson Neves at Rose Alley

Rose Alley Ale House 94 Front St., New Bedford, MA, United States

Jackson Neves is a music and business major at Wheaton College. He’s also a guitarist, singer, and pianist playing the best music of the ’50s through today.