The New Bedford Whaling Museum and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office will open Bristol County: Incarcerated on Oct. 24. The exhibit traces the history of local incarceration from the 18th-century jail in Taunton to New Bedford’s Ash Street Jail. The Ash Street facility is the oldest continuously operating jail in the nation. Artifacts include the […]
Proteanna: Susan Heideman is on view at the New Bedford Whaling Museum from May 29 through Nov. 1. The exhibition features large-scale mixed-media works by Heideman inspired by ocean life and imagined underwater forms. Combining watercolor, collage, and hand embroidery, the pieces create richly layered, textured compositions that blur the line between real and imagined […]
Horizons for Homeless Children is seeking volunteers for its Playspace Program across Massachusetts. Horizons supports young children experiencing homelessness through early education, play, and family services. The organization operates trauma-informed Playspaces inside family shelters. Spaces include books, toys, crafts, and activities designed to help children feel safe and supported. Volunteers, known as Playspace Activity Leaders […]
“Vanishing Ecologies: Speculative Futures” opens June 25 at the New Bedford Art Museum with a free reception from 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibit remains on view through Oct. 11. Through painting, sculpture, installation, and time-based media, artists explore climate change, extinction, technology, and imagined futures shaped by the Anthropocene. Several works examine the tension […]
“Sailors' Valentines: Maritime Art From the Heart” is on view through Nov. 8 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Shell-covered keepsakes, known as sailors' valentines, have long been tied to maritime history. The exhibition traces the art form from its 19th-century origins to modern interpretations through historic pieces and contemporary works. Displays highlight the craftsmanship, […]
Summer activities run daily at the New Bedford Whaling Museum from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Activities are free with museum admission. Mondays: Revolutionary Moments Commemorate America's 250th anniversary on alternating Mondays: June 29, July 13 and 27, and Aug. 10 and 24. Tuesdays: Lagoda Days Explore above and below deck aboard the Lagoda whaling […]
Throughout September, Familius will donate a copy of Lisa Sugarman’s “Surviving: Finding Hope After Suicide Loss” to Samaritans Southcoast for each copy purchased online, through the publisher. Sugarman is a board member and Safe Place facilitator. Learn more or purchase the book
New Bedford has a new yard waste collection schedule in effect from September through December 2026. Yard waste will be collected the day after each household’s regular trash day. Friday routes will have yard waste picked up the following Monday. Residents should place materials at the curb by 7 a.m. using paper yard waste bags […]
New Bedford Creative is accepting applications for its 2027 grant cycle, with funding available for local artists, nonprofits, community groups, and small businesses. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Funding is available through the Art is Everywhere! and Wicked Cool Places programs. General grants range from $3,000 to $10,000 and can support […]
The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) is seeking applicants for a new regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Interested individuals are invited to complete the BPAC membership application form by November 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Members will provide input on walking and biking needs across southeastern Massachusetts. The group is expected […]
SOUTH COAST ARTISTS! You’re being hunted. Maybe haunted. Definitely not ghosted. The New Bedford Light is on the trail for art works of all kinds in a Halloween frame of mind for our next Arts Illuminated live talk show. Click here to submit entries by Friday, Sept. 25, for our Thursday, Oct. 8, show – the […]
The New Bedford Art Museum is seeking artists for Analog: An Antidote to AI Art, an exhibition exploring what makes art distinctly human in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. Entry deadline: Sept. 24 Entry fee: $40 for five images, plus $5 for each additional image, up to 10 images Prizes: $1,000 for first place; […]
The Westport Art Group’s fourth annual Invitational Photography Show features work by 30 photographers Sept. 17 through Oct. 4 at the WAG Gallery, 1740 Main Road, Westport Point. An opening reception is set for Friday, Sept. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. Programs include a photography panel, a drone photography presentation on Saturday, Sept. 26, […]
Adriance Furnituremakers highlights work by local artisans in the Showroom Gallery. Each piece shows the maker’s style. Each one brings character to the space. John Magnan shifted to art after an early retirement from a technical career. The change led to studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Magnan later earned an MFA in […]
Mass 2-1-1 and Lyft have teamed up to offer Relief Rides, a limited free transportation program for eligible individuals without access to other local options. Rides are available for critical non-emergency needs such as food access, short-term work transportation, and medical or mental health appointments. The service is open to qualified residents in Fall River […]
A reminder that flu and COVID cases rise during this season. Vaccines help protect families and reduce severe illness. Residents can schedule appointments through state vaccination sites or local providers. Information is available at mass.gov/seasonal-vaccines.
Mercy Meals & More is collecting gently used shoes for men and women. Sneakers and boots are preferred. All sizes are accepted. Shoes must not be worn out. Donations can be dropped off at Mercy Meals & More Soup Kitchen at Pilgrim United Church
Mercy Meals & More is a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a nutritious start to the day for neighbors in need. A hot breakfast is served Monday through Saturday from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Guests are treated with dignity and respect. In addition to free meals, the organization offers clothing and foot care. Its mission […]
The Capital Planning Committee will meet Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 315 at Dartmouth Town Hall, 400 Slocum Road. Agenda Members will review the FY27 Master Capital Plan and capital recommendations for the FY27 Fall Town Meeting. The agenda also includes old business, minutes for approval and adjournment. The meeting will be […]
Martha’s Pantry at Grace provides groceries each week to households in Greater New Bedford. The food available includes fresh produce and bread. The goal is to supply three meals a day for three days for each family member. Households may visit once a month. Pantry is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. […]
Learn watercolor painting through practice and technique in this four-week workshop. Students will explore various techniques like wet-on-wet, wet-on-damp, and masking fluid, as well as color mixing and brushwork. The class covers practical tools and methods, including the use of salt, plastic wrap, and magic erasers to enhance work. The $145 fee covers all four […]
New Bedford Arts and Cultural Emporium will hold a memory workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to noon. The class fee is $25. Participants will learn simple mnemonic techniques to improve recall. Exercises will focus on shopping lists, appointments, and daily tasks. Attendees should bring a notebook and pen. The workshop is not […]
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park offers free weekly walking tours through Oct. 11, 2026. Participants meet a ranger or volunteer inside the visitor center or in the garden. Exploring Extraordinary Whales Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Learn about whales’ size, adaptations, communication, and migration, along with their connections to New Bedford’s history and global industries. […]
The M.O. FOOD = L.I.F.E. Food Pantry, operated by M.O. L.I.F.E., Inc., helps feed neighbors across Greater New Bedford. It is open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The pantry is located outside the building on the corner of Pleasant and Middle streets. Groceries are available to individuals and families facing food insecurity. Hundreds […]
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