Happy New Year! New calendar, new you! Pick something unexpected this month: cold water immersion or some speakeasy vibes and start making 2026 memories! Enjoy our 8 Great Things for January....
1. The Big Reveal
The long awaited reopening of the Z is finally happening, with lots of style! The full New Bedford Symphony Orchestra will be on stage throughout the evening, setting the backdrop for a captivating program of music, dance, and theater. Emmy Award–winning comedian Dulcé Sloan hosts the celebration, guiding us through an unforgettable night of laughter, joy, and artistry. Tickets starting at $39. January 17. The 2:00 show is sold out but there are still a few seats to grab at 7:00. More here.
2. Moby Dick Marathon
If you hated reading it in high school or college, don’t be scared. Listening to Moby Dick is the best way to experience it. We’re such big fans of this annual event that draws people from all over the country: a 25 hour read of Moby Dick at the New Bedford Whaling Museum with local businesses joining in on the fun. Free. January 2-4. Find the whole roster of events here.
3. Stargazing
You know what’s great about these long nights? There’s more extended time for stargazing. You’ve got two organizations hosting stargazing evenings this month…..add some hot chocolate and it’s a magical January memory! January 10th from 5 to 7:30 at Davis-Douglas Farm in Plymouth ($5) - more here. January 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 at Westport Woods Conservation Area (free) - more here.
4. Abolition Row
The South Coast walking book tour features the Pulitzer prize winning Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo. We’ll tour New Bedford’s Abolition Row with a stop at the Nathan & Polly Johnson house, featuring the page-turning true story about an enslaved couple fleeing Georgia, with the wife passing as a white master traveling with her enslaved servant. January 22 from 2 to 4 pm. Free but please register here.
5. Sunday in the Park
Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey are in talks to bring the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George (based on the Georges Seurat painting) to London next year. Lucky for us, we don’t have to wait until then. It’s playing at the cozy Little Theater of Fall River this month. Tickets $32. January 22 through February 1. More here.
6. Consider the Marsh
The DNRT is hosting their naturalist’s book club this month with Life & Death of the Salt Marsh, the 1969 environmental classic that was recently republished by the Buzzards Bay Coalition. Free. January 26 from 5:30 to 6:30. More here.
7. Winterstock!
It's the fifth year of the Narrows' grassroots music festival to raise money for the RiverStock Scholarship Fund to help music department students from BMC Durfee High School continue their education regardless of what field they seek . They have another amazing lineup including Michelle Saylors, The Berger Boys, Jeri Kozak & The Maybe Later, Peter Gendron & Loose Tracks, and 3 Legged Dog. Take time out of your long weekend to join the fun. Free but donations are very welcome. January 17 at noon. More here.
8. Brave the Cold!
Three times a week, a group of hardy souls immerse themselves in Onset Bay. We’ve seen them as they run into the Onset Bay Center afterwards to dry off and put warm clothes on. The most noteworthy thing: there’s a lot of joy on those faces. Read about two regulars right here. Free. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:30. More here.
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