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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260627T120000
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SUMMARY:Reading PorchFest
DESCRIPTION:Volunteer-run festival aims to top 100 acts as performers and hosts sign up for 2026 celebration of music and community\n\nReading\, MA — Despite all the snow still on the ground\, it’s time again to start thinking about PorchFest. \nReading PorchFest returns for its eighth year on Saturday\, June 27. Links are now up at ReadingPorchFest.com for those who wish to perform\, to host a band or solo act\, or maybe both. \nReading PorchFest was born during the town’s 375th anniversary in 2019 and has grown every year since. Last year\, the festival boasted 99 separate musical acts at 46 locations\, including driveways\, front yards\, and\, of course\, porches. We hope to break the 100 mark this June. \nTo take part in this all-volunteer effort\, visit the website\, check out the instructions\, and join in for the 2026 edition. \nAs we get closer to the event\, the website will feature a gallery of performers\, and on the Facebook page watch for music snippets featuring samples of many of the upcoming performances. A complete map and schedule will be posted about a week before the event. \nIt is always a great day\, filled with entertainment combined with community spirit. \nMake sure to save the date – June 27 – running from noon until six pm.
URL:https://thereadingpost.com/event/reading-porchfest-3/
LOCATION:MA
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260627T193000
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SUMMARY:The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Comes to Reading
DESCRIPTION:Colonial Chorus Players brings the Tony Award-winning musical comedy to the Old Hose House Theater June 19–28\nReading\, MA — lu•gu•bri•ous (adjective)—extremely sad and droopy. “If you’ve been feeling lugubrious lately\, a ticket to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Colonial Chorus Players is just what you need!” \nThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the uproarious\, heartwarming\, Tony Award-winning musical about six quirky middle schoolers who are competing for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Along the way they disclose hilarious and touching stories from their home lives\, while learning that winning (and losing) isn’t everything. \nPerformances of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee are June 19\, 20\, 26 & 27 at 7:30 PM and June 21 & 28 at 2 PM at the Old Hose House Theater\, 1249 Main Street\, Reading. Advance tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and students at www.ccp1961.org. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door 30 minutes before showtime with cash\, Venmo\, or PayPal only. All seats are reserved seating. \nThe ensemble cast features Sophie Bauder\, Link Bowen\, Nurilys Cintron\, Molly Devin (swing)\, Cara Guappone\, Adele Leikauskas\, Aiden O’Neal\, Shayna Plotnik\, Adam Sell\, and Josh Telepman. Directed by Jamie Cook\, with musical direction by Jakob Michaels.
URL:https://thereadingpost.com/event/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-comes-to-reading-2-2/2026-06-27/
LOCATION:Colonial Chorus Players\, 1249 Main Street\, Reading\, MA\, 01867\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260628T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260628T170000
DTSTAMP:20260619T053246
CREATED:20260609T193744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T194407Z
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SUMMARY:The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Comes to Reading
DESCRIPTION:Colonial Chorus Players brings the Tony Award-winning musical comedy to the Old Hose House Theater June 19–28\nReading\, MA — lu•gu•bri•ous (adjective)—extremely sad and droopy. “If you’ve been feeling lugubrious lately\, a ticket to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Colonial Chorus Players is just what you need!” \nThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the uproarious\, heartwarming\, Tony Award-winning musical about six quirky middle schoolers who are competing for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Along the way they disclose hilarious and touching stories from their home lives\, while learning that winning (and losing) isn’t everything. \nPerformances of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee are June 19\, 20\, 26 & 27 at 7:30 PM and June 21 & 28 at 2 PM at the Old Hose House Theater\, 1249 Main Street\, Reading. Advance tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and students at www.ccp1961.org. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door 30 minutes before showtime with cash\, Venmo\, or PayPal only. All seats are reserved seating. \nThe ensemble cast features Sophie Bauder\, Link Bowen\, Nurilys Cintron\, Molly Devin (swing)\, Cara Guappone\, Adele Leikauskas\, Aiden O’Neal\, Shayna Plotnik\, Adam Sell\, and Josh Telepman. Directed by Jamie Cook\, with musical direction by Jakob Michaels.
URL:https://thereadingpost.com/event/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-comes-to-reading-2-2/2026-06-28/
LOCATION:Colonial Chorus Players\, 1249 Main Street\, Reading\, MA\, 01867\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260701T183000
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SUMMARY:Reading Public Library to Host Community Reading of Frederick Douglass’s Historic Fourth of July Address
DESCRIPTION:July 1 event will feature a public reading and discussion of “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” as part of the statewide Reading Frederick Douglass Together program supported by Mass Humanities\nReading Public Library (RPL)\, Reading\, MA — Community members in Reading will gather on Wednesday\, July 1\, at 6:30 p.m. for a public reading and facilitated discussion of Frederick Douglass’s landmark 1852 speech\, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” \nThe event is supported by The Friends of Reading Public Library and Mass Humanities through its Reading Frederick Douglass Together (RFDT) grant program. This year\, the grant will fund 76 readings across the Commonwealth. If you are interested in participating in the reading\, please contact Jocelyn Gould at jgould@noblenet.org for more information. \nFirst delivered in 1852 at Corinthian Hall in Rochester\, New York\, Douglass’s speech remains one of the most powerful reflections on American democracy\, freedom\, and racial justice. \n“As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary\, Mass Humanities encourages people of every age\, background\, and experience in cities and towns across Massachusetts to gather\, to commemorate\, question\, and recommit to the promises made in 1776\,” said Brian Boyles\, Executive Director of Mass Humanities. \nSince the first Reading Frederick Douglass Together event was held on the Boston Common in 2009\, the program has grown into a statewide civic tradition. In 2025 alone\, with $130\,000 in grant support from Mass Humanities\, more than 8\,000 children and adults attended 71 public readings in 48 municipalities in every corner of the state. \n“These readings give everyone in our community—residents\, students\, organizations—a chance to sit with Douglass’s words and reflect on why they still matter\, more than 170 years later\,” said Reading Public Library Director Amy Lannon. “That’s what libraries are here for\, and we’re proud to bring this experience to Reading.” \nRFDT events have been staged by a diverse group of organizations across the Commonwealth\, from museums and historical societies to social justice organizations\, social service providers\, elementary and high schools\, colleges\, universities\, and houses of worship. RFDT is made possible with the support of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. \nThe event is free and open to the public. \nAbout Reading Frederick Douglass Together \nFor more information about the Reading Frederick Douglass Together program\, contact Wes DeShano\, Communications Manager\, at wdeshano@masshumanities.org or by phone at 413-203-6241\, ext. 102. \nAbout Mass Humanities \nMass Humanities is the state’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Through grants\, programs\, and community initiatives like Reading Frederick Douglass Together\, Mass Humanities supports public programs that spark conversation\, deepen understanding\, and strengthen civic life across Massachusetts.
URL:https://thereadingpost.com/event/reading-public-library-to-host-community-reading-of-frederick-douglasss-historic-fourth-of-july-address/
LOCATION:Reading Public Library\, 64 Middlesex Avenue\, Reading\, MA\, 01867\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260829T120000
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SUMMARY:Wakefield Porchfest
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, August 29th  \nCelebration of Live\, Local Music Sets Date for 3rd Annual Townwide Event\nRain Date on Sunday\, August 30th\n\n\n\nWAKEFIELD\, MASS. – The Wakefield Porchfest Committee has selected a date for Wakefield Porchfest 2026\, which will return to town on Saturday\, August 29\, 2026\, with a rain date the following day\, Sunday\, August 30th. The exact time for the event has yet to be determined\, but will be announced later this year\, along with registration details for bands and hosts. The 2026 event will be the third annual community-wide festival\, which is focused on promoting local live music across the town\, with music acts hosted by homes and small businesses. \n“The final weekend of August will be the perfect time for an end-of-summer celebration of live local music\, and an opportunity for our community to come together before the start of school and the busy fall season\,” said Porchfest Committee member Nate Johnson. “Wakefield is lucky to have one of the country’s best Fourth of July celebrations at the start of summer\, and we hope Wakefield Porchfest can become an annual tradition to close out the season. We’re looking forward to getting work underway to make this the best live music event in the region!” \nThe 2026 event builds on the success of the previous events in 2024 and 2025\, which each drew over 100 musical acts at 50 to 60 host locations around Wakefield. The community-wide event is coordinated by a group of volunteers who collaborate with musicians and the Wakefield residents\, homeowners\, and small businesses who host performances. \nSome additional details announced by the Committee\, in addition to the 2026 event date: \n\nRegistration for hosts and musical acts will also open later in the spring. Residents or businesses interested in hosting musical acts\, or those interested in performing\, should register on the Wakefield Porchfest website to receive an update when registration opens;\nThose interested in becoming a sponsor for Porchfest 2026 can reach out via email to sponsor@wakefieldporchfest.com to communicate interest and learn about our sponsorship options; and\nThe exact time for the 2026 event will be announced later in the year.\n\nEarlier this year\, Wakefield Porchfest co-founder Ike Adams received the Wakefield Human Rights Commission’s Community Service Award for 2026\, an honor awarded during the Town’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 19th. Adams was nominated by local community members Eileen Rooney and Ben Blackstone\, a high school musician\, who introduced him at the event\, which was shown live by WCAT. \nIn his acceptance speech\, Adams highlighted the many volunteers\, hosts\, musicians\, sponsors\, and music fans that help deliver a celebration of live music and of the community. \n“We made a day all about music and filled the town with it\, twice so far\,” said Adams. “My goal moving forward is simply: more music\, more volume\, more often\, more styles\, more variety\, more venues\, more bands\, more fans\, more music in places we haven’t heard it yet\, more people playing or singing for the first time\, and more people picking back up after a long break. If any of this sounds like something you’ve been considering\, this is your invitation.” \nThis program is funded in part by a grant from the Wakefield Arts Council\, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council\, a state agency. Wakefield Porchfest also receives funding and in-kind support from businesses and residents across the community. \nWakefield is one of more than 200 communities that host a Porchfest\, according to organizers in Ithaca\, NY\, which launched the first iteration of the community-focused music event in 2007.
URL:https://thereadingpost.com/event/wakefield-porchfest/
LOCATION:MA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/wakefield-porchfest-e1756564704554.jpg
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