Start Your AHA! Adventure At The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center
The AHA! website will be available for you to look at along with Park staff and volunteers ready to answer any questions you may have. The Visitor Center (33 William St) is open
10am-8pm on AHA!
AHA! Happens Rain Or Shine
Be sure to check the AHA! event page, Facebook page and Instagram Stories as well as website and social for participating event partners for info about location changes, program rescheduling and cancellations.
/ahanewbedford 
@ahanewbedford
www.ahanewbedford.org
Planning To AHA! IRL?
All of the AHA! partners have their own masking requirements. We recommend you carry a mask with you at all times so you don’t miss out on any of the AHA! festivities.
AHA! Schedule
Park, Partners & Placemaking:
Celebrating 25 Years with the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
5-9pm at the Park Visitor Center
(33 William St)
Celebrate 25 Years!
A full evening of panel discussions, musical presentations and a celebratory cake cutting to mark 25 years of the National Park’s presence and partnership in the New Bedford community.
5-6:30pm
Looking Back While Looking Forward
Join park staff and community partners for a conversation about the last 25 years of the National Park’s story. The panel will answer questions generated from social media, as well as the audience in attendance, about the birth of the Park in downtown New Bedford and the impact on our local community.
6:30-7pm
CAKE!
What’s a birthday celebration without cake? Visit the Park’s MakerSpace to grab a slice of cake and share your vision of the park for the next 25 years and beyond.
7-9pm
MUSIC!
To close out the night of celebrations, there will be performances from local musicians in the MakerSpace. Stop by to hear a wide variety of creative songwriting and individual performances from Darnel Staley, Scott Bishop, Sarah Donner, and Candida Rose.
DATMA Logo Design Challenge Exhibition
Eighth grade students from Our Sisters’ School will showcase logos they created for a design challenge in partnership with DATMA and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. As part of their Art/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) curriculum, students created original commemorative logos that represent the city of New Bedford and celebrate the National Park’s 25th Anniversary. Their designs will be shown in the Park’s MakerSpace.
Last Chance to See Uncommon Threads: The Works of Ruth E. Carter
4-8pm at the New Bedford Art Museum
(608 Pleasant St)
Uncommon Threads: The Works of Ruth E. Carter
A solo exhibition celebrating Massachusetts-born Ruth E. Carter’s 30-year career as an Academy Award-winning costume designer. Featuring costumes from Dolemite Is My Name (2019), Roots (2016 reboot), Selma (2014), Do The Right Thing (1989), and Malcolm X (1992), the exhibit follows Carter’s creative process and include sketches, mood boards, iconic costumes, and other ephemera from her Los Angeles studio.
Eadweard Muybridge: Animal Locomotion The latest exhibition at the Art Museum by New Bedford Library’s Art Curator, Allie Copeland. Eadweard Muybridge: Animal Locomotion is the Library’s latest exhibition featuring historic photographic studies of animals in motion and early motion-picture projection.
Kids Drawing Class
4-6pm at the Communal Space
(246 Union St)
The Communal Space & 3rd EyE Youth Empowerment present
Kids Open Art Class: Basics of Drawing with artist David A.
For kids 4 years old and up. Parents encouraged to participate.
Masks required.
Shop Small on AHA!
5-8pm at Subtext Bookshop
(209 Union St)
Shop Small on AHA!
Start your holiday shopping early with books for
everybody on your list.
Find more dining and shopping options at downtownnb.org/community
IRL Exhibits & A Virtual Talk with the
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
5-8pm at the NB Fishing Heritage Center
(38 Bethel St)
More Than A Job:
Work and Community in New Bedford’s Fishing Industry
An introduction to the workings of the fishing industry as well as and exploration of themes including labor history, immigration, sustainability, and the changing nature of work and community. This exhibit features a replica working deck, scallop dredge, galley table, bunks, historic and contemporary images and footage, and more than sixty audio clips sharing the many voices of the fishing community.
Women’s Work: At Sea, On Shore, At Home, In the Community
Featuring more than sixty women from fishing communities in Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island, the exhibit amplifies the voices and experience of women who work in what is often perceived to be a male-dominated world. The exhibit features the photography of Shareen Davis, Markham Starr, and Phil Mello, and draws on oral history interviews conducted over the past 15 years.
7pm on Zoom
Women in Fisheries Science – Then and Now
Five women will share their experiences working in the field of fisheries science. Panelists include pioneering scientists Linda Depres (the first female chief scientist on bottom trawl surveys at NOAA), Pat Gerrior (New Bedford’s first female port director) and three current graduate students from SMAST: Alison Frey, Aubrey Ellertson Church, and Patricia Perez. All these women are featured in the Center’s Women’s Work exhibit.
Click To Zoom
2 New Shows!
5-8pm at Gallery X (169 William St)
Amazing Art Raffle Preview in the Main Gallery
A biennial fundraiser exhibition, with this year’s proceeds going towards planned exterion restoration projects. W in fantastic prizes while at the same time supporting Gallery X and its tradition of bringing contemporary art and cultural events to the greater New Bedford community. All prizes are graciously donated by local artists, businesses, individuals, and cultural organizations and will include original works of art, locally made crafts, gift certificates, and other fun prizes.
Opening Reception for ARTDEMIC in the Douglass Gallery
An exhibit of artwork created by New Bedford High School students during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Masks required while inside Gallery X.
Thanksgiving Crafts & More
5-8pm at Pilgrim UCC (635 Purchase St)
Crafts, Resources & a History Lesson with Mercy Meals & More
Mercy Meals & More will be opening the Pilgrimm UCC Hall for AHA! night. The hall is a historic building and part of the history includes a visit by Booker T Washington.
Stop by for
– Thanksgiving crafts while supplies last
– a ‘museum-style’ history lesson
– refreshments
– on-site resources from MM&M
Opening Reception, Artist Talk & Tour
5-9pm at the CVPA Star Store
(715 Purchase St)
Opening Reception for Nancy Holt: Massachusetts
6-8:30pm, Program at 6:45pm
Nancy Holt: Massachusetts explores Nancy Holt’s Massachusetts connections, especially her family history in New Bedford. This exhibition is part of an initiative celebrating the 30th anniversary of Holt’s Spinwinder (1991), a public sculpture on the UMass Dartmouth Main Campus. Spinwinder has artifacts embedded in its foundation that refer to local industrial histories, including an homage to Samuel Holt, faculty member at the New Bedford Textile School and Nancy Holt’s grandfather. The exhibition is accompanied by a companion presentation of Electrical System (1982) in the CVPA Campus Gallery. Electrical System is a room-sized sculpture by Holt that was exhibited at John Weber Gallery in New York City in January 1982 and at the David Bellman Gallery in Toronto in February 1982. The work is part of Holt’s series of Systems Works that reveal infrastructures of the built environment; each presentation works carefully with the exhibition space. UMass Dartmouth is proud to present the first posthumous presentation of Electrical System in the United States. This exhibition and initiative is organized by Dr. Rebecca Uchill and is supported by the Henry Luce Foundation’s American Art Program.
New National Park Tour
The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will unveil a new tour focused on Spinwinder. “The two decades of a close partnership between the University and the National Park Service have laid a strong foundation for programs that engage our shared audiences. Through this exhibition, the local academic and learning community will be offered an opportunity to see New Bedford as a city of intense textile production in addition to the many other complex histories for which it is already known,” said Park Superintendent Jennifer Smith.
Front Porch Convos & Holiday Shopping
5-8pm at the Drawing Room (36 N Water St)
Celebrate the historic neighborhood of Front & Centre
Stop by the Front Porch for good company, creative conversation and an early start to your holiday shopping.
Artist Meet & Greet with Iva Brito
5:30-7:30pm at the Co-Creative Center
(137 Union St)
Artist Meet & Greet with Iva Brito
Stop by for the grand opening of Iva’s month-long gallery showing
The Art of Poetry. Enjoy good vibes and flow with the art and corresponding poetry that will be showcased at the Co-Creative space until December.
The showing explores the relationship between poetry and imagery and will consist of paintings inspired by Iva’s poetry in her book: Essence, Tones, Whispers, and Shouts.
South Coast Brass Band Street Stroll
Starting at 5:30pm in Custom House Square
New Bedford JazzFest presents the South Coast Brass Band
Starting in Custom House Square and strolling the streets of downtown until 7pm.
Preservation Success Stories
5:30pm on Zoom
Registration Required
The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Mueum presents
Preservation Success Stories – A Virtual Talk
Join RJD’s Manager of Collections and Interpretation, Lauren Prescott, and her guests who will talk about particular successes they’ve had in their efforts to preserve historic sites. Guests: Alex Papo, Lori Urso.
Click To Register
AHA! Mini Concert
5:30pm at The Cultivator
(31 Union St)
AHA! Mini Concert featuring Molly O’Leary w/John Fernandes
Molly O’Leary is a singer-songwriter from New Bedford. Growing up, Molly took lessons with Rebecca Correia, participated in programming at Dream Out Loud, performed at Cafe Arpeggio’s open mic nights, and watched her older brother, Tom O’Leary, play the drums in several bands. Thanks to these experiences, Molly fell in love with music and songwriting. Molly’s style has been described as folk and indie. “Holding Space,” her debut record, was released in October.
Best of Broadway – Les Miserables!
6:15 & 6:45pm at
First Unitarian Church NB (71 Eighth St)
Stage Artistry Studios presents
the Best of Broadway – Les Miserables!
Performances at 6:15pm & 6:45pm in the Tryworks Auditorium
Enjoy some of the most beloved songs from the iconic musical, Les Miserables, including On My Own, Do You Hear The People Sing, and Master of the House, from the Stage Artistry Youth Touring Company.
Stage Artistry Studios is located at 471 Union Street and offers a unique quality arts education to young aspiring artists. This group of young talented theatre students will dazzle you with their voices and knowledge of Broadway shows. Stage Artistry Studios and their non-profit, Sharing the Art, are committed to bringing theatre arts to all children and theatre lovers in our community. For more information visit www.stageartistry.com
Anomaly Poetry Open Mic
7pm on Zoom
Anomaly Poetry Open Mic
Hang out with the Anomaly poets in the Zoom Room to hear original works and poems hand-picked by readers.
Interested in reading?
Click For All The Details
Interested in joining?
Click To RSVP For Updates & Reminders
You will receive a notification when Zoom info is posted (about 2 hours prior to showtime).
AHA! In The Afternoon
Our downtown New Bedford museums, galleries and institutions are open for visitors.
Visit their websites for more info about current hours, programs, exhibits and COVID19 safety protocols.
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Plus IRL AHA! programming from 5-8pm &
virtual programming at 7pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
New Bedford Port Society
including Seamen’s Bethel & Mariner’s Home
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Click For More Info
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Open on AHA! 9am – 5pm with reserved timed admission
Click For More Info
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Plus IRL AHA! programming from 4-8pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Open on AHA! 10am – 4pm
Plus virtual programming at 5:30pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
New Bedford Art Museum / Artworks!
Open on AHA! 10am-4pm with reserved timed admission
Plus IRL programming from 4-8pm (see listing above)
Click For More Info
Please consider shopping or dining in DNB to help support our small biz community.
Follow DNB, Inc. on Facebook /dnbinc or Instagram @dnbinc for updates about downtown dining and retail shopping.
