Preservation Celebration
May 14, 2026
Free Parking
Don’t worry about finding a place to park. During AHA! Night there is free parking at the Elm Street and Zeiterion Garages.
Pick up a paper copy of the AHA! program at the AHA! Welcome Desk, the library, National Park Visitor Center, and New Bedford Art Museum. You can also download a copy here, just note that it’s oversized if you try to print at home.
Follow the Flags
Many of our participating locations will have a yellow AHA! flag prominently displayed to help you find AHA! Night activities.
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.
AHA! NIGHT ACTIVITY SCHEDULE | May 14th
3:00 PM
4:30 PM
5:00 PM
Make Stained Glass Art With Tissue Paper
Join Pilgrim United Church of Christ and Mercy Meals & More to make Stained Glass Art with tissue paper.
While you’re here, learn more about Booker T. Washington, who gave a speech in our building in 1895 and visit the mural installed on the side of the building in 2023.
Ash: Drawings by Elena Peteva with Artist Talk
The UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is proud to present Ash: Drawings by Elena Peteva, hosted at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Enjoy the opening reception and artist talk this AHA! Night.
Elena Peteva, Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, is widely recognized for her dedication to the College of Visual and Performing Arts and for her mastery of Drawing as both discipline and inquiry.
Peteva states, that “charcoal, or ash, becomes a metaphor as a subject and material — it is what is left at the end of all things and something essential to new life, in the form of carbon. It is the beginning and the end. What I try to do in my work is define, present, and illuminate things which are, perhaps, unrepresentable.”
UMass Dartmouth 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition
Exhibition Dates: April 9 – May 14, 2026
Open House @ 230U
Stop by 3rd EyE Youth Empowerment’s radically inclusive community incubator for their monthly Open House. Explore the space and enjoy a mix of activities that change monthly including free wall activation, open mics & spontaneous dance parties, Silent DJ sets, and other hands-on activities.
5:30 PM
6:00 PM
Old Time Fiddle Session & Community Gathering
Join EPIC Southcoast for an Old Time Fiddle Session in partnership with AHA ! New Bedford .
Circle up and play some tunes in the historic New Bedford Whaling Museum
Jazz with the Buttonwood Brass Band
Enjoy some speakeasy jazz from the Buttonwood Brass Band, on every AHA! Night at the New Bedford Harbor Hotel.
AHA! Night Jazz Jam
Calling all musicians, performing artists, music lovers and enthusiasts! Join multi-faceted musician and music educators Emmanuel “Manny” Escobar and Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor for a free, fun jam session during AHA! Nights in the Zeiterion’s Speakeasy. Grab your instruments and play – or just enjoy the live music. Hosted by Blair Taylor.
Followed by Wamptronica’s “Aaahhhh After Dark.” Musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and audience members welcome. No prior jam experience or ticket needed.
6-8PM Jazz Jam
8-10PM Wamptronica “Aaaahhh After Dark”
Images by Leia Onofrey for AHA! New Bedford
6:30 PM
GALLERY X POP-UP POSTER EXHIBIT
The Artists Index and Gallery X wrap up the Gallery X Documentation Project on May 14th – AHA! Night at Gallery X with ten open-edition, archival poster reproduction prints, on exhibit and available for purchase. This one-night-only pop-up print exhibit offers Gallery X members, collectors, and supporters a rare opportunity to take home a piece of Gallery X’s enduring legacy.
These fine art reproduction prints will be available for purchase from 5-6:30 pm. at Gallery X on May 14th only. Prints will be available for purchase online after the 14th.
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
DJ Anj Kep at The National Club
DJ Anj Kep sets the tone at the National Club for late night bites, craft cocktails, and cool vibes.
Live Music: Neal McCarthy Trio
Grab a bite or a pint and listen to Electric Blues & Rock with the Neal McCarthy Trio as they play from 8-11:30pm.
Karaoke at PLAY
Belt out some tunes at PLAY Arcade! There’s karaoke, food, fun, and games!
WAMPTRONICA: AHHHhhh at the Speakeasy
THURSDAY, APRIL 9 will be a special edition of AHHHhhh! @ The Speakeasy; featuring music from the newly released project INTERSESSION by WAMPTRONICA (Poly-Groove Records), a journey into Deep Afro Jazz House Music, as only WAMPTRONICA can bring it. Starting promptly at 8pm, flowing out of the Jazz Jam. Musicians are welcome to stay and flow over the grooves.
9:00 PM
