Festivals

Scallopalooza puts your shucking skills to the test. On August 14 New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center asks you to step up to the challenge in their scallop shucking contest at the Center. There will be live music, food, local vendors, and a link-squeezing demonstration. Link sneezing refers to the process of making a scallop dredge, joining the steel rings with metal links done by hand using a link squeezer. Activities commence at 5:30 PM.

New England’s largest FREE event kicks off on Thursday, July 31, with festivities ongoing through Sunday, August 3. Don’t miss the 109th annual Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, the largest Portuguese Festival in the world. Roast meat over the massive pit for traditional carne espeto, a Portuguese and Brazilian skewered meat. Check out more traditional flavors of the Feast including meats and fish, sweet treats, and adult beverages, with the special treat of Madeiran wine from casks imported through a special agreement with the Madeiran government. Enjoy music from five different stages throughout the weekend. There’s a carnival and parade with the Grupo Folclorico Madeirense.

Art

Learn about the local art scene at ArTALK with Peter C. Stone at the New Bedford Art Museum, August 14 from 6 to 7:30 PM. Stone is one of the local artists featured in a current exhibit at the Museum, The Best of the SouthCoast up until August 31.

Don’t miss the Art Opening of All Growed Up, by local artist Jim Charette at Groundwork Coworking Gallery on August 8 from 6 to 8 PM. Jim Charette attended the Swain School of Design before its merger with the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth College of Visual And Performing Arts. Groundwork Gallery is located in one of Swain’s previous locations at 1213 Purchase Street. It was originally built as the New Bedford Textile School in 1899. This exhibit is a celebration of resilience, self-discovery, artistic growth, and a homecoming.

Music

The Whaling History Alliance Summer Concert Series presents Hardwire on August 7 and Lively Up!, a Marley/Reggae Tribute Band on August 14. Their concerts are held in Custom House Square from 6 to 8 PM.

Dust off your skates and head to Buttonwood Park on August 9 for New Moon Roller Disco. The event takes place from 3 to 7 PM.

Enjoy two monthly offerings brought to you by Oversoul Theatre Collective and hosted by members of the GroovaLottos. Enjoy the 2nd Thursday Blues at the Underground Railroad Cafe and Gallery on August 14 from 8 to 10:30 PM. Bring your instruments to this blues and jazz jam session that takes place monthly at AHA! Nights. On the third Saturday of every month, head to an underground dance music gathering with guest DJs and resident sound system WAMPTRONICA at the Thump & Soul Session from 9 to 11 PM.

The Summer Sound Series, managed by AHA! New Bedford has three block parties in August. Dance, eat, drink, and be merry right on a city block downtown surrounded by local shops, galleries, and restaurants. On August 8, enjoy the famous local reggae act JAMMIN’: A Bob Marley Tribute. Sway to rock and blues on August 15 with local musician Neal McCarthy and an electric 6-piece band. The series wraps up on August 22 with Colby James and the Ramblers, a country-rock style energetic band. Concerts take place from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Don’t miss the final showing of New Bedford JazzFest’s Acoustic Jazz Series on Sunday, August 24, at Steeple Playhouse. These intimate concerts also feature a guided experience and Q&A with JazzFest founder Eric Paradis. Get your tickets here.

Performing Arts

All genres are welcome at the monthly Open Mic at the First Unitarian Church. Open Mic, in collaboration with Infinity Productions, occurs from 3:30 to 6:30 PM in the Maja Capek room at the church.

In partnership with Reverie Theatre Group, Shakespeare in New Bedford Presents Romeo & Juliet at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum with dates throughout August. The scene is set in the Golden Age of Whaling in New Bedford. August 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16, the play starts at 7:30 PM. Sensory-friendly matinees will take place on August 10 & 17 at 2 PM.