In July, summer is in full swing, and the hardest decision is often what to do first and how to do it all. The best part? A lot of it is free to attend. Coming to a show at the Zeiterion or visiting an exhibition at the New Bedford Whaling Museum or New Bedford Art Museum? Treat yourself and make it a weekend or overnight trip, and stay in one of our hotels.

Celebrate Independence in July

The City of New Bedford Independence Day celebration goes big for the semiquincentennial on July 3. The City teamed up with AHA! New Bedford to present a double-feature for a Summer Sound Series block party-style concert from 6 to 8:30 PM. The concert will take place on Purchase Street between Union Street and William Street. Autumn Drive and Morrissey Boulevard will take the stage, so put on your dancing shoes or grab your lawn chairs for lounging. Cirque de Light also presents circus arts performances with stilt walking, juggling, and hula hooping during the concert. After the concert, head down to Lower Union Street just outside of The National Club Mexican Cantina and Play Arcade for the city’s fireworks display.

Cabo Verdean Heritage Month

On April 3 of 2025, the City of New Bedford designated July Cabo Verdean Heritage Month, aligning with the 50th anniversary of Cabo Verdean Independence. The Cabo Verdean Heritage Month Coalition’s efforts led to this designation and expanded programming to celebrate Cabo Verdean culture in New Bedford. Check out more of what’s happening this July.

On Saturday, July 4th, the Cape Verdean Independence Day Bike Ride kicks off with the adult ride at 10 AM at Monte Park. The adult loop is 9.5 miles. The children’s route is 5.7 miles and also begins at Monte Park at 10:15. The routes take you through the heart of New Bedford’s Cape Verdean neighborhoods, celebrating Cape Verdean diaspora in the South Coast. Register and learn more about the event.

The 54th Cape Verdean Recognition Parade takes place Sunday, July 5. The parade begins at noon at Buttonwood Park and marches down Union Street, ending at the Cape Verdean Veterans Hall. Kultura Fest begins at 11 AM at Serenity Gardens and will include music, vendors, and cultural food.

July Music and Festivals

The third annual NB Roots and Branches Festival takes place on July 17 and 18 in downtown New Bedford. This free two-day music and art festival demonstrates the diversity of New Bedford in its participants and audience. There will be a variety of styles of music, performance art, visual art, traditional dance, and more. There are four outdoor stages and stages indoors at various small local businesses and restaurants. See the full schedule, map, and more to prepare for the NB Roots and Branches Festival.

The annual Whaling City Festival is back July 9 through 12 at Buttonwood Park. Stroll a line of retail and craft vendors, choose from a variety of food vendors, enjoy amusement park rides and live pro wrestling, and head down for the traditional car show on Sunday.

The Friends Group for the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Whaling History Alliance, presents their annual Summer Concert Series in Custom House Square. Three concerts take place on three Thursdays in July and two in August. Concerts run from 6 PM to 8 PM and are free and open to the public. The concert dates in July are July 9, July 16, and July 23.

The Summer Sound Series officially kicks off on June 26. AHA! New Bedford produces this annual series, which includes block-party style concerts where people dance, bring lawn chairs and lounge, and purchase beverages from surrounding restaurants that set up on the street for the concerts. The series runs from the end of June through early September on most Fridays from 6:30-8:30 PM.

Joe Jesus’ 50s Night returns Thursday, July 16, from 5 PM to 8 PM. This event has been an annual staple in downtown for over three decades. The streets are lined with classic cars and sports cars, vendors and food vendors are on site, and restaurants and shops are open. Live music and the array of cars turn the streets of downtown into one giant block party for dancing, community celebration, and conversations with friends and family.

Art

The Seaport Art Walk is a large-format annual outdoor exhibition that kicks off during July’s AHA! Night, the second Thursday of the month, which is July 9 for 2026. New Bedford Creative produces the exhibition with a fall call for art and an installation supported by founding artist Jessica Bregoli. On July’s AHA! Night, New Bedford Creative provides a tour of the art walk with several of the artists available to talk about their pieces. This year’s Seaport Art Walk theme is Good Trouble.

For the whole month of July, the photography micro-exhibit, Ilha Di Li: Picturing the 11th Island, pops up in the storefront windows of businesses throughout the city. The 11th island refers to the Cabo Verdean diaspora and the connection felt by Cabo Verdeans living abroad from one of the 10 islands of Cabo Verde. Curated by Mia Livramento and Iva Brito, the exhibit looks at diaspora through an aesthetic and experimental lens. Look for these pop-ups at Celia’s Boutique, The Underground Railroad Cafe, the Star Store, and 3rd EyE Youth Unlimited for work by Cabo Verdean photographers and visual artists.

July Global Stage Events in New Bedford

The school ship for the Portuguese Navy, Sagres, visits New Bedford after the Sail250 and Sail Boston events. July 19 through 22, visitors can board and tour the ship and converse with the crew at the Marine Commerce Terminal at 16 Blackmer Street. Learn more about the historic ship and the July visiting hours on our blog.

The Mass Youth Soccer League is hosting FIFA World Cup watch parties across the state. On Thursday, July 2, they come to Fort Taber in New Bedford with a giant screen to air some of the games. There will be interactive games and activities for attendees, inflatables, and food vendors. Register for this free event and learn more.

As always, shop and dine local! New Bedford is a city filled with small local businesses that pour their heart and soul into their shops and restaurants. Get the inside scoop by talking to a local business owner, and you’ll find the people and hidden gem experiences that make your trip memorable.