In our community: Strawberry Festival, museum reopenings and free events downtown

"Smiles of a Summer Night"

Nemasket River Productions of Middleboro presents "Smiles of a Summer Night," five comic delights directed by Jeff Gill and Michael Pevzner, outdoors at Oliver Mill Park, on the banks of the Nemasket River, off Rt. 44, in Middleboro. Performances will be on two weekends: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at 5 p.m., June 18 through June 27. Bring a lawn chair or blanket — bring a dinner picnic, if you like — drinks can be purchased at a cash bar.

The plays are: "A Matter of Husbands," featuring Margaret Kelly and Michelle Bibeau, and directed by Michael Pevzner; "Mark My Worms," featuring Chris Bailey and Ed Krasnow; "Luke Meets Charlene," featuring New York comedian Stacey Kendro and Mark Reed, and directed by Jeff Gill; "A Matter of National Interest," featuring Stephen Doherty, Kristin Shoaf and Jamies Poskitt; and "Dolly Gets Her Shot," featuring Gerry Bova, Bill Houldcroft and Jeff Gill.

Tickets are $20 for general admission. To purchase in advance, go to www.nemasketriverproductions.com and click on tickets. There is limited seating, so advance purchase is recommended.

Middleborough Historical Museum reopening

After being closed last year due to the pandemic, the Middleborough Historical Museum at Mill House Village, located at 18 Jackson St. in Middleboro, will be open on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. for the 2021 season (June to October).

Other days/times are available by appointment by calling 781-361-1427 or emailing middleboroughmuseum@gmail.com.

In celebration of the museum's 60th anniversary, admission to the museum will be free on Saturday, June 19 and again on Saturday, June 26; donations are welcome. 

For more information about the museum or to become a historical association member, visit middleboroughhistoricalassociation.org.

Meat raffle at Holy Ghost Society

The Holy Ghost Society of East Taunton, 545 Middleboro Ave., will hold a meat raffle on Sunday, June 20, at 1 p.m.

Doors open at 12:15 p.m. This event is open to the public.

Tickets are $2 each. There will be lots of choice meats, poultry and pork.

COVID-19 protocols will be observed.

Free downtown summer events

Downtown Taunton Foundation and Trescott Street Gallery invite the public to free events in downtown Taunton this summer:

Music in the Plaza

This free music series features local music acts from a variety of genres hosted within the Liberty & Union Plaza at 82-86 Main St. The series will take place on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in June, July and August. Limited bistro seating will be available. Attendees may also bring their own chairs, takeout food, and non-alcoholic beverages. A snack cart will be onsite for purchase of snacks and drinks and food trucks may be at some dates. For details about each performer and food trucks, visit DTF's Facebook events page.

June 17: Unlikely Strummers

June 24: Divine Sweater

July 1: Timmy Brown

Movies in the Plaza

Downtown Taunton Foundation will be showing one free, outdoor movie per month through September.

The movies will be at Liberty & Union Plaza on Friday evenings at sunset, and films will be from a variety of genres. Most will be family-friendly, but check the ratings before attending. Attendees should bring their own chairs & blankets, bug spray, and takeout food/non-alcoholic beverages. Food carts and/or trucks may be onsite for some event dates (see Facebook page for details).

June 25: "Grease"

July 2: "Raya & the Last Dragon"

Aug. 20: "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle"

Sept. TBD: "Aladdin" (2018)

Trescott Street Gallery Workshops for Adults: Composition in Photography (& Art)

Trescott Street Gallery is now offering workshops on a variety of topics for individuals 16 and older. On June 11, the topic being explored is "Composition in Photography (& Art)," led by professional photographer Shane Gutierrez. This workshop covers the basic rules of composition and how to use them to help you create more interesting and compelling images. This workshop is on Friday, June 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. The fee is $50 per person, registration is required, and space is limited to 12 participants. For more details or to register, see TSG’s website, Facebook event page, or go to form.jotform.com/200925871039053.

TSG Community Art Class for Teens: Fun with Spray Paint

Trescott Street Gallery is excited to welcome Boston-area muralist Amanda Hill as the instructor for its next Community Art Class. Hill's work ranges from small-scale paintings to building-sized murals and larger-than-life installations. For most of Hill’s adult life, she has been focused on increasing the awareness and the accessibility of the arts. She advocates for the support of creative expression at large and takes a special interest in a community’s ability to make and experience art. Fun with Spray Paint is a workshop specially designed for youths aged 12 to 18. Held on Saturday, June 26, from 1 to 3 p.m., students will learn how to make their own stencils and explore how to use spray paint and other objects as they create their final pieces of art on wood panels. As part of the class, Hill will give a brief talk about the mural-making process. This class will take place outdoors in the Baron Lofts parking lot. Fee for the workshop is $10 per person and includes all materials. To register, visit https://form.jotform.com/81015049431144.

Downtown Taunton Foundation programs are supported in part by grants from Mass Cultural Council, Taunton Cultural Council, and by members and sponsorships. Special thank you to sponsors Bristol County Savings Bank, Morton Hospital, and Blount Soup Company.

Dighton Historical Society Strawberry Festival

The Dighton Historical Society will hold its fourth annual Strawberry Festival at Under The Sun Farm, 1050 Williams St., N. Dighton, on June 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.

There will be strawberry shortcake for sale, food stuffs from Under The Sun, plants, lunches and cold drinks, hay rides, music and vendors. Booth spaces are 10x10 and the cost is $25. Vendors need to bring their own table, chair and pop up tent.

To reserve a table, call Chris at 508-669-6888.

June events at the OCHM

Join the Old Colony History Museum for family-friendly, virtual and socially-distanced events throughout the month of June. See everything they have to offer and book a spot using their Eventbrite page: https://oldcolonyhistorymuseum.eventbrite.com.

Special Programs:

Passport to History

Passport to History is a joint effort of local museums to share and explore the diverse history of southeastern Massachusetts. This year there are 16 sites where you can visit to get your passport, which serves as admission for one free visit, and start exploring the history of the Old Colony. The program runs from June 1 through Sept. 1. See all the sites and start planning your exploration at https://www.oldcolonyhistorymuseum.org/explore/passport-to-history.

Blue Star Museums

The Old Colony History Museum joins museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently-serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2021 program has begun and will end on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

June Events at the OCHM:

OCHM After Hours: Beer with Bronson

Thursday, June 17, 5:15 to 6 p.m.

Grab a pour and take a tour with Curator of Collections, Bronson Michaud.

Hear about the untold stories from the museum's collection and take a peek at objects on display just for you. Plus, you’ll receive a Beer with Bronson koozie to keep your beer cold and hands warm!

This tour is free with museum admission and will focus on postcards from the collection and the stories of places, events, and people they feature. Root beer will be available for those under 21 or who don't drink alcohol.

Liberty & Union Walking Tour

Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m. to noon

Come take the Liberty and Union Downtown Walking Tour! This is a free, one-hour guided tour of Historic Downtown Taunton. The one-mile walking tour highlights some of the important architectural, cultural, and commercial sites between Church Green and Taunton Green. A great way to learn about the city, from its earliest days through the present, these tours are the third Saturday of every month, May through October, rain or shine.

Arts & Humanity

Saturday, June 19, 1 to 3 p.m.

Join in on Zoom for a friendly, inclusive afternoon of sharing of the human spirit through the arts. Featured performers will present diverse perspectives through their original works. All are invited to simply listen and enjoy the work of these area artists and share in their creative energy. Registration is encouraged to ensure a presentation slot; please email info@oldcolonyhistorymuseum.org or call 508-822-1622 to get on the list.

A Taste of Old Colony History

Thursday, June 24, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Let's cook up some history...from home!

Join the OCHM staff from their home kitchens as they try their hand at historic recipes and local favorites. After you register, you’ll be emailed the recipe of the month and ingredient list so you can cook along, step-by-step, or just sit back and watch! June's recipe is strawberry shortcake.

Cemetery Tour: Mount Pleasant

Saturday, June 26, 11 a.m.

Based on the "rural cemetery" model first made popular by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, our Mount Pleasant Cemetery, opened in 1836, presents a "Who's Who" of 19th and early 20th century Tauntonians. Many of the city's most prominent civic, industrial, and political leaders are buried here. We'll select a few of the most interesting figures and tell their stories. Limited space is available, so register for your spot on Eventbrite. After registering, you'll receive all the details you need about attending the tour.

The Old Colony History Museum is located on historic Church Green in Taunton. The museum has its headquarters in the former Bristol Academy, designed in 1852 by the New York architect Richard Upjohn. Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the museum is $5 and free for members.

To submit your news

To share your events with the community, reach out to the Taunton Daily Gazette newsroom at newsroom@tauntongazette.com.

Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today.