MORE ARTS & FUN

Revolving Museum | Arts League of Lowell | Destination Lowell | Family Activity Area

Art in the Courtyard 2008

The Lowell Folk Festival, in partnership with the Brush Art Gallery and Studios and Arts League of Lowell, is pleased to announce the 3rd annual Art in the Courtyard, an arts and fine crafts component of the Lowell Folk Festival. This exciting collaboration will provide an opportunity for visitors to view and purchase some of the finest art and craft works being produced.

Interested in participating as an artist at the juried show? For more information, visit the Art in the Courtyard website at http://www.thebrush.org/AinC2008/

Art in the Courtyard will be held in the shaded, brick-lined courtyard conveniently located between the National Historical Park Visitor Center, the Brush Art Gallery and Studios and the ALL Arts Gallery. Tents will be set up for Art in the Courtyard to provide a welcoming place, rain or shine.

The courtyard, conveniently situated between food tents and one of the main music and dance stages of the Folk Festival, is certain to be a busy place during the festival. In addition to this, local artists will be displaying and selling their artwork at both the Brush Art Gallery and Studios and the ALL (Arts League of Lowell) Arts Gallery. These two galleries are right on the courtyard. This will create a strong center for art and fine crafts for the Lowell Folk Festival.

The participants will be selected through a juried process in mid-June. Please check back for a complete list of participating artists.

Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society

Open for visitors at the 22nd Lowell Folk Festival at the Trolley Stop Dutton Street at Merrimack Street
July 25-27, 2008
This year, the B & M Railroad Historical Society will have an operating telegraph machine, demonstrating how railroaders communicated with each other before the advent of 2-way radios and cell phones. This vintage communications equipment was restored by members of the society. Hours of operation for this years festival is 10:00-5:30pm both days.

The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society is a Massachusetts non-profit educational organization founded in 1971 to preserve material relating to the history of the Boston & Maine Railroad and its predecessor companies The Society publishes a Newsletter, Modeler’s notes, and a periodical journal called the “B&M Bulletin.” The former is produced bi-monthly and keeps members up to date on Society affairs, as well as timely events concerning the Boston & Maine and other New England rail lines.

Our Archival collection is maintained at the University of Massachusetts/Lowell in the Special Collections library. It has recently been moved to a brand new location at the Lowell National Historical Park where it is open to all members who wish to do research. The collection contains a vast quantity of materials, much of it donated by the railroad, as well as by members and other individuals.

The society is currently restoring a B&M Steam Locomotive #410 located on Dutton Street in Lowell along with a former B&M Passenger Car. Inside the car is a walk thru history of railroading in the Lowell area along with a model train layout. All of this work is done by volunteers with money coming from society fundraising. The steam locomotive is one of only 5 B&M steam engines left in existence and the only one in Massachusetts.

Revolving Museum

At the Folk Festival's Family Fun Area, The Revolving Museum will continue their unique workshops. Outside on Shattuck Street, participate in free art-making activities for the whole family! For more information visit www.revolvingmuseum.org.

Family Activity Area

Youngsters of all ages can stop by Shattuck Street and enjoy hands-on games during the Festival.  Box-hockey, bean bag toss, and much more will be offered by the City of Lowell's Parks & Recreation staff on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm alongside ArtVentures with the Revolving Museum.

Hands-On Activities along Shattuck Street

ARTS LEAGUE OF LOWELL

ALL Presents…
Check back for an update of happenings during the 2008 Lowell Folk Festival.
The ALL Arts Gallery is located at 246 Market Street in downtown Lowell, next to the National Park Visitor Center. For more information call 978-970-2100, or visit www.artsleagueoflowell.org.

Destination Lowell

Destination Lowell offers Festival Visitors a taste of Lowell's Local Cultural Scene! Destination Lowell will represent Lowell's finest cultural institutions and arts organizations with a parade of tents along Merrimack Street. Visitors will soon discover why there are so many reasons to explore the cultural community in Lowell throughout the year!

This year visitors will have the opportunity once more to engage in fun activities, like a full size raft, a Classical Instrument Petting Zoo, a Jack Kerouac items drawing, a few membership/subscription raffles, lively music and vocal performances, and much more!

2008 Destination Lowell Participants are American Textile History Museum, Angkor Dance Troupe, Brush Art Gallery and Studios, Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, Lowell Gentleman Songsters, Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust, Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Office of Cultural Affairs & Special Events/Cultural Organization of Lowell, ONE Lowell, Tsongas Arena, and Whistler House Museum of Art.