Boston Area's Best Labor Day Celebrations
New England Arts and Crafts Festival
Topsfield Fairgrounds
207 Boston St.
Topsfield, MA 01983
(978) 887 -5000
www.castleberryfairs.com
Dates: Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, 2013
The New England Arts and Crafts Festival has endured with a 30-plus year tradition, bringing together artists from all walks of life, working with every conceivable manner of medium, all for a celebration of their craft. Local food vendors and other craftsman will also be in attendance to meet and greet arts and crafts enthusiasts from Topsfield and beyond, making this a great Labor Day weekend getaway for the crafty or crafty-at-heart. This festival was formerly known as the Newburyport Waterfront Festival, but don't let the name change fool you...come on down!
Tanglewood Jazz Festival
Tanglewood Music Center
297 West St.
Lenox, MA 01240
www.facebook.com
Date: Aug. 31 through Sept. 1, 2013
Every year, the Boston Symphony Orchestra makes its summer home down in Lenox, MA, drawing jazz muses, fans and aficionados from across Boston and New England for the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, a Labor Day tradition which combines the best in jazz music with fine wine, great food and a beautifully scenic location. Smooth jazz, art jazz and jazz-funk...it's all here, and a great way to settle down with some great music after a busy holiday weekend with the family.
Nashoba Valley Winery
100 Wattaquadock Hill Road
Bolton, MA 01740
(978) 779-5521
www.nashobawinery.com
Nothing welcomes in the autumn months quite like apple picking in New England, a notion which is embraced by the Nashoba Valley Winery, located in Bolton, MA. This quaint and scenic winery is the perfect place to take the family for a day trip or long, winding Sunday drive, hand-picking the freshest apples and enjoying such cool-weather fare as cider and apple pie. Of course, the fact that Nashoba is known for its fine wine should make the adults happy, as well, so why not start a tradition of your own this Labor Day and take the trip?
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7 Seas Whale Watch
7 Seas Wharf
63 Rogers St.
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-1776
www.7seaswhalewatch.com
Whale watching may not be a strictly New England tradition in the same way apple picking tends to be, but 7 Seas Whale Watch is determined to change that a bit, balancing not only the excitement of searching out live whales in the ocean, but the history, biology and behavior of these amazing animals, all backed by a friendly and knowledgeable sea staff. Going out on a 7 Seas Whale Watch practically defines the phrase "unique Labor Day" outing, particularly for those first timers who haven't yet known the joy of catching a surfaced whale in action. So skip the beach and go watch a whale.
Freedom Trail Boston
99 Chauncy St., Suite 401
Boston, MA 02228
(617) 357-8300
www.thefreedomtrail.org
Granted, the Freedom Trail may not be the best Labor Day excursion for Bostonian lifers, but for tourists or newcomers to the city, exploring the Freedom Trail can become a rich and inviting trip back in time to the very earliest days of our city, state and country's history. Education and history buffs will particularly enjoy seeing such sights as Paul Revere's house, the Boston Tea Party harbor or the balcony from which the Declaration of Independence was first read. The Freedom Trail is a fantastic celebration of Boston's amazing, diverse cultural history and legacy; something which some of us may take for granted in our backyard, yet which is definitely deserving of respect and reverence this Labor Day weekend.
George Pacheco has been writing professionally about arts and entertainment for over a decade. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, George currently resides in a humble New England home with his wife, cat and massive music and film collection. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
