Events in New Bedford today

An every week club focused on arts and crafts, designed for patrons in middle school and high school.

An open jam at The Shep invites music lovers to gather and make music together. Musicians of any style, genre, or skill level are welcome, and listeners are encouraged to enjoy the vibe. These sessions are for acoustic instruments only.

Gather every Tuesday for a laid-back board game meetup featuring a variety of games. Bring a favorite to share or join in on what others are playing, and connect with new friends.

A welcoming chess club open to players of all ages and skill levels.

Toddlers can come to the Lawler Branch to hear stories and take part in fun activities.

Take a walking tour at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park that shines a light on whales, from their colossal size and specialized adaptations to their sophisticated communication and long migrations. Along the route, connect these marine giants to the city’s story, learning how whales and whaling shaped New Bedford, influenced industries worldwide, and linked this port to people and places far beyond its shores. Details may change.

This event features Magic: The Gathering in the Commander format. Entry is free and play is casual, with participants forming their own pods and meeting up with friends for relaxed games. An optional raffle runs near the end of the event with a separate entry fee, yielding about one winner for every four entries. Prizes increase as more people enter, and if there are at least 32 entrants, first place receives a play booster box. Turnout often ranges from roughly 40 to 50 players, creating a lively scene with plenty of decks to face.

Take part in an inclusive weekly yoga class that welcomes people of all abilities, ages, and body types. Instructor Audra Andrade, a yogini who lives with low vision, leads practices that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The session is designed to be accessible for individuals who are blind or have low vision, with a warm environment that helps everyone progress comfortably. Please bring a yoga mat, a water bottle, and a hand towel. Guests ages 18 to 21 receive complimentary admission with a valid ID presented at the front desk.

Explore New Bedford’s deep ties to the Underground Railroad on a guided walking tour that follows the paths of people who came seeking freedom and a fresh start. Along the way, learn how an informal web of helpers, communities, and travel routes aided those escaping slavery. Discover why this seaport grew into a vital destination in the 1800s, with opportunities linked to the whaling industry and a strong support system that included free Black residents, formerly enslaved people, abolitionists, maritime connections, and established community networks. Hear stories of individuals who built new lives, strengthened local industries and neighborhoods, and helped shape the history of the region. The tour also highlights how an international port connected people, commerce, and ideas during a time of major change in the United States. Stroll historic streets, visit noteworthy sites, and uncover stories that continue to influence New Bedford today.

This book club meets each month for a group discussion. Copies of the selected titles are available for pickup at Wilks Library. Upcoming selections, subject to change, include The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick, The Adventures Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, James by Percival Everett, Lula Dean's little library of banned books by Kirsten Miller, Warmth of Other Suns (nf), A train in winter by Caroline Moorehead, Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall, The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, Better living through birding by Christian Cooper (nf), and Secret War of Julia Child by Diana Chambers.

NB Well Yoga instructors lead a complimentary yoga class in the garden at Haskell Public Gardens. This community session welcomes all experience levels and is open to the public. Bring a mat and water, plus a towel, with blocks optional.

A weekly story time pairs with a craft activity and is open to people of every age. This program is free to attend and does not require registration.

One Vision of Queen featuring Marc Martel ignites the stage with a high-energy tribute that fuses Queen’s most celebrated rock anthems with dramatic showmanship and vivid production. Centered on the band’s greatest hits, the performance spans the sweeping power of Bohemian Rhapsody, the driving pulse of We Will Rock You, the triumphant lift of We Are The Champions, the funk of Another One Bites The Dust, the arena-shaking David Bowie collaboration Under Pressure, the soulful heights of Somebody To Love, and the upbeat swing of Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Martel’s voice was featured in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody alongside Freddie Mercury and Rami Malek, he has performed in more than 40 countries, and his videos have earned over 250 million views. Queen drummer Roger Taylor has praised his vocal likeness to Mercury, calling it remarkably close.

This weekly Friday storytime at the New Bedford Howland Green Branch Library features fun stories and hands-on crafts that spark imagination and support early learning.

Receive personalized technology assistance from helpful library staff in a one on one setting. Staff members are available to offer guidance and support.

Trace the paths of Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville through the streets of New Bedford on a walking tour that explores how two writers experienced the city in 1841. Learn how Douglass, newly escaped from slavery, built a life in this port city, finding work, community, and momentum that propelled his later achievements as an abolitionist, author, and speaker. Discover how Melville absorbed the city’s seafaring culture and whaling economy, inspirations that helped shape the world and themes of Moby-Dick and his portrayal of a place driven by maritime trade and global ties. This tour highlights how industry, the waterfront, and community influenced both men and how their legacies continue to connect New Bedford to the wider world.

Enjoy a monthly Pokemon BINGO session focused on fun, prizes, and friendly competition. Registration includes handing out prize packs, cards, and markers so everyone is ready to play. Entry is $10 per player and includes one BINGO card that can be used for all rounds. Additional cards are available for $5 each, up to a total of four cards. The prize pool varies with attendance and may include items such as Elite Trainer Boxes, Mini Tins, Booster Bundles, Booster Packs, and Prize Packs. If a round ends in a tie, the winners split the prize evenly.

Constructed 1v1 play unfolds over three Swiss rounds, with matches decided best two out of three. Entry is $10. Each participant receives a booster from the newest set and a Nexus Night promo pack, and $5 in store credit from every entry contributes to the prize pool. Sign up through UVS.

Neil Simon’s Rumors, directed by Nicole Perullo, spins a fast-paced farce as four well-to-do couples arrive for a friend’s 10th anniversary celebration and discover the host is in no state to greet them while the hostess is nowhere to be found. From there, attempted cover-ups spark even bigger mix-ups, doorways rattle, and whispers race from guest to guest as speculation takes over. The tangle of stories builds to a truth-revealing finale, delivering laughter that lingers. Tickets are on sale for multiple performances. Presented under license from Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

YMCA instructors Mark Borgetti and Ellen Selley lead a mindful yoga session in the garden, offering a refreshing way to begin the morning. The practice supports flexibility, strength, stability, a sense of calm, and focused attention. Please bring a yoga mat and water. YMCA Southcoast members attend at no cost, and other participants pay $10, with advance payment requested.

A playful toddler dance class at Dance Clinic welcomes little ones who like to bounce, spin, and keep moving. Designed for ages 2 to 3, it focuses on music, movement, imagination, and play while supporting confidence, coordination, independence, and classroom readiness. A free trial is available. Families can choose a nonrecital option with no costumes and no stage performance for a full season of learning, or select a recital path that requires a costume and dance shoes and includes a live stage performance for family and friends. Enrollment is open, and space tends to go fast.

North Fairhaven Farmers Market opens a new season at Livesey Park with Cabral Family Farm among the vendors. Shoppers can find a weekly selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, plus cage free unwashed eggs from the farm. The market begins a new chapter under new management, with gratitude expressed to Chris for many years of dedication and warm wishes for a happy retirement. A range of payment options is accepted, including debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SNAP benefits, WIC coupons, cash, and Venmo. Support local farms, local families, and small businesses while stocking up for the week.

Now in its sixth year, Music in the Woods at the Lloyd Center for the Environment turns the trails into a roaming concert experience. Stroll through the woods and hear live performances by musicians from the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, with more artists to be announced. Admission is free for Lloyd Center members. Non-members may attend for $50 per car or $10 per walk-in. Reservations are available, and a rain date is planned.

Players can expect local Grand Archive play with best of three matches, and prizes awarded based on attendance.

Now in its sixth year, this 5k run and walk at Buttonwood Park brings the community together to raise suicide awareness and encourage open conversations about mental health. National figures show that nearly 50,000 lives are lost to suicide in the United States each year, and 1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition. The focus is on connection, support, accessible care, and everyday kindness that helps people feel seen and heard. Participants can move at their own pace, whether running, jogging, or walking. Many take part to remember someone lost, stand with a friend who is struggling, or honor their own journey. Check-in takes place on site, honor beads are available, and same-day registration is accepted.

This family program invites participants to create, explore, and learn together through hands-on activities connected to park stories and themes. Activities may vary, and the experience is welcoming for all ages. Children should attend with a parent or other adult. All supplies are provided.

Compete in a Yu-Gi-Oh locals event with a clear prize structure. Entry is $10. Each registration includes an OTS pack and a pack of your choice, and it also contributes one pack to the overall prize pool. For every two players participating, an additional OTS pack is added to the pool. A valid Konami ID is required to take part, and one can be provided if you do not have one.

An intergenerational bowling meetup for LGBTQ+ people from the South Coast takes place at Wonder Bowl. It brings community members across generations together for games on the lanes. Registration is requested for headcount.

A weekly, all-genre open jam takes place at The Pour Farm Tavern in New Bedford. Each session is hosted by a rotating lineup of musicians, many with ties to the Flying Dutchman Jam, creating a relaxed space for players to make music together.