Upcoming Events in Lowell this weekend

There is a full slate of activities in Lowell this coming weekend.  Here are some of them:

Lowell Cemetery: Walking tours of Lowell Cemetery will take place on Friday, May 15 at 1 pm and on Saturday, May 16 at 10 am.  These tours begin at the Lawrence Street Gate, are free, last 90 minutes and are conducted rain or shine. (The same tours will be repeated at the same times next Friday and Saturday.

Also at Lowell Cemetery on Sunday, May 17 at noon will be the cemetery’s Memorial Day Remembrance Event, the highlight of which will be the presence of a US Army UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter that will land and remain on site for close up viewing.  The event will also feature a parade and speeches from State Senator Eileen Donoghue, Mayor Rodney Elliott, Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco Urena, and COL(P) Francis Magurn, the Land Component Commander of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.  Units participating in the parade include Westford Firefighters Pipes & Drums, Lowell High School Marching Band, the Lowell High School Air Force Jr. ROTC, the Lawrence Civil War Memorial Guard, the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry, Merrimack Valley Antique Military Vehicle Collectors.

Khmer Rouge Tribunal Info Session

On Thursday, May 14 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm, at Sunnyda Restaurant at 454 Chelmsford Street in Lowell, Phil Weiner, the Chief of the Legal Division for the Co-Investigating Judge’s Office (Cambodia and the United Nations) will provide information about the ongoing Khmer Rouge Tribunal and to receive from community members information that might be relevant during the trials of the Khmer Rouge leadership.

Made in Lowell Marketplace

Made in Lowell, a new organization that seeks to celebrate the city and to bring residents together to help shape the future of the city, will hold its inaugural Made In Lowell Marketplace on Saturday May 16th from noon to 6 pm at Mill No. 5 (4th floor) at 250 Jackson St.

Participating organizations include UnchArted Gallery, Christian Hill Studios, Strung Together by Kellie, MCC Law Center, Lowell Transitional Living Center, Ella and James, Style This Shindig, Destramp, Send Out Cards, DIY, Mill City Grows, the National Park Service and Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell.

UMass Lowell Commencement

This is Commencement Weekend at UMass Lowell with separate graduation ceremonies at the Tsongas Center on Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon and the big Commencement Eve celebration on Friday night at the Inn & Conference Center.

1826 Lowell High Store opening

Lowell High School has long had a school store within LHS but is opening a public retail branch on Merrimack Street alongside the Lowell School Department’s Parent Information Center and next door to Bishop’s Restaurant.  Called the 1826 Store in honor of the year Lowell received its town charter, the store will sell t-shirts, mugs and other merchandise carrying the Lowell High and City of Lowell brands.  The store will have a preview opening this Saturday from 11 am until 3 pm.

Doors Open Lowell

Doors Open Lowell offers an insider’s look into the preservation of many of Lowell’s magnificent historic buildings.  It’s a free annual event held during National Preservation Month to celebrate Lowell’s architectural heritage and urban living and culture.  Together these have made Lowell a creative and exciting place to live and work.  Participating buildings will be open for viewing on Friday night and during the day on Saturday.  A list of participating buildings and a full schedule is available on the Doors Open website.

“Spring Fling” Art Festival

In an effort to assist downtown businesses that were negatively impacted by the brutal winter of 2014-15, City Councilors requested the Cultural Office Of Lowell (COOL) to organize some events and to publicize new events.  The result is called “Spring Fling.”  Here are some of the offerings in addition to those already mentioned above:

Mill City Skill Share

9AM – 5PM | Various locations around Lowell

A day long series of FREE workshops featuring some of Lowell’s best and brightest talents! Check their website for details on specific workshops and their locations.

Events with Mill City Grows

Gardening Workshop

10AM | Market Mills Courtyard

Learn about raised beds and container gardening at this great workshop.

Mobile Farmers Market

10AM-12:30PM | 45 Market Street (by Align Credit Union)

12-5PM | Made in Lowell MarketPlace, 250 Jackson Street (by Mill No. 5)

Buy your fresh veggies from Mill City Grows!

En Plein Air Painters

10AM-4PM | Shattuck, Middle, and Palmer Streets

Watch local artists as they paint “en plein air” (“in the open air”) in downtown Lowell! Participating artists include: Dave Drinon, Tom Gill, Claire Gagnon, Deirdre Grunwald, David Jones, Kasey Walko, Michael Walko, Daniel Mathieu, Denise Rainis, Priscilla Levesque, Tom Viers, Chris Volpe, William Gotha, Xing Jiang, David Phaneuf, Pamela Wamala, Bethany Peck Kalabokis, Libby Lipin, and Don Ouellette.

USRowing Northeast Youth Championships

8AM-7PM | Pawtucket Boulevard (Merrimack River)

We are USRowing, fostering community, cultivating excellence and developing Olympic Champions.

Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale

9AM-2PM  | Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack St, Ground Floor Meeting Room

Final day of the sale! Come and buy used books, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs for adults and children. Most items cost only 50¢ to $2!

7th Annual Polish Food Festival

10AM-3PM  |  Holy Trinity Parish Hall, 340 High St

Traditional Polish food will be available for eat-in or take-out, including pierogies! There will also be a multi-ethnic bake table and a raffle to support the parish. Bring your appetites!

MarketPlaceNoon-5PM  |  Mill No. 5 and other places around Lowell

MarketPlace is an all-day event showcasing everything made in Lowell.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre Open House

Noon-4PM  | Nancy L. Donahue Theatre, 50 E. Merrimack St

Meet the new Artistic Director of the MRT and get a backstage tour!  Learn all about the 2015-2016 season, check out old costumes and set design models, and more. Free and open to the public.

Fem Noire – The 2015 Festival of Women Playwrights

8PM | The Whistler House Museum of Art, 243 Worthen St

Original short plays by local female playwrights…and original songs by local musician Gail Finnie…performed

at The Whistler House. Art for all the senses! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance.