Cultural Events

Acton community gathers to celebrate Juneteenth through history, art, and joy

June 27, 2026

Community members gathered on Friday, June 19, for the Town of Acton’s Juneteenth Celebration, a joyful afternoon centered on history, freedom, cultural preservation, and the power of Black art. The celebration was hosted by the Town of Acton’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission (DEIC) in collaboration with Acton Memorial Library, the Town of Acton, Acton Congregational Church, and the Town of Acton Office of Diversity. Together, these partners helped create a community-centered program rooted in remembrance, learning, creativity, and joy. This year’s program focused on the theme “Black Art as a Form of Resistance, Storytelling, and Cultural Preservation.” The event…

251st Acton Bugles Across America Ceremony Features Declaration of Independence

July 11, 2026

by Katrina Buck

On Sunday, July 5, 2026, the Acton Bugles Across America conducted its 251st consecutive monthly ceremony at the Acton War Memorial. The gathering of 38 attendees coincided with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the republic and was intended to provide an opportunity to honor the veterans…

Theatre III brings Chinese Zodiac tale to life

May 30, 2026

by Jen Lewy

Theatre III’s Child’s Play series returns June 13 with “The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac”, a collaboration with the Acton Chinese Language School (ACLS) that brings together AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) artists, cultural consultants, and local arts practitioners from across the region. The…

Chopped for Charity competition raises over $200,000 for Open Table

May 16, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, today announced that Chef Erin Harleman, owner of The Saucy Plate, a Wayland-based personal chef service in Metrowest Boston, was the winner of the cooking competition at its 2026 Chopped for Charity Gala (Chopped), which…

Acton and Stow Minutemen re-enact marches to Concord, and other “Revolutionary April” events

April 18, 2026

by The Acton Exchange Team

Stow and Acton Minutemen and adventurous members of the public will commemorate the 251st anniversary of the opening of the Revolutionary War by re-enacting the marches to the North Bridge. Especially adventurous residents can do the hike two days in a row! Acton, Sunday, April 19 The Acton…

Bridgerton Ball: Well-dressed patrons dance in the stacks

March 28, 2026

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Memorial Library closed early on Tuesday, March 10, for an after-hours, 21+ event. Like all library programs, the Bridgerton Ball was free to attend, but it was clear that many guests had invested heavily in their dazzling attire. Folks entered with a flourish, dressed in coattails…

Two women wearing Indian clothing stand in front of a brightly colored curtain.

Music, dance, food, and sunshine; DiwaliFest draws crowds from Boxborough, Acton, and beyond

October 25, 2025

by Karen Root Watkins

With sun shining and festive colors at every turn, approximately 1700 people from Boxborough, Acton, and beyond gathered on Sunday, October 19 to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali. The term Diwali originates from a Sanskrit word meaning “row of lights” and is a major South Asian holiday…

Acton fetes Fourth with food, fireworks, and Thirty6 Red

July 12, 2025

by James Conboy

July 4, NARA Park, Acton. Whether fans arrived early for the music of Thirty6 Red, or later for just the fireworks, they were rewarded with perfect weather for Acton’s annual patriotic bash. But many might have found it to be worth the trip just for the food truck…

Ramadan in Acton

March 29, 2025

by Zayd Dhasthageer

“There’s a hidden sweetness in the stomach’s emptiness.We are lutes, no more, no less. If the soundbox is stuffed full of anything, no music.If the brain and the belly are burning clean with fasting, every moment a new song comes out of the fire.”– Rumi These words from…

A woman with a shovel. Oversized bunnies are in the foreground and flowers tower over the woman. The picture includes stamps, drawings, maps, and other artistic elements.

“Mended” opens: Mixed-media artwork by Véronique Latimer

March 1, 2025

by Acton Exchange Team

Adapted from a press release 6 Bridges Gallery is pleased to present “Mended” by Acton artist Véronique Latimer. The exhibit will be on view February 26 – April 5 at the gallery (77 Main Street, Maynard) or online, with an in-person artist reception on March 1 from 5-7…

India’s Independence Day celebrated at Acton Town Hall

August 9, 2024

by Sahana Purohit

On Sunday, August 4, Acton Town Hall was abuzz with celebration as the community gathered for the flag-raising ceremony commemorating India’s Independence Day. Hosted by Acton Indian Americans and the India Association of Greater Boston, this marked the fifth consecutive year of residents proudly raising the Indian flag…

Two smiling women and a man pose in Room 204 of Town Hall. The women are wearing summer dresses, and the man (Town Manager John Mangiaratti) is wearing a sport coat. He looks very warm.

Juneteenth presentation recalls the end of slavery in the United States

June 21, 2024

by Bettina Abe

The Town of Acton hosted a Juneteenth presentation on June 11, 2024 by Nikki Turpin, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall school in Waltham, MA and program director for the Robbins House in Concord. The program was held in Room 204 at…

Five women posing in the sun. Four of the women are wearing Helen Roper costumes -- Curly red wigs, bright kaftans, and chunky jewelry. The 5th woman is wearing a straw hat and sunglasses, as befits the perfect weather.

Acton can be proud of this well-attended Pride Fest

June 21, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

On Saturday June 15, at NARA Park in North Acton, rainbows were in abundance despite the clear blue sky with nary a single cloud. The second annual Pride Fest, organized by the Acton Recreation Department, welcomed the Town of Westford this year to join in the family-friendly celebration…

A smiling woman in a purple coat sits in a chair outdoors. She is wearing a large purple and gold ribbon rosette that says "Meredith Bergmann, Sculptor."

Acton sculptor honors women through Lexington monument

May 16, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

Acton sculptor Meredith Bergmann’s “Something is Being Done” was unveiled at the Lexington Green on Wednesday, May 15. A crowd of hundreds gathered to celebrate the monument, installed on a granite plaza, as well as the work of dozens of women “to make women visible and honor their…

2024 Lunar New Year Celebration at the Westford Academy.

Celebrating Lunar New Year through Volunteering: A Student’s Perspective

February 28, 2024

by Joanna Dong

During Lunar New Year, my teammates from Shine-A-Light Volunteer Team and I volunteered to promote Chinese culture and celebrate the new year. We held our first celebration at the Acton Memorial Library two weeks before the Lunar New Year. We set up some stations there and, at the…

Shine-A-Light event at Acton Memorial Library

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Our Community

February 28, 2024

Dani FengandKaiping Fu

Chinese New Year isn’t just celebrated in Chinatown in big cities; many Chinese bring their biggest holiday to their adopted home communities, in honor of their indigenous culture. In Acton and Boxborough, the Acton Chinese Language School has made it part of their mission since 2004 to create…

Brrrr-ave Supporters of Special Olympics Participate in Acton’s Second Annual Polar Plunge

February 7, 2024

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Police Department partnered with The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) to host the second annual Polar Plunge at NARA Park on a sunny, but nippy, Saturday, February 3. At last year’s inaugural event, plungers supported Special Olympics by running into the lake at NARA beach. This…

Photo of Acton 250 presentation and presentors.

A Revolution in the News with Historian Joseph Adelman

February 7, 2024

by Greg Jarboe

Looking forward to next year’s 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, the Acton 250 Committee is hosting a series of lectures by historians, looking back at what the community was like when our nation was born. The third lecture in the series, by Professor Joseph…

Boston Civil Rights Pioneer Jean McGuire Speaks at 22nd Acton Martin Luther King Breakfast

January 17, 2024

by Bob Van Meter

Congregation Beth Elohim and its social justice committee Na’aseh hosted Acton’s 22nd Annual Martin Luther King Breakfast on Monday morning for over one hundred participants in person and over forty more via zoom.…

A 'monster' figure in a green ghillie suit against a dark background

Spooktacular October with Acton Recreation

November 6, 2023

by Melissa Settipani-Rufo

In collaboration with a local company called Pumpkin Guts Productions, Acton’s Recreation Department hosted three events this past month at NARA Park. The inaugural “Nightmare at NARA: Haunted Trail Walk in the Park” ran every Friday and Saturday in October (weather permitting). The event relied on 37 volunteers…

A group of people behind a table, on which there are a variety of apple pies

Friends of the Acton Libraries’ Apple Pie Contest

October 30, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The Friends of the Acton Libraries’ second annual Apple Pie Contest drew 7 entries from Acton residents, and winners were announced in the Meeting Room on the first floor of the Memorial Library on Sunday afternoon, October 29. The judging of the pies had taken place the day…

1 2 Next

Cultural Events

Acton community gathers to celebrate Juneteenth through history, art, and joy

251st Acton Bugles Across America Ceremony Features Declaration of Independence

Theatre III brings Chinese Zodiac tale to life

Chopped for Charity competition raises over $200,000 for Open Table

Acton and Stow Minutemen re-enact marches to Concord, and other “Revolutionary April” events

Bridgerton Ball: Well-dressed patrons dance in the stacks

Music, dance, food, and sunshine; DiwaliFest draws crowds from Boxborough, Acton, and beyond

Acton fetes Fourth with food, fireworks, and Thirty6 Red

Ramadan in Acton

“Mended” opens: Mixed-media artwork by Véronique Latimer

India’s Independence Day celebrated at Acton Town Hall

Juneteenth presentation recalls the end of slavery in the United States

Acton can be proud of this well-attended Pride Fest

Acton sculptor honors women through Lexington monument

Celebrating Lunar New Year through Volunteering: A Student’s Perspective

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Our Community

Brrrr-ave Supporters of Special Olympics Participate in Acton’s Second Annual Polar Plunge

A Revolution in the News with Historian Joseph Adelman

Boston Civil Rights Pioneer Jean McGuire Speaks at 22nd Acton Martin Luther King Breakfast

Spooktacular October with Acton Recreation

Friends of the Acton Libraries’ Apple Pie Contest

search

Donate

Free Subscription

Featured Sponsors