CHELMSFORD, MA (April 2026) – The Association of Chelmsford A Cappella (ACA) is proud to present the return of Aca-Pocalypse, Chelmsford’s premier a cappella celebration, on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11 at the Carl J. Rondina Performing Arts Center at Chelmsford High School.
This year’s festival promises two nights of exceptional vocal performances featuring some of the region’s most talented student groups, with each evening offering its own unique energy and lineup.
Aca-Pocalypse 2026
Friday, April 10: 7:00 – 9:00 PM (Chelmsford Night)
Saturday, April 11: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Carl J. Rondina Performing Arts Center, Chelmsford High School, Chelmsford, MA
Advanced discount tickets available at https://www.chelmsfordacappella.org/copy-of-aca-performance
Friday Night: Chelmsford Night
Friday’s show runs from 7:00-9:00 PM
Friday evening will shine the spotlight on hometown talent in a special “Chelmsford Night” celebration, honoring the strength of the town’s vocal music community.
The evening will feature performances by Chelmsford High School’s acclaimed a cappella groups, The Thursdays and The Crescendos, alongside rising talent from the town’s middle schools, McCarthy Middle School’s McMelody and Parker Middle School’s Parker Select.
Adding even more hometown pride to the lineup, Pitch, Please! from Northeastern University will serve as both master of ceremonies and featured performers on both nights. The collegiate group has a special Chelmsford connection, with Chelmsford alumni among its members, making Friday’s performance an especially meaningful celebration of local talent and achievement.
Saturday Night: A Regional Showcase
Saturday evening expands the celebration beyond Chelmsford, bringing together an outstanding lineup of vocal groups from neighboring communities. So many talented groups are participating this year that Saturday’s show will begin early, running from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Joining the lineup are Chromatics, NewTones, Notify, Rolling Tones, Perfect Pitch, Notorious, Soundscape, Trills and Chills, and Voices ReChoired, representing communities including Andover, Bedford, Brookline, Marlborough, Millis, Newton, North Reading, and Wilmington.
Hosted by the Association of Chelmsford A Cappella, a nonprofit organization that fundraises in support of CHS’s a cappella groups, the event is a celebration of music, community, and student artistry. Whether you are a devoted a cappella fan or simply looking for an uplifting community event, Aca-Pocalypse offers two nights of unforgettable harmony, rhythm, and local pride. Come celebrate the voices of Chelmsford and beyond. Experience the harmony. Celebrate the hometown talent. Experience Aca-Pocalypse.

The New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA) is a non-profit educational and cultural organization promoting folk arts and traditions in New England and elsewhere. Every April, for 8 decades,  NEFFA runs the New England Folk Festival which blends dance, music, crafts, family activities, and food. The 2026 Festival is on April 24-26 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752 

The Festival is unique because not only are there concerts and performances, but there are also opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage directly with music, dance, and folk arts culture. There is music everywhere!  You will find jam sessions, instrument workshops, group singing (sea shanties!), and  traditional music throughout the Festival. The Festival is also known for its varied social dance program, which includes: Contra and Traditional Square Dance, International Folk Dance, Waltz, English Country, Scandinavian, and more. There are plenty of introductory workshops, and sessions geared towards intermediate and advanced dancers.

NEFFA is offering special reduced rate  “Festival Sampler Tickets” to introduce the festival to a wider audience. 
Please spread the word!  The NEFFA Sampler tickets ($10; kids under 8 are free) are a great way to explore some of what the New England Folk Festival has to offer. Shop at the Festival Marketplace, watch traditional dances from around the world, and experience folk music, relax with your kids in the Family Activities Area, then enjoy a snack from the food vendors while watching traditional Morris dance performances. Sampler tickets admission will be available on Saturday April 26th from 11AM-4PM  and all day Sunday April 26th. More information at  https://www.neffa.org/festival-sampler/

Join award-winning author Sy Montgomery and illustrator Matt Patterson for an engaging, family-friendly exploration of the fascinating world of turtles. This free public program on Saturday, April 18, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm, at the Arlington Street Community Center, 36 Arlington Street, in Nashua, NH, is presented by the Nashua River Watershed Association.

Drawing from the research behind their highly acclaimed books, Sy and Matt will share what they’ve learned about turtle behavior, habitats, and conservation, as well as the creative process of transforming field research into compelling stories and illustrations. Their 35 minute presentation will feature illustrations and insight into their research, followed by a Q&A session. Signed copies of their books will be available for purchase, with time for personalization and photos after the program. Guests can also explore turtle-themed information tables designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding.

This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required; additional information, including parking details, will be provided upon registration. Register at www.nashuariverwatershed.org under Upcoming Programs, where you can also read more about Sy and Matt. For questions, please email chrisf@nashuariverwatershed.org.

Cornerstone Congregational Church is sponsoring our spring blood drive with the American Red Cross on Saturday, April 4th. There is a critical need for blood as winter donations did not meet demand. Most donations take about an hour, so book your appointment, roll up your sleeve and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross. Give Hope this spring!
Thank you!!
Cornerstone Congregational Church
32 Graniteville Road
Westford, MA 01886
For an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org
Or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Open Door Theater proudly presents HONK!, a musical telling of “The Ugly Duckling” story. HONK! is a heartwarming celebration of being different that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. Ugly looks quite a bit different from his siblings, and others are quick to notice and point this out. Ugly is kind-hearted, awkward and innocent, and his journey of self-discovery is the heart of the show. This messaging supports the mission of Open Door Theater and will resonate with audiences now more than ever. Like Open Door Theater, HONK! has the audacity to assert that the default state of community should be inclusion and that “fowl” behavior will no longer be tolerated.
Open Door’s cast will present 3 final performances March 27-29, 2026 at the Dragonfly Theater at RJ Grey Jr. H.S, 16 Charter Rd, Acton. All performances are relaxed/sensory friendly and feature ASL interpretation, open captioning, and audio-description. Tickets are $20 at www.OpenDoorTheater.org. Discounted tickets for EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare Cardholders. Over its 45-year history, Open Door has provided accessible opportunities for all including underserved audiences and participants to enjoy live theater.
Performances: 

• Friday, March 27, 2026 at 7:00 pm / ASL, open captioning, sensory-friendly, audio described
• Saturday March 28, 2026 at 1:00 pm / ASL, open captioning, sensory-friendly, audio described
• Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 1:00 pm / ASL, open captioning, sensory-friendly, audio described

Sponsored in part by the Community Foundation for Metrowest, Astra Foundation, Mass Cultural Council, Middlesex Savings Bank, Main Street Bank, Acton Lions, AB Community Compass and the Local Cultural Councils of Acton-Boxborough, Ayer, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Littleton, Stow, Sudbury and Westford.

In an area full of memorable places, the Old Burying Ground offers a uniquely evocative experience. Add to that a touch of melancholy, with the sense of time passing and fallen heroes honored…  One-hundred-and-five Revolutionary War Minutemen from Groton are interred within its intimate grounds, where generations of family names are etched into the lichened, moss-covered stones.

Cemetery Commissioner Don Black, will lead a tour of Groton’s Old Burying Ground on Saturday April 18 (rain date, Sunday; in the event of inclement weather then too, the event moves into the Legion Hall), from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the first of several free public events celebrating the War for Independence, hosted by the Groton History Center.

Refreshments and amenities at the Legion Hall. Look for the Revolutionary War cannon, pride of the Groton Myseum, on display out front. Bonnie Carter and her grandson Devin will be on hand to share the cannon’s story – its capture from the British Warship Diana and centuries-long sojourn here.

Groton stands on the threshold of history. Few know this as well as Don Black, who has long served on the Park Commission, and is Chairman of the Commemoration and Celebration Committee for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. A font of knowledge, with a charming low-key delivery, Mr. Black has many stories to tell. When pressed for details about the cemetery tour, though, he smiled and said he likes to keep some things a surprise.

For information about the GHC, visit www.grotonhistory.org. Regular office hours at the Boutwell House, 172 Main Street, are Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with extended hours for drop-in visits and house tours (no appointment necessary) until 4 pm on Fridays. (For questions, email info@grotonhistory.com, or call 978-448-0092.)

BOSTON – Registration is now open for Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, the organization’s signature community fundraiser and one of Massachusetts’ most enduring anti-hunger events, turning compassion into action. Set for Sunday, May 3 on the Boston Common, the one-day celebration will bring together thousands of walkers for a family-friendly 3-mile loop featuring food, entertainment, and activities for all ages.
Now in its 58th year, the Walk for Hunger remains a beacon of hope for local families, raising $1 million to support Project Bread’s proven, statewide approach to advancing food security and ensuring access to nutritious food for children and families across Massachusetts.
Like-minded anti-hunger organizations are also invited to participate through Project Bread’s co-fundraising program, The Commonwealth. Participating nonprofits can form teams to raise funds for their own missions while contributing to Project Bread’s broader statewide impact.
Ready to get involved? Register to walk in-person or virtually,  start a personal or team fundraising page, or make a donation at projectbread.org/walk. For more information, email walk@projectbread.org.

Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7 pm, location Chelmsford Police Station Training Room - “Debates and Meet the Candidates.”
     Candidates running for contested and uncontested town offices have been invited to attend this meeting to introduce themselves and explain their reasons for running. You will have the chance to submit questions to each candidate. Following the debate, we will have a short business meeting

All of us Fresh Start volunteers were wearing our green on Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day! We are hoping to see some donations come in today. At present, we are in need of pristine mattresses, and new or gently used towel sets, queen size sheets sets, and shower curtains. We are also low on couches now. We would love to hand out gift cards to our clients for them to pick up things they need for their homes. If you can donate gift cards from Target, Amazon, or Job Lot, that would be great. Last week I entered 51,000 items into our inventory!!  This number system was set up shortly after the pandemic.  We inventory all of our furniture, artwork, lamps, appliances, dishes, and rugs.
     Look at our website for more details. You can bring donations to us at 16 Brent Dr. in Hudson on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from nine to noon, Household items only ( no furniture).  Saturdays, you can bring furniture between 8:30 and 10:30, and other household goods from 8:30 to noon.
     Thank you for your help!