For May 20-21, 2017 Weekend
DISCOVER HIDDEN HERITAGE AND NATURE PLUS GREAT NATIONAL AND LOCAL MUSIC TALENT LIVE ON STAGE
Rhode Island???s Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park is your place to be in Southern New England during the May 20-21 weekend.
With the weekend being the ramp up to the annually active summer vacation and travel season, residents and visitors alike have an array of historic and nature tours and live concerts with national and local music legends to choose from.
Nature and history along the mighty Blackstone!
Along with becoming the nation???s 402nd National Park in December 2014, Blackstone River Valley also has another national treasure as one of its assets, the Blackstone American Heritage River.
Known for powering America???s Industrial Revolution, the Blackstone River for generations was the nation???s most polluted waterway. However, since the 1970???s the river has rebounded to become a focal point for local communities. Today, the river continues its resurgence as a vital natural and wildlife resource.
In fact, in 1998, the Federal Government named the Blackstone River and its tributaries one of only a dozen American Heritage Rivers, with the Blackstone River being the only designated American Heritage River System named.
Come and find out for yourself to see what all the buzz is about discovering amazing perspectives of the river.
Once again, the annual seasonal riverboat tours aboard the 40 passenger Blackstone Valley Explorer start their 14th season of weekly public river tours.
Weekends, now through June 26, the riverboat offers tours of the Valley Falls Marshland portion of the Blackstone River, operating from Central Falls Landing, at the corner of Broad Street Landing and Madeira Avenue, Central Falls, RI.
On this one hour river tour passengers will see a hidden urban preserve and view amazing wildlife in one of Rhode Island???s most densely populated areas.
For tickets and schedule call the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council at 401-724-2200 or online at www.rivertourblackstone.com
Meanwhile, Sunday morning, May 21, at 8 pm, head over to the Ten Mile River Greenway, in Pawtucket, RI for Birding on the Blackstone.
Participate in a refreshing interpretive morning walk to find wildlife and varied bird species making their home along the Ten Mile River.
Details on the birding walk are at www.blackstoneheritagecorridor.org
Learning about our heritage
Blackstone River Valley is more than just its proud manufacturing legacy. It???s also about its people and the communities of the region and their significance to the region???s cultural tapestry.??
Sunday afternoon, May 21, at 1:30 pm, the Blackstone Valley Historical Society holds its Annual Meeting at the historic North Gate Toll House, 1873 Old Louisquisset Pike (Route 246) Lincoln, RI.
Join with local residents active in preserving their local history, along with a lecture given by Gail Mohanty, Adjunct Professor of Bryant University, on Technology and the Landscape.
Information on the meeting is online now at www.bvhsri.org
Headliners and local music legends and concerts
The weekend is filled with the great sounds of music, featuring national and local talents not to be missed with an array of great concerts!
Saturday, May 20, at 8 pm, spend your evening with the one and only Paul Anka live at Twin River Event Center, 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI.
Mr. Anka, a Canadian born singer and songwriter, became famous in the 1950???s as a teen singer for his hit ???Diana. In 1974, he topped the charts again with his hit ???Having My Baby.??? But, Mr. Anka has also collaborated with other music greats, like Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson writing their lyrics to their songs. He also wrote the theme song for the ???Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson???, which introduced the late night host during his 30 year run on-the-air.
Tickets for Paul Anka???s concert are available now by calling toll free at 1-877-827-4837 or at www.twinriver.com
Chan???s Eggrolls and Jazz Concerts, 267 Main Street, Woonsocket, RI host two exciting concerts this weekend.
Friday night, May 19, 8 pm, catch local music legend Duke Robillard, known for his great blues music performances. And, Saturday night, May 20, 8 pm, enjoy the folk and pop stylings of music artist Stefan Couture & Friends.
Tickets and reservations for these shows are available by contacting 401-765-190 or at www.chanseggrollsandjazz.com
Also, Saturday night, May 20, at 7 pm, Stone Soup Coffee House Concerts, at Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI hosts the Rhode Island Songwriters Competition with David Roth. Enjoy groundbreaking performers in this local talent showcase performed inside the actual birthplace of America???s Industrial Revolution.
Details and tickets are available at http://stonesoupcoffeehouse.org
All weekend, May 20-21, don???t miss the Cumberland-Lincoln Community Chorus, with two shows both nights at 8 pm, at the St. Ann???s Arts & Cultural Center, Cumberland Street, Woonsocket, RI.
See these talented local performers in the ambiance of amazing Fresco paintings of the site known as ???the Sistine Chapel of the Northeast.???
Information on the concert is available at www.stannsartsandculturalcenter.org