AHA! Night: Kids Rule (Adults Too!)
Kids and kids at heart take center stage during AHA! Night: Kids Rule! (Adults too!) on Thursday, July 9th. In and around Custom House Square, you’re invited to dance in the streets with the Big Nazo Puppets, see the acrobatics of Aerialicious Entertainment, interact with the Smile Factory Clowns, and get your face painted. You can also touch a firetruck with the New Bedford Fire Department, enjoy live music from Stone Gon! courtesy of Whaling History Alliance, join the WHALE scavenger hunt and win a coloring book, learn how to camp with Trustees’ Mobile Adventures, play cornhole with Clear the Lens, and celebrate America 250 at the Military Museum and Veterans Memorial pop-up (stop by for small American flags and rubber ducks in uniform!).
We’ll also be celebrating five years of the New Bedford Light with a craft for kids, free Sorbae Frozen Treats for the first 250 people, and a 21+ wine tasting poured by Coastal Bubbles (first 50 pours). Try out rowing on land with New Bedford Rowing Center, get a tasty snack or beverage from Tamani’s Lemonade Stand, play with bubbles courtesy of Little People’s College, meet a robot in Wing’s Court with New Bedford Research and Robotics, celebrate the love of all things baseball at the Library, and so much more.
July’s AHA! Night is sponsored by the United Way of Greater New Bedford, who will be popping up in Custom House Square with free crafts and hands-on activities for kids of all ages.
AHA! NIGHT TOURS
Not sure where to start your AHA! Night? Take a tour with an AHA! docent who will guide participants through the evening’s highlights and hidden gems. The tours begin at 5:30 and 6:30 pm by the AHA! welcome table at Custom House Square. Tours last approximately 45-60 minutes. Attendees can “hop off” at any time to further enjoy various AHA! Night experiences. No registration required. This month’s docents are from the team at NB Food Tours!
ADDITIONAL AHA! NIGHT ACTIVITIES
- Shimmer hosts an AHA! Moment Beads as Cultural Currency, a hands-on beading workshop.
- Visit the Star Store for two art exhibitions, artist talks, and a collaborative community mural painting with the Fall River / New Bedford Artist Collaborative.
- Join the New Bedford Art Museum for a free evening of art, pizza, and creativity designed for middle school students.
- Grab some chalk and decorate the sidewalk outside Serlingpa Meditation Center, where popsicles will also be available.
- It’s a kids' watercolor-and-ink paint night at PLAY Arcade with artist Elyse Laurelle. Register by July 7th by emailing [email protected].
- Join the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum, in partnership with Reverie Theatre Group, for Shakespeare’s Word.
- Stop by 3rd EyE Youth Empowerment’s radically inclusive community incubator for their monthly open house.
- The Verdean Veterans Memorial Hall, in partnership with Mari (“Mariangeliz Estrella”) and the Battle Ready Crew, invites you to an AHA! Moment paint night. RSVP to reserve your space at [email protected]. (6-8:00 pm)
- Join Falling Off Trees x Occulta Ossa for their artisanal, sustainably crafted handbag pop-up at Bushwood Tailors Opportunity Shop.
- Join New Bedford Creative for a walking tour of the 2026 Seaport Art Walk.
- Celebrate Cape Verdean Heritage Month with New Bedford’s own Candida Rose Baptista performing live for an AHA! Moment at Celia’s Boutique.
- Listen to the Buttonwood Brass Band from 6-8:00 pm during their AHA! Night residency at the Harbor Hotel.
- Cork Wine and Tapas features live music by multi-instrumentalist Dave Alves from 6-9:00 pm.
- Enjoy the Neal McCarthy Trio at Pour Farm Tavern from 8-11:30 pm or DJ Anj Kep at the National Club from 8:00 pm to closing.
AHA! NIGHT FAST FACTS: AHA! Nights are always free and open to the public. Most participating locations will prominently display a yellow AHA! flag to help you find AHA! Night activities. Park for free on AHA! Nights at the Elm Street and Zeiterion Garages.
AHA! Moments is supported in part by the Art is Everywhere grant funded by the City of New Bedford, through its Arts, Culture & Tourism Fund, and facilitated by New Bedford Creative at the NBEDC.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3710815-0
