Summer Festivals in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has earned its reputation as a cultural hotbed of the United States, and the summer festival season in this northeast city does not disappoint. There is art and music, as one might expect, but there is also ice cream. And with Boston as its capital, there is bound to be something during the summer meant for the Irish.

The Plymouth Music Competition takes place in Memorial Hall in Plymouth, happening from May 11 - June 17, 2007. The brand new festival will hold competitions in four categories of music: Popular (Rock, Heavy Metal, Hip Hop, Punk, and Pop), Jazz/ World, Folk/ Blues, and Classical, with three different age groups: teens, college students, and adults. If you are interested in witnessing the possible birth of the next big thing in the world of entertainment, you can get more information about this contest at http://www.seeplymouth.com/pmc/

The performers have already made it through the audition process, and visitors can witness the results at the Feneuil Hall Marketplace Street Performer Festival. The festival takes place from May 26 - 28, 2007 at Feneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, where dozens of street performers will swamp the marketplace with their individual brands of street art. Find out more about it at http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/index.html

Newburyport's Art, Flowers, and All That Jazz is going on this year on May 27 - 28, 2007. Downtown Newburyport will be overrun with smooth jazz, food from the city's finest restaurants, and tons of arts and crafts. Find out everything you need to know about this great festival at http://www.newburyportchamber.org/Art_Flowers.shtml

Boston, Massachusetts has the fashionable title of being home to the country's biggest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival. At the Scooper Bowl Ice Cream Festival, happening on June 5^th through 8^th, the frozen dairy treat takes over City Hall Plaza. Not only can you get your fill of all the flavors from eleven industry-leading U.S. ice cream companies, but you can help out a good cause. The event supports cancer research. Find out more about the ice cream bash at http://www.jimmyfund.org/eve/event/scooper-bowl/default.html

Ten master sculptors will be on hand for the New England Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach, this July 10^th - 15^th. The sculpting starts at eight in the morning, and at night, all sculptures will be lit for viewing during evening strolls down the beach. Visitors can participate in the amateur categories, and the masters will compete for a $15,000 prize. Get in on the action at http://fitzysnowman.com/

The Irish Cultural Centre of New England in Canton, MA hosts a huge gathering of Irish heritage from August 10 - 12, 2007, The Irish Cultural Centre of New England Festival. With over five hundred performers, including musicians and dancers, on several stages, art, authors, and events for children and adults alike, this may be one of the largest Irish festivals not on St. Patrick's Day. Get more information on this festival at http://www.irishculture.org/festival/