Engage in Lowell's green Scene!
Saturday, September 22nd - Saturday, September 29th

Celebrate Lowell's accomplishments as a green community and help make the City more sustainable through local action.  Enjoy free, family-friendly activities and events celebrating sustainability throughout the City. See below for a full schedule.

11:30 AM - 3:00 PM: Lowell  Riverfest                                                                                         (Middlesex Community College, 33 Kearney Square, Downtown Lowell)                 Join us for a festive exploration of Lowell's rivers and canals, and the ethnic communities that call our city home. Activities include live music and performances, recycled art projects, moss graffiti, bicycle repair workshops, and more! Learn more..  

3:00 - 5:00 PM: Pollard Library Movie Matinee and Sustainability Demonstration (Pollard Library Ground Floor Meeting Room, 401 Merrimack Street)  The feature-length documentary film is based upon lectures by Bjorn Lomborg, controversial author of The Skeptical Environmentalist. Amidst the strong and polarized opinions within the global warming debate, the film follows Lomborg on his mission to bring the smartest solutions to climate change, environmental pollution, and other problems in the world. The film will be preceded by a short demonstration of the Kilowatt Meter and Digital Infared Thermometer available for patrons to borrow from the library, thanks to Lowell's Green Building Commission. Learn more...

Monday, September 24th

Spontaneous Display of Sustainability with Recycled Public Art Installations (Market Street between Dutton and Prescott) The Cultural Organization of Lowell invites you to participate in a week-long public art installation using grab bags of recycled materials. Bags must be picked up by Friday, September 14th. Work may be installed September 24th, 25th and 26th. Learn more...

Noon - 1:00 PM: Umass Lowell Lunchtime Lecture: "Small, Gritty and Green" by Catherine Tumbler                                                      (Umass Lowell Inn and Conference Center, 50 Warren Street) Learn how smaller, industrial cities can play a role in a greener, low-carbon future. For more information, and to reserve a seat and complimentary lunch, contact artsandideas@uml.edu.

Noon - 1:30 PM: Backyard Beekeeping (495 Varnum Avenue) - Learn how to make honey right in your own backyard without the use of pesticides or chemicals. Weather permitting, we'll look into a real hive! Learn More...

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Lowell Regional Wastewater Facility Tour  (Waste Water Treatment Facility, 451 1st Street Blvd)   Visit this award-winning facility that uses cutting edge green technology to clean wastewater and protect the Merrimack River for Lowell and its neighboring communities.

Tuesday, September 25th

Noon - 1:00 PM: Neighborhood Innovation Grant Program                                                                                           Information Session & Panel Discussion                                                                                                                              (Mayor's Reception  Room, City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street)                                                                                         Learn from past grant recipients about their innovative and sustainable projects, and meet potential partners for the upcoming grant cycle. Light refreshments will be provided. Learn more..

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM & 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Art in the Acre Tours (517 Moody Street, Coalition for a Better Acre) Visit some recently renovated community spaces,  including Unity Place, the Whiting Street Garden, the Welcome Rainbow, and Decatuer Alley with leading partners, the Acre ACTION Neighborhood Group and Coalition for a Better Acre.

Wednesday, September 26th

8:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Free PARK(ing) Day Pop-up Park                                             (255 Merrimack Street)  Support urban walkability and engage in green activities at this pop-up park, located between two public parking spaces along Merrimack Street. 

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: World PEAS Food Hub Open House (200 Crosby Street, Rear) Join the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project staff, Mayor Patrick Murphy, and community partners to celebrate the World PEAS Food Hub's move to Lowell. New Entry supports over 30 local farmers in the greater Merrimack Valley who grow fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables for a CSA and distribution to homebound seniors , Summer Feeding Programs, WIC, and dining services/institutions. The Food Hub aggregates and distributes fresh produce weekly throughout Lowell and Greater Boston. Follow us from the Food Hub to the Farmer's Market to learn about our SNAP - CSA Program. Learn more..        

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Food Security Coalition Brown Bag Lunch Discussion (375 Merrimack Street, City Hall, 2nd Floor) Join presenter Drew Love from the Real Food Challenge for a discussion about a campaign to increase the procurement of real food on college and university campuses, and presenter Jennifer Hashley from the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project to discuss low-income CSA programs. Please bring your own lunch. Learn more about the Food Security Coalition...

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Luncthtime Lecture on America's Social and Economic Impact on Coral Reef Ecosystems in Belize (Middlesex Community College Federal Building, 50 Kearney Square, Room #310) Learn first-hand from Middlesex Community College students who have been researching the relationship between environmental degradation and cultural and economic development at the world's second largest coral reef ecosystem. Learn more about MCC's Sustainability Club here...

Thursday, September 27th

2:00 - 3:30 PM: Middlesex Community College Climate Change Lecture and Discussion                                                                           (Middlesex Community College, Assembly Room, 33 Kearney Square)  Join us for a presentation by Professor Robert Kaulfuss on the opportunities and challenges associated with alternative energy and electric cars. For more information, contact fioric@middlesex.mass.edu.  

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Lowell Green Drinks (Garcia Brogans, 131 Middlesex Street)
Join a discussion with Bill Stanwood from the City's Solid Waste and Recycling Department to learn about current practices and opportunities in Lowell. 

Friday, September 28th

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Shop at Suitable Impressions Retail Boutique (101 Paige Street, Downtown Lowell) Buy recycled, gently worn women's casual and work clothing and accessories on Friday, September 28th and Saturday, September 29th from 10 - 4 PM. For more information, contact Kathy Hayes at suitkh@aol.com.

10:30 AM - Noon: Ground-breaking of New Solar Installations (Department of Public Works, 1020 Westford Street) Join the City of Lowell and Ameresco in celebrating the ground-breaking of new solar installations. Refreshments and a project tour will be available after the ceremony. Please RSVP to rsvp@ameresco.com.

(Rescheduled for October 5th due to inclement weather) Noon - 4:00 PM: Hadley Park Community Clean-up (1650 Middlesex Street, Hadley Park)All are welcome to volunteer in beautifying Hadley Park along with representatives from Middlesex Community College's Sustainability Club! For more information, contact Chris Fiori of MCC's Sustainability Club at fioric@middlesex.mass.edu.

2:00 - 3:30 PM: 2:00 – 7:00 PM: Lowell Farmer's Market (JFK Plaza, Downtown Lowell) Do what's right for your body, family and community by buying local produce, dairy, meat, prepared foods, and crafts.  Learn More...

9:00 - 1:00 PM: National Public Lands Day (Mack Plaza, Downtown Lowell and Community Gardens Greenhouse, 220 Aiken Street) Give back to Lowell's National Park on the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands by planting bulbs at various locations and beautifying our city and National Park. Volunteers begin at Mack Plaza, and the day wraps up with a BBQ at the Community Gardens Greenhouse. For more information, contact deborah@communitygardensgreenhouse.org.

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Green Day in East Pawtucketville                                                   (Intersection of Gershom/University Avenue)  Join us for a sustainability swap at the Gershom/University Avenue Parking Lot, garden awards and tours, a mobile book mobile, family-friendly games at Fells Playground, and more! For more information, or to rent a parking space for the sustainability swap, contact Judy or Nataliya at EastPawtucketville@gmail.com.

3:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Harvest Festival at Rotary Park Community Garden  (Rotary  Park Community Garden, between Chase and Lawrence Street)  Learn from local entrepreneurs about their sustainable home economy businesses and celebrate the growing season with food, green films, garden tours, games, and more!  Learn more... 

 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Public Silent Auction of Recycled Artwork (ALL Gallery, 117 Merrimack Street) The public will have a chance to bid on recycled public artworks created during Sustainability Week during a silent auction, with proceeds to benefit a new Public Art Fund. Free and open to the public.

Other Up-coming Events

September 12th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM: The Green Building Commission's Green Film Night: "The Apple Pushers" (Shedd Park Pavilion) Follow the inspiring stories of five pushcart vendors who are rolling fresh fruits and vegetables into poor neighborhoods of New York City where finding a ripe, red apple is challenging and obesity rates are skyrocketing. Learn more...

September, 13th, 6:00 - 8:30 PM: Merrimack Valley Sandbox Entrepreneur Pitch Contest (Chester's at Bell Tower Square, 60 Island Street, Lawrence) Submit your entrepreneurial ideas for start-up businesses or non-profits within the realms of education, human services, and the environment. Deadline to submit ideas: August 30th. Learn more...

September 16th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Back to School Bicycle Safety Rodeo (Target Parking Lot, 181 Plain Street) Bring your bikes and finish the safety course for a chance to win a new bicycle! Refreshments and fun for the entire family.

October 2nd, 6:00 - 9:00 PM: Next Generation Giving Circle Challenge Night (Garcia Brogans,  Middlesex Street) Mobilizing young professionals to support initiatives that make our community a better place. Learn more...

October 3rd, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Let's Get Gleaning! (Farmer Dave's Farm, 437 Parker Road, Dracut, MA) Join a local gleaning effort to support the collection of left over crops being donated to local shelters and food banks. Please RSVP to Linda King at lking@lowellma.gov.

October 9th, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: UMass Lowell's 4th Annual Climate Change Teach-in (Cumnock Hall, 1 University Ave, UMass Lowell's North Campus) Join us for a presentation and discussion with Professor Eli Kintisch and watch a series of student-produced climate change film shorts. Register Here.

October 26th, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Food Security & Healthy Living Conference (UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren Street, Lowell) $25 entry fee include registration, breakfast, and lunch. Please contact Linda King at lking@lowellma.gov for details, or to register for this event.

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