A Celebration of Pride on AHA! Night in New Bedford

"Pride" is the theme of this month's AHA! Night in New Bedford. It's happening  Thursday, June 12 throughout the downtown area.

AHA! is a celebration of the city's art, history and preservation. AHA! Director Kim Goddard visited Townsquare Sunday this week to talk about the June event and share details on the 2025 Summer Sound Series of concerts.

"AHA! Night in June is extra special," Goddard said. "We get to celebrate Pride Month and kick off summer. Who doesn't love being outside and being all together?"

The Steeple Playhouse on William Street will be the center of much activity on AHA! Night, hosting the AHA! and Queer Arts Council Block Party. Starting at 5 p.m., that area will be loaded with craft vendors, circus acts, live artists and street performers. Inside the Steeple at 6 p.m., there will be a live drag show featuring the Queens of the South Coast, and there is dancing inside the Steeple Playhouse from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with New Moon Dance Party.

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Massachusetts Design, Art, Technology (DATMA) will install a new giant mural made out of sails outside New Bedford City Hall.

Don't miss the work being done by three industrial robots during Open Lab Night at New Bedford Research and Robotics, 1265 Purchase Street, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

"This will be something really cool for the family to check out," Goddard said.

You can check out the complete schedule of AHA! events by visiting ahanewbedford.org.

In talking with Goddard this week, I learned that AHA! is now in charge of putting together the Summer Sound Series, featuring free music concerts on eight Friday evenings in downtown New Bedford.

READ MORE: New Bedford Summer Sound Series 2025 Lineup Announced

The first concert is June 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Lower Union Street, featuring the Pearly Baker Band. This event is part of "JawsJam: A Bigger Boat Block Party." It is a tribute, of course, to the 50th anniversary of the iconic film Jaws. The city's tourism department is putting on a block party as well.

"We encourage everyone to bring their favorite lawn chair and picnic as they enjoy the music. There is free parking at the Elm Street and Zeiterion garages," Goddard said.

⬇️⬇️KEEP SCROLLING FOR THE 2025 SUMMER SOUND SERIES LINEUP⬇️⬇️

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