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Anyone who climbs up Plymouth’s Burial Hill is always in the company of good spirits. Starting in February, you can tour the ancient grounds with living people, too.
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum are offering a free public tour series of Burial Hill – which looms above downtown – with the first walk scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 3.
Since 2011, the two organizations have collaborated to offer thematic tours of Plymouth’s burying ground to the public on the first Saturday of each month, from February through December.
Donna Curtin, executive director of Pilgrim Hall, will lead the first tour, called “Love, Plymouth Style.” She’ll “share heart-warming stories of Plymouth romance that reveal changing views and experiences of duty, passion, and togetherness.” And you thought any tour of a graveyard would be a grave affair!
Burial Hill rises 150 feet above sea level, offering commanding views of the town and the coastline. Tour participants can enter the cemetery by climbing the stairs adjacent to First Parish Church.
All tours begin at 1 p.m. and last approximately one hour. Tour leaders recommend wearing comfortable footwear as the ground is uneven in places and the paths narrow. In the event of bad weather, check the Pilgrim Hall Museum Facebook page for cancellation or postponement information.
The cemetery, established in the 17th century, is the resting place for some of the best-remembered Pilgrims, including Gov. William Bradford, Mary Allerton (the last surviving Mayflower passenger), church elder William Brewster, other Mayflower passengers, and Squanto, a crucial Native American friend to the Pilgrims.
The grounds were listed on National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
Upcoming tours include:
March 2, “A Blessing Great but Dangerous: Children in Early Plymouth,” also led by Curtin.
April 6, “Veterans of the Revolution,” by historian Stephen O’Neill.
May 4, “From These Honored Dead: Civil War Plymouth,” by Walter Powell, a Plymouth Antiquarian Society board member.
June 1, “Legends & Lore,” by Joyce Poremski, head docent of Plymouth Antiquarian Society.
While the Burial Hill tours are resuming, Pilgrim Hall Museum remains closed for another month. It will reopen on Friday, March 1, for the 2024 season.
This week and beyond
Monday, Jan. 29
Artists can register now through Feb. 14 to participate in a unique exhibit next month that will explore abstract art, at the Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St. An opening reception will be held Thursday, Feb. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. It’s free and open to the public. Artists are urged to experiment with their imagination by exploring alternative or even accidental elements of an image and to submit their original artwork in the following abstract types:
• Non-representational – Artwork that does not attempt to represent a realistic representation.
• Indeterminate – Artwork that has recognizable, but obviously distorted images.
Categories for participation includepainting, photography, drawing, printmaking, pastel, mixed-media, fine crafts & sculpture
Awards will be made for first prize ($100 and ribbon); second prize ($50 and ribbon); two honorable mentions (ribbon)
Plymouth Center for the Arts Exhibiting Membership is not required to participate.
The Manomet branch library hosts storytime, from 10:30 to 11 a.m., for parents, caregivers, and children ages 6 and under to enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement activities. No registration required.
Tuesday, Jan. 30
The Plymouth Public Library hosts a virtual author’s talk by Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric neuroendocrinologist, from 2 to 3 p.m. His book, “Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine,” weaves the interconnected strands of nutrition, health and disease, medicine, environment, and society into a new approach. Here’s the link for more information.
“Changing Tides,” Plymouth library’s teen sustainability club for ages 8 to 13, meets from 6 to 7 p.m. The group will discuss current topics about sustainability (local to global) and enjoy fun activities and crafts.
Plymouth library welcomes authors Lauren J. A. Bear, Rita Chang-Eppig, and Nishita Parekh to its “virtual stage” from 7 to 8 p.m. They’ll talk about how to get into publishing – including the pitfalls, challenges, and roadblocks as well as the excitement, fulfillment, and reader enthusiasm that can make it worthwhile. Register here.
Wednesday, Jan. 31
Plymouth library hosts the Wednesday Night Writing Group from 6 to 8 p.m. in the library’s board room. Writing prompts will help get writers started. The group meets every other Wednesday.
Uva Wine Bar, 46 Main St., explores the different wine regions across South Africa, from 7 to 9 p.m. Participants will taste four South African wines, with each paired with food, including salad, a cheese course, an entrée, and dessert. Tickets are $65, and are available here.
Thursday, Feb. 1
Plymouth library’s preschool storytime, from 11 to 11:30 a.m., gives parents, caregivers, and children ages 3 to 5 the opportunity to enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement activities together.
Malka Benjamin, Plimoth Patuxet Museums director of colonial interpretation and training, offers a behind-the-scenes peek at how museums turn arcane 17th-century primary sources into powerful personal encounters with history. The online presentation takes place from 12 to 1 p.m. It’s free for museum members; $10 for others. Get tickets here.
Friday, Feb. 2
Plymouth Library hosts “Wild About Reading: Sustainable Storytime” from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. in the library’s Fehlow meeting room. Different stories and activities will be offered each month to teach children about environmentalism and encourage a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors. Registration is required. Storytime books are picked for ages 5-9. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19. You can register here.
Comedian Karen Morgan, a former trial attorney who began her professional comedy career on Nickelodeon Television’s “Search for the Funniest Mom in America,” performs at The Spire from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets are priced at $22.50 to $25. Get them here.
Saturday, Feb. 3
As reported above, the Plymouth Antiquarian Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum will hold their first public tour of Burial Hill for the 2024 season.
The Manomet branch library hosts an afternoon of putting together new puzzles and swapping old ones from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Bring a puzzle or use some of the library’s. Light refreshments, including coffee and cocoa, will be served. It’s free.
A Band of Killers performs at The Spire, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.2o to $28 and are available here.
Sunday, Feb. 4
La Vie Luna Apothecary, 65 Main St., hosts a brunch and workshop event, Candles and Calligraphy Galentine’s Class from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to create a non-toxic candle and practice the art of calligraphy. Wine and light refreshments will be served. The cost is $85. Get tickets here.
Monday, Feb. 5
The Manomet branch library hosts “Read to a Dog” from 4 to 5 p.m. Children who are independent readers may sign up for one 15-minute session to read to Tasha, a purebred Maltese who is a Therapy Dogs International certified therapy dog. The opportunity is intended for children under the age of 12. Register here.
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Uva Wine Bar, 46 Main St., hosts a “Valentine’s Day Cork Art Workshop” from 7 to 10 p.m., putting the wine bar’s many corks to good use. Admission is $45. Tickets are available here.
Teen Writers Hearthside, for those 13-18 years old, meets at Plymouth library the first Tuesday of every month, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to hone writing skills, share writing advice, and meet new friends. Bring a notebook, pen, pencil, or laptop. Warm drinks and snacks will be provided. (Writers are seldom treated this well.) Registration is required. Call 508-830-4250 x210 or email nbennington@plymouth.ocln.org
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Uva Wine Bar, 46 Main St., hosts “Love, Laughter and Light From The Other Side” with spirit medium Tiffany Rice, from 6 to 10 p.m.
Plymouth library hosts “Glow in the Dark Science” for ages 6 to 8, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Each month, the program will focus on one or more aspects of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) for ages 6-8. Registration is required. You can do so here.
Thursday, Feb. 8
New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey will speak online about the launch of “her new super-hot sports romance duology” titled “Fangirl Down” from 8 to 9 p.m. The event is being sponsored by Plymouth library. You can find out more here.
Friday, Feb. 9
Steve Forbert -who helped pioneer the genre of Americana music before it was called that – and singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston will perform at The Spire from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $28.80 to $32. They’re available here.
Saturday, Feb. 10
“Saturday Stories” at Plymouth library is a half-hour story program that gives parents, caregivers and children 6 and under the opportunity to enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement activities together. It takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. No registration required.
Plimoth Cinema, at Plimoth Patuxet Museusm, 137 Warren Ave., offers an early Valentine’s dinner and a movie, featuring the classic Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan romcom “You’ve Got Mail.” Dinner includes a glass of Prosecco, rolls, salad, choice of red wine, braised short ribs, roasted garlic and lemon chicken breast, or stuffed squash, and a chocolate lava cake dessert. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by a 7:00 p.m. movie. For tickets go here.
Three V Restaurant, 10 Cordage Park Circle, presents live music by Dylan Wheaton from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 11
The 1620 Winery, 55 Cordage Park Circle, presents a raucous “Galentine’s Drag Show and Cocktail Party” beginning at 1 p.m. Ticket price includes the show, and a welcome mimosa. Tickets are $55, available here.
The Sunday Funday Residency at the Spire with South Shore roots rock band The Shady Roosters, presented by IndieFerm Brewing, has been extended into May. Together for about 25 years, mainly under the name Lonesome Jukebox, they perform a mix of rockabilly, blues, roots, and country music. Tickets are $5 and sold at the door. Cash only.