Annual Learning Festival in October

Our annual, city-wide learning festival is hosted in collaboration with community partners and highlights classes, discussions, tours, events, and more throughout the month of October.

Photos Peg Shanahan

 Previous Lowell Learning Festivals

  • A summary of our 2024 Festival of Learning is in the works.

  • Created by Lowell City of Learning:

    1. 2nd Annual Lowell City of Learning Award Ceremony. The Richard & Nancy Donahue Academic Arts Center at Middlesex Community College.  Oct. 13th, 5:00-7:00 PM.  In person.

    2. Laws of Growth for People and Communities with Cecilia Idika-Kalu. Oct.10, 12:00-1:00 PM.  Virtual.

    3. Walk the Lowell Sustainability Trail. October 14th. 10:00-11:30 AM. In person.


    Created by Other Entities for the 2023 Lowell Learning Festival  

    1. Biotechnology Facility Tour.  Middlesex Community College.  October 11th, 3:00PM.  In person.

    2. Tour of Newly Renovated Dental Clinic.  Middlesex Community College.  Oct. 16th, 0:00 AM. In person.

    3. Learning in Retirement.  UMass Lowell.  Oct. 12th, 1:00 PM.  In person.

    4. Learn to Play Chess!  Pollard Memorial Library.  October 10th, 4:30 PM.  In person.

    5. Lowell Walk—Hamilton Canal District History Tour.  Oct. 8th, 10:00 AM.  In person.

    6. The Merrimack: Lowell’s Lifeline and Legacy.  John Macone, Merrimack River Watershed Council.  Oct. 11th, 1:00 PM.  In person.

    Created by Entities for their Own Programming but Included in the Festival Calendar

    1. Interactive Drumming with Marcus Santos. Middlesex Community College. Oct. 8th, 3:00 PM. In person.

    2. National Coming Out Day.  Middlesex Community College.  Oct. 11th, 10:00 AM.  In person.

    3. Native American Code Talkers of WWI & II.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 8th, 12:30 PM.  Virtual.

    4. Dominican Flow Bachata Workshop.  Middlesex Community College.  Oct. 14th, 2:00 PM. In person.

    5. Loving to Hate New Music.  Middlesex Community College.  Oct. 14th, 4:00 PM.  In person.

    6. Mother Goose on the Loose.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 7th & 10th, 10:30 AM.  In person.

    7. Tech Day: Computer Class.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 10th, 11:00 AM.  In person.

    8. Q & A with Historian Fiction Author Denny S. Bryce.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 10th, 7:00 PM.  Virtual.

    9. Family Storytime.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 11th, 10:30 AM.  In person.

    10. Tech Night: One on One session.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 11th, 6:00 PM.  In person.

    11. International Book Club.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 11th, 6:30 PM.  Virtual.

    12. Lowell Reads Book Discussion.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 11th, 6:30 PM.  In person.

    13. Authors Adam Sass and Terry J.Benton-Walker. Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 11th, 7:30 PM. Virtual.

    14. Interactive Fiction.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 12th, 4:00 PM.  Virtual.

    15. Knitting/Crochet Group.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 12th, 6:00 PM.  In person.

    16. Friends of the PML Book Sale.  Pollard Memorial Library.  Oct. 14th, 10:00 AM.  In person.

    17. Commemorative at the Commemorative.  Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.  Oct. 7th, 9:00 AM. In person.

    18. Walking Tour of Downtown Kerouac Sites.  Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.  Oct. 7th, 10:00 AM.  In person.

    19. Jack Kerouac’s Evolving Position in Lowell 1950--2023.  Parker Lecture by Paul Marion.  Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.  Oct. 7th, 2:00 PM.  In person.

    20. Library Haunts and Hooky Tour.  Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.  Oct. 7th, 3:30 PM.  In person.

    21. Escape to New York—Luanne Henderson’s and Neal Cassady’s 1946 Journey to New York.  Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.  Oct. 8th, 12:00 PM.  In person.

    22. Ghosts of the Pawtucketville Night Tour.  Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.  Oct. 8th, 5:00 PM.  In person.

    23. Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Loop Tour.  Lowell Celebrates Kerouac.  Oct. 9th, 10:00 AM.  In person.

    24. Computer Literacy Class.  African Community Center of Lowell.  Oct. 14th, 11:00 AM.  In person.

    25. Khmer Social Dancing Class for Adults.  Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association.  Oct. 16th, 6:00 PM.  In person.

    26. National Immigrants Day Lunch and Learn.  Enterprise Bank Multicultural Alliance, Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, Project Citizenship.  Oct.12th, 11:00 AM.  Hybrid.

    27. Whose Stories Get Told: A conversation about representation in museums.  lala Books.  Oct. 19th, 6:30 PM.  In person.

    28. Nature Explorations at Hawk Valley Farm.  Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust.  Oct. 14th, 10:00 AM.  In person.

    29. Candidate Forum: City Council Districts 3, 6, 7 & 8.  Lowell Votes.  Oct. 7th, 10:00 AM.  In person.

    30. Rethinking Discipline: A Workshop for Families.  Mahoney Family Fund and Lowell Public Schools.  Oct. 12th, 5:30 PM.  Hybrid.

    31. Studio Relocation Tour.  Refuge Arts.  Oct. 7th, 10:00 AM.  In person.

    32. Western Avenue Studios—Open Studios.  Oct. 7th & 8th, 12:00 PM.  In person. 

    33. Lowell Black History Trail Self-Guided Tour.  Video on Demand.

    1. Indigenous Peoples Day Merrimack River Cleanup. Lowell Litter Krewe, Canalwaters Cleaners & Lowell National Historical Park. Oct. 8th , 9:00 AM—12:00 PM. In person.

    2. Dragonfly Mercury Monitoring. Lowell National Historical Park.Oct. 9th, 9:45 AM. In person.

    3. Indigenous Peoples History with UMass Lowell professor Christoph Strobel. Oct. 10th, 10:00-11:30 AM. In person.

    4. Death Café. Richard Davis and Nancy Kendrick. Oct. 10th, 10:00-11:30 AM. Virtual.

    5. National Coming Out Day Conversation. Pollard Memorial Library and Lowell City of Learning. Oct. 10th,4:00-5:00 PM ET. Hybrid.

    6. Climate Change in the Merrimack Valley. John Macone, Merrimack River Watershed Council. Oct. 10th,7:00-8:00 PM. Virtual.

    7. Creating Opportunities for Refugees and Immigrants in Lowell. Learning in Retirement Association. Oct. 12th,1:00 AM-12:00 PM. Hybrid.

    8. Inspection and Sensing of Civil Infrastructures Through Collaborations between the City of Lowell and UMass Lowell. UMass Lowell (Prof. Tzuyang Yu), City of Lowell Engineering (Ting Chang, P.E.), Lowell City of Learning. Oct. 12th, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM. Virtual.

    9. Spare the Child Part Three: From Spanking to Positive Parenting. The Mahoney Family Fund and Center for A Better Acre. Oct. 12th, 12:99 PM-1:00 PM. Virtual.

    10. “We Are America” discussion with Jessica Lander and Lowell High School students.  Pollard Memorial Library. Jessica Lander (Lowell High School). Oct. 12th,6:30-7:30 PM. Virtual. 

    11. Open Group Bike Ride. UMass Lowell. Oct. 12th, 5:00-7:00 PM. In person.

    12. October Fiber and Mixed Media Meetup. Lowell Makes. Oct. 12th, 7:00-9:00 PM. In person.

    13. Making Americans—A Visit with Jessica Lander. Mill City Grows and lala Books. Oct. 13th, 5:00-7:00 PM. In person. 

    14. Native Americans of the Merrimack Valley Region: Colonization and Persistence. UMass Lowell Prof. Christoph Strobel, Pollard Memorial Library. Oct. 13th, 7:00-8:15 PM. Hybrid. 

    15. HOT SAUCE with F-Word Farm. ‘F’ is for Farming, Foraging , Fermenting! Emily Makrez, F-Word Farm, Oct. 14th, 3:30 PM. In-person.

    16. Hawk Valley Farm Tour & Scavenger Hunt. Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust. Oct. 15th, 10:00-11:30 AM. In person.

    17. 5th Annual Lowell Sustainability Council Summit. Oct. 15th, 10:00-11:00 AM. In person.

    18. Lowell Fall Cemetery Tours. Dick Howe, Lowell Walks. Oct. 15-16th, 10:00-11:30 AM. In person. 

    19. Live Cooking Lesson: Chef Avery Makes Homemade Vanilla Apple Pie with a Sugar and Spice Roux. Oct. 15th, 2:00-3:00 PM. Virtual.

    Video on Demand

    Parsley’s Big Adventure. Book reading with Gordon Donkoh-Halm.

    1. The Stilt House Zine Reading and Open Mic. Cambodian American Literary Arts Association.  Oct. 10th, 2:00-4:00 PM. In person, Mill No. 5.

    2. Lowell Walks: Indigenous Peoples' Day tour with National Park Service.  Oct. 11th, 10:00-11:30 AM. In person. 

    3. Avery Cooks Lasagna. Oct 11th, 2:00-2:30 PM. Virtual. 

    4. Yes We CAN Have Nice Things. Lowell Litter Krewe.  Oct. 11th, 3:00-4:00 PM. In person: UMass Lowell Innovation Hub.

    5. Breakingthe Barriers for Success in Education for Latinos in Lowell. Cecilio Hernandez, Fortaleza, Inc.  Oct. 12th, 10:00 AM - 11.30 PM. Virtual.

    6. Lockdown Letters: Poetry Reading and Discussion: Paul Marion, Loom Press. Oct. 12th, 12:00-1:00 PM. Virtual.

    7. The Pandemic Story Project: Oral Histories from Lowell and Lawrence, MA. UMass Lowell Department of Sociology and the Lawrence History Center. Oct. 12th, 5:00-6:30 PM. Virtual.

    8. Acting Out: Voices from the Theater in Palestine. Jonathan Daitch and John Wooding. Oct. 13th, 12:00-1:30 PM. Virtual.

    9. Climate Change Initiative Seminar: Climate & Community.  Helen Waldorf, ASTM and UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative.  Oct. 14th, 9:30-10:30 AM. Virtual & in person hybrid.

    10. Mosaic Lowell Listening Session. LTC and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. Oct. 14th, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM.  Virtual. 

    11. The Power of Empathy: Reduce Stress, Improve Communication, Build Better Relationships. Mahoney Family Fund.  Oct.14th, 12:00-1:00 PM.  Virtual.

    12. From Ice Age to Industrial Age: Merrimack River Evolution. Merrimack River Watershed Council. Oct. 14th, 7:00-8:00 PM.  Virtual. 

    13. Friday at the Farm with Mill City Grows. Oct. 15th, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. In person.

    14. Instrument Petting Zoo at Hawk Valley Farm.  Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust and Lowell Learns.  Oct. 16th, 9:00-12:00 PM.  In person.

    15. Lowell Storytelling -- How to find and develop a personal story. Oct. 16th, 1:00-2:00 PM. In person. 

    Videos on Demand

    Cooking with Sitto Yvette. https://youtu.be/NdFcmFaSTfs?list=TLPQMjQwOTIwMjGeMK35l36CGw

    Contradictory Place: Cotton Mills Alongside Anti-Slavery Efforts in Lowell, Massachusetts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdJWHgtrbX0

    Landscapes of Memory: Celebrating the Merrimack River and The River Lee. https://youtu.be/XlXL_I4wZM0  and https://youtu.be/GswWwfTQ6aA.  

    1. Introduction to the Learning Festival. Lowell City of Learning. Sept. 28th, 7:00.  Virtual. 

    2. COOL Science Art Workshop and Competition Kick-off. COOL Science, Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust.  Sept. 28th. Virtual.

    3. Dance Moves for PD. The Donna Micelli Dance Studio, Sept. 29th, 11:00 AM. Virtual.

    4. The Future of Further & Higher Education Post Pandemic.  Lowell City of Learning. Sept. 29th, 1:00 PM. Virtual.

    5. Mill Girls—Life and Work in an Industrial City. Lowell National Historical Park. Sept. 30th, 4:00 PM. Virtual.

    6. Looking Back and Growing Forward. Lowell City Learning, Mill City Grows. Oct. 1st, 2:30 PM. Virtual.

    7. Open Forum on Climate Change. UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative. Oct. 1st, 4:00 PM. Virtual.

    8. Observational Drawing for Kids.  Arnold Arboretum, Lowell National Historical Park, Tsongas Industrial History Center.  Oct 1st, 4:00 PM. In person.

    9. Atlantic Currents: Connecting Cork & Lowell, Lowell City of Learning, Cork Learning & Cork Lifelong Learning Festival. Oct 2nd, 11:00 AM. Virtual.

    10. Building a Business in Lowell AND Surviving in a Pandemic. Lowell City of Learning, EfALL, Brew'd Awakening, Purple Carrot Bread, Social Pup.  Oct. 2nd, 6:00 PM. Virtual.

    11. Movie, The Merrimack: River at Risk, Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust. Oct. 2nd, 7:00 PM.

    Videos on Demand

    Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race 

    Thank You Heroes Art Exhibit. Laurie Sinko, Church Christ United 

    Lowell Talks: A Movement and a Pandemic. Lowell National Historical Park.

    Lowell Walks. Richard Howe.

    Civic Engagement with Braver Angels.  David Ball.

    Industrialization, Deforestation and a New England Mill Town. Lowell National Historical Park.

    What to the Slave is the Fourth of July. Community Reading Lowell National Historical Park.

    The Playwriting Process. Cheryl West, Merrimack Repertory Theatre.

    1. City of Learning: Realizing the Mogan Legacy.  Opening Ceremony, Lowell Festival of Learning April 29th, 6:00-8:00 PM. In person. 

    2. Tour of Lowell City Hall. April 30th, 3:00 PM. 

    3. Eco-Film: Landfill Harmonic. Luna Theater. April 30th, 6:30 PM. 

    4. Workshop on Bike Maintenance Basics. May 1st, 6:00-8:00 PM.

    5. Lowell Walks: Lowell, Slavery, Cotton, and Abolitionism. May 2nd, 5:00 PM.

    6. Symphony of the Soil: Film and Discussion May 3rd, 6:00-8:00 PM.

    7. Mini Mozarts. Lowell Learns. May 4th, 10:00-10:45 PM.

    8. Annual Sustainability Summit. Lowell Sustainability Council. May 4th, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM.

    9. First Saturday Open Studios, Western Avenue Studios. May 4th, 12:00-5:00 PM.

    10. Points of Light Lantern Festival—Floating Lantern Celebration. May 4th, 6:00-10:00 PM.

  • This festival was held in conjunction with Lowell Earth Day, and included the following list of in-person events:

    1. Learning Festival Opening Ceremony and Reception.  Mayor’s Conference Room, City of Lowell and UMass Lowell Featuring guests from University College Cork in Ireland, discussing “What Brexit Means for Ireland.“  April 18th, 6 p:00-8:00 PM. 

    2. The Sustainable Urban University. UMass Lowell. April 19th, 12:00-1:30 PM.  Panelists: Prof. John O’Halloran, Deputy President, University College Cork; Prof. John Saltmarsh, Higher Education, UMass Boston; Councilor Karen Cirillo, City of Lowell; Prof. John Wooding, Political Science, UMass Lowell; Ruairi O’Mahony, Director, Office of Sustainability, UMass Lowell; Prof. Gerard Mullally, Sociology, University College Cork.

    3. Workshop: Bike Maintenance Basics.  UMass Lowell Bike Shop. April 19th, 7:00-9:00 PM.

    4. Lowell Walk: 300 Years of History Within 300 Yards. Richard Howe April 19th, 6:00-7:30 PM. 

    5. Tour & Discussion: UMass Lowell Greenhouse and Urban Agriculture. UMass Lowell Office of Sustainability. April 20th, 3:00-4:00 PM. 

    6. Documentary Film and Discussion: Days of Division. Lowell Telecommunication Corporation. April 20th, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM. 

    7. Fee-Free Admission in Honor of National Park Week. April 21st, 9:30 AM to 5:00PM. 

    8. National Junior Ranger Day. Lowell Historical National Park. April 21st, 1:00-4:00 PM. 

    9. Film: Seed: The Untold Story. Luna Theater.  April 21st, 5:00 PM.

    10.  UMass Lowell Bike Shop and Climate Change Coalition Earth Day Group Bike Ride. April 21st.

    11.  Cambodian New Year Celebration: Year of the Dog.  April 21st. 

    12.  Earth Day Parade and Festival. April 22nd.