List of activities and events taking place in June and July at Heritage State Park

Here is the schedule of events expected to take place at Heritage State Park in June and July, according to Massachusetts DCR.

All programs are free and open to the public, unless specifically stated. The Visitor Center is located at 200 Davol Street in the Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr. Memori al Building. Free parking is available in the DCR Lot at 5 Water Street in Fall River. An adult must accompany children. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. For more information call (508) 675-5759 x 0. Please follow all current COVID guidelines. Visit Mass.gov/COVID.

Daily, June 1 to July 31
SING! THE SESAME STREET® WORLD OF COMPOSER JOE RAPOSO, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Celebrate the creative genius of a local hero: Joseph Guilherme Raposo, the son of Azorean immigrants who went to Harvard College, studied music, and became one of the creators of Sesame Street Fall River is proud to honor Joe Raposo with a collaboration between Fall River Heritage State Park, Creative Arts Network, and the Greater Fall River Arts Association. The Visitor Center will host music, sing-a-long StoryWalks of his books “Sing” and “Not Easy Being Green” and hands-on activities.

Daily, June 9 to July 15
EXHIBIT: A GLIMPSE INTO PORTUGUESE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION, 8:00 am- 4:00 pm
Bristol County is home to the largest concentration of Portuguese -Americans in the United States. Through photographs, rare newspaper articles, and other insightful documents, this exhibit offers a glimpse into the experience of the region’s dominant ethnic community. Day of Portugal is an international celebration of Portuguese culture held annually in June. Fall River Heritage State Park features a monument to local Portuguese-American poet Joao Teixeira de Medeiros.

Daily, June 1 to July 15
EXHIBIT: THE POCASSETS-PAST AND PRESENT 8:00 am–4:00 pm
Presented by the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe of MA and RI. An exhibit of local Native American life connecting the past with the present in the Community Gallery. NATIVE AMERICAN DIORAMA & PLIMOTH DIORAMA, NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS Presented by local historian David Jennings of Southcoast Historical Associates, 17th century dioramas of two 17th century Massachusetts cultures: a Wampanoag village and the Plimoth Plantation, together with furs, pelts, arrowheads, tools, fishing gear and other cultural artifacts.

INTERPRETIVE OIL PORTRAITS OF SACHEMS WEETAMO AND METACOMET Original paintings by talented local artist Sheila Oliveira are displayed for the first time.

Sunday, June 19 and Monday, June 20
FILM: SAFE HOUSES-FALL RIVER AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
11:00 am-11:20 am & 1:00 pm-1:20 pm Celebrate Juneteeth and discover the hidden history of Fall River and its role in the Underground Railroad. See the houses and streets that welcomed escaped formerly enslaved people. Learn about the abolitionists of Fall River, especially the women, who opened the gates of freedom and their homes in this 20-minute film. Shown in our comfortable theater.

Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26
KOREAN WAR COMMEMORATION: A TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN THOMAS J. HUDNER, 11:00 am & 1:00 pm Captain Thomas J. Hudner, a Fall River native, was an officer in the United States Navy and a naval aviator. He rose to the rank of captain and received the Congressional Medal of honor for his actions in trying to save the life of his squadron mate Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.

The three films to be shown tell Hudner’s story in his own words with animation and include a replay of the dedication of the Memorial building in October of 2021.