2024 New England Saltwater Fishing Show

The New England Saltwater Fishing Show will be held March 8-10, 2024 at the Rhode Island Convention center in Providence, Rhode Island.

Sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA), the show features boats, fishing tackle, equipment, raffles and giveaways, youth casting area, fishing seminars, and much more.

With 300 booths, this is the largest show of it’s kind in the north east. Covering everything including tackle, rods, reels, lures, electronics, charter guides, boats, motors, accessories, clothing, artwork, and much more.

An array of  seminars will be presented by accomplished captains, authors, local anglers, and others. Experts will cover regional fishing, regulations, gear, techniques, and other information.

General admission is $15 at the door. Kids 11 and under are free, and can visit the kid’s casting area. Free entry for all ladies on Sunday.

For more information, visit www.nesaltwatershow.com.

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association is a non-profit organization, created to provide a forum for recreational saltwater anglers;  to provide education to members concerning fishing techniques, improved catches, and overall enjoyment of fishing;  to foster sportsmanship;  to support marine conservation and sound management of fisheries resources;  and provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing in Rhode Island.

2022 Southeast Land Trust Wild & Scenic Film Festival

2022 Southeast Land Trust Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Friday April 22nd, 2022 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM
The Music Hall
28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH 

On Friday April 22nd, 2022, the public is invited to join the Southeast Land Trust (SELT) in person and online for the 12th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival.  

This year’s films combine exceptional filmmaking, beautiful cinematography, and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions and possibilities to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for the next generation.

Attendees can expect award-winning films about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, and more. 

A volunteer film committee has hand-picked a program from the award-winning films curated by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) and national Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

Tickets are $20 For more information, visit https://seltnh.org/wildandscenic/

To watch the program remotely participants must create an account with Qudio. If opting to buy virtual tickets viewers will be prompted to create an account during the purchase process.

If tickets are purchased through The Music Hall, ticketholders will receive an email with directions to register for the online event to watch virtually or in person.  

All ticket holders to SELT’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival will be able to watch the program on Demand from 10:56PM on Friday, April 22 through 11:56 PM Wednesday, April 27 through a registered Qudio Account. 

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was started in 2003 by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL, pronounced ‘circle’), a watershed advocacy group based in the Sierra foothills of Northern California. 

The festival’s namesake is in celebration of achieving Wild & Scenic status on 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999. The festival celebrates its annual event in Nevada City, CA each winter featuring over 150 award-winning films and welcoming filmmakers, celebrities, and activists who bring a human face to the environmental movement.

SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a call to action. The films illustrate not only the challenges facing our planet but the work communities are doing to protect the environment and the places we love. The stories give us a sense of place and what it means to be responsible stewards of the earth.

The Southeast Land Trust (SELT) conserves and stewards land for the benefit of people and nature in New Hampshire. SELT serves 52 towns and cities of Rockingham and Strafford counties and has conserved tens of thousands of acres, including nature preserves, hiking trails, farmland, and scenic vistas. Learn more at seltnh.org.

source: Southeast Land Trust

First Day Hikes in New England 2021

A mix of virtual and group First Day Hikes will be held in New England to celebrate New Year's Day 2021. This article includes a selection of First Day hikes, walks, virtual tours, hiking areas, and other resources in New England.

First Day hikes are popular with individuals and families as a way to welcome the new year while enjoying the outdoors and connecting with nature.

In 2020,  nearly 85,000 people celebrated the New Year outdoors, collectively hiking over 176,366 miles throughout the country on the guided hikes. Other participants hiked state park trails throughout the day.

In normal circumstances, America’s State Parks host a full range of First Day Hike events. According to America’s State Parks (www.stateparks.org), states will be adapting their 2021 First Day hikes to keep people safe and healthy during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.

Changes will include hikes with smaller groups, virtual hikes, self-guided hikes and trail challenges. States will be adding events and trails throughout the month of December. Hike distances and difficulty levels may vary from park to park.

 

New England First Day Hike Events:

Maine

Virtual Adventures - Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

New Hampshire

Virtual First Day Hike Event - New Hampshire State Parks

Connecticut

Virtual and Self-Guided Hikes in Connecticut - Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)

Hiking Areas in New England

While many First Day hikes are affected by the pandemic, the region has plenty of public lands and other areas where individuals and families can enjoy hiking, walking, and other outdoor recreation. The following are a few locations where hiking and exploring are possible.

The Green Mountain National Forest in western Vermont is one of New England's most popular hiking destinations. A public, federally managed national forest, Green Mountain is home to miles of trails and other areas for outdoor recreation. For information about health and safety precautions for Vermont, visit https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19

In Northwest Massachusetts, the Mohawk Trail Woodlands encompasses 361,941 acres of northern forests, wetlands, unique geology, and a biologically diverse ecosystem.

Along the coast of Massachusetts, Cape Cod National Seashore includes miles of sandy beaches, lighthouses, marshes, ponds, cranberry bogs, and upland landscapes. Twelve walking trails at the Cape Cod seashore are open year round. Cape Cod National Seashore is located approximately 20 miles east of Hyannis, MA.

In Rhode Island, state parks and saltwater beaches are open with limitations in place. The number of parking spots will be reduced, and parking gates may need to be closed at times depending on beach capacity. For more information, visit: https://riparks.com/covid19.php

 

2021 First Day Hikes Resources

The full listing of First Day Hikes and other special programs in America’s State Parks is available at:

https://www.stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes/

America's State Parks - First Day Hikes

American Hiking Society - First Day Hikes

 

Related Information

First Day Hikes in New England 2020

Christmas in New England

Maine Sea Grant Working Waterfront and Coastal Communities Promotion

Maine Sea Grant recently announced a competition to generate great ideas in support of Maine's working waterfront and coastal communities. Awards are available of up to $15,000.

Buoy Maine will focus on strengthening coastal/marine seafood and tourism related industries, highlighting the Maine Brand and experience, building resiliency, and helping Maine's coastal businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Partnerships are encouraged.

Any business or non-profit connected to the Maine seafood or tourism industries or the heritage of its fishing communities are eligible to apply.

The competition will consist of three phases:

Participants will pitch their ideas via the Buoy Maine Virtual Pitch Competition by September 14, 2020.

Applicants that advance to the Pitch at the Buoy Maine Pitch Competition in October will share their idea in a 5-minute pitch. A judges panel will evaluate pitches, and awardees will receive up to $15,000 to further develop their innovation over the next 6 months. Pitches that receive awards will be made public after the Pitch event.

At the Share at the Buoy Maine Finale, selected awardees will share the product or project at a virtual public celebration, including lessons learned, successes, challenges, and how their ideas may support others. The finale will also be a networking event with investors.

For more information, visit https://seagrant.umaine.edu/funding-opportunities/buoy-maine/

source: Maine Department of Marine Resources

Cape Cod National Seashore Winter Film Festival 2020

Nauset Lighthouse Eastham MA | credit: NPS

Cape Cod National Seashore Annual Winter Film Festival
January 26th thru February 23rd, 2020
Cape Cod National Seashore
Salt Pond Visitor Center
Eastham, MA

Cape Cod National Seashore’s Annual Winter Film Festival kicks off on Sunday, January 26 at 1:30 pm at Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham.

This year's festival explores the power of the human mind in overcoming extreme obstacles. Films show on Sundays at 1:30 pm on the theater-size screen in surround sound.

The auditorium is wheelchair accessible, and the movies are free, thanks to generous licensing funding provided by Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

January 26: A Beautiful Mind--135 minutes. 2001 biographical drama based on the life of John Nash, Nobel Laureate in economics. The story follows Nash from his days as a graduate student through his fall into delusion and schizophrenia. Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress.

February 2: Gravity--91 minutes. 2013 sci-fi thriller starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as American astronauts stranded in space after a mid-orbit destruction of their space shuttle. Selected for American Film Institute's Movies of the Year List.

February 9: The Theory of Everything--123 minutes. 2014 biographical drama about theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. Despite being diagnosed with motor neuron disease and being given two years to live, Hawking had a long career as a researcher and is regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Einstein.

February 16: Apollo 13--140 minutes. This 1995 film dramatizes the aborted 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission. En route to the moon, an on-board explosion deprives the spacecraft of most of its oxygen supply and electrical power, forcing NASA flight controllers to abort the landing and get the three astronauts home safely.

February 23: In the Heart of the Sea--121 minutes. 2015 adventure-drama based on Nathanial Philbrick's nonfiction book about the sinking of the American whaling ship Essex in 1820, an event that inspired the novel Moby-Dick.

Salt Pond Visitor Center is located at 50 Nauset Road, at the intersection of Route 6 in Eastham, MA.

Maritime Shows In New England 2020

Boston MA | credit: USCG

A number of shows, expos, and other events in New England will spotlight maritime issues such as fishing, seafood, boating, equipment, education, and much more. This post lists a few events that will be held in and around New England in 2020.

Rhode Island Boat Show
January 3 - 5, 2020
Rhode Island Convention Center
One Sabin Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
www.riboatshow.com

The RI Boat Show features all types of watercraft. Many dealers and exhibitors offer boat show specials and Rhode Island does not tax boat sales.

2020 Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show
February 8 through February 16, 2020
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
415 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
www.newenglandboatshow.com

Now in its 65th year, the 2020 Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, February 8-16, 2020. The New England Boat Show showcases more than 700 boats and watercraft, along with electronics, and other marine accessories.

45th Maine Fishermen’s Forum
March 5-7, 2020
Rockport, Maine
mainefishermensforum.org

The 45th Maine Fishermen’s Forum will be held March 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2020 in Rockport, Maine. The Fishermen’s Forum hosts fishermen, gear suppliers, scientists, government, and other stakeholders. Each year the Forum provides three days of free seminars for fishermen covering a wide range of topics.

Offshore Wind Seminar
The public is invited to attend a one-day seminar on offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Maine. The seminar will be held on Thursday March 5 from 10:00-4:00 at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum.

For more information, visit www.mainefishermensforum.org

Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America
March 15-17, 2020
Boston, USA
www.seafoodexpo.com

In Boston, buyers and suppliers from around the world will meet, network and do business at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America.

The exposition is sponsored by the National Fisheries Institute. Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America is North America’s largest seafood exposition.

For more information, visit: www.seafoodexpo.com/north-america source: www.seafoodexpo.com

Please add a comment to suggest additional maritime events in 2020.

First Day Hikes in New England 2020

First Day Hikes will be held Throughout New England to celebrate New Year's Day 2020. This article includes a partial listing of First Day hikes, walks, and other events in the region, listed by state.

Connecticut

State Park First Day Hikes

Burr Pond State Park,Torrington, CT

Candlewood Hill WMA, Groton, CT

Hammonasset Beach State Park (Meigs Point Nature Center), Madison, CT

James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, Hampton CT

Kettletown State Park, Southbury, CT

Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, Burlington CT

Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, CT

Topsmead State Forest,  Litchfield, CT

For more infomation, visit www.ct.gov/deep.

Maine

State Park First Day Hikes

Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal, ME

Lake St. George State Park, Liberty, ME

Lily Bay State Park, Greenville, ME

Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, ME

Massachusetts

State Park First Day Hikes

White-tailed Deer | credit: USFWS

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) has scheduled First Day Hikes in several state parks throughout the Commonwealth.

CENTRAL
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, Uxbridge, MA
Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston, MA

NORTH
Walden Pond State Reservation, Concord, MA
Breakheart Reservation, Saugus, MA
Harold Parker State Forest, North Andover, MA
Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA

SOUTH
Nickerson State Park, Brewster, MA
Shawme Crowell State Forest, Sandwich MA
Nantasket Beach, Hull MA

WEST
Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls, MA
Granville State Forest, Granville, MA
Mount Greylock State Reservation, Lanesborough, MA

For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dcr.

More First Day Hikes in Massachusetts


Rocky Woods, Medfield, Massachusetts

The Rocky Woods ranger will lead a guided hike on the property.

National Park Service Regional Visitor Center, Salem MA

The National Park Service, the City of Salem, Essex National Heritage Commission, and the Salem Historical Society invite locals and community members to participate in First Day Hike 2020. This year’s hike will focus on the importance of the Custom House to Salem’s history. For more information, visit thingstodoinsalem.com.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire State Parks and its partners will host First Day Hikes this New Year’s Day.

Milan Hill State Park, Milan, NH

Monadnock State Park, Jaffrey, NH

Odiorne Point State Park, Rye, NH

Franconia Notch State Park, Flume Gorge, Lincoln, NH

Bear Brook State Park, Allenstown, NH

For more information, visit www.nhstateparks.org/news-events/first-day-hike.

Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is hosting free guided walking tours at Colt State Park, in Bristol, on New Year's Day. The one-and-a-half-mile hike offers panoramic views of Narragansett Bay.

For more information, visit ri.gov.

Vermont

On New Year's Day, a variety of free, guided, family-friendly First Day hikes will be taking place at state parks and forests across Vermont. Entry to Vermont's state parks is free on New Year’s Day and all winter long.

State Park First Day Hikes

Button Bay State Park, Ferrisburgh VT

Barnes Camp, Stowe, VT

Holbrook State Park, Sheffield, VT

Gifford Woods State Park, Killington, VT

First Day Hikes Resources

America's State Parks - First Day Hikes

American Hiking Society - First Day Hikes

Mayflower Voyage - Plymouth Colony 400th Anniversary

Mayflower Replica Attribution:

User: Stilfehler at wikivoyage shared [CC BY-SA 3.0]

Massachusetts will host a series of events in 2020 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of two historic events that helped shape the United States of America; the Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony.

Selected by the state’s Plymouth 400 Commission, the events will highlight the historical significance of the English Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth in 1620, and interactions with the Native American Wampanoag people.

The series of 400th anniversary events will showcase Massachusetts’ vibrant culture, cuisine, history and natural beauty.


400th anniversary activities for 2020 include:

• official Plymouth 400 opening ceremony in Plymouth


• the sailing of the Mayflower to Boston, Provincetown and Plymouth


• a maritime festival hosted by Mayflower Sails 2020 in Boston Harbor alongside the USS Constitution and Mayflower


• a homecoming festival in Plymouth with visiting ships and maritime activities


• Wampanoag Ancestors Walk, led by the Wampanoag tribes of Massachusetts


• Official State House Salute to the 400th Anniversary


• Embarkation Festival


• Indigenous History Conference and Powwow


• Illuminate Thanksgiving 2020


• a moving exhibit entitled “Our Story: 400 Years of Wampanoag History", is traveling around Massachusetts and New England in 2020


• the United Kingdom and The Netherlands are also participating by sending official delegations to Massachusetts

In preparation for 400th anniversary celebrations, the Plimoth Plantation has completed a three-year, $11.2 million restoration of the historic wooden sailing ship Mayflower.

For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to massvacation.com.

sources: Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, plymouth400inc.org, Plimoth Plantation

Boston Christmas Tree - A Gift in Rememberance of the Halifax Explosion

The City of Boston's annual holiday display includes the official Christmas tree from Nova Scotia and trees throughout Boston Common.

The 60-year-old white spruce tree is a thank you to Boston for its support following the 1917 Halifax Explosion. Every year, Nova Scotians and Bostonians celebrate the lighting of the Nova Scotia tree gifted to Boston.

Nova Scotia's Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leo Glavine was among a delegation of Canadians that visited Boston to witness the 2019 tree lighting ceremony on the Boston Common.

"This special tree is for the generosity shown to us after the Halifax Explosion and I am honoured to witness it light up the City of Boston," said Mr. Glavine.

This is the 48th year that Nova Scotia has given a tree to the people of Boston as thanks for relief efforts following the December 6, 1917, explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor.

Within 24 hours of the disaster a train loaded with supplies and emergency personnel was making its way from Boston to Nova Scotia.

sources: City of Boston, Province of Nova Scotia

Camden Winterfest 2020

The annual Camden Maine Winterfest will be held from January 31 – February 9, 2020.

The multi-day festivities will include snow sculptures and ice carving contests, as well as the U.S. National Toboggan Championships at the Camden Snow Bowl.

A polar plunge and freestyle skiing competitions are also part of the event, not to mention a snow-plow parade, a concert and dance, and a Maine Mardi Gras theme.

The 2020 Winterfest will include outdoor and indoor activities throughout downtown Camden, the Camden Public Library and the Camden Snow Bowl, including ice carving, a polar plunge, CamJam competition, concert, movies and more.

Started in 2013, Camden Maine's Winterfest is a weeklong celebration of winter.

For more information on the Camden Winterfest, visit www.camdenmaineexperience.com.