Though public gatherings are currently prohibited, a number of area organizations are now offering online events to help people stave off the boredom and have some fun from a safe social distance. Here are some highlights.
Word Barn Sessions: Vol. 2
A new series presented by The Word Barn helps support the venue and artists while giving guests access to special performances. Anyone who makes a minimum donation of $10 will receive a link to a video compilation of songwriters, poets, and writers sharing their work. The second volume of the series features musicians Greg Brown, Peter Mulvey, Zachariah Hickman, and Jake Davis, writer Adrian Shirk Sweeney, and poet Sarah Anderson. (You can also still get the first volume, featuring musicians Jeffrey Foucault, Mark Erelli, and Liz Beebe, writer Sherrie Flick, and Anderson.)
Friday Night Cabarets at the Seacoast Rep
The Seacoast Repertory Theatre is keeping the curtain raised with many great online offerings. Among them is the Friday Night Cabaret series, in which some of the area’s top performers livestream their favorite songs. Viewers can share their thoughts in the livechat and tip performers on Venmo. The next installment is Friday, March 27, from 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $10 (free for seniors and healthcare workers). Other online Rep events include Dance Along with Bay Goulet on Friday, March 27, at 10 a.m. and Move to the Music with Katie Juster on Saturday, March 28, at 9 a.m.
Center for Wildlife’s Virtual Morning Meetings
The Center for Wildlife is giving children and families an opportunity to meet some of its wildlife ambassadors from home. Morning Meeting is a Facebook Live series starting at 10 a.m. every morning. Each day, viewers will meet a different native species housed at the Center for Wildlife, which rehabilitates injured animals. Guests will learn about these animals and have a chance to ask their caretakers questions. It’s a good way for students to learn while they’re home from school. The videos will be posted on the center’s website and YouTube after the live broadcast.
Instagram Live! Seacoast Relief Fund
A long list of celebrated local musicians will perform 10-minute sets on WSCA’s Instagram Live broadcast on Saturday, March 28, from 7-10 p.m. The event is intended to bring attention to the Seacoast Relief Fund for Musicians, a GoFundMe campaign raising money for local artists who have lost revenue due to venue closures and event cancellations. Among those performing are Elissa Margolin, Dan Blakeslee, Jim Rioux, Guy Capecelatro III, Justin Carloni, Eric Ott, Courtney Brocks Dold, Dylan Metrano, Steve Sirois, and others. Learn more here.
Virtual Ecstatic Dance with Ankati
DJ and yoga teacher Ankati Day leads a substance-free, let-loose conscious dance party on Saturday, March 28, from 7-8:30 p.m. Hosted by Sue’s in Rollinsford (but presented virtually through Zoom), the event is by donation and open to all. There is no choreography, no steps to learn, and no wrong way to do it — just free expression of the body. It begins with an opening circle, followed by free dance with a DJ set by Ankati, and concludes with a soundscape and closing. And, if everyone turns on their cameras, it will seem as if they’re dancing together. Learn more here.
For a complete calendar of local events, click here.