Programs & Events
March
Thursday, March 13, 5:30pm
Craft Night
Hosted by the RJD NextGen Committee
Bring your friends and your knitting needles as we craft together in the cozy parlors. Pack your favorite craft (crochet, felting, etc; dry, dust-free art materials only) and your favorite drink (no red wine please) and we’ll provide the ambiance. This event is free as part of AHA! Night.
Wednesday, March 19, noon
Family Storytime
With New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the mansion for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run third Wednesdays of every month, through June. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free
Saturday, March 22, 1pm – 3pm
Open House at the Mansion
Drop by the estate at 396 County Street for brief guided tours of the mansion and refreshments. Enter a drawing to win a Museum membership! Free admission.
Tuesday, March 25, 5:30pm
Living the Old House Dream
In Partnership with WHALE
Speaker: Laura Parrish-Lavin
Laura Parrish-Lavin purchased 100 Madison Street in 2015 and over the next several years, restored the house to its original splendor. The doors, windows, mantels, floors and radiators are all original to the house, which was originally built in the whaling days for Abby Taber Hunt, the daughter of whaling merchant Henry Taber. Later the property became the home of Catherine Melville Hoadley, the sister of Moby Dick author Herman Melville. Purchase tickets at the door Buy tickets online:: $10 RJD or WHALE Members / $13 Public.
April
Thursday, April 10, 6:30pm
For the Love of Roses
RJD Lead Gardener gives an illustrated talk addressing rose propagation, rose care, and the evolution of the RJD garden as it was transformed from a private residence into a space for the public. Rick is an American Rose Society certified rosarian. Admission is free as a part of AHA night.
Tuesday, April 15, 5:30pm
The Annual Fellows Lecture (Virtual Talk)
With Preservation Society of Newport County Curatorial Fellows
Fellows from the PSNC speak on their recent research in the collections. A suggested donation of $10 in lieu of a fee is accepted.
Wednesday, April 16, noon
Family Storytime
With New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the mansion for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run third Wednesdays of every month, through June. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free
April 24, 2pm
House Tour
Enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of the Rotch-Jones-Duff mansion with RJD Docent, George Kontanis. Free with the price of admission.
May
Saturday, May 3rd, 9am – 1pm
Annual Plant Sale
Garden Club of Buzzards Bay
Discerning gardeners will be treated to an assortment of beautiful annuals, perennials, succulents, heirloom tomatoes, and herbs at the GCBB’s annual plant sale which will be held on the grounds of the RJD. Proceeds from the sale benefit the GCBB’s Grants program.
Thursday, May 8
Game Night
4pm – 6pm Family Games
6pm – 8pm 21+ Games
Hosted by the RJD NextGen Committee
Assemble some teammates and head to the tented patio in the garden. The early hours feature family-oriented games. The later hours are for 21+ games. Bring your favorite board game, card game, lawn game and beverages! The Museum provides classic board games and teammates as needed, plus low-priced snacks for the evening. This event is free as part of AHA! Night.
Saturday, May 10, 1pm to 3pm
Mother’s Day Tea
Enjoy a Spring outing in the historic garden of the Museum. Parties of two to eight people are welcome for seating under the tent. Your ticket fee includes tea, tea sandwiches, desserts, and admission to the Museum House. Check out the menu. Spring hats and dress encouraged! Tickets are $45 for Museum Members and $50 for the Public and must be purchased by May 3. Buy tickets online, or call the Museum. 48 hours-notice is required to receive a refund for canceled reservations.
Wednesday, May 21, noon
Family Storytime
With New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the mansion for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run third Wednesdays of every month, through June. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free
Tuesday, May 20, 7pm
NBHS Modern Music Concert in the Garden
With New Bedford High School Jazz Band and Rock Band, and the All-City Middle School Jazz Band and Steel Band
This concert features student musicians from New Bedford Public Schools performing various pieces of jazz and contemporary repertoire from the last 100 years. The New Bedford High School Jazz Band is an ensemble directed by Tim Mason, assisted by Tony Hyde and Nathanial Karahalis, specializing in multiple styles of jazz and improvisation. The New Bedford High School Rock band is an ensemble directed by Tom O’Leary, assisted by Nicholas Jupin, performing classic rock hits and contemporary music in the spirit of Rock and Roll. The New Bedford All-City Middle School Jazz band is a jazz ensemble grades 6-8, Directed by Nathanial Karahalis and Reis Medeiros, that perform jazz standards with improvised solos. The All-City Steel Band is a band, grades 6-8, conducted by Lee Dias. They perform contemporary music steeped in the traditions of Trinidad and Tobago. Free, with general seating on the lawn and patio.
Thursday, May 22, 2pm
House Tour
Enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of the Rotch-Jones-Duff mansion with RJD Docent, George Kontanis. Free with the price of admission.
June
Thursday, June 12, 5:30pm
Garden Tour
Rick Finneran, RJD’s Lead Gardener gives a 45-minute tour in the garden, highlighting what’s in bloom and some of the hidden gems on the property. Rick is an American Rose Society certified rosarian. This event is free as part of AHA! night.
SAVE
OUR DATE!
Friday, June 13, 6pm – 9pm
Rubies and Roses: A 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Join us in the historic garden to celebrate RJD’s Ruby Anniversary, supporting 40 years of service to the community. DJ Jordan Paiva provides the musical backdrop to our dazzling ruby and rose décor. Accessorize your cocktail attire with rubies or something ruby-colored. Your ticket fee includes a donation to the Museum, food, and open bar. Proceeds from this event support the Museum’s
educational, community outreach and preservation efforts. Tickets: $150. Ready to buy your ticket? Purchase them on line.
Sponsor This Event
Show your clients that you value community organizations, education programming, and the preservation of our built history: sponsor Rubies & Roses. Levels start at $250. For more information, see our Sponsor Packet or email Dawn Salerno.
Wednesday, June 25 noon
Family Storytime
With New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the mansion for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run third Wednesdays of every month, through June. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free
Wednesday, June 18, noon
Gardening with Native Plants
With Mass Audubon
Learn how to transform your corner of the earth into an eco-friendly haven for native flora and fauna. We’ll cover how ecosystems work, habitat resiliency, climate change, invasive species, biodiversity, and the ecological importance of human-managed landscapes. You’ll leave with the ability to read your landscape and to select and maintain plants for long-term ecosystem health. Whether you are starting from scratch or transitioning an existing garden space, you too can create a wildlife sanctuary at home or in your community. Suggested donation: $10
July
Saturdays at 8am, July 5 through September 27 (no class August 2)
Yoga in the Garden
With YMCA Instructor, Mark Borgetti
Enjoy a mindful morning stretch in the garden throughout the summer. Yoga can help increase flexibility, strength, stability, calmness, and focus. Bring a mat and water. YMCA Southcoast Members: Free / Other Participants: $10. Advance payment is requested.
Thursday, July 10, 6pm
Shakespeare in New Bedford Presents: Romeo & Juliet 101
In Partnership with Reverie Theatre Group
Join Reverie Theatre Group’s own dramaturge, Tony Silvia, and the directors of Shakespeare in NB 2025, Alexander Sprague and Lauren Katherine Pothier, for a one-hour event focused on the history behind Romeo & Juliet and the setting of Reverie’s adaptation: New Bedford’s Golden Age of whaling. Tony Silvia holds an M.A. & PhD from the Shakespeare Institute at The University of Birmingham (England) and has worked as a consumer reporter and news anchor at various TV stations in local markets, and as a correspondent for CNN, based in Atlanta. This event is free as part of AHA Night.
This program is supported in part by grants from the Acushnet, Dartmouth, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford Cultural Councils, local agencies, which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. It is also supported in part by the Wicked Cool Places grant funded by the City of New Bedford through its Arts, Culture & Tourism Fund, and is facilitated by New Bedford Creative at the New Bedford Economic Development Council.
Wednesday, July 16, Noon – 12:30pm
Family Storytime
In Partnership with the New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the garden for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run every third Wednesday of the month, through December 17. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free.
Friday, July 18, 5:30pm – 7pm
Waterscapes: A Summer Reading in the Garden
Westport Writers Group
Enjoy readings from the newly-released Waterscapes: a SouthCoast Anthology, offering a unique literary opportunity to share the insightful narratives and striking images of thirty area authors and photographers. Like the award-winning Landscapes before it, Waterscapes chronicles the life-sustaining essence of this shared coastal canvas through singular moments that define us, quench our thirst for connection, and wash over us with meaning and memory. Donations welcome in lieu of a fee; books will be available for purchase.
August
Saturdays at 8am, August 9 through September 27 (no class August 2)
Yoga in the Garden
With YMCA Instructor, Mark Borgetti
Enjoy a mindful morning stretch in the garden throughout the summer. Yoga can help increase flexibility, strength, stability, calmness, and focus. Bring a mat and water. YMCA Southcoast Members: Free / Other Participants: $10. Advance payment is requested.
August 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 7:30pm
August 10 & 17, 2:00pm (Sensory-Friendly Matinees)
Shakespeare in New Bedford Presents: Romeo & Juliet
In Partnership with Reverie Theatre Group
Celebrating its fifth year of bringing the Bard’s most poignant plays to audiences of all ages and walks of life at the RJD, Reverie Theatre Group presents an unforgettable adaptation of Shakespeare’s most iconic work, Romeo & Juliet. This August, Reverie will meld this iconic love story with local history by “laying the scene” in New Bedford’s own Golden Age of whaling. Join Reverie for another summer of free, accessible Shakespeare in the garden. Donations are accepted in lieu of a fee.
This program is supported in part by grants from the Acushnet, Dartmouth, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford Cultural Councils, local agencies, which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. It is also supported in part by the Wicked Cool Places grant funded by the City of New Bedford through its Arts, Culture & Tourism Fund, and is facilitated by New Bedford Creative at the New Bedford Economic Development Council.
Wednesday, August 20, Noon – 12:30pm
Family Storytime
In Partnership with the New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the garden for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run every third Wednesday of the month, through December 17. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free.
September
Saturdays at 8am, September 6 through 27
Yoga in the Garden
With YMCA Instructor, Mark Borgetti
Enjoy a mindful morning stretch in the garden throughout the summer. Yoga can help increase flexibility, strength, stability, calmness, and focus. Bring a mat and water. YMCA Southcoast Members: Free / Other Participants: $10. Advance payment is requested.
Thursday, September 11, 4pm – 6pm
Open House at the RJD
Drop by the RJD for a look at our 40th Anniversary exhibitions inside the mansion, breath in the beauty of the rose garden, and sip a refreshing lemonade on the patio. This event is free as part of AHA Night.
Wednesday, September 17, Noon – 12:30pm
Family Storytime
In Partnership with the New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the garden for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run every third Wednesday of the month, through December 17. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free.
Thursday, September 18, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Annual Meeting on the RJD’s 40th Anniversary
Join the RJD’s staff, board, Corporators and fellow members for a look back at the past year of museum activities. Guest Speaker, Anne Brengle, RJD Director from 1992 to 1994, reflects on the RJD’s past, present and future in this landmark year. Free admission.
October
Saturday, October 4, 2pm
House Tour
Enjoy a one-hour guided tour of the Rotch-Jones-Duff mansion. Various RJD Docents and staff conduct tours. Free with the price of admission.
Thursday, October 9, 4pm – 7pm
The Great Pumpkin Parade
Visit the grounds to see a display of Jack-O-Lanterns. Inside the mansion, children can participate in a scavenger hunt with prizes. At 5:30pm, Cool Banana Wig performs, bringing kids up to play a variety of unique homemade instruments built by the band. Refreshments served. Suggested donation: $5 Individuals / $10 Family. This event is also part of AHA night.
The RJD is looking for pumpkin carvers for this event! Interested? Email Dawn Salerno. Carvers are asked to provide their own pumpkin and deliver finished pieces to the Museum by noon, October 9.
Wednesday, October 15, Noon – 12:30pm
Family Storytime
In Partnership with the New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the mansion for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run every third Wednesday of the month, through December 17. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free.
November
Saturday, November 1, 2pm
House Tour
Enjoy a one-hour guided tour of the Rotch-Jones-Duff mansion. Various RJD Docents and staff conduct tours. Free with the price of museum admission.
Thursday, November 13, 5:30pm
Birding Past & Present
With Mass Audubon
You’ve started to notice more closely the familiar and intriguing birds in your backyard, on your commute, or outside your window—now you want to know more. This program will introduce you to the birding basics, from how to identify different bird families to the various tools and resources at your disposal. Find out what makes birds unique in the animal kingdom; where and how to locate birds in urban, suburban, and rural communities; and learn about basic bird biology and behavior. Join one of the fastest growing hobbies in North America. This event is free as part of AHA night.
Wednesday, November 19, Noon to 12:30pm
Family Storytime
In Partnership with the New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the mansion for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Family Storytime will run every third Wednesday of the month, through December 17. Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free.
December
Sunday, December 7th, 1pm – 3pm or
Tuesday, December 9th, 1pm – 3pm
Afternoon Tea in the Parlors
Catered by Lilly’s Team Room (powered by The Rescue Cafe)
Enjoy tea, scones, tea sandwiches and sweets in the festively decorated double parlors of the mansion. Festive dress is encouraged. Fee includes tea service plus admission to the Museum. Parties of 8 guests may reserve a table; smaller parties may be seated with each other, at group tables. $40 Members/ $45 Public; advance reservations required.
Thursday, December 11, 4pm – 6pm
Christmas on County
Drop in to see the decked halls of the mansion and hear from docents about some of the holiday customs held by residents of the house. Wear your ugliest holiday sweater and seasonal accessories. Be a baker or be a judge in the sixth annual Cookie Challenge where home bakers bring batches of their favorite homemade cookie for sampling and judging. This event is part of AHA night. Donations are accepted in lieu of a fee.
Wednesday, December 17, Noon – 12:30pm
Family Storytime
In Partnership with the New Bedford Free Public Library
Meet in the garden for an engaging half hour of stories for the whole family. After the stories, take home a family fun craft kit to collaborate and create together! Open to all ages with accompanying adult. Free.
