July 4: Meet Denée Benton, star of “Gilded Age”

“What do you want to do?”

If you need an answer to this age-old question about making plans, we’ve got you covered.

In Things to Do we take a look at, well, things to do, happening every week in the Greater Fall River area and around the South Coast.

During the week and at the weekend, there is always a lot going on.

And we don’t just look at what’s happening this week, we also let you know about upcoming events.

This week we have 4th of July events all over the South Coast to check out if you’re still looking for vacation plans. Additionally, we offer Arts in the Park with the Marion Art Center, yoga classes, and ferry service in the summer. There’s even an event where you can hear one of the stars of HBO’s “The Gilded Age.”

So when someone asks you what you want to do, you already have your plans ready to go.

Here are things to do around Fall River, the South Shore and beyond this week:

Fall River 4th of July Waterfront Celebration

Fall River’s 4th of July Waterfront Celebration is packed with family fun, all along the waterfront, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

There will be music, food trucks and fireworks, with all sorts of events planned at Sen. Thomas Norton City Pier, Heritage State Park and Bicentennial Park.

The fireworks display over the Taunton River will begin at approximately 9 p.m.

Tickets are available to view the fireworks from the deck of the USS Massachusetts. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and last admission is at 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $15, and children under 2 are free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/49yjyfd7.

DJ Eric J will be at Heritage State Park, along with food trucks like Friskie Fries, Blount, Fancheezical, Black Dog Donut, Supa Dupa, No Joke Smoke BBQ, Del’s Lemonade and Cool Licks Ice Cream.

To Sen. Thomas Norton City Pier, see performances by Emily Nawrocki and Get Lucky, find airbrush tattoos, and visit food trucks like Green Jar Cocina, Bun Buds, Pop’s Brick Oven Pizza, What’s Up Cupcake, Ice’ N’ Roll and Berry Sweets. Also check out a beer garden provided by Troy City Brewery and Party with Primo.

The Nightlife Orchestra will perform at Veterans Memorial Bicentennial Park, alongside food trucks from Dorothy Cox Ice Cream, Kona Ice, Gnarly Vine Farms and County Fare Hot Dogs.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.

Stay up to date with the latest event updates on Faceook at https://tinyurl.com/mrxmrp7x.

Have fun on July 4th: The Best Places to Watch Fireworks in Fall River, Around the South Shore

New Bedford Whaling Town Festival

The Whaling City Festival in Buttonwood Park, New Bedford, will be held Thursday, July 11 through Sunday, July 14.

Events will include live professional wrestling matches, a Sunday car show, arts and crafts vendors, retail vendors, food and a Fiesta Shows carnival. For the latest updates, follow the Whaling City Festival on Facebook.

Cape Verde Recognition Parade and Kultura Festa

The Cape Verdean recognition parade and the Kultura Festa will take place on Saturday, July 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (parade) and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Kultura Festa).

This will be the 52nd Cape Verdean Appreciation Parade, celebrating the rich culture of the Cape Verdean community. The parade begins at Buttonwood Park and follows the route along Union Street, Acushnet Avenue, Grinnell Street, and Purchase Street, ending at the Cape Verde Veterans’ Memorial Hall. The 2024 Grand Marshal is Viola Pina. For more information, contact President Diane Gomes at 508-944-7625 or [email protected].

Kultura Festa 2024, at Serenity Gardens Field, will follow the parade. Hosted by the Cape Verdean Recognition Committee, this event will feature live bands, guest DJs, vendors and more.

Food trucks, music, fireworks: Fall River 4th of July Waterfront Celebration

4th of July Carnival in Middleboro

The Middleboro Fourth of July Carnival will take place Wednesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 7 at 26 Jackson St.

For $30, you can get a book of 30 ride tickets (presale until July 3 at 6 p.m.). For $50, you can get a book of 50 ride tickets (presale until July 3 at 6 p.m.). There is also a presale for the wristband: for $30, you can get an unlimited ride wristband (presale until July 4 at 2 p.m.). Wristbands will only be valid: Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., or from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., or from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Patriot Place will host fireworks and celebration

Patriot Place in Foxboro will host its annual fireworks display and festivities on Tuesday, July 2.

The Dean College stage will feature live entertainment from local band American Honey from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, and the evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display, starting around 9:15pm.

For more details, as well as a full schedule, visit www.patriot-place.com/fireworks.

Arts in the Park at the Marion Art Center

The Marion Art Center’s annual outdoor craft market, Arts in the Park, returns to Bicentennial Park, 1 Spring St., Marion, Saturday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This event will feature nearly 50 artists and vendors from across the region, offering ceramics, clothing, collage, fiber, glass jewelry, woodworking, hand painted and crafted furniture, paintings, photographs and much more.

The South Shore Smokehouse food truck will be there, you can listen to live music from Richard Lewis and Molly O’Leary and bring the kids to free games and activities on the MAC lawn (the park is across the street from the MAC).

Visitors can enter for a chance to win prizes through the raffle featuring original artwork from each seller.

The rain date for this event is Sunday, July 7.

Arts in the Park is funded in part by grants from the Mattapoisett and Rochester Cultural Councils, local chapters of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For more information, visit marionartcenter.org/events or email MAC at [email protected].

Yoga at the Rotch-Jones-Duff Home and Garden Museum

The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum, 396 County St., New Bedford, partners with the YMCA Southcoast for yoga in the garden.

Classes take place every week on Saturday morning, at 8 a.m., from July 6 to September 28.

Led by YMCA Southcoast yoga instructors; participants only need to bring a mat and water.

In case of rain, the course will take place on the terrace under the tent.

Classes are free for YMCA members; other participants are asked to pay a $10 registration fee and register through the museum’s website, rjdmusuem.org.

For more information, call 508-997-1401.

Providence-Newport Ferry Service Now Operating

The 2024 Providence-Newport ferry season has begun.

There are four round trips daily, seven days a week.

The ferry also makes stops in Bristol at weekends.

The cost is $12 per ride for adults and $6 per ride for children, seniors, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders.

Bicycles and pets are allowed on board at no extra cost.

Free parking is available at the Providence Terminal, 25 India St.

The ferry season will continue through Columbus Day weekend (October 14).

Service to Bristol is part of the trip to and from Newport and will operate on weekends through Labor Day weekend.

Tickets are available online at www.ridethebayri.com or by calling 1-800-BOATRIDE.

Those departing from the Newport Ferry Terminal at Perrotti Park, 39 America’s Cup Ave., or the Bristol Ferry Terminal at Bristol Maritime Center, 127 Thames St., can purchase tickets online or on the boat.

Coming soon: ‘Gilded Age’ actress to headline Rosecliff

Actress Denée Benton, who stars as Peggy Scott in HBO’s acclaimed historical drama “The Gilded Age,” will join the series’ co-executive producer and historical consultant Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar for a special evening of dinner and conversation at the Rosecliff in Newport on Tuesday July 9.

Benton and Dunbar will explore the creation of this pioneering figure, the historical women who inspired her, and the collaborative process that ensured historical and social accuracy in “Becoming Peggy Scott,” a special edition of the annual David B. Ford Lecture of the Preservation Society of Newport County.

The discussion will follow dinner in the Rosecliff Ballroom.

Tickets for this evening cost $325 per person and attendance is in person only.

To purchase tickets and learn more, visit www.newportmansions.org/events/becoming-peggy-scott.

Do you have an event or community activity you would like to see highlighted? Email us at [email protected] or [email protected].