New England's Changing Weather
2026-04-02 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Concord Middle School, 835 Old Marlboro Road, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
The Boston Globe’s lead meteorologist, Ken Mahan will talk about New England’s changing weather – the effects of climate change we are experiencing today and what to expect in the future. This CMS Speaker Series event will take place in the auditorium of the new, net-zero, Ellen Garrison Building. This event is open to the public. Please register to attend.

LWV Warrant Review - Session 1
2026-04-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Concord Free Public Library (Goodwin Forum), 1322 Main St, Concord, Concord Free Public Library (Goodwin Forum), 1322 Main St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
The League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle (LWVCC) Town Government and Observer Committee will host Warrant Review Sessions throughout April 2026. These sessions offer residents a chance to learn about and ask questions regarding the warrant articles that will be voted on at the 2026 Concord Town Meeting, which begins on Monday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m.
The events are free and open to the public, and all are welcome to attend—whether you’re deeply familiar with town issues or simply curious.

Friday, April 3, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon – join via Zoom | agenda coming soon

Meetings will take place at the Goodwin Forum at the Concord Free Public Library and via Zoom.

Mosquito Bucket Challenge Workshop
2026-04-06 16:00 - 18:00 | Concord Main Library, 129 Main Street, Room Goodwin Forum, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Join to learn how you can use a mosquito dunk bucket to control mosquito populations without harming native pollinators! Reserve your supplies, then drop-in any time during the program to complete your project.
Each registrant seat reserves a full 5-gallon bucket and mosquito dunk, so families may wish to register as a single participant, but you’re welcome to bring more decorators along to work together.
Makers of all ages welcome.
Space and supplies are limited; registration opens March 23 at 4 PM

2026 MassEnergize Community Climate Leaders Conference
2026-04-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Bentley University
Join us for this powerful one-day gathering bringing together 250+ passionate climate leaders from across Massachusetts. After two consecutive sold-out conferences, we’re back and bigger than ever on April 8, 2026, at Bentley University in Waltham.
Get inspired, learn what’s working in other communities, and connect with the people driving real climate impact. Expect a full day of dynamic sessions, practical tools, and unmatched networking with organizers, municipal staff, students, advocates, and partners committed to accelerating local climate solutions.

Seed Starting Workshop at Fowler Library
2026-04-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Fowler Branch Library, 1322 Main Street, Concord, MA, US
Embrace Spring and join folks at Fowler Library for a seed starting workshop with Jess Myles!

Sustainable Landscaping at Mount Auburn Cemetery
2026-04-09 18:00 - 19:30 | Concord Free Public Library (Goodwin Forum), 1322 Main St, Concord, Concord Free Public Library (Goodwin Forum), 1322 Main St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
See examples of how the staff at Mount Auburn Cemetery converted many areas of labor-intensive and carbon-intensive lawns to various lower-maintenance meadow and ground-cover plantings.
Please register for this event.

Repair Cafe
2026-04-11 12:00 - 15:00 | Concord Main Library, 129 Main Street, Room Goodwin Forum, Concord, Massachusetts, US
What do you do with a broken toaster? Or a bike with a flat tire? Toss it? No way! Save your broken household goods from the landfill by mending them with help from your neighbors. Makers of all ages welcome.
Have Something In Need of Repair?
If possible, register in advance for this event so we can provide information about your repair request to our volunteers ahead of time, then drop-in any time during our repair café to attempt a repair with one of our coaches. Limit one reserved repair per attendee, but you’re welcome to bring along additional items in case there’s extra time.
Want to Help?
Are you handy and have the skills and tools to repair broken electronics, household appliances, bikes, small furniture, mend clothes and more? Sign up on our volunteer repair coach form and join us for an afternoon of repairing broken items together!

Climate Action Committee (CAC) Meeting
2026-04-15 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Concord Town House, 22 Monument Square, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Monthly meeting of the town’s Climate Action Committee
See meeting agendas and minutes HERE

Clean Energy SCHOOL Tour
2026-04-22 16:30 - 18:00 | 75 Spruce St., Acton, MA, 75 Spruce Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
The Boardwalk School Campus:
An Acton Clean Energy Success!

This April, EnergizeActon.org has a special treat—a Clean Energy SCHOOL Tour!

Please register HERE.
We like to offer home tours, so that local residents can see how clean energy technology actually works on the ground. It is also an important opportunity for people to ask questions of the host about what worked well, what might have been challenging, and what were the costs. However, seeing clean energy on a larger scale is also incredibly helpful. This event, co-sponsored with Mothers Out Front Acton, celebrates the expertise and success of leadership from the Acton-Boxborough School District alongside additional hard work and achievement from Town of Acton staff. Join us and ask how clean energy works in school and municipal buildings.
The new Gates and Douglas Schools (commonly known as the Boardwalk Campus) are an amazing accomplishment for the school district. When planners first envisioned the project, they estimated future energy efficiencies and savings. Well, the Boardwalk Campus has consistently outperformed ALL those estimates! And this is true even though not every element of the clean energy project was implemented. We invite you to tour the building and see how clean energy choices do indeed work.
In 2024, Mass Save recognized the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District as a Climate Leader for the Boardwalk Campus. Mass Save wrote that the award goes to “institutions that demonstrate excellence in reducing environmental impact and associated costs, fostering the health and well-being of students and staff, and implementing effective interdisciplinary sustainability education,” standards met by Acton “with flying colors.” The school project also won a Green Building Showcase Award, among other honors.
The Acton Exchange writes, “The building, which opened in 2022 and has drawn national attention, includes a fully electric, commercial-scale kitchen, enhanced insulation, ground-source heat pumps, demand-control ventilation, and energy recovery. Energy Use Intensity (EUI) goals for the building have exceeded state targets.”

Join us to celebrate this success!
Please Register HERE.
Apologies, but this tour is limited to 30 individuals.
We will keep a waiting list if we surpass 30 sign-ups.

OARS 18th Wild and Scenic Film Festival
2026-04-22 18:00 - 2026-04-26 21:00
To celebrate Earth Day and OARS’ 40th Anniversary, we’re bringing the Wild & Scenic Film Festival to Concord for FIVE DAYS of community-focused events, anchored by our annual film screenings on April 25. See the full schedule of events and get your tickets here!
April 22 Wild & Scenic: A Conversation with Julia Blatt and Barb Moran at Concord Academy
April 23 The Noisy Puddle Reading with Linda Booth Sweeney at Haute Coffee, Outdoor Movie Night at The Robbins House, Launch of 3-Day Cross-Town Bingo based on The Noisy Puddle
April 24 Wildlife Photography Exhibit Opening Reception
April 25 Beavers & Beer at Wright Tavern, Immersive River Experience, 18th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival Screenings
April 26 Wetlands Talk & Walk with Concord Land Conservation Trust and The Thoreau Alliance, Festival Closeout at South Bridge Boathouse

Heat Pumps 101
2026-04-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Go Heat Pumps!

You may have heard more people in Massachusetts talking about heat pumps—and for good reason. Heat pumps are an efficient, all-electric system that can heat and cool your home while lowering emissions and improving comfort year-round. Join wonderful Bob Zogg of the HeatSmart Alliance and animated Kit Wu of the Laminar Collective to get an orientation to heat pumps, how they work, and how incentives can help you transition to clean energy.
Here’s why heat pumps are gaining popularity across Massachusetts:
Heating and cooling in one efficient system
Heat pumps provide both heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. They’re highly efficient, even in cold New England temperatures, and can help lower your energy use.
Lower emissions and a cleaner energy future
Heating with fossil fuels is one of the largest sources of climate pollution in Massachusetts. Switching to heat pumps helps reduce your home’s carbon footprint and supports the state’s transition to clean electricity.
Comfort, safety, and better indoor air quality
Heat pumps don’t burn fuel inside your home, which means no on-site combustion and fewer indoor air pollutants. They also provide steady, even heating and cooling.
Incentives can cover thousands of dollars
Programs like Mass Save offer generous rebates, 0% interest financing, and support to help make heat pumps more affordable. Additional programs through organizations like the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center may also be available.
📣 Curious if heat pumps are right for you?
Join our webinar to learn how heat pumps work, compare costs, explore available incentives, and learn how to get quotes from trusted installers.

April 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM
Register: bit.ly/heat-pumps-101
Together, we can create more comfortable homes and a cleaner energy future for our communities.

An Acton Clean Energy Coach explains his heat pump system. (Photo: K. Root Watkins)

Earth Day Celebration - Walk in the Footsteps of Thoreau
2026-04-26 14:00 - 17:00 | Lincoln and Concord MA
Celebrate Earth Day on Sunday the 26th with a walk to Walden Pond.
Multiple groups starting from Concord and Lincoln will converge at the Thoreau Cabin Site to celebrate the natural world and renew our commitment to protect it. A simple meet-up with music, inspiring words, and sharing of wishes & commitments.
Meet at First Parish in Concord Center or St Anne’s Church in Lincoln at 2pm, arriving by 3pm to the cabin site after a 2 mile walk. Alternatively, you can park at the Walden Pond visitor center, and have a very short walk to the cabin site. There will be carpools returning to the starting point for those who would prefer.
Featuring short talks by:

Richard Smith – Concord public historian and Thoreau scholar – on Walden
Sabine von Mering – environmental activist, Brandeis professor – on Civil Disobedience
Thea Iberall – Jewish Climate Action Network – eco-poetry
Peter Alden – naturalist – on nature in Thoreau and our time
Roger Rosen – guitarist, folk singer – leading us in song

For more information or to get involved with the planning contact Brad Hubbard-Nelson or Alex Chatfield.

Library Walking Club
2026-04-27 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-04 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-11 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-18 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-25 09:00 - 10:00 | Bruce Freeman Rail Trail parking lot (behind MBTA Commuter Rail Station), 50 Beharrell St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Let’s move together! Join Concord Free Public Library staff to start your week with a walk along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, starting on Monday, April 27. Friends from Concord Recreation will join us to lead light stretching at the start and to walk with us. Wear your sneakers, grab your walking poles, and bring a friend. All walking paces welcome.
We will meet at the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail parking lot, near 50 Beharrell St, just beyond the Poetry Phone and the Minuteman Bike Share. So that we know to wait for you and to provide any weather-related updates, please register: cfpl.info/events.
Questions? Email: fowler@concordlibrary.org or call 978-318-3350.

Concord's Annual Town Meeting
2026-04-27 18:30 - 21:00 | Concord Carlisle High School, 500 Walden St, Concord, Concord Carlisle High School, 500 Walden St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Join your fellow Concordians for the first night of our Annual Town Meeting!
To learn more, follow the link below!
2026 Annual Town Meeting

Climate Goals: Why Heat Pumps Matter
2026-04-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Massachusetts Heat Pump Targets:
Where Do We Stand and Why Are They Important?

As the MA legislature considers cutting clean energy incentives, do climate goals still matter? Join Amanda Barker, of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance, as she looks at a specific slice of the climate picture–how we heat and cool our homes and buildings. What are Massachusetts heat pump goals and are we on track to meet them? Can heat pumps work in the north? Outlining Maine’s success story with cold weather heat pumps, she looks at new Massachusetts heating and cooling solutions, including the heat pump discount rate and the New England heat pump accelerator program. Please join us for this hopeful talk about heat pumps as part of a strong, reliable energy future.
Energize Acton is celebrating heat pumps this month (ground source heat pumps—geothermal—in the Boardwalk Campus and air source heat pumps for households). Amanda’s talk will give us a bigger view as the State of Massachusetts takes on both the challenges we face and the potential for success.
Some Background
Last fall, a Massachusetts House of Representatives committee floated the idea of a significant step back from state climate goals. After an outcry from the environmental community, this winter the Mass House of Representatives passed its new proposed climate bill* that saw improvements over the fall version. However, it still includes major funding cuts to Mass Save. In effect, without an alternative to Mass Save, this is a step back from state climate targets for clean energy. (*The Massachusetts Senate will do its own version of a climate bill and the two versions, House and Senate, will have to be reconciled.)
Some voices in the media—and in the legislature—are saying that clean energy is too costly. They claim that, by cutting back on Mass Save and slowing the transition to clean energy, the state government can lower energy costs.
Massachusetts energy costs are an incredibly valid issue. The question is, “Will reducing our commitment to clean energy also reduce heating, cooling, and electricity costs for Massachusetts residents?” Energy in New England is a tough topic! But the Green Energy Consumers Alliance will lay out the argument that achieving climate goals for heat pumps and other forms of electrification will save costs in the long run and, for many, even in the short run.
Current events bring home the reality that we live in a complicated world. Committing to renewable energy brings New England a higher degree of energy stability and reliability. Plus, the western United States (really, the west of all the Americas, from Canada to Chile) just experienced an extraordinarily hot March, racing past all previous records. This reminds us that fossil fuels also have costs. As much of the world is successfully implementing clean energy, let’s remember . . . We can do this! And it could even be affordable!

Concord Family Bike Fest
2026-05-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Bradford Mill, 43 Bradford Street, Room Back parking lot, Concord, MA, US
May is National Bike Month! As part of Safe Routes to School, celebrate spring and sustainability during the Concord Family Bike Festival at Bradford Mill (43 Bradford Street, the back parking lot).
Grab your helmets and water bottles, and pedal on over! There will be fun for all ages and abilities, whether you are using a balance bike, just learning to pedal, want to check out an e-bike, or are interested in learning more about accessible biking options. We’ll have bike safety courses and tips, bike checks, bike decorating, and more! Get ready for Safe Routes to School’s Bike to School events in May.
What to bring:

Your bikes, including balance and pedal bikes if you have them! (There will be bikes to borrow!)
Your helmets
Your water bottles

All are welcome to join. Register to receive weather-related updates, but it is not required. Caregivers should plan to stay with their beginning bikers.

Thoreau's Forests Confront Climate Change
2026-05-03 14:00 - 15:00 | First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Rd, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Will We Still Have Forests in 50 Years? And Why We Should Care
Dr. William Moomaw, a lead author of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winning climate report, will explore the role of forests and other ecosystems in moderating climate change in combination with new technologies and our behaviors. The threats to our forests from climate change and other stresses will be a major theme. The discussion will be moderated by Delia Kaye, Concord’s Natural Resources Director.
William Moomaw is Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and Distinguished Visiting Scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center. He received his PhD at MIT in Physical Chemistry. As a member of the chemistry department at Williams College, he directed the Center for Environmental Studies. He served as a Congressional Science Fellow and worked on the legislation that banned CFCs from spray cans and on the 1976 National Forest Management Act.
Professor Moomaw was a 5-time lead author of IPCC Reports addressing the science and technological mitigation of Climate Change. He was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his “Outstanding Contributions to our understanding of climate change and its global impacts and to the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.”
To ensure adequate seating, please register at https://thoreaus-trees.eventbrite.com/

Adult Bike Clinic: Get Back on Your Bike!
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:30 | Concord Carlisle High School, 500 Walden St, Concord, Concord Carlisle High School, 500 Walden St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Biking is a great form of exercise and transportation for all ages. If you haven’t ridden a bike in a while, or want to refresh your safe biking techniques, this clinic will give you the skills to ride with confidence! Led by League of American Bicyclists certified trainers, you will:

Learn basic bike maintenance tips
Understand the new Rules of the Road for bikes and cars
Learn to handle your bike safely on streets and bike paths
Practice safe cycling maneuvers on a traffic-free course
Leave with a “Smart Cycling Quick Guide”.

We will follow the clinic with a short group ride so that you can practice your skills on quiet neighborhood streets.
Check to ensure your bicycle is in good, working order (Air in the tires, operating brakes and chain, & gear shifters adjusted and lubricated.) Wear comfortable clothes for biking and bring a bike helmet, water bottle and sunscreen. If you have an e-bike, it must be a Class 1 e-bike to participate in this program.

Children's Clothing Swap Shop
2026-05-09 11:00 - 13:00 | Fowler Branch Library, 1322 Main Street, Concord, MA, US
You can donate clean and undamaged items one day, then anyone can visit the Swap Shop and pick out items the next day!
Donations on Friday, May 8 from 1 to 4:30 PM & Swap Shop on Saturday, May 9 from 11 AM to 1 PM | All Ages

Learn More About Donations
Learn More About the Swap Shop

Concord Climate Action and Resilience Plan Update - Public Workshop
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Town House – Public Meeting Room, 22 Monument Square, Concord, 01742, United States
The Town of Concord is hosting a public workshop on the Sustainable Concord Climate Action and Resilience Plan.
We’ll review progress since the plan’s adoption in 2020, highlight key accomplishments to date, and assess current efforts taking place in the community. We’ll also explore new priorities and ideas to help shape the next phase of climate action and resilience in Concord.
Refreshments will be provided.
Workshop_Flyer_May_2026

Spring Bird Walk with CCACE
2026-05-19 07:00 - 09:00 | North Bridge Visitors Center, 174 Liberty St., Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Get outdoors and learn to identify 25 species commonly found in our neighborhoods, wetlands, and forests. Michele Grzenda, Naturalist, will point out various field identification techniques by sight and sound. This easy-to-moderate walk is designed for beginner and intermediate bird watchers. While we can never guarantee that you’ll see a particular species, you’ll enjoy getting outside and exploring a local area.
Note: Bring a pair of binoculars, flashlight, bug spray, and a field guide, if you have one. We’ll go in light rain, so wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Directions will be emailed to you prior to the class. First two events being at the North Bridge parking lot, the third will be at College Pond.
Instructor, Michele Grzenda; Cost, $39/pp

ConcordCAN Sustainable Coffee - Surveillance of Mosquito and Tick Borne Diseases
2026-05-19 08:00 - 21:00 | First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Rd, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Concord’s Public Health Director Melanie Dineen will talk about work being done locally on Arborvirus surveillance and education and how this fits into the Public Health Foundational Public Health Service Model. Arborviruses include mosquito and tick borne diseases and the surveillance monitors the prevalence of the various diseases that they carry. She is interested in answering any specific question about public health that you may have. If you would like to email her questions in advance please contact her at mdineen@concordma.gov.

Rewilding with Trevor Smith
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Concord Free Public Library (Goodwin Forum), 1322 Main St, Concord, Concord Free Public Library (Goodwin Forum), 1322 Main St, Concord, Massachusetts, US
Join West Concord Green Thumbs in hosting award-winning regenerative landscape designer and the founder of ReEarth Solutions, Trevor Smith, for a talk on the why, what, and how of native planting in your gardens and lawn. We will discuss different plant choices for your lawn and/or gardens that could turn your yard into a beautiful, sustainable, evolving habitat. Trevor will discuss why native landscaping is important to our community and environment.
Registration is full; to be added to the waitlist, click HERE.

Climate Plan Workshop
2026-05-28 19:00 - 20:30
The Town of Concord is hosting a virtual public workshop on the Sustainable Concord Climate Action and Resilience Plan.
We’ll review progress since the plan’s adoption in 2020, highlight key accomplishments to date, and assess current efforts taking place in the community. We’ll also explore new priorities and ideas to help shape the next phase of climate action and resilience in Concord.
Join us to have your voice heard!
For more information, Click Here.

Clean Energy Home Tour of the Month
2026-05-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Central Acton
See Energy Updates to a 1793 Farmhouse!
Register HERE.
The home is near Acton’s historic district, but the specific address will be sent after registration. There will be two separate tours – a 10:00am Tour and a 1:00pm Tour.
Do you have an older home? Are you thinking about replacing your oil or gas furnace with high-efficiency air source heat pumps? Come visit this historic property, with a large 1793 farmhouse, and learn about the steps taken to make this home more energy efficient, including new insulation, windows, air source heat pumps and solar panels. Your hosts are eager to share what worked, what was less successful, and what actions other residents might tackle first in their own homes. This is a great opportunity to explore the unique energy challenges that come with homes built in other eras. Plus, it is an awesome property that many of us drive past every day!
We hope that one of Acton’s Clean Energy Coaches will also be on hand for the tour. There will be a 10:00am session and a 1:00pm session. As usual, coffee and snacks will be on hand, along with the latest resources from EnergizeActon.org, including the most up-to-date information on incentives.
Register HERE.
When: Saturday, May 30th with a 10:00am tour and a 1:00pm tour.
Where: Main Street, Acton (Address sent upon registration.)
The technologies you will see in this home include:

27 panel rooftop solar system;
3 air source heat pumps (ducted);
Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV);
Ultra efficient heat pump hot water heater;
Rehabilitated historical windows with storms;
Induction stove and energy star appliances;
EV (2017 Tesla) and level 2 car charger;
Fireplace with top sealing damper and makeup air vent;
24W backup generator with critical-loads electrical panel; and
Water conservation measures inside and out.

After registration you will receive an email with the house address and specific information about parking, etc. Thank you for your interest!
EnergizeActon.org is co-sponsored by the Acton Climate Coalition and the Town of Acton Sustainability Office.
Do you have ideas or a talent you would like to contribute? Please contact us at EnergizeActon.org@gmail.com. The Energize Acton team meets the 1st Wednesday of each month.
