Things to Do in Lowell Tonight

Lowell turned its mill-town grit into festival gold. The Lowell Folk Festival, one of the largest free folk festivals in the country, takes over the downtown national park each July with traditional musicians from dozens of cultures performing on stages threaded among the canals and brick mills. The Lowell Summer Music Series brings national touring acts to Boarding House Park all season, and the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell handles arena shows. The city also celebrates hometown beat legend Jack Kerouac with readings and events each fall. Lowell's immigrant-rich neighborhoods keep its festival culture authentic — Cambodian, Greek, Portuguese, and Irish traditions all get their days.