Celebrate Women’s History Month and community creativity at the New Bedford Whaling Museum during AHA! Night. Designed for all ages, this lively evening invites families, young adults, and lifelong learners to explore the museum through hands-on activities, gallery discoveries, poetry, and art-making. Whether you’re hunting for hidden whales, listening to powerful poetry, or building a giant kite together, there’s something meaningful—and fun—for everyone.

Schedule of Events

4:00 PM | Free Museum Admission Begins & Scavenger Hunt

Start your evening with free admission and full access to the museum galleries. Pick up a scavenger hunt card at the front desk and search for hidden whales throughout the museum. Complete the hunt within the one-hour timeframe and earn a special treat—perfect for curious kids and adventurous adults alike. Additional free programs with limited gallery access continue from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

5:00–6:30 PM | Giant Kite Workshop

Jacobs Family Gallery

Join multi-media artist Magda Leon for a joyful, hands-on workshop creating a colorful barrilete (giant kite). Inspired by a Mayan tradition from southern Guatemala, where giant kites are made each November to honor loved ones, this collaborative activity invites participants of all ages to create together, share stories, and celebrate heritage, creativity, and Women’s History Month.

5:00–6:00 PM | Poetry in the Galleries

She Maps the World: Poetry by Women

A three-gallery “progressing poetry” experience in honor of Women’s History Month Experience poetry in a new way as you move through three museum galleries, listening to six local women poets share original work inspired by the natural world, whales, history, family, and the sea. This welcoming, come-and-go experience encourages audiences to listen, reflect, and explore at their own pace.

Participating Poets

· Krista Allen – Author and artist living in Westport, MA. Founding member of the Westport Writers Group; contributed to The Landscape About Us and Waterscapes; recently exhibited work in Creative Catalysts: The Power of Artistic Cross-Pollination in New Bedford.

· Diana Cole – Pushcart Prize nominee whose poetry has appeared in over 60 journals. Former editor of The Crosswinds Poetry Journal, and also a visual artist in stained glass and photography. Chapbook Songs By Heart and collection Between Selves explore voice, memory, and connection.

· Midori Evans – Certified creativity coach and founder of Midori Creativity. Supports writers and artists across the South Coast; coordinated local anthologies The Landscape About Us and Waterscapes; shares photography at cedarlightimages.com.

· Corey Nuffer – Editor, in-house storyteller, and co-leader of South Coast Almanac’s Walking Book Tours, blending storytelling with place-based exploration.

· Deb Coderre – Writer and gardener inspired by nature, teaching, and community. Former educator; believes everyone has a story worth telling. More of her work at gardenwritingpoetry.com.

· Vivian Eyre – Author of the chapbook To the Sound and poetry collection Ishmael’s Violets, which centers on whales and the changing marine world. Her work explores the sea, visual art, and how we learn to truly see the world around us.

Poetry Program Schedule

· Wattles Family Gallery – featuring “Look Pleasant, Please”: Early Portrait Photography in New Bedford

o 5:00 PM | Vivian Eyre

o 5:15 PM | Midori Evans

o 5:30 PM | Diana Cole

o 5:45 PM | Deb Coderre

· Braitmayer Family Gallery – featuring Forging Independence: Building a Nation

o 5:00 PM | Diana Cole

o 5:15 PM | Krista Allen

o 5:30 PM | Corey Nuffer

· Centre Street Gallery – Ahab’s Head: American Vengeance, Installation by Heidi Whitman (reading in adjacent Energy & Enterprise Gallery)

o 5:45 PM | Vivian Eyre

Free admission – all are welcome.

What Is AHA!? AHA!

(Art, History, Architecture) is a free, citywide program that brings New Bedford’s creative community together to share art, culture, and ideas—making creative experiences accessible to everyone. Learn more and explore the full schedule at ahanewbedford.org.