2016 MVMA Winners – Summertime Fun

We are happy to present the winners of the 2016 Merrimack Valley Magazine Awards. The top picks in all categories were chosen by you, our readers, this past spring via our online voting platform. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, and congratulations to all the winners!

Activity at Historic Venue
Lowell Summer Music Series at Boarding House Park
Enjoy the tunes of Guster, Brett Dennen, “Weird Al” Yankovic and the B-52s at this summerlong concert series. Concerts are held on the grounds of Lowell National Historical Park’s Boarding House Park, a beautiful setting bursting with local history. Enjoy on-site concessions and don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
40 French St.
Lowell, Mass.
LowellSummerMusic.org

Bike Shop
Buchika’s Ski and Bike
Summer in New England is a great time to ride, so head to Buchika’s to get all your bicycle swag. They’ll fix flat tires, change out old fittings and adjust your bike to fit your needs. In the market for a new bike? Buchika’s sells top-tier bikes for road, mountain, BMX and other types of terrain.
340 S. Broadway
Salem, N.H.
Buchika.com

Festival
Lowell Folk Festival
Music lovers rejoice! This free annual festival kicks off at the end of July with three days of nonstop tunes. Along with music from around the world, enjoy craft demonstrations and ethnic food stalls scattered throughout Lowell’s downtown. Watch street performers, let the kids run free in the family activity area and dance the night away.
Lowell, Mass.
LowellFolkFestival.org

Indoor Activity
Tastebuds Kitchen
Looking to get out of the house on a dreary day? Entertain kids and adults alike at Tastebuds Kitchen, a culinary event studio offering daytime kids’ classes and BYOB adult events at night. Learn how to make sushi or steak, or bring the kids to bake “flower” cupcakes. Even better, Tastebuds Kitchen is nut-free and allergies can be accommodated.
14 High St.
North Andover, Mass.
TasteBudsKitchen.com

For a complete list of winners, pick up the July/Aug issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine on newsstands now.