06/19/2026
2026 New Bedford Creative Grant Recipient Highlight: NB Roots and Branches Festival.
Now in its fourth year, NB Roots and Branches Festival brings the rich cultural tapestry of the South Coast alive this summer as a spectacular celebration of local music, dance, and visual arts returns to the heart of downtown.
This completely free, public two-day event will run on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, 2026. This year features a newly designed, compact layout along a closed stretch of Purchase Street between Union and William, where alternating main stages, street performers, and interactive maker spaces will keep the festival energy synergistic and easily accessible.
Audiences will experience a vibrant mix of heritage music and modern genres featuring beloved local artists like Candida Rose, The Jethros, and Molly O’Leary. Beyond the music, attendees can browse a bustling downtown sidewalk sale, participate in an interactive art maker space, and cap off the weekend with a captivating multi-media spectacle at Vault.
For those ready to plan their weekend and support the vibrant creative sector, the full lineup of times, indoor stage locations, and specific vendor locations can be explored online by visiting the official event updates page at https://www.nbrootsandbranches.com/.
This event is made possible through the generous support of presenting fiscal sponsor Gallery X, Incorporated, community sponsors Together Press, Explore New Bedford, The Symphony Music Shop, The Fiber Optic Center, Whaling City Sound, Tremblay's Bus Company, Servedwell Hospitality, and Lightworks Productions, alongside public grant funding from the New Bedford Cultural Council, the Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural District Initiative, and the Wicked Cool Places grant funded by the City of New Bedford through its Arts, Culture and Tourism Fund and facilitated by New Bedford Creative at the New Bedford Economic Development Council.
Photo of 2025 NB Roots and Branches Festival by Josh Souza for New Bedford Creative.
