Thursday, July 23, 1998

Celebrate with iced teas

Celebrate Newburyport's Yankee Homecoming with Lisa Carter of Newburyport Herbs and Spices. She'll provide a taste of iced tea delights such as Minty Maritime Tea, Spiced Tea and others in the Custom House Maritime Museum Gift Shop, Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be gift shop sidewalk sale July 30 and July 31, Custom Maritime House, 25 Water St., Newburyport. 462-8681.

Complimentary museum tours

The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities celebrates Newburyport's Yankee Homecoming Saturday, with free tours at four historic museums. Complimentary guided tours will be offered at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm (1690), the Coffin House (1654), 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Swett-Ilsley House (1670), the Dole-Little House, 1 to 5 p.m. Restored in the 1950s, Dole-Little retains many 1715 features). 462-2634.

Party band cruise

Madhouse, well-known on the North Shore as a good time party, rock 'n' roll band, performs on a sunset cruise out of Gloucester Harbor Friday, 7:30 p.m. Led by singer and guitarist John Keegan, this '50s-style band is a combination of energy and talent that makes favorite oldies like "Little Sister" and "Let The Good Times Roll" sound nearly brand new. Front man Keegan, musical elements of the '90s and a four-piece horn section drive this band's fiery style. Sail into the sunset for a 2 1/2 hour cruise with Madhouse. The Privateer departs from Seven Seas Wharf, Rogers Street, Gloucester. $15. Tickets are also good for admission to an after-cruise dance party in the Gloucester House Lounge. 741-1709.

High-spirited gospel music

The New Fellowship Baptist Church Gospel Choir conducts an evening of high-powered gospel music, covering a wide range of musical styles -- Negro spirituals, modern Afro-American gospel, jazzed-up traditional works -- July 30, 8 p.m., at the Belleville Church, 300 High St., Newburyport. $6. Free, under-12. A Strawberry Shortcake festival precedes the show, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $3. 388-1117.

Plimoth Plantation on the road

This year, for the first time, Plimoth Plantation takes its show on the road, re-creating one of the most scandalous events to occur in Plymouth Colony during 1627 -- improper relations between Master Fells and his maidservant. Fleeing persecution after her pregnancy, the couple head to Newburyport, looking for a more progressive colony, Saturday, noon-6:30 p.m., Newburyport's Yankee Homecoming Festival, at Waterfront Park. After finding no such colony, they return to Pilgrim Village, Aug. 18, to face the consequences of their actions. The conclusion brings a surprise ending. .

'Teach the World to Sing'

The Shaw Brothers, noted for "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," perform an open concert of traditional and contemporary folk music, interspersed with humor, poems and stories. Saturday, 7 p.m. $15, patio. $12, lawn. Free, under-12 to the lawn. Bring a picnic, Maudslay State Park, Curzon Mill Road, Newburyport. 499-0050.