We Thrive
Through Education & Access
DECORDOVA SCULPTURE PARK & MUSEUM, LINCOLN, MA
Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History
Enjoy a month-long collaborative celebration showcasing Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area partners this May!
Launched in 2015, Hidden Treasures has become our signature program, highly anticipated each May, raising awareness of and appreciation for the 45-town Heritage Area’s natural, cultural, and historical resources – including yours!
Over the course of the month, the festival showcases events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places, objects, and stories of the Heritage Area. A curated presentation of free public programming, Hidden Treasures reinforces a shared identity and sense of place by encouraging people of all ages and walks of life to explore and see anew their own communities, and beyond.
Information for Partners
OVERVIEW
The month-long Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History curates an immersive mixture of physical and online events and activities featuring opportunities for family learning, exploration, discovery and fun throughout our 45 towns and cities!
Each year scores of Community Partners organize and offer memorable experiences to the public free of charge.Tours, walks, talks, workshops, performances, demonstrations, scavenger hunts, film screenings, exhibits, activity kits… the possibilities are endless!
Freedom’s Way elevates the visibility of our Community Partners’ work by promoting the Festival across the region—and beyond—enhancing a vibrant sense of place, reinforcing our regional identity, and encouraging intertown tourism.
Mini grants of up to $350 in qualified reimbursable expenses are available to eligible non-profit organizations and public entities. While there is no cost to participate, the donated value of your time counts as a vital matching contribution to the Heritage Area, enabling access to National Park Service funds and making programs like this possible.
By working together, we increase access to the region’s heritage assets for all, bringing awareness and appreciation to our most valued treasures—often hiding in plain sight—that make the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area worthy of its national distinction.
GUIDELINES & REGISTRATION FORM
What’s your organization’s or community’s Hidden Treasure?
A significant neighborhood or natural feature? An historic house or farm? An uncovered story? A special collection? An interesting object? Any free community event, exhibition, celebration, or cultural performance taking place in May could be a candidate! See examples here.
How would you like to showcase it?
A guided walk or tour? A lecture, presentation, gallery talk, workshop or demonstration? A reenactment, performance, public art installation, or monument dedication?
As a Community Partner, you are responsible for:
Organizing an event or activity showcasing a Hidden Treasure that:
– takes place within the Heritage Area or is virtual,
– is scheduled in May at a day and time of your choice unless it’s is self-guided, and
– is free and open to the public.
Registering your event or activity by April 1 so that we can promote your organization widely.
Tracking the time you and your colleagues spend developing, promoting, and offering the event or activity,
Promoting your activity as being “offered as part of the annual Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture, & History produced by the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area.” and hashtagging #FreedomsWayNHA #HiddenTreasuresFestival
Submitting a brief update once the event or activity has taken place that includes an in-kind donation of volunteer services, the number of attendees, and appropriate documentation should you wish to apply for a Hidden Treasures mini grant to reimburse up to $350 of qualified expenses.
When you are ready to register an event or activity, you may do so via the online application form below.
Questions may be directed to hiddentreasures@freedomsway.org.
PROMOTIONAL TOOLKIT FOR PARTNERS
FWNHA produces several materials promoting and for use by our Hidden Treasure Festival partners. Materials below will be updated for use in April.
- Customizable Local Media Releases for Partners
- Community Calendar with Partner Listings
- Community Calendar Partner Listings Month-View
- Interactive Map with Themed Itineraries
- “Explore Freedom’s Way NHA” free mobile app powered by VisitWidget
- FWNHA provides Hidden Treasures Festival yard sign upon request
- Share your event with other partners on socials with #FreedomsWayNHA #HiddenTreasuresFestival
We ask our partners to help spread the word about the many treasures and good works throughout our Heritage Area wherever possible, and acknowledge in your publicity or welcome statements: This program is offered in partnership with Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area during the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History. Freedomsway.org/HTF.
You may use the following logo files to promote your Hidden Treasures event. For additional support, contact hiddentreasures@freedomsway.org.
- Hidden Treasures logo with white background (RGB .jpeg for web use)
- Hidden Treasures logo with transparent packground (RGB .png for web use)
- Hidden Treasures logo with white background (CMYK .jpeg for print use)
- Freedom’s Way standard logo (RGB .jpeg for web use)
- Freedom’s Way logo all white (RGB .png for web use)
POST-FESTIVAL PARTNERS FORMS
Community Partners may find the following documents useful for reporting on their Hidden Treasures events and activities. Note: Reimbursement mini-grant requests are due by June 30.
May 1-31, 2026
Festival Events & Activities Announced
Highlight
Press Center: Releases & Images
Important Information
Information for 2026 Festival Partners
Stay Up to Date
Join Our Mailing List to Receive Updates
