EVENTS
Lobsterfest 2026 – September 11-13
The online registration for the Lobsterfest is now available here . The only cost on the registration is for the Saturday night lobsterfest meals that we are ordering from Swan River and which are being picked up and brought to us at Grey’s Beach. The rest of the information is for planning
Friday:
5PM: Mini-Golf at Susan’s Garden Mini Golf, 197 Shad Hole Rd, #197, Dennis Port MA 02639 Website
$10 per person (people can probably just pay for themselves on site)
7:30PM: Dinner at The Cleat and Anchor, 243 Lower County Rd, Dennis Port, MA 02639 Website
We have the patio reserved for the group.
Ice Cream at What’s The Scoop following dinner, 193 Shad Hole Rd, Dennis Port, MA 02639 Website They will open the ice cream shop for us! They usually close on Labor Day.
Saturday:
Rose Show at Chatham Community Center, 2nd Floor, 702 Main Street Chatham, Massachusetts 02633
Doors open 8:00am
Judging starts: 11:00 am (to be confirmed by Mike)
Open to public: 1pm
Ceremony: 2:30pm
Pizza provided for rose show volunteers!
Saturday evening: Dinner at Gray’s Beach, 400 Center Street, Yarmouth MA 02675
Choose either:
- Clam Bake – $53.95
- Steak Tips – $43.95
- Vegan Ravioli – $43.95
Includes: Clam Chowder or Garden Salad (must indicate), Key Lime Pie Squares
List any dietary allergies for the kitchen.
Swan River is giving us a $3 discount per person on the clam bake (lobster). Because we are picking up the food and not having it delivered/catered, there are no additional service fees. And we’re tax exempt, so the price per person is…just that. They will include crackers, cups for drawn butter, bibs/wipes, shell bowls, spoons and cutlery (plastic) for the chowder, etc. I will need to return the crackers the next day.
Sunday:
District Meeting & Cuttings at Audrey Osborn’s garden in Harwich – 10am?
I will send out an agenda ahead of the meeting.
Lauren Gisel, Yankee district Director
Deadline for registration: Aug 26 (need head counts for Friday and Saturday dinners)
Lobsterfest 2026 is officially on the calendar: September 11–13.
Accomodations: We have secured a room block at Ocean Breeze Motel (170 Seaview Ave, South Yarmouth, MA). To book, please call (508) 398-3062 and let them know you are with the ARS Yankee District Lobsterfest. This will provide a discounted rate of $199/night (10% off), with a two-night minimum stay. Reservations cannot be made through the website as there is no group code.
2026 Local Rose Shows
Both the Rhode Island and New England Rose Societies will be hosting their annual shows this month. You’re all invited to participate! Here are their posters and info
Saturday, June 13 at Shepherd of the Valley in Hope, RI at 604 Seven Mile Rd
Public is welcome to view Saturday from 1 to 3
Public is also welcome to exhibit but please read the “schedule” for instructions or come early for help with an entry
Friday at 3PM.
Show Setup
We would welcome help with setting up the tables
You may also drop off your arrangement during setup
Saturday
Entries: 7:00 am – 10:15 am
Judging: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Public Viewing: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Rose Presentation 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Rose growing lecture by Master Rosarian David Cannistraro
Breakdown/Cleanup 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
Awards Presentation: 3:45pm-4:30pm
Rose show schedule to be simple printed in numerical order
Rose show schedule to be printed in original booklet form but without cover
Time & Location:
Jun 20, 2026, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 900 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02482, USA
About the event
Our updated Rose Show program is available here with the most updated information regarding the schedule for the days, speakers, and locations:
The Yankee District Convention, hosted by the New England Rose Society and chaired by Audrey Osborn, will be held at the Publick House ( 277 Main St, Sturbridge, MA 01566. 508-347-3313 • 800-PUBLICK) March 6 – 8.
Full program in PDF with presenter bios and convention schedule
There will be a Friday afternoon judging school for new and recertifying horticultural judges and for observing/auditing
List of probable roses for auction
*Our keynote speaker will be the renowned Ping Lim.
*Der Rosenmeister expert Leon Ginenthal will speak on all aspects of growing ramblers
*Kevin Richardson will speak on “Organic Plant Magic”
*We will have an interactive panel “From Auction Table to Show Table” discussion by rosarians Jason Capote, Irwin Ehrenreich, and Regan Duffee moderated by Lauren Duffee
The very low registration fee of $80 is all inclusive of a Friday evening meal, Saturday lunch and Saturday night banquet!
We want it to be affordable for as many people as possible , especially since we have at least 200 roses in our Saturday night auction!
Thank You to Bakker Nurseries for sponsoring our 2026 Yankee District Convention banquet!
CONVENTION SCHEDULE
Meal descriptions included after schedule
Friday March 6
Room Check-in: 3:00 pm
Registration Check-in: 4:00 – 6:30 pm
12:00 pm – 5:30 pm ARS Horticultural Judging School
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Friday night dinner buffet
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Hospitality Suite open
Saturday March 7
8:00 am – 9:00 am Registration
9:15 am Convention begins with a welcome
9:30 am Leon Ginenthal “Landscaping with Old Garden Roses”
10:25 am – 10:50 am Break (raffle tickets and vendors)
10:50 am Keynote speaker: Ping Lim
11:50 am – 12:00 pm Break (raffle tickets and vendors)
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Luncheon buffet
1:30 pm Kevin Richardson “Organic Plant Magic”
2:25 pm – 2:45 pm Break (vendors and LAST CALL FOR RAFFLE TICKETS)
2:45 pm “Auction Table to Show Table” – an interactive panel
discussion by rosarians Jason Capote, Irwin Ehrenreich, and Regan Duffee moderated by Lauren Duffee
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm RAFFLE DRAWING
6:00 pm cash bar/reception
7:00 pm Plated dinner in banquet room followed by:
- “History of the Yankee District” presented by Irwin Ehrenreich
- Yankee District Awards
- Rose Auction
HOSPITALITY SUITE is open following the Rose Auction
Please bring a snack and BYOB
Sunday March 8
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Yankee District Meeting
11:00 pm Room Check out time
Meal Descriptions
(please indicate gluten allergy, vegetarian or other allergies on registration form)
Friday
Little Italy Buffet Dinner
6:00 PM Arrival – Full bar available
6:30 Dinner – COFFEE, TEA & SOFT DRINKS INCLUDED WITH DINNER BUFFET
*Minestrone Soup
*Caesar Salad with Parmesan Cheese, Garlic-Herb Croutons & Caesar Dressing
*Tortellini Salad with Herb Vinaigrette
*Pasta with Bolognese Sauce & Alfredo on the side
*Chicken Piccata
*Chef Choice Fish entree
Saturday
10:30 AM MORNING BREAK : Coffee, danish and muffins
12:00 PM LUNCHEON SANDWICH WRAP BUFFET
( BUFFET AVAILABLE FOR (90) MINUTES ONLY)
*Soup of the Day
*Caesar Salad with Parmesan Cheese, Garlic-Herb Croutons & Caesar Dressing *Turkey Breast with Cheddar Cheese & Mayonnaise
*Ham with Swiss Cheese & Dijon Mustard
*Roast Beef with Provolone Cheese & Horseradish Sauce
*Tuna Salad
*Cookies & Brownies
*Regular & Decaffeinated Coffee & Assorted Hot Teas Bottled Soft Drinks
6:00PM cash bar/Cocktail hour
7:00 PM Dinner THREE COURSE PLATED DINNER
* “PUBLICK HOUSE” BAKERY BASKET House-Made Pecan Sweet Rolls & Dinner Rolls with Butter
“PUBLICK HOUSE” SALAD Mixed Greens, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Carrots & Red Onion Drizzled with House Maple Vinaigrette
CHOICE OF ENTREES
* Roasted Native Turkey, Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce & Gravy *Buttercrumb Scrod with Lemon-Dill Sauce
*Yankee Pot Roast with Pan Gravy
*Chef’s Choice of Vegetarian Entree – UPON REQUEST ONLY
*Chef’s Choice of Potato & Fresh Vegetable
*Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Filling & Frosting
*Regular & Decaffeinated Coffee & Assorted Hot Teas
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