TIME TRAVELING The chilly days of late winter are an ideal time to hunker down and look to the past, and numerous towns around Boston have historical societies that are eager to share their passion for local history and lore with the public.
The Hudson Historical Society presents Andy Massa, amateur historian and firearms collector, on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at First Federated Church, 200 Central St., Hudson. Combining his interest in US battle history and firearms, he will discuss “The History of the American Battle Rifle,’’ covering the strategic evolution of battle rifles used by the US military from 1775 to the modern era. Examples of each rifle will be on display. A Hudson resident for 45 years, Massa is a state and federal certified firearms instructor. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
The Natick Historical Society presents “Praying Indians & John Eliot: An Early History of Natick’’ on Thursday, March 2, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Natick Community-Senior Center, 117 East Central St., Natick. Learn about the town’s founding over 300 years ago by John Eliot, and the Native Americans who established Natick as a “Praying Indian Town.’’ Admission is free.
MANY KINDS OF MUSIC Musicians of the Old Post Road, a chamber music ensemble specializing in period instrument performances of music from the Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic eras, presents “Destination London’’ on Friday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. at First Parish in Wayland, 225 Boston Post Road. The program surveys the compositions of the immigrant composers who came to take advantage of London’s active concert life and ample patronage opportunities, with compositions such as Giovanni Bononcini’s “Il Lamento d’Olimpia’’ and J.C. Pepusch’s “Menalcas once the gayest swain.’’ Tickets are $35 for preferred seating, $30 for general admission, $10 for college students, and free for children ages 7-17 when accompanied by an adult. Wayland Historical Society members receive a $5 discount. For tickets and more information, go to www.oldpostroad.org.
The Auxiliary of Emerson Hospital invites the public to “EmerSong — an A Cappella Festival,’’ a benefit for the hospital’s work with patients who are recovering from substance misuse and dependence, on Saturday, March 4, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Kerem Shalom, 659 Elm St., Concord. This inaugural program features high school and college a cappella groups from Bedford High School, Lincoln-Sudbury High School, and Wayland High School along with the Berklee Charlie Chords, Brandeis Up the Octave, and the Tufts a cappella groups. The evening includes cabaret-style seating, tapas, and soft drinks, and a cash bar. Tickets are $20. For information and to purchase tickets, visit www.emersonhospital.org/EmerSong.
The Metropolitan Wind Symphony performs its Winter Band Concert on Sunday, March 5, at 3 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, with a preconcert lecture by director Lewis J. Buckley at 2:30 p.m. The program’s theme is movie music, featuring the score for the 1940 Errol Flynn film “The Sea Hawk’’; Julie Giroux’s “La Mezquita de Cordoba’’; the music of Parade of the Charioteers, from “Ben Hur,’’ accompanied by a screening of the scene; Eric Whitaker’s “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas,’’ with an accompanying slide show; a montage of silent movie music against a backdrop of the 1929 Laurel and Hardy silent film “Double Whoopee’’; and Paul Hart’s original piece, “Cartoon.’’ Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for seniors, $6 for students, and free for children under 5. For tickets or more information, call 978-419-1697 or go to www.mws-boston.org.
FAMILY TRANSFORMATION Nicole Maines, subject of the memoir “Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family’’ by Amy Ellis Nutt, will speak at Arlington Town Hall, 730 Massachusetts Ave., on Saturday, March 4, at 1 p.m. Maines, whose childhood and early years as a trans activist are documented in Nutt’s book, was named one of the 14 Most Fearless Teens of 2014 for standing up against injustice, and most recently was featured in the HBO documentary “The Trans List.’’ “Becoming Nicole’’ is Arlington’s community reading selection, and March 4 will kick off a full month of Arlington Reads Together events and discussion groups. Find a full schedule at www.robbinslibrary.org.
NATURE, REAL AND IMAGINED On Saturday, March 4, Friends of the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge offer an exploratory tour by snowshoe, ski, or walking, starting at 11 a.m. from the parking lot at the Oxbow Refuge Bill Ashe Facility, 80 Hospital Road, Devens. The two-hour tour is free but will be canceled in case of bad weather. For more information, call 978-779-2259.
Needham Art in Bloom returns for a ninth year to the Needham Public Library, 1139 Highland Ave., Needham, on Saturday, March 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday, March 5, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Select floral interpretations will also be on display in the Needham High School Lobby, Town Hall, and the Center at the Heights on Friday, March 3, from noon to 4 p.m. The exhibits include mixed-medium pieces of artwork by Needham High School students, members of Beth Shalom, and participants from Kalmia and Needham garden clubs. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.NeedhamArtinBloom.com.
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