Lowell offers its residents a varied assortment of cultural activities without the high price tag and traffic associated with Lowell's big- city counterparts.

For local history, there are several must-see attractions. Visitors to Lowell's National Historical Park gain a fascinating insight into how people lived in a constantly evolving industrial city. The Boott Cotton Mill Museum recreates the conditions experienced by the city's original workers. The New England Folk life Center of Lowell focuses on culture as expressed in everyday life: customs, language, food, music, dance, drama and crafts.

Should you favor the performing arts, you'll have numerous choices. Boarding House Park hosts Summer Music Festival evening concerts, with entertainment highlighting diverse traditions and ethnicities; bring your lawn chair, pack a picnic supper, and enjoy contemporary folk, zydeco, bluegrass, pop, irish, and big band music. The Merrimack Repertory Theatre, an award-winning Equity theatre company, features a wide variety of dramatic productions. The 3,000-seat Lowell Memorial Auditorium showcases an eclectic blend of entertainment ranging from Broadway shows to Golden Gloves boxing. And at UMass Lowell's College of Fine Arts, you'll find concerts, children's performances and other events to suit your taste.

If the visual arts are what you seek, try the Brush Art Gallery, which presents changing exhibitions of outstanding contemporary art. Or the New England Quilt Museum, where scores of beautifully crafted quilts pay homage to this venerable craft. Or the American Textile History Museum, which honors the proud traditions of the industry on which the city was founded, and tells America's story through the art, history and science of our textiles.

The Lowell Folk Festival, the city's premier cultural event, is held each July. It is the largest free folk festival in the country, and attracts thousands of people to a celebration of traditional music, dance and folk entertainment on six outdoor stages.  Local ethnic foods, crafts, and cooking demonstrations add spice to the three-day extravaganza. Admission to Lowell's National Historical Park tours are reduced during the festival.

Regardless of your cultural preferences, one thing is certain: you'll run out of energy in Lowell before you run out of choices.