New Bedford museum sets date for ‘Moby-Dick’ Marathon

NEW BEDFORD — Calling all Melville fans: The New Bedford Whaling Museum has announced dates for the 27th annual Moby-Dick Marathon and is accepting applications for readers.

The event, scheduled for Jan. 5-7, 2024, will include lectures, exhibits, kids activities, opportunities to chat with scholars from the Melville Society Cultural Project, a live performance of Chapter 40 by Culture Park, and more.

What is the Moby-Dick Marathon?

The New Bedford Whaling Museum partners with the Melville Society Cultural Project for this unique 25-hour read-a-thon of Herman Melville’s literary masterpiece, “Moby-Dick.” It commemorates Melville’s 1841 departure from the Port of New Bedford and Fairhaven aboard the whaleship Acushnet.

How to sign up to be a reader

Have you ever wanted to be part of the marathon? Here’s your chance. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is looking for first-time readers and previous readers to sign up.

Those interested can register through Nov. 1 at tinyurl.com/9ahyz7t5. Readers will be chosen randomly, and those selected or wait-listed will be notified by email on Nov. 10.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum is at 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford. For more information visit whalingmuseum.org.

DAVID W. OLIVEIRA/STANDARD-TIMES Audience members follow along during the 2020 marathon reading of “Moby-Dick” at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.