Our roundup of Halloween activities taking place in Natick:

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Monday, Oct. 31—How Natick does Halloween

Natick is definitely an October 31st trick-or-treating kind of town. (Even though every year there are pockets of fret about kids getting all wound up on a school night.)

Generally speaking, the littlest ones go out in their own neighborhoods at about 6pm.

The older kids head out a little bit later, around 6:30. We heckle kids who show up either without a costume or wearing a Patriots jersey and claiming, “I’m dressed up like a football player.” Seriously, big kids, if you’re too cool to put together a real costume, it’s time to let it go and fondly remember trick-or-treating as part of your misspent youth.

Most residents at 8pm close their doors, blow out the candles in their jack o’ lanterns, and turn off their front porch lights to signal that their house is done with Halloween.

This can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, but not by much. As far as the candy goes, certain houses have a reputation for handing out full-sized bars, and the rabid following that goes with such generosity. We’re not going to spill those sweet secrets here. You’ll have to get out there and find the best pickings for yourself.

Don’t see your free or low-cost community-minded Halloween event here? Email natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.

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Our roundup of Halloween activities taking place in Natick:

October 29—Silent Movie Night

First Church Natick presents a Silent Movie Night with a showing of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde on Saturday, October 29, 7pm, at 2 E. Central St, with improvised piano accompaniment by Rob Humpreville.

congregational church clock bus stop art — First Church Natick, 2 Central Street (at the intersection of routes 135 and 27).

Open to the public. Free will donations accepted.

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October 29—Natick Spooktacular

Natick Halloween — Skeletons wait patiently for Spooktacular event

Enjoy an afternoon of Fall and Halloween-themed FREE events on the Town Common including balloon twisting, temporary tattoos, crafts, and more! Trick-or-Treat at your favorite stores downtown showing off your costume! There will not be a designated trick-or-treat parade this year but you can visit any of the participating downtown shops for a treat or enjoy the festivities on the common at your own pace between 12-3 pm. Tune in closer to the date for a map of all downtown businesses participating and further event details.

EVENT: Natick Spooktacular
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 2022
LOCATION: Natick Town Common
TIME: 12pm-3pm

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October 29—Movie on the Common

Enjoy an outdoor screening of the feature film Hocus Pocus. Admission is free. Movie starts at dusk (Approximately 6pm). Bring a chair, blanket, flashlight, snacks and enjoy this Halloween classic that has all the things—setting (Salem, Mass.), an abandoned house, a coven of evil witches, a magical cat, and a book of spells.

TIME: The witching hour (also known as dusk)
LOCATION: Natick Common

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October 30—Eliot Church Jack O’Lantern contest

Eliot Church is once more building community, one pumpkin at a time at its annual Jack O’Lantern contest.

Eliot Church, Natick, jack o lantern — The annual jack o’ lantern display in front of the Eliot Church is one of Natick’s spookiest Halloween-time traditions.

Here are the contest rules and tips:

How to enter

Let us know you’re coming (see email below). Mark if you’re 15 or younger. (There’s a separate prize category for kids.)
Carve your masterpiece Jack O’Lantern.
Write your name and email on the back of the aforementioned masterpiece in permanent ink.
Include a candle.
Drop off your Jack O’Lantern by the ramp leading to the side door at The Eliot Church, 45 Eliot Street, on October 30, before 5:30pm. Park in front of the Bacon Free library, or behind the office buildings. (No parking by the church after 4pm.)
Jack O’Lanterns will be on display until 6:30pm, with pick up and awards right after that.
Take your Jack O’Lantern home for Halloween!

Questions/RSVP: info@theeliotchurch.org

October 23—Halloween Wicked Fun Run

Brown Elementary and Memorial Elementary will hold a 2-mile Wicked Fun Run for all (and a 50-meter dash for younger kids) on Sunday, October 23, 9am, near Brown. Sign up here: http://Wickedfunrun2022.racewire.com

9am: The 50 meter monster dash is open to all preschool, elementary and middle school kids. This event will start promptly at 9am. There will be four groups of runners: under 5 years old, kindergarten and 1st graders, 2nd-4th graders and middle school kids. There is no registration charge for this event, but please consider making a $5 donation to the PTO on the day of the event. Kids will be given Halloween candy for participating in the 50-meter dash.

9:30am: Special warm up before the race hosted by Stacked Up Fitness

10am: The 2-mile fun run will kick off at 10am. All ages are encouraged to participate in the run. Costumes are not required but highly encouraged. The run will take place in the Barnesdale neighborhood behind Brown Elementary school. The course will be marked and volunteers will help direct the runners. The race will start and end at the school. Limited traffic is expected. We will have a special warm up before the race hosted by Stacked Up Fitness (at approximately 9:30).

Sign up early: The first 100 students who register for the event will receive a free water bottle. All students will receive a medal for completing the 2-mile race, and there will be trophies for the fastest male/female at each age group (no medals for parents/adults). Online registration for the race closes Saturday, October 22, at 4pm. However, you can pay cash or venmo Brown PTO at the day of the event if you wish to run.

Stay and party: Directly following the race there will be a dance party with a DJ, bounce house, photo booth, face painting and other fall activities for kids.

October 14—Family Scarecrow Stroll

The Morse Institute Library will hold a Family Scarecrow Stroll on Friday, October 14, 4pm. Scarecrow starter kits will be available at the children’s department starting October 1 until supplies last. The kit includes materials to create your own amazing scarecrow at home. Bring your completed creation to the library by October 12 to be part of the stroll. The event will take place on the front lawn, weather permitting. In case of rain event will be in the Lebowitz Meeting Hall.

This event has no registration just a commitment to build. Contact Natkids@minlib.net with questions.

October 1: pick up scarecrow starter kits at Morse Institute children’s department
October 12: bring completed scarecrow to library
October 14, 4pm: Family Scarecrow Stroll
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October 14—If the broom fits. Halloween and the history of witches

Have you ever wondered, especially on Halloween, why witches are depicted as riding on brooms through the nighttime sky? (It’s a story you may find difficult explaining to the kids!) How did the benevolent image of a wise woman transform into the malevolent figure of the witch we know today?

Crowd favorites Ehris Urban and Velya Jancz-Urban, part of the Grounded Goodwife family of authors, doers, makers, and dreamers, are back to present another of their engaging Herstory Unsanitized presentations. This time they’ll be discussing Halloween and the history of witches.

You’re never going to look at sweeping the same way again.

Natick Halloween happenings 2022