Best Natick photos of 2022

December 30, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Some days it seems the town of Natick just can’t take a bad picture. We took over 1,500 pics of the Home of Champions in 2022, and it was well worth the effort to create this look of a year in the life of one Massachusetts town.

We love it when readers share Natick slice-of-life and other photos with us. Please do: natickreport@gmail.com

In no particular order, we bring you our favorite images of Natick 2022.

Holi Festival

Holi Festival, Natick — The girls had a bit of a friendly dust-up in the parking lot of the Middlesex Savings Bank during Natick’s Holi Festival. The Hindu celebration represents the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally, dry powder is tossed around, brightening the hair and clothing of revelers.

We should all age so gracefully

Walnut Hill, Natick — If you ever get the chance, join Natick Historical Society volunteer and local tour guide Vincent Vittoria for a walking tour of Natick’s Walnut Hill neighborhood. The area boasts dozens of beautiful, well-kept historic structures.

Ukraine walks a long road

rail trail ukraine — The Cochituate Rail Trail in this context serves as a metaphor for the long road the people of Ukraine travel as their country is under siege by Russian military power.

A much-anticipated annual holiday gift

natick police meter bags thanksgiving eve — Natick police bag parking meters so we won’t even think about dropping coins into slots during the holiday season.

Former South Natick church continues to get spruced up

Former Catholic Church, South Natick — The replacement of once decaying spires on the front of the former Sacred Heart Church at 28 Eliot St., in South Natick in the John Eliot Historic District has been turning heads. Extensive work also has been going on inside the building to transform it into an acrobatics and circus school

Coming up in the world

Thank a Natick veteran

Natick.Veteran.Earl.Fahey — Natick resident and Master Sgt. Earl Fahey, pictured on Veterans Day in Natick Center, served 21 years in the Army, in Germany and with the Yankee Division headquarters in the Boston Armory. Sgt. Fahey says to him Veterans Day will always be a time to “Remember all the people I served.”

It’s easy to pick out the cutest pumpkin in this patch

natick spooktacular common halloween — The pre-Halloween Natick Spooktacular event in Natick Center drew a big crowd of costumed kid and their families as a warm-up to the big night.

Resting their weary bones

Natick Porchfest rocks again

porchfest — Natick PorchFest kicked off fall in town with dozens of talented performers entertaining the public at venues ranging from a stage in front of the police station to driveways, front lawns, and yes, porches.

Natick Community Organic Farm has sheep, will travel

natick farm — Natick Community Organic Farm brought some sheep to Natick Common for a playdate. Photo by Ella Stern

First day of the school year at Johnson elementary

Crossing guard, Johnson School, Natick — Bob the crossing guard keeps everyone safe crossing busy route 27 to get to Johnson Elementary School. The last day of August was the first day of school for Natick students, and with temperatures that rose into the mid-80, there wasn’t a fall jacket or sweater to be seen.

Entrepreneurial spirit (and a sweet set-up)

2022 natick lemonade stand danny — Danny, a Kennedy Middle School student, runs a lucrative lemonade business on Circular Avenue (between South Main Street and Cottage Street) during warm weather days. The young entrepreneur sells cool, refreshing drinks from the stand, which he said was built a few years back by his grandmother.

Dramatic Natick skies

natick sky — Natick Center sunset after a July storm. (Photo by Laura Niedermeyer.)

Trying to hold back the tide

save natick dam — A group of over 30 seeking to Save Natick Dam held a rally in July that was covered by Natick Report (and big dawg news agencies from as far away as Boston). In November, the Natick Select Board voted 4-1 against repairing the dam and spillway (aka, waterfall) and in favor of removing the iconic structure. The vote is the start of a long process, with work on breaching the spillway not expected to begin for at least 5 years.

South Natick dam, spillway — South Natick dam spillway

Natick knows how to enjoy summer

natick concert on common — Natick summertime concert on the Common.

Graduates dressed in blue pick up the slack for the sky

Natick High School Class of 22 graduation — Natick High School class of 2022 graduation ceremony.

Natick encouraged to get out the vote…

election day signs — …however, fewer than 14% of registered voters cast ballots in the annual town election. That would be similar to last year’s underwhelming number. There’s always hope for next town election, which will be held on Tue., March 28, 2023.

They could have sold tickets for this ride

South Natick dam, fire department — Members of the Massachusetts District 14 Tech Rescue Team spent part of a March morning at the South Natick dam area to perform rope rescue training drills across the Charles River. Singly, a few team members were sent out on ropes strung across the waterfall side of the spillway, while their colleagues on either side of South Natick Dam Park kept the operation safe.

Dug Pond skating

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