Our roundup of holiday activities taking place in and around Natick:
Don’t see your low-cost or free community-oriented holiday event here? Contact Deborah at deborahcb100@gmail.com for inclusion.
Cochituate Rail Trail on New Year’s Eve—Dec. 31
Come see Natick Report at Cochituate Rail Trail on New Year’s Eve 2022 event. We’ll have a table set up near AMVETS Post 79, so stop by and introduce yourself.
Cochituate Rail Trail on New Years Eve will include 21 fire pit locations from about mile 1.2 to mile 2.2 (between Bacon Street and Chrysler Road).
This a family-friendly, alcohol- and drug-free stroll along the trail. And it’s a blast. We went last year, along with 1,000 others, and it far exceeded our expectations.
Mass Hort Festival of Trees—through Dec. 31
Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s 14th Annual Festival of Trees showcases dozens of decorated trees, the Snow Village, and a festive model railroad display, Nov. 25-Dec. 31, at the Garden at Elm Bank, 900 Washington St., Wellesley.
Don’t miss the Snow Village, an indoor model train exhibit, or the holiday lights and decorations that fill the Garden. The firepits will be going strong, and s’mores and hot chocolate will be available. Tickets are on sale now.
The gift of free parking—through Jan. 2, 2023
The Select Board offers this opportunity during the holiday to support our local merchants as people shop, eat out, and enjoy Natick’s wonderful downtown.
If you have a downtown parking pass of any kind, except COA (Council On Aging), please do not use these free 2-hour spots or you will be ticketed and we don’t want that during the holidays!
Please adhere to the two-hour time limit. Cars parked for more than two hours will be ticketed. Parking fees are NOT waived at private parking lots and commuter rail lots.
Questions? email dsherman@natickma.org or call 508-647-6425
Sound & Spirit’s Holiday Concert—Dec. 16 & 17
Get your holiday on when you unplug with Sound & Spirit’s holiday concert, Snow Much Fun, on Fri., Dec. 16 at 7:30pm & Sat., Dec. 17, at 2pm, at Fisk Memorial United Methodist Church, 106 Walnut St., Natick.
This intimate candlelight will usher in the holiday season with the Ukranian folk tune “Carol of the Bells” and a chorale sing of “Shalom Chaverim.” Singalongs include “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and a teen rendering of “Jingle Bells,” and more.
Holiday Stroll—December 17
Stroll, shop, and enjoy the holiday lights in Natick Center from 3pm-6pm.
Enjoy free two-hour holiday-season parking in Natick Center through January 2. Look for the hooded meters to clue you in on which parking spaces are free.
Parking fees are NOT waived at private parking lots and commuter rail lots.
Beyond Natick Commonwealth Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker—through Dec. 18
Share the merriment of the holiday season as the accomplished dancers of Commonwealth Ballet and guest artists frolic, battle and dance through Clara’s holiday dream at Eleanor Welch Casey Theater at Regis College, 235 Wellesley Street, Weston. Join the family party set before a magical tree and enjoy the laughter, magic, and wonder of this holiday classic accompanied by the beloved Tchaikovsky score.
Menorah Lighting—Dec. 18
Light up the night with the Chabad Center of Natick on Sunday, Dec. 18, 4:30pm, for the annual Menorah Lighting on Natick Common. Chanukah, the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” begins Sunday evening, Dec. 18, and continues through Mon., Dec. 26.
This event is free and open to the community. Light-up menorah necklaces for all, along with hot cocoa, hot latkes, and a chocolate gelt drop. This event will be held rain, snow, or shine.
Community Tree Lighting—Dec. 18
Holiday concert family event at Eliot Church—Dec. 11
Enjoy live holiday songs and time-honored jazz classics by Portrait in Jazz on Sun. Dec. 11, 3pm, at Eliot Church, 45 Eliot Church (rt. 16, South Natick), while children enjoy seasonal crafts. Suggested donation: $20/family; $10/individual. Proceeds benefit the Eliot Church of Natick. Questions or RSVP info@theeliotchurch.org
The Nutcracker: Clara’s Dream—Dec. 11
Metrowest Dance Academy will present The Nutcracker: Clara’s Dream, in two live performances on Sun., Dec. 11, at 1:30 and 6pm, at the Natick High School auditorium, 15 West Street. The run time is 50 minutes. Get tickets here.
Holiday HeartSong Circle—Dec 11
Join Common Street Spiritual Center, 13 Common St., on Sun., Dec. 11, 7pm-9pm, for an inspiring and connected community singing experience. Bring original songs of joy, favorite holiday standards, poems, heartfelt offerings, guitars, drums and other instruments, plus your favorite holiday cookies to share. Punch will be supplied.
Songs from all faiths and spiritual traditions are welcome as the community enters the celebratory holiday spirit.
HeartSong is free and open to the public. All are welcome.
Drop off letters to Santa before Dec. 8
Did you know that the Morse Institute Library has a special mailbox just for Letters to Sant? You can find the box in the Children’s Room (by the Christmas books). Drop your letters off before Dec. 8, when elves from the Natick Community Senior Center will collect them for delivery to the North Pole. Be sure to include your child’s full name and address in your letter in order to receive a reply from Santa! Forgot your letter at home? There are blank letters next to the box in case you’d like to write your letter while you’re at the library.
The Copley Cats holiday concert, Dec. 5
The Copley Cats will perform a special holiday concert on Mon., Dec. 5, 7pm, at the Morse Institute Library, 14 Central St.
As one of the longest-running a cappella groups in the Boston area, the Copley Cats are known for tight harmonies, amazing blend, and great music. The group’s founders were Mount Holyoke grads who missed the great time they had singing in college and decided to form the Copley Cats. The original group’s first gig was over 30 years ago and the music has been going strong since.
Register here: morseinstitute.evanced.info/signup/Calendar
Gwendolyn’s Nutty Nutcracker—Dec. 3
Based on the book by David Ira Rottenberg, Walnut Hill Community Dance Academy’s production of Gwendolyn’s Nutty Nutcracker brings together the world s greatest dancing pigs, Gwendolyn and Omar, who are are eager to rehearse. All is excitement, hard work, and fun as the Nutcracker’s artistic director and her former ballet partner are on hand to help their students learn the steps and a little bit about life. Don’t miss out on all the drama, laughter, and applause. Hurry inside. The curtain is about to rise.
LOCATION: Walnut Hill School For The Arts, 146 Bacon Street Natick, MA 01760
DATE: Saturday, December 3, 2022
12pm Performance link: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/gwendolyns-nutty…
3pm performance link: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/gwendolyns-nutty…
Victorian Christmas Traditions—Dec. 3
The Friends of the Morse Institute Library sponsors a theatrical performance of “Victorian Christmas Traditions” on Sat., Dec. 3, 3pm, at the library. The event is free. Registration is open.
Anne Barrett as “Victoria Yule” welcomes you into her parlor where she’ll share the history of many Christmas traditions, passed down to her from “Grandmama and Grandpapa.” She’ll read Dickens, display toys and handmade gifts that her family will be exchanging around the Christmas tree, and in her clear soprano, sing songs of the season. Travel back in time to Christmas 1895 with this fun, creative and engaging performance.
Christmas with the Back Bay Ringers—Dec. 3
Do you hear what we hear? From Bach to Blue Christmas, the Back Bay Ringers handbell ensemble’s season will feature both classical and contemporary favorites Dec. 3, 2pm-3:30pm, at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington Street. The seasonal tunes will be brought to life on a dazzling array of handbells, chimes, percussion and of course, sleigh bells. The concert will encompass many moods, from baroque precision, to contemplative calm, to joyful celebration. This year’s program will include some audience favorites including a new arrangement of “Carol of the Bells” and our beloved and familiar transcription of Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.”
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert—Dec. 4
Music Director Mark Latham has put together a great program of favorites, some with an unusual twist. You do not want to miss a rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “Trepak”from the Nutcracker, complete with some crazy electric guitar players. Serenading you will be Rebecca Hains, soprano, with some lovely songs for the season. She will also narrate a famous Christmas poem and will lead the audience in a fun and uplifting sing-along.
Tickets here. Or email info@wellesleysymphony.org
Covid policy: all audience members must present proof of vaccination and wear masks in the auditorium. Seats are assigned with three feet of social distancing. Orchestra members are fully vaccinated and are masking where possible.
New in Natick this year—Art in Lights—Nov. 27
- Summer and Main St.—art projection on side of the Clark’s Block building
- Corner of Court and Adams St. in windows of Natick Center Cultural District office
- New over-the-street banner across Main St.
Holiday Lighting on the Common—Nov. 27
(Update: 11/27—events moved indoors to Common St. Spiritual Center due to expected rain)
Join the fun on Natick Common on Sun., Nov. 27, 3:30pm-5pm, for crafts, balloon twisters, caroling from Voices of Metrowest, face painting, a dance from Empire Dance Company, and more. Lighting ceremony to take place at 4:45pm with Santa Claus, after his tour through Natick in a fire truck.
Event sponsored by Natick Recreation and Parks, Natick Center Cultural District, and Punchbowl.
Roll with Daniel’s Table at Natick Mall—Nov. 26 & 27
Natick Mall in partnership with Daniel’s Table will hold a Cram the Van event on Fri., Nov. 26 and Sat., Nov. 27, noon-5pm, at the Mall to help people in the local community who are struggling with food insecurity.
Daniel’s Table will park its van inside the mall to collect healthy snacks to make sure kids have their nutritional needs meet during school hours.
Donate a healthy snack food or non-perishable food item and get a free gift (while supplies last).
Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy craft fair—Nov. 26th
Get ready to knock some items off your holiday gift list. The Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy will hold a Holiday Craft Fair on Sat., Nov. 26, 9am-2pm, at the club’s lodge at 37 Washington Ave. Expect lots of local craft vendors, wonderful raffle baskets, Christmas wreaths from Fran’s Flowers (available for pre-order until Nov. 19) and more. The “Do Drop in Cafe” will be serving coffee, donuts, and delicious lunch items.
The lodge has a mobility ramp, and plenty of onsite parking.
All proceeds from the Holiday Craft Fair will benefit local charities and assist with the Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy’s operating costs.
Small Business Saturday, Natick Center—Nov. 26th
Shop local in Natick Center on Small Business Saturday, November 26, a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. Small businesses need support now more than ever as they navigate, retool, and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Get inspired to shop small, and shop local.
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