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.
Winter Sing-Along—Dec, 1
Enjoy a holiday sing-along at the Natick Community-Senior Center, 117 E. Central St., with Stacey Peasley, on Friday, Dec. 1, 5:30pm-7:30pm. Registration required. $5/per child. The event includes pizza and water.
Questions: call 508-647-6530 or email recreation@natickma.org
Mass Hort Festival of Trees—through Dec. 29
Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s 15th Annual Festival of Trees showcases dozens of decorated trees, the Snow Village, and a festive model railroad display, Nov. 24-Dec. 29, at the Garden at Elm Bank, 900 Washington St., Wellesley.
Festival of Trees 2022. Photo by Marco Kaltofen.Visitors vote with their raffle tickets for trees they would like to win and take home at the end of the event. Trees range from one foot to nine feet tall, and many have gifts in addition to beautiful decorations.
Don’t miss the Snow Village, an indoor model train exhibit, or the holiday lights and decorations that fill the Garden. Paid tickets include a cup of hot chocolate at admission and a s’mores kit for the fire pit at the end of your visit. Tickets are on sale now.
Please note: Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required for both MHS members and general admission. Tickets will not be sold on site.
Tree Lighting on Natick Common, and Holiday Stroll—December 2
Join the Natick Recreation and Parks Department for its annual Holiday Lighting Festival on the Common on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2pm-5pm. Enjoy free crafts, and a visit from Santa himself! Santa will still be touring the town courtesy of the Natick Fire Department. No registration required.
Alongside the tree lighting, stroll, shop & enjoy the holiday lights in Natick Center on Saturday, Dec. 2, 3pm–6pm. With face painting, balloon twisting, and music at your favorite shops.
Natick Holiday Stroll 2022Guild of Carillonneurs—Dec. 2
The Wellesley College Guild of Carillonneurs, under the direction of Margaret Angelini, will hold a Holiday Tower concert on Saturday, Dec. 2, 1pm. The carillon is housed in Galen Stone Tower, which rises 182 feet from the ground in Green Hall. The bells were installed in 1931 and the college’s Guild of Carillonneurs ring them throughout the year. Come meet the Guild members and listen to holiday tunes played on the bells.
This event is free and open to the public. Please contact sn102@wellesley.edu with any questions. For accessibility and disability resources, please contact accessibility@
Victorian Christmas Traditions—Dec. 3
Diane Taraz will perform a festive setlist of traditional Victorian Christmas carols on Sunday, Dec. 3, 3pm-4pm, at the Natick History Museum, 58 Eliot St., Natick. Many of our holiday traditions and much of our Christmas music was revived or created during the Victorian era, in the mid-1800’s. Diane will present these beloved carols, together with fascinating stories about their origins as she performs in a hand-sewn 1850s dress and accompanies herself on guitar and dulcimer.
This event is in-person, free, and open to the public. Advanced registration is required. Please fill out this form to save your spot.
This program is jointly sponsored by the Bacon Free Library and the Natick Historical Society.
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert—Dec. 3
The Wellesley Symphony Orchestra will perform their annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, Dec. 3, 3pm, at MassBay Community College, 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills. Tickets here.
Featuring the Fireside Barbershop Quartet performing music arranged by Mark Latham, and Chris Ten Eyck, principal trumpet, in an arrangement of “What a Wonderful World.” Also, music by Tchaikovsky, Coleridge-Taylor, Anderson, Prokofiev, Strauss and Corelli, plus the traditional sing-along.
Wellesley Square Holiday Stroll—Dec. 3
The Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association is getting ready for the always festive Holiday Stroll on Dec. 3. noon-6pm. Free parking, fun traditional activities, and Scavenger Hunt.
Linden Square Holiday Stroll—Dec. 10
Tis the season to celebrate at the Linden Square Courtyard with its beautiful holiday decor and stunning tree, Sunday, Dec. 10, 11am-1pm.
House Decorating Contest—register by Dec. 19
Are you excited to decorate your home for the holidays? Register to enter your home in Natick’s Holiday Decorating Contest. Three winning homes will be awarded prizes. Homes will be judged on creativity, use of decor, and overall appearance. All holiday decor styles encouraged.
All addresses will be made public so that residents can view displays.
Nutcracker Ballet performances
Commonwealth Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker (Weston, MA)—through Dec. 17
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. The performance lasts approximately 2 hours, including one intermission. Recommended for ages 4 and older.
A special sensory/family friendly performance will take place on Friday, Nov. 24, 1pm, featuring a shortened version of the ballet at reduced prices.
LOCATION: Eleanor Welch Casey Theater, Regis College, 235 Wellesley St, Weston, Mass.
TICKETS here
Studios Dance Academy’s The Nutcracker Ballet (Wayland, Mass.)—Dec. 9
Enjoy the magic of the holiday season at this beautiful presentation on Saturday, Dec. 9, 4pm, at Wayland High School auditorium, 264 Old Connecticut Path, Wayland, Mass. The role of Sugar Plum is being played by Brooke Bovie, a senior from Wellesley.
Call the studio 781-235-3638 or email to reserve tickets studios@comcast.net Limited tickets available at the door.
Calling all Girl Scouts, Brownies and Daisy—call for discounted tickets, and attend the performance to earn a fun badge.
Walnut Hill’s Nutty Nutcracker (Natick, MA)—Dec. 9 & Dec. 10
The Community Dance Academy at Walnut Hill has teamed up with local children’s author David Ira Rottenberg to bring his well-loved children’s book Gwendolyn’s Nutty Nutcracker to life. The fun 1-hour kid-friendly performance features the most loved music from the Nutcracker and intermission meet-and-greets with the characters and the author. Tickets here
LOCATION: Perrin Theater, Keiter Center for the Performing Arts
PARKING: 146 Bacon Street, Natick MA 01760
The Nutcracker: Clara’s Dream (Ashland)—Dec. 16
Metrowest Dance Academy will present The Nutcracker: Clara’s Dream, in two live performances on Saturday., Dec. 16, 1:30pm and 6pm, at Ashland High School, 65 E Union St. The run time is 50 minutes. Tickets here.
Cochituate Rail Trail on New Year’s Eve—Dec. 31
The Friends of Natick Trails will hold its annual New Year’s Eve on the Cochituate Rail Trail event. More info to follow, but expect 15-20 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 go every year, along with 1,000 others, and it’s always a good time.
Want to host a fire pit or volunteer at the event? Sign up here.
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Shopping events
Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy craft fair—Nov. 18
Get ready to knock some items off your holiday gift list. The Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy will hold a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the club’s lodge at 37 Washington Ave. Expect crafts, bake sale, raffle baskets, food, and fun.
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.
Wellesley Marketplace—Nov. 18
The 45th annual Wellesley Marketplace will be held Saturday, Nov. 18, 9am-4pm, at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St. Tickets here. More than 200 local artisans, boutique owners, and craftspeople will help you mark the start of the holiday shopping season at this fine arts and holiday fair.
The Copley Cats concert—Nov. 19
The Copley Cats will perform a selection of popular music, some winter songs, and holiday tunes on Sunday, Nov. 19, 3pm, at the Morse Institute Library, 14 E. 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.
Wellesley Turkey Trot—Nov. 23
The Wellesley Turkey Trot returns to Linden Square on Thanksgiving morning with a 5K run, plus a fun run for kids 10 and under, all in support of good local causes. Register here.
The race tradition kicks off at 8am on Thursday, Nov. 23, with 5K race participants following a course from Linden Square that traverses through Wellesley Square and the Wellesley College campus before returning to Linden Square. Awards are given to individuals and teams.
The Hannah Randolph Fun Run for kids starts at 8:45am in the back of the parking lot near CVS.
The event is always a great way to see friends and burn off a few calories before filling up on Thanksgiving Day.
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