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Natick Report

Since 2020: More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

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Natick arts roundup , October 2026 edition

October 10, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Natick is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, art gallery opening this month. Here are just a few events happening soon.

Don’t see your free or low-cost Natick cultural event listed? Contact natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.


Natick Open Studios

Natick Artists Open StudiosDATES/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 17 & Sunday, Oct.  18, 11am-5pm
LOCATION: All Around Natick—participants and locations here.
DESCRIPTION: Formed under the auspices of the non-profit Natick Center Cultural District, the Natick Art Association is currently comprised of over 100 artists and artisans. This year’s open studios participants will include painters, printmakers, sculptors, potters, jewelry makers, fiber artists, photographers, and artists working in mixed media. Attendees will be able to explore and learn about art at exhibiting sites all across town.

Locations in Natick Center will include group sites at The Studios at 3 Adams Street, 43 Main Street, and the Congregational Church at 2 E. Central St. This year’s Open Studios will include multiple locations in South Natick. They include painter Ryan Black’s studio at 203 Union Street, painter Julianne Strom Brill’s studio at 199 Union Street, ceramic artist Suzanne Stumpf’s Barn Showroom at 62 Farwell Street, painter Barbara Levine’s show space at 30 South Street, and the Page-Waterman Gallery at 57 Eliot Street. In conjunction with open studios, the annual Old Time Calendar photography competition will take place at the Eliot Church at 45 Eliot Street in South Natick on Sunday from 11am-3pm.


Wellesley Theatre Project presents “Peter and the Starcatcher”

Wellesley Theatre Project, Peter


Art exhibit at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Broadmoor, Natasha Broude, artistARTIST: Natasha Broude
ON DISPLAY: through Oct. 31
LOCATION: Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick, MA
DESCRIPTION: Natasha’s work includes watercolor paintings, as well as graphite and charcoal drawings. Natasha’s preferred subject is landscape. She expresses all the variations of light and shadow using the unique palette, texture, and transparency of the watercolor medium.


Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, presents “The British Have Come!”

DATE/TIME: Sunday, November 8, 2026 @2pm
LOCATION: MassBay Community College Auditorium, 50 Oakland St, Wellesley, MA
TICKET INFO here
DESCRIPTION: William Boyce, Symphony No. 4; Benjamin Britten,Four Sea Interludes; Ralph Vaughan Williams, Symphony No. 5. Please join the WSO for a reception after the concert. MassBay is minutes from Rt 95, easy to get to with free parking. Great dining and shopping is minutes away in nearby Wellesley Square. Tickets are pay-what-you-can.


Thoughtful Animals by David Parish

 

Broadmoor, Natick, photography exhibit
Yak, Bhutan, by David Parish

ON DISPLAY: through Oct. 21
LOCATION: Bacon Free Library through Oct. 21
DESCRIPTION: David Parish is a photographer and a long-term resident of Natick. He has been involved with several organizations in the town, including as Chair of the Broadmoor Advisory Board and, most recently, as Chair of the Bacon Free Library. David began his travels as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Turkey and, when possible, has continued to travel with his wife, Shirley, hoping to observe animals in their natural settings.  His wish is that the photos on display will appeal to children, and perhaps even some adults.


Will cross street for art—Page Waterman Gallery

While you’re at the Bacon Free Library South Natick, checking out the David Parish exhibit, stop by Page Waterman Gallery, just across the street. The South Natick dam may be gone, but the gallery has an excellent inventory of dam paintings, and art is forever.


Beyond Wellesley

Boston Book Festival

DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10am-5pm
LOCATION: Copley Square, Boylston St. @ Dartmouth St. in Boston’s Back Bay
COST: Free
DESCRIPTION: New England’s largest literary event brings 25,000 people from across the region to Copley Square for an outdoor marketplace of ideas, great stories, author visits and much more. This annual event culminates a year-round celebration of writers and the written word.


Vivo Performing Arts presents “Gravity & Other Myths”

DATES/TIMES: Friday, Oct. 23, 8pm; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2pm & 8pm
LOCATION: Boston Arts Academy, 174 Ipswich St., in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood
COST: $44-$98 including fees
DESCRIPTION: The old saw that one must spend 10,000 hours to achieve greatness in a particular gets put to the test when Australian contemporary circus group GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHS brings its jaw-dropping human agility into a tale of impassioned dedication. Eight acrobats and one musician investigate physical skill—how it’s obtained and perfected, and how it transforms lives. Set to a driving musical score using live percussion/drums, Ten Thousand Hours is a love letter to human bodies and the amazing things they do.


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Filed Under: Art, Entertainment, Music, Theater

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Building bridges and community in Natick: Fisk Memorial UMC welcomes pastor James Koo

October 10, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

When Dr. James Koo arrived at Fisk Memorial United Methodist Church on Walnut Street this past July, he stepped into a congregation in transition. The church’s previous pastor had retired after a decade of service, leaving big shoes to fill. But for Pastor James, as he is known by the congregation, moving to a new community is an expected step in Methodist ministry, one he says is purpose-filled and joyous.

“Every time I move, I realize God has planned something,” Pastor James says. “I do not know all the details yet, but God has planned something special here in Natick.”

Fisk Methodist Church, Natick Dr. James Koo
Fisk Methodist Church, Natick, Dr. James Koo

Now in his 19th year of ministry, Pastor James brings with him a lifetime of varied experience. Unlike many who enter ministry directly from seminary, the Korean-born pastor started out  in the boardrooms of South Korean manufacturing conglomerate Samsung, headquartered in Seoul.

Pastor James earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology before completing an MBA in South Korea in 1996. Although he enjoyed his work as a marketing manager, he felt an undeniable spiritual calling.

While serving as a lay leader and teaching Bible study at his local church, the pull toward full-time ministry grew stronger. “I had a spiritual thirst in my heart,” he recalls. After marrying his wife, Esther, he officially answered the call, entering ordained ministry in 2007. Anyone who knew him at the time wasn’t surprised. Pastor James grew up as what’s known in the faith-based world as a PK (preacher’s kid). His father was himself a deeply respected minister who became the youngest bishop in Korea and who pastored one church for 47 years before retiring. Dad had always hoped that someday his son would be called.

“I learned so much from my father and mother. Even after retiring, my dad still keeps an office at the church building because the congregation simply didn’t want to let him go. Watching him taught me what it means to truly love and serve people.”

Pastor James came to Natick after his Waltham church merged with a Korean Methodist congregation in Lexington. In the United Methodist tradition, pastoral appointments are made by the bishop and the cabinet. When the call came to serve the 175-member Natick church, he was ready. And he brought friends. Around 40 percent of his previous Waltham congregation followed Pastor James to Fisk, where they have received a warm welcome from the existing congregants.

His wife, Esther Kim, a trained vocalist who taught piano for years, including to their three children, now adults, is actively involved in the church, as well.

As Pastor James continues to settle in, his major priority beyond his obvious Sunday duties are clear. He wants to get to know people face-to-face, in real time, as a fully present part of their spiritual lives.

“I love to hear the stories of the people,” he says. “To help and be a messenger, I have to know the community. Meeting on Sunday or during Bible class isn’t enough. We need more real, personal encounters. Because I spent years working outside the ministry, I understand how people in the world think. My calling is to build a bridge between those worlds.”

Filed Under: Embracing diversity, Religion

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Natick Halloween happenings, 2026 edition

October 9, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Natick’s many Halloween-time traditions are gearing up (already!), so be sure not to miss a single opportunity to dress up in costume, visit pumpkin patches, enjoy a fall festival, and more. Here’s our roundup of Natick Halloween Happenings, which we’ll be updating as activities get our attention.

  • Don’t see your free or low-cost Halloween-time community event here? Email us at natickeport@gmail.com for inclusion.
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The pumpkins are here at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church!

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, pumpkinsIt’s Pumpkin Patch time, one of Wellesley’s beloved annual traditions, now in its 23rd year.

DATES: Oct. 9 – 31
TIME: 10am-6pm every day
LOCATION: Wellesley Hills Church, 207 Washington St.


Haints, Haunts and Hollers: A Spooky Storytelling Adventure with Rona Leventhal

DATE/TIME: Monday, October 19, 7pm-8pm
LOCATION: Morse Institute Library, 14 E Central St, Natick, MA, 01760
DESCRIPTION: Join Rona for an evening of c-r-e-e-p-y stories. In this show you will find all manner of haints, dead folk, shape shifters, and mysterious players. Creepy! Eerie! Even humorous! This program is best suited for families with children ages 5 and up. Drop-in event. No registration required.


Natick’s Oldest Burial Grounds: Gravestone Carvers and Their Symbols

DATE/TIME: Thursday, Oct. 22, 7pm-8:15pm
LOCATION: Morse Institute Library, 14 E Central St, Natick
REGISTRATION: Suggested, but not required
DESCRIPTION: If you’ve driven past the South Natick Burial Ground or North Natick Cemetery without stopping, this talk is a reason to change that. Established in 1731 and 1744, these are the town’s two oldest burial grounds and hold gravestones cut by hand by carvers whose work can be identified and traced across eastern Massachusetts. We’ll look at who carved Natick’s earliest stones and at the symbolism they used—death’s heads, cherubs, urns, and willows—which was designed to be read and understood by anyone who passed by. Natick’s other cemeteries appear along the way, as a way of tracing how burial grounds evolved into cemeteries over three centuries.



Spooktacular at Natick Common

DATE: Oct. 24
TIME: 10am-1pm
LOCATION: Natick Common
DESCRIPTION: Join us for a Halloween celebration on the Common. FREE & fun events include pumpkin decorating, donut-on-a-string eating contests, and live music. Be sure to stick around for the Pumpkin Smash with the Natick Fire Department.


West Suburban YMCA’s Annual Fall Festival

DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24
TIME: 2pm-4pm
LOCATION: 276 Church Street, Newton
COST : Free and open to the public
DESCRIPTION:
Get ready for an afternoon full of autumn excitement at the West Suburban YMCA’s Annual Fall Festival! Pumpkin decorating; baby animals petting zoo; music & games ; giveaways; snacks; and more.


Weston High School’s annual Haunted House

DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 24, 6pm-8pm
LOCATION: Weston High School, 444 Wellesley St., Weston, 02493
DESCRIPTION: Presented by the Class of ’29—all proceeds from ticket sales go to the sophomore class! Admission is $15 per person or $45 per family. Pay at the door with cash or card. The event also includes a children’s area for little ones. Snacks and beverages will be sold.


Jack O’Lantern Decorating Competition

DATE: Friday, Oct. 30
LOCATION: The Eliot Church, 45 Eliot St.
DESCRIPTION: Kids and adults awards categories. 12:30pm-5:30, drop off carved pumpkin(s) for judging; 5:30pm-6:30pm, public viewing, awards; 6:45pm, take your pumpkin home for Halloween


Malloween at the Natick Mall

DATE: Saturday, Oct. 31
TIME: 10am-noon
LOCATION: Center Court
DESCRIPTION: A fang-tastic day featuring trick-or-treating, costumes, spooktacular entertainment, and more. With a $5 suggested donation to Second Chance Animal Services, kids will receive a special passport to collect stamps while they trick-or-treat. Once completed, they can turn the passport in for a prize!


Natick Center trick or treating

DATE: Oct. 31
TIME: 1-3pm
LOCATION: Natick Center shops
DESCRIPTION: Wear a costume and trick or treat around Natick Center businesses. More information and a map to come.


Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31

Natick is definitely an October 31st trick-or-treating kind of town. 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. 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.


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Filed Under: Holidays

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Take the Morse Institute Library Community Survey

October 9, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Morse Institute Library, NatickMorse Institute Library invites community members to share their feedback through November 15 as the Library develops its next five-year Strategic Plan. The survey responses help the Library better understand the community’s needs, priorities, and experiences, while informing future programs, services, and initiatives.

To take the online survey, community members can visit bit.ly/milsurvey26. Print versions of the survey are also available at the Library in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. There’s also a QR code on the library’s website.

The online survey is designed to take about 10 minutes to complete and asks about everything from online services to library spaces to bookmobile services. Survey participants do not need to be library users.

Lest you think this isn’t important, keep in mind that the Morse Institute runs largely on Town of Natick tax dollars. Your opinion matters. We took the survey, and beyond the nuts-and-bolts questions—How often do you visit the library? Do you find what you’re looking for? What additional features would you like to see?—the survey is looking to gauge interest specifically in the following:

  • the need for ESL and language programs
  • tech support classes, more public computers
  • increased outreach programs such as the Bookmobile

“This is an opportunity to connect with the public, “ said Library Director Miki Wolfe. “We want your help to guide our plan for the future, and to hear what the library could do for you.”

All responses are confidential, however, respondents can provide an optional email address for a chance to win a $20 gift card to a Natick business. Email addresses will not be shared or included in analyses of survey responses.

So take the survey. Your future library patronage experience might depend on it.


Support Natick Report, the only dedicated daily news source covering the town, by:

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Coffee With a Purpose guest—Rob Dunlavey, documents South Natick dam through art

September 19, 2026 by Deborah Brown

Natick artist, Rob Dunlavey
Natick artist, Rob Dunlavey, in his home studio

Coffee with a Purpose is a free discussion series featuring various guests. Rob Dunlavey, Natick resident and local artist, will be the guest on Monday, Sept. 21, 9am. Rob will share the story of the art he’s created inspired by his daily visits to the South Natick Dam. He will be will be sharing his latest work, his perspectives, and maybe even a sneak peek at a new book he’s created about the dam.

Anyone interested in attending this session, or learning more about Coffee With A Purpose should email Doug Hanna, moderator of the group, at natickhanna@rcn.com.  The group’s video recordings are on YouTube.

Natick Report profiled Rob last year after he was awarded a Maurice Sendak Fellowship. You can see the story here.

Upcoming Coffee With a Purpose schedule

  • 9/21 – Rob Dunlavey—updated South Natick Dam art (and book!)
  • 9/28 – Debra Budd—Dementia Friendly Natick
  • 10/5 – Fall Town Meeting warrant walk—through with Moderator and Fincom Chair
  • 10/12 – No CWAP—Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day
  • 10/19 – CWAP Internal discussion—Fall Town Meeting articles

You don’t want to see our illustrations. But if you’d like to support our writing, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

Filed Under: Art, South Natick Dam

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