Natick Report

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

2025 hits the trails in Natick with family celebration

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Fire pit on NYE at CRT
Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan

 
Natick said goodbye to 2025, and hello to 2026, at the fifth annual family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration on the Cochituate Rail Trail.

Vendors and nonprofit organizations set up booths around Chrysler Drive, near the Home Depot and not far from the AMVETS
post. There were fire pits for those wishing a quick warmup, as well as food trucks, the Morse Institute Library’s Bookmobile and live music.

Live music was among the features at the New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Chrysler Road portion of the Cochituate Rail Trail.
Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan

 
Food truck
Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan

 
Usually, activity on the trail shuts down at dusk. On this final night of 2025, visitors got to explore the trail. Many spots were illuminated, including the bridge over Route 9 and the space once occupied by the Loker Street bridge.

Route 9 bridge at NYE on CRT
Rte. 9 bridge lit up (Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 
The event was sponsored by the Friends of Natick Trails (FONT), and supported by the Town of Natick, Natick Mall, Avalon Natick, Natick Center Cultural District, The Block Natick, the Shocket Family and TJMaxx.

FONT helps maintain the Natick portion of the Cochituate Rail Trail, which extends from Natick Center to Saxonville in Framingham. Work is underway to connect the trail from Mechanic Steet to the Natick Center Commuter Rail station.

NYE on CRT
The Sleepy Baker did a booming business

 
NYE on CRTNYE on CRT 
NYE on CRT
 
Last sunset of 2025
Last sunset of 2025 (Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 

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Natick Frosty 5K road race gets December off to fast start

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Frosty 5K road race
Photos by Maureen L. Sullivan

 
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the Boosters for Natick High’s cross country and track and field teams, in conjunction with SPARK Kindness, held its annual Frosty 5K at the high school.

This “holiday rush” drew more than 600 participants, many decked out in seasonal attire. The course began and ended at the high school, and wound around the neighborhood surrounding Dug Pond. Many members of the track and cross country teams served as volunteers along the route, as well as in the staging area.

Proceeds from the event will be used at the discretion of the Boosters; they raise funds for scholarships, equipment and team events.

For information about the programs, visit https://natickxcandtrack.org/

Frosty 5K road race
One of Santa’s reindeer took a break from Christmas preparations to participate in the race

 

Frosty 5K road race

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Natick adjusts & celebrates start of holiday season

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Christmas Tree on Natick Common
Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan

Wet weather on the afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 30, caused the Natick Center Cultural District and Rec. to move the town’s annual Holiday Lighting celebration from the Common to the Cole Center on Boden Lane. The Common’s trees and decorations were lit by noontime, and several Main Street businesses were open for holiday shopping. Meanwhile, Santa visited the town’s neighborhoods via one of the town’s fire trucks.

With Santa on the road, Bumble from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” came to the Cole Center to greet young visitors while they engaged in face painting and ornament making.

Bumble from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” greets youngsters during the town’s annual Holiday Lighting celebration on Sunday, Nov. 30.
Bumble from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” greeted youngsters
(Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

Also at the center, Vivilicious served hundreds of cups of REAL hot chocolate. Those wishing to help during the holidays could pick up a gift tag from a miniature version of the Marsha Kelly Memorial Giving Tree. The actual tree is in the lobby of the police station; donors have until Dec. 7 to pick up tag, obtain the gift requested, and return to the Natick Service Council. There was also a food drive for A Place to Turn.

A miniature version of the Marsha Kelly Memorial Giving Tree was at the Cole Center for the town’s annual Holiday Lighting celebration on Sunday, Nov. 30.
A miniature version of the Marsha Kelly Memorial Giving Tree was at the
Cole Center (Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

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Scenes from Veterans Day in Natick

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Despite cloudy and chilly conditions, Natick’s annual observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11 drew a good crowd.

It was Paul Carew’s final official ceremony as the town’s Veterans Services Officer; he plans to retire within the next few months. In appreciation, state Rep. David Linsky presented Carew with a special Massachusetts Military Appreciation Day medal.

Participating units included the American Legion and Natick High School bands, Boy and Girl Scout groups, and local veterans.

Natick Veterans Parade
Natick Veterans Parade (photos by Maureen L. Sullivan)

Natick Veterans Parade

Rep. David Linksy & Veterans Services Officer Paul Carew (photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)
Rep. David Linsky presents Veterans Services Officer Paul Carew with special medal

Natick Veterans Parade

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Natick readying for Veterans Day

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Natick’s annual Veterans Day observances are underway.

Veterans Day Parade, Lunch – Nov. 11. The parade will form at 8:30 a.m. behind the Police and Fire departments on East Central Street. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. and proceed up East Central to West Central; left on Forest; left on Pond; left on Main to East Central to the Morse Institute Library for ceremonies. After the parade, veterans are invited to a lunch at the Community-Senior Center, 117 East Central St. The lunch is sponsored by the Charles River Rotary Club, the town’s Veterans Services and Community Services departments, Natick Firefighters Local 1707, and American Legion Post 107.

These events have passed:

On Nov. 5, the Morse Institute Library unveiled the annual Legacy of Service, a collection of more than 700 photos of local veterans from the Civil War to the present day. This year’s display has been dedicated to the late Cary Holmes, who created the Legacy of Service several years ago.

legacy of service morse institute library
Photos by Maureen L. Sullivan

 

Also on Nov. 5, volunteers from the Morse Institute Library and the Natick Labs installed more than 150 signs on the Common for the second annual Veterans Storywalk. The display features veterans who have taken part in the Natick Veterans Oral History Project over the past 28 years. Each sign includes the veteran’s image and service information; a QR code provides a link to the veteran’s interview.

Veterans Story Walk

Veterans Story Walk

The Storywalk will be on display through Nov. 13.

Veterans Breakfast – Nov. 7, 8 to 10:30 a.m., Kennedy Middle School, 165 Mill St. Students from Kennedy’s eighth-grade class will share breakfast and stories with local veterans. Co-sponsored by Natick Public Schools, Natick Veterans Council, Natick Veterans Oral History Project, Natick Veterans Services Office, Morse Institute Library and Roche Bros. Supermarket.

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