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.
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.
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.
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.
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 a stunning resetting of the Ukranian folk tune “Carol of the Bells” and a gorgeous chorale sing of “Shalom Chaverim.” You’ll love the fun singalongs like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and the riotous 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
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.
Cochituate Rail Trail on New Year’s Eve—Dec. 31
The Friends of Natick Trails and the Town of Natick will hold its second Cochituate Rail Trail on New Year’s Eve 2022 event.
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.
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
