More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.
We’ve updated our popular “Top 10 things to do in Natick” page to remind everyone of how much the town has to offer. From hiking and bird watching at Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, to catching some culture at The Center for Arts in Natick, or visiting the Natick History Museum (currently by appointment only) inside the Bacon Free Library, there’s plenty to do and see in Natick.
Have you experienced everything on our list?
The annual Natick Holiday Stroll drew last-minute holiday gift shoppers, kids and their families on a quest to see Santa, and those who took the event at its word and were just in town to walk around and enjoy the lights before popping into a restaurant for Saturday night dinner.
Natick Center merchants took advantage of the mild-enough weather to throw open their doors in a welcome to shoppers. The strains of live music were audible from inside Baylee Bee, and a hustle-and-bustle scene was evident at Calliope Paperie, where author Lindsay Cadigan was signing copies of her book, Betty the Confetti Yeti. Paper Fiesta hosted Jonah’s Twisters, who gave out free balloon animals to excited children, who then could get further wound up by getting their faces painted at Sweetwaters (we saw 1 little kid fall on the sidewalk, and her face was perhaps saved from hitting the cement when her ballon animal—which did not pop—cushioned the fall). We missed out on the free soup at Agostino’s but are sure it was delicious.
In addition to the classic bricks-and-mortar shopping experience, local small business owners and non-profit organizations set up tables on the sidewalk to capture the street traffic.
The Natick Center Cultural District put together the event, designed to encourage people to shop and eat in Natick’s downtown district.
The Natick Mall last week unveiled a time capsule from 1994 with contents that turned out to be part blast from the past and part predictions of the future. Among the capsule memorabilia displayed on long tables in the Infinity Pool Court area of the Mall were stacks of handwritten essays contributed at the time by local students. This group of school kids included Nostradamus-like seers, able to hazard pretty accurate guesses about what life would be like in 28 years. Technology loomed large on the minds of late-20th century young people.
“Cars will run on batteries all the time,” prophesied one student, while another wrote, “Computers will run everything. They will be able to run a whole company with no problems.”
The no problems part turned out to be a stretch, but we admire the optimism.
Have you ever been curious about what’s on the upper floors of the iconic 11 S. Main St. building in Natick Center? You know the one, the four-story brick structure that Bagel Table calls home. Well, your chance to venture to the third floor happens on Saturday, April 9am-11am at an Arts Open House. (The space is not accessible and can be reached only via stairs.)
First, enjoy musical and dance performances and visual art displays featuring artists from the Natick Public Schools and various programs in town. While you’re appreciating the young artists, take time to ooh and ahh over the 135-year-old building’s interiors with its high ceilings, beautiful tin tiles, and arched windows. It’s a morning of the arts, architecture, and history, all without leaving town.
From there, stop by the Natick Farmers Market, with food and gifts vendors upstairs and downstairs in the Common Street Spiritual Center, and farmer and meats & fish purveyors in the back parking lot. The Market takes place every Saturday, 9am-11am.
The whole shebang that is the Farmers Market will move entirely outside onto the Natick Common in early May.
The Common Street Spiritual Center will host the Natick Children’s Business Fair during a one-day marketplace event on Saturday, February 19, 3pm-6pm. Entrepreneurial kids ages 5-15 will present their very own startup business ideas at 22 booths as they show customers the results of their work developing a brand, creating a product or service, building a marketing strategy, and finally opening for business. The event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product.
There is still booth space available, so if your young entrepreneur is interested in joining in the fun, here’s a link to the sign-up page.
Items for sale might include cupcakes and other baked goods; handcrafted jewelry; bookmarks; knitted hats; and more.
Judges will review the businesses and honor winners for Most Original Business Idea; Highest Business Potential; and Best Presentation and Creativity.
This event is sponsored by Common Street Spiritual Center, Great Silk Road Craft, Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of donors and volunteers.
