5 Things To Do This Week – 07/31/24

5 Things To Do This Week – 07/31/24

Newton Cultural Alliance | Highlights Arts & Culture | Things To Do |

*The Allen Center hosts the Aston Magna Music Festival on Thursday, August 1st with a performance at 7:00 pm and a pre-concert talk at 6:15 pm. Aston Magna’s 51st summer music festival concludes with this final program at The Allen Center- an English Extravaganza from Artistic Director, Daniel Stepner. Hear the instrumental ensemble and vocal quintet play Henry Purcell: Songs, Sonatas, Catches John Eccles: The Judgement of Paris (1701), and a masque depicting the beauty contest between Venus, Juno, and Pallas.  The Allen Center is delighted to welcome Aston Magna to the Great Hall with some great music.

*On Friday, August 2nd at 6:00 pm, The Hyde Community Center hosts its annual Hyde Summer Series featuring family-friendly concerts, movies, theater productions, and cultural celebrations. The community is invited to attend this wide range of events at the Hyde Bandstand. Listen to The Soft Touch Dance Band, a classic big band comprising full horn, rhythm sections, and two outstanding vocalists at 6 pm followed at sunset by the family-friendly Disney musical, Encanto. Check here for the full schedule of events and weather-related information.

*On Tuesday, August 6th at 6:00 pm, Historic Newton hosts Life at the Lake: A Crystal Lake Walking Tour. Did you know Newton Corner was the site of one of New England’s first commercial nurseries? Put yourself back in time with Historic Newton – when the Kenrick family cultivated fruit, ornamental, and shrubbery. Travel the original acreage of the nursery, see an 1882 Kenrick house, and visit the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds. As nature allows, taste fruit from Durant-Kenrick’s historic gardens. Register for the tour here that lasts approximately 1 hour, with an easy pace, and typically covers ½ – 1 mile.

*On Wednesday, August 7th at 7:00 pm, The Allen Center is pleased to host an Artist talk with Lou Jones, the photographer behind the exquisite exhibition installed in the ground-floor gallery space. “The PanAFRICA Project” aims to create a contemporary visual portrait of modern Africa, using photography and advanced technologies to establish a repository of images for all 54 countries. This collection avoids preconceived Western notions of conflict, pestilence, and poverty, instead documenting Africa’s highlights and inner workings as the most progressive continent of the 21st century. Attend this artist talk to see the magnificent photos and to hear directly from the artist about his work. Free tickets are available here for this insightful artist talk with Lou Jones.