Newton Cultural Alliance

Cappella Clausura Presents Worthy of the Highest Praise: Bembo and Vivaldi
2026-05-16 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
“Worthy of the Highest Praise: Bembo and Vivaldi”
May 16th at 4 PM – Grace Episcopal Church on Newton
Are you familiar with the name “Antonia Bembo”? How about “Antonio Vivaldi”? I’d wager that you’re familiar with the latter but not the former – which is exactly the point.
Antonia Bembo was an Italian composer and singer of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The reason you haven’t heard of her isn’t because her music is underwhelming: Bembo’s talent actually took her from Italy to France, where she was employed by King Louis XIV as a composer and singer. Her music has been unduly neglected because of her gender; she is every bit as good as her male contemporaries, and we’re proving it by putting her music side-by-side with the Vivaldi Gloria – one of the classics of the choral repertoire – and letting you draw your own conclusions.
According to one etymology, the name “Antonia/o means “worthy of praise”. In this little-heard work by Antonia Bembo, you’ll hear that she’s just as praiseworthy as any Antonio.
Featuring music by: Antonia Bembo, Antonio Vivaldi, and others

Commonwealth Chorale presents Spirit, Passion, Defiance – Let’s Tango!
2026-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | MA
Spirit, Passion, Defiance – Let’s Tango!
Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7 PM
Alberto Ginastera: Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah
Various: Tango works with tango orchestra and dancers
Martín Palmeri: Misa a Buenos Aires (“Misatango”)
with strings, piano, bandoneon, and tango dancers!
Laura Beth Couch, mezzo-soprano
Alex Roitman, bandoneon

Cherry Street Music Presents Ari & Mia
2026-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Sister duo Ari Friedman (cello & voice) and Mia Friedman (fiddle & voice) bring their chamber-folk magic to the stage in a special CD release celebration! Hailed as “strikingly beautiful, distinctive and exhilarating” (No Depression), Ari & Mia weave original compositions with Southern and Northeastern fiddle traditions and the early American songbook into something entirely their own. Don’t miss this wonderful Cherry Street Music performance at The Allen Center!
Click here for tickets.

Commonwealth Chorale presents Spirit, Passion, Defiance – Let’s Tango!
2026-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Michael Driscoll School Auditorium, 725 Washington Street, Brookline, M, 02446, United States
We end our 50th season with a bold Latin American program: Palmeri’s electrifying Misatango pulses with tango rhythms and passion, while Ginastera’s Lamentations evokes spiritual exile and sorrow. Dancers and a tango ensemble add visual and musical fire, concluding a season rich in reflection, intensity, and jubilant expression. Featuring soloists Laura Beth Couch, mezzo-soprano and Alex Roitman, bandoneonist.
Conducted by Artistic Director Dr. Michael Driscoll
General Admission $40; Students $10; EBT/WIC Cards – Free at Door

South Stage Presents Pippin
2026-05-16 19:30 - 22:00 | Newton South High School, 140 Brandeis Rd, Newton, MA, 02459
South Stage presents Pippin on May 14-16 at 7:30PM in Newton South’s Seasholes Auditorium. Set against the backdrop of a PT Barnum era circus, South Stage’s production will use elements of both unsettling freak-show and awe-inspiring spectacle to tell the story of Pippin, the young prince in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment.

Newton Yacht Club Open House
2026-05-17 12:00 - 15:00 | newton yacht club, Nontantum Road, Newton, M, 02458, United States
Join us for Open House at the Newton Yacht Club, where you can explore the club’s facilities, meet members, and learn about our social events, and family-friendly activities. Whether you’re an experienced boater or simply curious, it’s a great opportunity to discover what makes the club such a special place to gather, connect, and enjoy life on the Charles River and beyond.

Historic Newton Presents Newton House Tour
2026-05-17 12:00 - 17:00 | Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Ave,, Newton, MA, 02458
Newton House Tour
Sunday, May 17 12:00 noon – 5:00 PM
Advance Tickets: $40 Historic Newton members, $50 general
All Day-Of Tickets: $55
Booklet and wristband pickup at Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds
Welcome to Historic Newton’s 43rd annual Newton House Tour! Each year, Historic Newton presents the Newton House Tour to showcase historic homes in the city. Each private residence is carefully selected by a committee to exhibit how homeowners have made creative renovations and interesting interior design choices that add to the life of a historic structure. You’ll come away with a greater appreciation for historic homes and inspiration for your own projects!
Purchase tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-newton-house-tour-tickets-1983542471929?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Pro Arte presents A German Requiem
2026-05-17 15:00 - 17:00 | Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
A GERMAN REQUIEM

May 17, 2026

3:00PM

Cary Hall

1605 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, USA

DIRECTIONS

Musical Program

JONATHAN BAILEY HOLLAND The Nature of Lost Time (world Premiere)
JOHANNES BRAMS Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45

TICKETS

Don’t miss this special event in May with conductor Kevin Leong, the Concord Chorus, and the Masterworks Chorale! Pro Arte joins soprano Carley DeFranco, baritone Dana Whiteside, and 150 voices in Johannes Brahms’s transcendent Ein deutsches Requiem. The concert also features the world premiere of a new work by American composer Jonathan Bailey Holland, a recent Guggenheim Fellow and the current dean of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click the ticket link above or visist Masterworks Choral’s website.

Cherry Street Music presents Allison Eldredge & Pei-Shan Lee
2026-05-17 15:00 - 17:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Honor the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death with an extraordinary evening of classical music! Cellist Allison Eldredge and pianist Pei-Shan Lee perform his celebrated cello sonatas — works renowned for their emotional depth, technical brilliance, and bold, innovative structures that offer a profound window into Beethoven’s humanity and genius. This performance is part of The Allen Center’s Cherry Street Music concert series with artistic director Allison Eldredge.
Click here for tickets.

New Art Center presents Teen Build Your Art Portfolio class
2026-05-18 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-05-25 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-06-01 17:30 - 19:30 | New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
Teen Build Your Art Portfolio class // All Levels // GR 8-12 // Mondays with Mattea Weinberg
This all-levels class is perfect for teens looking to build strong skills and prepare a competitive portfolio for college art programs. Students will draw from life, experiment with materials, and create meaningful, finished pieces—all with the support and guidance of an experienced instructor. Whether applying to art school or simply wanting to grow as an artist, this class offers the structure and feedback teens need to succeed.

First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton Presents Variaciones: Music from Argentina and Brazil
2026-05-20 19:30 - 21:30 | First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Orchestra Without Borders Boston
Luca Antonucci, Music Director
presents
Variaciones: Music from Argentina and Brazil
with
Grooversity Percussion
Hannah Shanefield, soprano
tickets $30 students $15
to benefit the work of Communities Without Borders,
which supports education for at-risk children in Zambia
Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 7:30 pm
First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton
1326 Washington St.
Newton, MA 02465
Tickets: https://opendoorensembles.org/tickets
More info: http://cwbusa.org/owb-concert-2026

ArsNova Presents Piano in Motion: Whispers to Wildfire
2026-05-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Newton Presbyterian Church, 75 Vernon St., Newton, MA, United States
Pianist Tianhong Yang is celebrated for her profound artistry and commanding stage presence. As a laureate of top prizes in prestigious competitions—including the Liège International Piano Competition and the Antonio Bertolini Competition in Italy—she has captivated audiences at major venues across Europe and America, such as New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s BBC Hoddinott Hall.
She will bring a program that moves effortlessly between elegance, virtuosity, and vivid storytelling. Known for her commanding stage presence and refined musical voice, Dr. Yang invites audiences into a richly varied sound world that spans classical clarity, romantic depth, and rhythmic brilliance.
The evening concludes with a special collaboration: Tianhong Yang joins Anran Qian in Night by Fazıl Say, a piano four-hand work that blends contemporary sonorities with evocative atmosphere, bringing the program to a compelling and memorable close.
Free ticket link: https://www.tixtree.com/e/piano-in-motion-whispers-to-wildfire-f54d693cdf30

West Newton Cinema Reads: Perrotta & Phillips
2026-05-24 16:00 - 18:30 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
West Newton Cinema Reads & Newtonville Books present:
Tom Perrotta, author of The Leftovers, Little Children, and Election, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jayne Anne Phillips reading from, discussing, and signing copies of their new books, Ghost Town and Small Town Girls, followed by a screening of The Last Picture Show.
Tom Perrotta’s new novel, Ghost Town, is a gripping and darkly nostalgic tale about a tumultuous summer in 1970s suburban New Jersey, told from the perspective of a middle-aged writer looking back on events that changed his life—and the story he finally has the courage to tell. Ghost Town reveals the way our ghosts are always with us, even when we think we’ve left them behind.
Small Town Girls is Oprah’s #1 most anticipated book of 2026. Part coming-of-age story, part social history, this tender, sparkling memoir is Jayne Anne Phillips’s love letter to the place and the people who have shaped her perceptions and her writing. Phillips grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia—dense with forests and small churches, rich in history and misunderstandings. In her singular voice, Phillips re-creates the place she calls home and reflects on her origins, the mysteries of memory, and the troubled annals of the last American centuries.
And in Peter Bogdonavich’s The Last Picture Show (1971), adapted from Larry McMurtry’s novel, we experience an aching portrait of a dying West. Set in Texas in the early fifties, The Last Picture Show portrays the daily shuffles of three futureless teens—enigmatic Sonny (Timothy Bottoms), wayward jock Duane (Jeff Bridges), and rich rebel Jacy (Cybill Shepherd)—and the aging, lost souls who bump up against them. Shot in arresting black-and-white, this hushed depiction of crumbling American values remains a pivotal film (Criterion).
Our event will begin with a reading and conversation between the authors in our first-floor Cinema 2, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing in our lobby, with books for sale courtesy of Newtonville Books. We will then return to Cinema 2 to watch The Last Picture Show.
PANEL DISCUSSION
TOM PERROTTA
Tom Perrotta is the author of eleven works of fiction, including Election and Little Children, which were made into Oscar-nominated films, and The Leftovers and Mrs. Fletcher, which were adapted into acclaimed HBO series.
JAYNE ANNE PHILLIPS
Jayne Anne Phillips is the author of Black Tickets, Machine Dreams, Fast Lanes, Shelter, MotherKind, Lark and Termite, Quiet Dell, and Night Watch, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Her work has been a finalist once for the National Book Award and twice for the National Book Critics Circle Award. The recipient of Guggenheim, National Endowment for the Arts, Howard, Bunting, and Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships, she is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Commonwealth Chorale Auditions
2026-05-26 17:30 - 21:30, 2026-06-02 17:30 - 21:30 | First Baptist Church in Newton, 848 Beacon St, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
We seek choral singers of all voice types, who have strong vocal and sight-reading skills.
Auditions will be held on May 26 and June 2 from 5:30pm until 9:30.
They are held at our rehearsal location at First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon Street in Newton Centre, a few minutes walk from the Newton Centre station on the MBTA Green Line D branch. There is also free parking in the church parking lot (accessed off Centre Street).
We have scholarships to reduce costs for singers 30 and under! See website for details: https://commonwealthchorale.com
To apply for an audition, click here: https://commonwealthchorale.com/join-us

Cherry Street Music Presents Lydian String Quartet: An Open Rehearsal
2026-05-27 19:30 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Lydian String Quartet: An Open Rehearsal
Wednesday, May 27, 7:30 pm, The Allen Center
The Naumburg Award-winning Lydian String Quartet, Ensemble in Residence at The Allen Center, will deliver their last open rehearsal of the season. Currently rehearsing music from Beethoven String Quartet No. 2 in G major, Beethoven String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, and Reena Esmail’s Zeher, expect the musicians to start and stop, discuss phrase shaping and dynamics, and talk between each other. Enjoy the freedom to move around and get up close to the players for this “behind the scenes” look into their rehearsal process.
Ticket link: https://newtonculturalalliance.ticketspice.com/lydian-string-quartet-an-open-rehearsal

Strawberry Festival 2026
2026-05-28 18:30 - 21:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL 2026

The Newton Cultural Alliance is happy to announce this year’s 12th annual Strawberry Festival on Thursday, May 28th from 6:30 – 9:30 pm. This year’s Strawberry Festival reveals Newton’s best-kept secrets and the hidden gems of our community. You can expect tasting events with wine and chocolate, signature cocktails, fabulous music, a raise the paddle event, and a silent auction. Mark your calendars for the year’s most anticipated social soiree! Please view our Strawberry Festival website for single tickets and corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Get Your Strawberry Festival Tickets Here

The Carroll Center for the Blind presents 14th Annual Walk for Independence!
2026-05-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst, 100 Carlson Ave, Newton, M, 02459, United States
Join Us for the 14th Annual Walk for Independence!
The 14th Annual Walk for Independence is happening Saturday, May 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst (100 Carlson Avenue, Newton, MA)!
This free event invites you to walk to raise funds for vision loss and celebrate our community coming together to improve the lives of people with vision loss. Attendees will complete a 1, 2, or 3-mile walk around the Mount Ida campus, followed by activities for all ages!
Event Timeline:
– Registration: 9:00 a.m.
– Walk Kick-Off: 10:00 a.m.
– Post-Walk BBQ & Activities: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Event Highlights:
– Free BBQ & Popcorn
– Accessible Activities
– Assistive Technology Demonstrations
– Event Emcee: Sam Seavey, founder of The Blind Life
– And more!
Learn More & Register Today: carroll.org/walk

Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library Presents Midsummer Pajaki Making
2026-05-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Scandinavian Cultural Center, 206 Waltham St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Midsummer Pajaki Making
Celebrate the arrival of summer by making a pajaki (mobile) with us!
Hosting a fun Midsummer craft mashup! Pajakis are a traditional Polish craft–and here we marry it with a Swedish maypole!
They can be small mobiles hung in your home, massive chandeliers displayed in museums, or anything in between! We will decorate ours with midsummer felted flower and strawberries. Leave with your own charming summer decoration.
All materials will be provided. Make sure to reserve your spot early, as space is limited!
Saturday, May 30th | 10am-12pm | $50 per person, $40 for members | tickets

Newton Open Studios 2026
2026-05-30 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-31 11:00 - 17:00 | Various Locations Across Newton, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Newton Open Studios returns this spring, celebrating nearly 30 years of connecting artists and the community through a vibrant, citywide open studios weekend.
This year, approximately 110 artists will exhibit in homes, private studios, and group locations across Newton, with the New Art Center (61 Washington Park in Newtonville) serving as one of the major host sites, featuring 20 local artists under one roof. Visitors can explore a wide range of artwork, meet artists in person, and plan their route using the interactive online map, with signature red balloons marking each location.
The event takes place May 30 and 31st, Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00 AM–5:00 PM, offering a welcoming opportunity to experience Newton’s creative community while supporting local artists and businesses.
For more information about attending or participating, visit the Newton Open Studio website here.

All Newton Music School Presents The Portland String Quartet
2026-05-30 16:00 - 17:30 | All Newton Music School, 321 Chestnut St, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
The Portland String Quartet’s final program of the 57th season promises to be a pure, weightless, soaring delight. Blending the luscious sounds of William Walton’s String Quartet in A minor, Haydn’s airy Quartet in C Major (Op. 33, No. 3 “the Bird”), and a volitant folk tune composed by the Danish String Quartet, Airborne is bound to sweep you right off your feet.
Featuring ANMS Faculty Kelly Knox, cello, alongside Callie Brennan, violin, and Brianna Fischler, viola, with Hannah Goldstick, guest violin.

New Phil presents Family Concert: Family Faves
2026-05-31 15:00 - 16:30 | First Baptist Church in Newton, 848 Beacon St, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Family Concert: Family Faves
May 31, 2026

Program to be announced. Concert includes an Instrument Petting Zoo, kids crafts, and more!

Show more
First Baptist Church

Get Tickets
$10 – $20

Newton Theatre Company Presents The Monologue Project: Voices of the Blind, Deaf, and Physically Disabled
2026-05-31 16:00 - 18:00 | The Cooper Center for Active Living, 345 Walnut Street, Newton, M, 02460, United States
This event is co-sponsored by Understanding Our Differences and The City of Newton Commission on Disabilities.
Sunday, May 31st at 4pm
​
Join us at The Cooper Center for Active Living
345 Walnut Street, Newton MA
in the Multi-Purpose Room
Experience powerful monologues that bring to life the unique stories of blind, deaf, and physically disabled members of our Newton community. It’s a chance to connect, learn, and be moved by voices in our own neighborhood that often go unheard. Don’t miss this heartfelt event celebrating the diversity and resilience of our local community.
We start with one prompt: Tell us your story.
​
Free admission, but let us know if you can join us!
RSVP at newtontheatrecompany.com!
Note About Accommodations:
This event will take place in the Multipurpose Room of The Cooper Center for Active Living. The location is wheelchair accessible, and the program will include ASL interpretation. Doors will open at 3:30pm.
​
Reasonable accommodations will be provided to persons with disabilities who require assistance. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact the city of Newton’s ADA Coordinator at least two business days in advance of the meeting: ADACoordinator@newtonma.gov or (617) 796-1253. The city’s TTY/TDD direct line is: 617-796-1089. For the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), please dial 711.

Historic Newton Presents 250 Years Ago in Newton
2026-06-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
250 Years Ago in Newton
Tuesday, June 2, 7:00 PM
Newton Free Library
Free
If you lived in Newton 250 years ago, who would have been your neighbors? Where
would your children have gone to school? What might you do for a living? In
commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of America, travel back in time
with Historic Newton and explore what life was like around the time of the American
Revolution. Learn about the experience of a diverse array of individuals in Newton and
explore maps and images to immerse yourself in their world. Presented in partnership
with the Newton Free Library. Learn more and reserve your spot at
https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/16512072

The Hyde Community Center Presents 4th Annual Newton Highlands Klezmer in the Park
2026-06-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Hyde Community Center, 90 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands, MA, 02461, United States
Join us for music, dancing, and fun for the whole family at the 4rd annual Newton Highlands Klezmer Dance!
We’ll dance the evening away on the field in front of the Hyde Community Center Bandstand to the sounds of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music All Stars.
Last year’s klezmer dance saw about 300 people at the Hyde. This year, let’s see if we can get even more friends, family, and neighbors to join in the fun.
—
Huge thanks to our sponsors and supporters, without whom this could not happen: The Boston Festival of New Jewish Music, the Newton Cultural Council, The Massachusetts Cultural Council, Spark Newton, and the Boston Synagogue.
—
FAQs
Do I need to reserve tickets?
– No. But your registering lets us send you a reminder about the event and any notes about the weather or other updates.

Is it free?
– Yes. But it’s definitely not free to produce, so your donations are always welcome.

Are kids allowed?
– Absolutely. This is a family-friend event. Plus, there’s a playground on the side of the field.

Do I have to dance?
– No. You’re welcome to hang out and listen to the music.

What if I want to dance but don’t know how?
– Never fear. We’ll teach you!

Do I have to be Jewish to dance to klezmer music?
– Of course not. The music and dances come from Ashkenazi Jewish culture but we welcome everyone to join in the fun.

Is there food?
– While there is not food provided at the bandstand, there are plenty of restaurants offering takeout within a four minute walk.

Are there restrooms at the bandstand?
– Restrooms are available inside the community center behind the bandstand.

The Highland Glee Club Presents Encore! Favorite Songs from Recent Seasons
2026-06-06 15:00 - 16:00 | Scandinavian Cultural Center, 206 Waltham St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Free Performance by The Highland Glee Club Men’s Chorus!
Join us for this very special recap of our favorites from recent concerts, featuring sea shanties, spring madrigals, and a cracker jack barbershop quartet!
At the beautiful Nordic Recital Hall at the Scandinavian Cultural Center in West Newton.

Cherry Street Music Presents The Black Feathers
2026-06-06 19:30 - 21:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Back by popular demand, Welsh folk duo The Black Feathers return to The Allen Center’s Cherry Street Music concert series. Serenading audiences with original songs that feel both modern and ancient, you won’t want to miss these globe-trotting, talented troubadours. This Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts program is generously supported by Spark Newton in partnership with The City of Newton.
Click here for tickets!
