Newton Art Association presents 2026 New Members Show
2026-05-14 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Scandinavian Cultural Center, 206 Waltham St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
The Newton Art Association presents its New Members Show at the Scandinavian Cultural Center on view May 1 – June 29, 2026. Featuring first-time exhibiting artists and seasoned pros alike who have joined the Newton Art Association within the past 12 months, this exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to view new work and connect with Newton’s artist community. Participating artists are also invited to join for the Awards Ceremony and Reception on Thursday, May 14, from 6–8 PM.

The Allen Center Presents Brush & Lens: Artist Talk with Peter Vanderwarker and Sam Belisle
2026-05-14 18:30 - 20:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Join us for a compelling lecture demonstration on the dynamic interplay between painting and photography— and go behind the scenes with two of Newton’s most celebrated artists, Peter Vanderwarker and Sam Belisle, for a rare glimpse into their creative processes. All attendees will be entered to win one of two signed Peter Vanderwarker prints. Admission is free, but registration is required.
Click here to register.

South Stage Presents Pippin
2026-05-14 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-05-15 19:30 - 22:00, 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.

Suzuki School of Newton Presents ¡Cantemos Juntos! - Student Workshop
2026-05-15 17:00 - 19:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
This workshop is designed for children ages 8-12 of any instrument and any level of musical training. In this workshop Lydia will teach a variety of singing games in Spanish, as well as folk songs from the Andean region of South America. The children will learn the basic dance steps and accompaniment to the songs from the Andes, adding percussion and flutes traditional to the highlands. The songs and some of the singing games will be performed the following day at the Multicultural Festival!

Suzuki School of Newton Presents The Singing Voice: the Heart where Music Begins - Teacher Workshop
2026-05-15 17:00 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
With Lydia Mills, Kodály Teacher Trainer and Director of Instituto Kodály at Fundación Ibáñez Atkinson.
This workshop is designed for instrumental and vocal music teachers. Teachers will participate in the first workshop with the children and stay for a session dedicated specifically to teachers. Lydia will share her insight on teaching with the Kodály approach. Together we will explore how the folk-art tradition of singing games develops self-esteem, connection with peers, and a keen musical intuition, leading ultimately to successful musical literacy training.

Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library Presents A Book Talk with Pernille Ipsen
2026-05-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Scandinavian Cultural Center, 206 Waltham St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Book Talk with Pernille Ipsen
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Pernille Ipsen, acclaimed author and historian, on her powerful memoir My Seven Mothers: Making a Family in the Danish Women’s Movement. Ipsen, a longtime professor of gender and women’s studies and now full-time writer, tells the remarkable story of the seven women who raised her, weaving together themes of family, feminism, community, and radical social change.
Through intimate storytelling and historical insight, My Seven Mothers asks timeless questions about identity, belonging, and possibility — and reminds us that new worlds are always possible.
🗣️ Don’t miss this chance to hear Ipsen discuss her work and the lives that shaped it, followed by audience Q&A.
Friday, May 15th at 7pm | Free with registration
*Books will be available for purchase. Sales will support the programming at the SCC&L*
“This book is a treasure, especially for a second-wave American feminist who was thrilled to learn of the boldness and courage of our Danish sisters at the very start of the 1970s women’s movement. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
—Vivian Gornick, author of Fierce Attachments
Pernille Ipsen was professor of gender and women’s studies and history at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for fifteen years and is now a full-time writer. The Danish-language version of this book, Et åbent øjeblik (An open moment), was published in 2020 and was awarded the Montana Prize for literature, one of Denmark’s top literary prizes. She divides her time between Madison and Copenhagen.
Tiina Nunnally is the award-winning translator of more than seventy books from the Scandinavian languages, including Sigrid Undset’s epic tetralogy Olav Audunssøn, also published by the University of Minnesota Press. She was appointed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for her contributions to Norwegian literature in the United States.

Suzuki School of Newton Presents Multicultural Festival 2026
2026-05-16 14:00 - 18:00 | Suzuki School of Newton, 1615 Beacon St, Waban, MA, 02468, United States
Celebrate community and creativity at the Suzuki School of Newton’s Multicultural Festival 2026, featuring international music, an intergenerational art show, and a delicious global potluck. Join us on Saturday, May 16 from 2–6 PM in Waban for an afternoon of performances, connection, and cultural celebration for all ages.

Cappella Clausura Presents Worthy of the Highest Praise: Bembo and Vivaldi
2026-05-16 16:00 - 17:30 | 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

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 | 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 | 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.
