Bay Colony Brass presents A Bay Colony Christmas
2024-12-07 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Music director Philip Sanborn leads Newton’s 20-member BAY COLONY BRASS in a free, family-friendly concert of Christmas favorites ranging from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” to modern favorites. The concert features an audience sing-along. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, a local council that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council and the City of Newton.
FREE ADMISSION
Parking is available adjacent to the building at Second Church in Newton. Parking lots are accessible from either Highland Street or Chestnut Street.
Access for those with limited mobility is available immediately uphill from the sanctuary via the side driveway or drive-up entrance through the main doors to the sanctuary.
And in case you can’t make the performance on December 7, you can still catch “A Bay Colony Christmas” on December 14 at 7:30 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 280 Main Street in Woburn.

Historic Newton presents Candles & Cards
2024-12-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Ave,, Newton, MA, 02458
Get into the holiday spirit while you dip candles and craft cards! You’ll gain inspiration from vintage greeting cards and advertisements in our collection, enjoy seasonal music and refreshments, and craft candles and cards to keep or share with a friend. This program is appropriate for all ages; stop by anytime during the event.
This program is $5 for Historic Newton members and $10 for non-members. Register in advance at https://events.humanitix.com/candles-and-cards; walk-ins welcome.

Celebrate Newton Holiday Craft Fair
2024-12-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Newton South High School, 140 Brandeis Rd, Newton, MA, 02459
Celebrate Newton is a one-day holiday shopping extravaganza with live music and local artisans. With over 50 vendors to choose from you can buy a unique gift for everyone this season. For 2024 we have tons of textiles, loads of Fine Art, Jewelry galore, and new vendors you’ve never seen before. Admission is $7 and all proceeds go to the Newton Cultural Alliance, a non-profit advocacy organization operating The Allen Center for Arts and Culture.

These Are The Days - Newton Family Singers Celebrate the Music of Lilith Fair
2024-12-08 16:00 - 19:00 | Regis College’s Casey Theatre, 235 Wellesley St, Weston, MA, 02493, United States
Join the Newton Family Singers as we celebrate the music of Lilith Fair. This concert will be a bit different from our usual performances. Instead of focusing on a single artist, we’re honoring several talented musicians who were part of the traveling music festival, Lilith Fair.
Lilith Fair was a groundbreaking festival that took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999 and was revived in 2010. It featured female solo artists and female-led bands, providing a platform for their voices to be heard. This gives us the opportunity to perform a wide variety of favorites from musicians you know and love, such as Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, The Chicks, Indigo Girls, Sarah McLachlan, Lisa Loeb, 10,000 Maniacs, Jewel, Alanis Morissette, Des’ree, Shawn Colvin, and Tracy Chapman!
Proceeds from this season’s concert will go to The Second Step. The Second Step fosters the safety, stability, and well-being of those who have experienced domestic violence. They provide comprehensive services, including safety planning, legal advocacy, counseling, peer support, transitional housing, and other essential services to adults, youth, and children in Greater Boston and MetroWest.
https://www.newtonfamilysingers.org/events.html

Tui T. Sutherland, Author of Wings Of Fire
2024-12-09 17:00 - 18:00 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
As part of the Newton Children’s Book Festival, West Newton Cinema is excited to host a children’s book event with Tui T. Sutherland, the New York Times best-selling author of the much beloved Wings of Fire series and other books. Tickets are $20/person and include a limited edition copy of THE DRAGONET PROPHESY or a $10 gift certificate to Newtonville Books, available at time of entry.
Learn more about the Newton Children’s Book Festival taking place on December 14th at the New Art Center: newtonchildrensbookfest.com

AEM presents Practical Musicianship and Music Theory for Early Musicians
2024-12-09 17:30 - 19:00, 2024-12-16 17:30 - 19:00, 2024-12-23 17:30 - 19:00, 2024-12-30 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-01-06 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-01-13 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-01-20 17:30 - 19:00 | MA
with Shira Kammen – vielle, voice, harp

5:30 – 6:45 pm, 11 November 2024

Shira
Kammen **
Violin & Vielle

4 Monday sessions, November 11, 18, 25 & December 2, from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. ET

Class Description

New Art Center presents Newton Children’s Book Festival
2024-12-14 10:00 - 14:00 | New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
The New Art Center and Read Your World have teamed up to create the inaugural Newton Children’s Book Festival. This free event will be held on December 14th, Saturday, from 10 am to 2 pm, at the New Art Center in Newtonville, MA. A snow date is set for Sunday, December 15th, from 10 am to 2 pm.
The Newton Children’s Book Festival will showcase 60+ children’s book authors and illustrators signing books. Newtonville Books will be selling the books, with a 20% discount for teachers! There is a free bookmark craft for children.
“We are pleased to offer the New Art Center space to the inaugural Newton Children’s Book Festival,” says Emily O’Neil, Executive Director of New Art Center. “Kids benefit from meeting children’s book authors and illustrators, and signed books make great gifts for the holiday season! ”
“Boston has one of the largest concentrations of children’s book creators in the United States, and we are thrilled to have more than 60 in the area at our event, including Caldecott Honor author and illustrator Brian Lies, and Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca,” says Mia Wenjen, President of the Newton-based non-profit, Read Your World.
In support of the Newton Children’s Book Festival, West Newton Cinema Foundation is hosting a children’s book event with the New York Times best-selling author of the Wings of Fire series, Tui T. Sutherland. It will be held on Monday, December 9th, at 5 pm at the West Newton Cinema. Newtonville Books will supply signed copies for this ticketed event. To order tickets, go to newtonvillebooks.com.

The Allen Center Craft Crawl
2024-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Newton’s Craft Crawl at The Allen Center– Saturday, December 14, 1-3:00 pm
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to get crafty at Newton’s 1st city-wide Craft Crawl. Visit creative destinations throughout the city on Saturday, December 14, to make holiday gifts, ornaments, cards–and that’s just for starters.
THE ALLEN CENTER -Decorate Cookies, Craft a Fairy, Make a Flake
West Newton’s Allen Center has three holiday craft activities for Crawlers of all ages. Even better? Participants will be serenaded with live holiday music while they’re busy creating. From 1-3 PM, decorate holiday cookies alongside Naisbel Azarak and Haylee Kulig—two professional pastry chefs from NaisLee Catering. Then, craft a fairy from bits of yarn, scraps of fabric, and a wee bit of holiday magic. Before crafters leave they can snip out a snowflake to decorate their home or hang on the Allen Center’s tree. Pre-registration for cookie decorating is requested by emailing: Naisbel@naisleecatering.com All ages are invited, but parents will need to assist younger children.

ANMS presents Celebrating Judy & Barbara
2024-12-14 16:00 - 18:30 | All Newton Music School, 321 Chestnut St, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Celebrating Judy & Barbara

Dive into the musical legacies of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand in this special concert featuring performances by ANMS faculty and guest artists.

Classical with a Twist - I've Got Rhythm
2024-12-15 15:00 - 17:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The first half of the Cherry Street Music season wraps up on December 15th with Classical with a Twist – I’ve Got Rhythm including Gershwin favorites such as Rhapsody in Blue, and Brahms’ G minor Piano Quartet. Rythm makers for this performance include Alex Velinzon; violin; Cathy Basrak, viola; Artist-in-Residence, Allison Eldredge, cello; and Max Levinson, piano.

New Phil & Boston Ballet present Celebrations!
2024-12-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Brown Middle School, 125 Meadowbrook Road, Newton Centre, MA, 02459
Celebrations!
Sunday, December 15, 3:00 pm
The New Philharmonia Orchestra + Boston Ballet School perform scenes from the Nutcracker at Brown Middle School. Celebrations! is all the Tchaikovsky you love, plus other holiday favorites like Sleigh Ride, Frozen, and Let There Be Peace on Earth.

Historic Newton Presents Newton History Series: A Pressing Matter - 18th Century Media Literacy and Bias
2024-12-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Media and information literacy are essential 21st-century skills in order to be an informed citizen. These are also skills that, when applied in a historical context, help us become better historians. In this discussion, we will analyze perspective, language, and bias in 18th-century newspapers, with a critical lens on how news was consumed in colonial America.
About the speaker: Michele Gabrielson is a local history teacher and historic interpreter of the 18th century. When she is not teaching in the classroom, Michele can be found leading tours, lectures, and demonstrations at historic sites in the greater Boston area. She specializes in interpreting the history of colonial women printers, the stories of loyalist refugees, and of 18th century chocolate makers! Most recently, she has taken on building a first-person impression of the revolutionary playwright and poet Mercy Otis Warren. Michele additionally serves on several historical committees dedicated to helping preserve the history of colonial America, is a member of the Authenticity Standards Committee for Minuteman National Historic Park, and is the coordinator for the Battle Road Guides for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. She was recently awarded a 2024 Rising Star Award for Public History by the Massachusetts History Alliance for her programming titled, “The Revolutionary Classroom,” and named a finalist for the 2024 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year.
This program is part of the Newton History Series, co-sponsored by Historic Newton and the Newton Free Library. Look out for lectures in both February and March 2025.
Thursday, January 16, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium
Free, registration not required

NAA Winter Expo at the Allen Center
2024-12-17 18:00 - 2025-01-21 19:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Winter Expo at the Allen Center
Exhibition dates: December 12, 2024 – January 21, 2025
Off to a fresh start for the New Year! Out with the old, in with the new. Join us for the first winter exhibition of the New Year at the Allen Center. A great place, a great time, and a great venue to celebrate the holidays. The awards ceremony will be held Tuesday, December 17th from 6-7:30pm with special guest juror Candice Driver, Associate Director of Cambridge Art Association.

Zamir Chorale presents Hanukkah Happens
2024-12-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Hanukkah Happens
Tuesday, December 24,7:30 pm
Hanukkah Happens returns for its 34th year. Zamir Chorale of Boston performs with Hazzan Elias Rosemberg – Opera e oratorio Ebraico at the Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary.

Commonwealth Chorale Auditions
2025-01-07 17:15 - 18:45, 2025-01-14 17:15 - 18:45 | First Baptist Church in Newton, 848 Beacon St, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Commonwealth Chorale seeks singers of all voice types who have strong vocal and sight-reading skills. Our March 9th 2025 concert will be a performance of Carl Orff’s stunning Carmina Burana. Unlike most performances of this piece, this one will be done with a full orchestra.
Our May 18th concert celebrates “community and connection” through the diversity of American folk songs. The program includes works of Aaron Copland, Nathaniel Dett, and Alice Parker’s folk song and spiritual arrangements.
Auditions will be held by appointment on the evenings of January 7 and 14 from 5:15 – 6:45 pm. Auditions are held at our rehearsal location at First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon Street in Newton Center, a few minutes’ walk from the Newton Center stop on the “D” Green Line. There is also plenty of parking behind the church and on adjacent streets.
*NEW this season!* 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

Highland Glee Club presents Auditions
2025-01-07 19:00 | Christ Episcopal Church, 1132 Highland Ave., Needham Heights, MA, 02494, United States
The Highland Glee Club, established in 1908, is seeking male singers to join our illustrious men’s singing group.
HGC sings a wide range of songs from classical to Broadway hits to folk and rock standards.
Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7:00 pm to 9:30pm at the Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge St, Newton. For more information please contact Music Director, Sarah Robinson Seeber at sarahjseeber@gmail.com

Cherry Street Music presents Classical With A Twist: Love Is All Around
2025-01-10 08:00 - 17:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Classical With A Twist: Love Is All Around
Sunday, February 2, 3:00 pm
Cherry Street Music starts the new year with Classical with a Twist – Love Is All Around on Sunday, February 2nd at 3:00 pm. A magical program of Love & Friendship, including romantic works by Debussy & a collaborative “Over the Rainbow” finale. Featuring Artistic Director, Allison Eldredge, cello; Dina Vainshtein, piano, and special guest performances from the “TEens of Temple Emanuel.”

All Newton Music School presents String Trio
2025-01-12 15:00 - 17:00 | All Newton Music School, 321 Chestnut St, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
String Trio
Sunday, January 12, 3:00 pm
All Newton Music School performs for an afternoon with BSO musicians Sophie Wang, violin, Leonardo Vásquez Chacón, viola, and ANMS Faculty Kelly Knox, cello, who have prepared a captivating string trio performance. Enjoy pieces from Beethoven, Rebecca Clarke, and Leó Weiner during an evening out at ANMS.

Historic Newton presents Winter Craft Series: The Art of Embroidery
2025-01-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Ave,, Newton, MA, 02458
Join Historic Newton for a hands-on embroidery workshop where participants will recreate a design inspired by an object from the museum’s collection. This beginner-friendly session is open to all skill levels, from first-time stitchers to experienced embroiderers. Discover the art of embroidery while connecting with history through thread and needle. All materials will be provided!
Price: $20 general admission | $15 members
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-craft-series-the-art-of-embroidery

Cappella Clausura presents All About Love
2025-01-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
All About Love
“Sappho begins with a sweet apple and ends in infinite hunger.” (From “Eros the Bittersweet”, by Anne Carson)
Too often throughout history, we’ve seen women’s love and desire depicted through a male gaze, while authentic expressions of love and desire by women in art have been considered taboo. Cappella Clausura challenges this by centering the voices of women and gender non-binary composers in this program on the topic of love in all its forms.
Featuring music by Evelin Seppar, Modesta Bor, Rafaella Aleotti, Laura Nevitt, and others.
​
February 15th, 2025 @ 4PM​
Grace Church
February 16th, 2025 @ 4PMEmmanuel Church

Solar Winds Quintet presents Twilight
2025-01-19 14:00 - 15:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Solar Winds Concert – Twilight
Sunday, January 19, 2:00 pm
The Solar Winds Quintet takes the stage at The Allen Center with a program that includes music for winds and piano by Zemlinsky, Janáček, and Brahms.

Sensory Garden
2025-01-20 - 2025-02-28 | New Art Cooridor, 245 Walnut Street, Newon, MA
The New Art 2025 Sensory Garden Exhibition is your chance to Support our Local Artists.
Artists offer a wintertime oasis amidst political, social, and cultural transition. Fostering a connection with nature, art, and ourselves through all our senses, grounds and preserves us. We invite sight and smell and touch and taste (indicated by signage) in this self-contained terrarium or sanctuary. We honor and prompt your experience as a lodestar for self-awareness and emotional healing.
Exhibition Dates
January,17th 2025 – February 28th 2025
Opening Reception
January 20th 5-7pm, Free and Open to the public.
Join the New Art Center in celebrating the opening of the 2025 Sensory Garden Exhibition. Mingle with some of this year’s 23 participating artists, while exploring over 54 pieces in this year’s sale.
Artist Talk
January 30th 5:30-6:30pm, Free and Open to the public.
Curator Guided Tour
February 12th: 6:00-7:30 PM, Free and Open to the public.
The New Art Corridor (Trio)
245 Walnut St.,
Newton, MA 02460
About The New Art Curatorial Program:
Established in July 2020 as the BIPOC Curatorial Program, the New Art Curatorial Program features three exhibitions annually curated by mid-career New England area BIPOC community writers, artists, and thinkers. This series enables curators of color to develop and share their personal vision through exhibitions that spark dialogue.

Winterfest 2025
2025-01-24 08:00 - 17:00 | MA
Winterfest 2025
Friday- Sunday, January 24-26
Join Newton Community Pride, Hyde Community Center, West Newton Cinema, and New Art Center for weekend WinterFest activities with live music, an ice sculpture contest, and free hot chocolate. They bring the heat to the Hyde Community Center on Saturday with the annual WinterFest Soup Social including Tova Speter’s Brighter Ignited public artwork, and live music from Surefire Band. Sunday brings it home with a free screening of Happy Feet at West Newton Cinema and a family dance party with Matt Heaton and the Outside Toys at New Art Center. Check out the full schedule below.
