Category: Events

Events for adults, families and kids in Newton, MA.

Meet the Female Scientists at Discovery Museums Acton! FREE

The Discovery Museums Continue Popular

First Friday Nights Free! Program for 2013 – 2014

Special “Meet the Scientists” Event on October 4

The Discovery Museums are pleased to announce their First Friday Nights Free! program for 2013-2014, offering free admission to both museums along with extended evening hours on the first Friday night of the month.

Between October 2013 and June 2014, both the Children’s Discovery Museum and the Science Discovery Museum will be open until8:30pm, with free admission beginning at 4:30pm. Families are invited to picnic under the stars when the weather permits, and enjoy the Museums at night.

Special program October 4: Meet the Scientists

During the season’s opening First Friday Nights Free!, the Museums will be host to several scientists participating their ongoing Portal to the Public program, a national network of museums bringing scientists and the public together in face-to-face interactive programs. The “Meet the Scientists” event will take place from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Friday, October 4. Visitors will have the opportunity to talk to real scientists and do hands-on activities that they have developed, including:

Laura Proctor of MathWorks – will lead participants in performing numeric sorting of numbers to determine patterns that would be helpful in sorting hundreds of numbers, similar to how a computer might apply an algorithm, or pattern, to finish a task.

Professor Melissa Kosinski-Collins of Brandeis University – will be exploring how scientists tag molecules in a cell using fluorescent markers. Participants will “search” for hidden items in a cell model.

Dr. Sarah Sundelacruz of Tufts University – visitors will explore how scientists grow tissues to help our bodies heal.

Dr. Jocelyn LeBlanc from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School – will show how the brain is the most remarkable part of the human body through “tricks” demonstrating the amazing ways the brain can adapt.

Dr. Dimitra Pouli of Tufts University – will demonstrate the multifaceted nature of light.

Dr. Mathangi Krishnamurthy of Fitchburg State University – will lead an activity showing how we can affect the speed/rate of chemical reactions, namely decomposition, by using chemical substances called catalysts.

Suanna Selby Crowley, PhD, RPA of Boston College – will lead several activities exploring the textures, components, and facts about archaeological soils and sediments and how they help tell the story of ancient sites.

Dr. Casey Wade of Brandeis University – will explore the relationship between chemistry and electricity.

First Friday Nights Free! is an important component of the Museums’ Open Door Connections program, which provides opportunities for those who face a variety of barriers—financial, geographic, developmental, or cultural—to experience the Museums. The program is sponsored by Emerson Hospital with additional support from the local cultural councils of Acton-Boxborough, Billerica, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Harvard, Hudson, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Maynard, Waltham, Wayland and Westford.

Collections for Local Food Pantries

The Discovery Museums will collect non-perishable donations for Open Table of Concord and Maynard and the Acton Food Pantry on Fridays as party of this special family promotion. Suggested items include peanut butter, canned proteins, coffee, tea, cereal, pasta sauce, juice boxes, jam/jelly, canned vegetables, and baking mixes.

September 23, 2013
Harvest Festivals All Over Massachusetts

Celebrate New England’s colorful fall season at one of these harvest festivals.

For New Englanders and visitors alike, the changing colors of the leaves to vibrant oranges, reds and browns in the fall are the highlight of the year. Celebrate this visually striking season at the many harvest festivals throughout Massachusetts. These annual celebrations highlight nostalgic activities like pumpkin picking, hayrides and savoring the tasty fall flavors.

For more information on fall activities and happenings, visit massvacation.com or check out the “MassFinds” blog at massvacation.com/blog.

Greater Boston

Newton Community Farm Festival, Sunday, September 29th from 11 am to 3 pm.

Harpoon Octoberfest ~ Boston, MA
Friday, October 4, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. and October 5, 2013 ~ 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Boston-based brewery, Harpoon, threw their very first Octoberfest in Boston in 1990. Now it has become a beloved New England fall celebration. Nibble on bratwursts, marvel at a German chocolate cake-eating contest and toast your favorite beers while lederhosen-clad musicians waltz. This year marks the 23rd Anniversary of the original New England-style Octoberfest. For more information, visit HarpoonBrewery.com.

Boston Local Food Festival ~ Boston, MA
October 6, 2013, 11a.m. – 5 p.m.
For one day only, Boston’s Greenway transforms into the nation’s largest local and sustainable food hub. Local food growers, producers, educators and supporters, gather to taste the artisan foods of Boston. Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to learn creative ways to grow food, take home food from local farmers and producers, taste beer, mead and wine and more. For more information, visit BostonLocalFoodFestival.com.

Cape Cod and the Islands

The Milestone Cranberry Bog and the Nantucket Foundation’s 11th Annual Cranberry Festival ~ Nantucket, MA
October 12, 2013, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Watch this plump red fruit being harvested, learn about the history of cranberry farming on Nantucket and enjoy live music and autumn scenery. Take a self-guided tour of the bogs to learn about their historic role in Nantucket agriculture and then snack on fresh cranberries from the bogs, chocolate covered cranberries or cranberry bread. For more information, visit the Nantucket Foundation’s website.

Wellfleet Oysterfest ~ Wellfleet, Cape Cod, MA
October 19 – 20, 2013, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
One of the oldest oyster guidelines instructs to only eat oysters during the months that include the letter “r.” Seeing as October fits the bill, what better month to celebrate an oysterfest? Once you are full on these little bivalves, visit the booths of more than 75 artisans, enjoy live music and kids activities like face painting and moonbounces. Continue onto an oyster reef tour, a nature walk or act as a spectator at the Annual Oyster Shuck-off Competition. Then it’s back to more oysters at the 12 raw bars at the festival. For more information, visit WellfleetOysterFest.org.

North of Boston and Greater Merrimack Valley

Newburyport Fall Harvest Festival ~ Newburyport, MA
October 13 – 14, 2013, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
A Newburyport tradition for more than 3 decades, Fall Harvest Festival features skilled artists offering handmade crafts, live music and food from Newburyport’s best restaurants. Catch this festival at the tale end of Columbus Day weekend and don’t miss the scarecrow contest showcasing a gallery of inventive scarecrows throughout Market Square. For more information, visit this website.

South of Boston

Silverbrook Farm Fall Harvest Festival ~ Acushnet, MA
September 21, 2013 – October 27, 2013, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Every Saturday and Sunday from the end of September to the end of October, Silverbrook Farm hosts their Fall Harvest Festival. Travel through the farm aboard a horse drawn hayride or go exploring in a corn maze. Try your hand at pumpkin painting and don’t forget your free sugar pumpkin at the end of the day to take home. For more information, visit TheSilverBrookFarm.com.

Central Massachusetts

Applefest ~ Princeton, MA
October 19 – 20, 2013, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
More than 75 craft and farmers’ market booths unite on Wachusett Mountain to pay homage to the fall season and its most popular fruit. Enjoy a mountainside BBQ, pony and hayrides and chainsaw carving demonstrations. After cruising the market, head to the beer garden for live music, German cuisine and a tasty beer in true Oktoberfest fashion. For more information, visit wachusett.com.

The Big E ~ Springfield, MA
September 13 – 29, 2013
The Eastern States Exposition very much resembles a state fair complete with a colossal Ferris wheel, novelty carnival foods, and livestock. The Big E, however, is the only fair in the country with multiple states participating. Take a stroll along the Avenue of States to see replicas of each New England state’s original statehouse sitting on the land actually owned by that state. Finish the day with The Big E Cream Puff, the fair’s signature dessert that debuted in 2002. For more information, visit TheBigE.com.

North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival ~ Orange, MA
October 5 – 6, 2013
Self-named “the festival that stinks,” the 15th annual garlic festival is a celebration of the artistic, agricultural and cultural bounty of the region, emphasizing what is homegrown, handmade and high quality, as well as what helps preserve and support the environment and the community. Events range from the more eccentric garlic-themed type like a garlic and egg toss or tug of garlic to lessons on growing garlic and the more artistic lesson on making wooden bowls. For more information, visit GarlicandArts.org.

Western Massachusetts

Fall Foliage Festival and Parade ~ North Adams, MA
October 6, 2013, 1 p.m.
This annual festival embraces the rich history of folklore in Western Massachusetts. This year’s theme is “Haunts, Legends, and Ghost Stories,” will carry into all of the festival’s activities from a craft fair to a children’s fair, road race, leaf hunt and live performances. Don’t miss the Fall Foliage Parade that marches through downtown North Adams. Dozens of businesses and organizations take part in the parade, forming a collection of people who showcase the heart of the Berkshires. For more information, visit FoliageParade.com.

Shaker Suppers ~ Hancock, MA
October 19, 2013 or November 30, 2013
Dine in a brick dwelling from 1830 at the Hancock Shaker Village, formerly an actual Shaker village and now museum. A 4 p.m.guided tour occurs before supper where interpreters in period attire present an introduction to Shaker life as you explore the Village’s collection of Shaker furniture and artifacts. After a cider and cheese reception, dinner is served by candle light with recipes from The Best of Shaker Cooking by Amy Bess Miller. For more information, visit HancockShakerVillage.org.

The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) is the state agency dedicated to promoting Massachusetts as a leisure-travel destination. An integral part of the state’s economy, tourism generates close to $1 billion in state and local taxes and $16.9 billion in travel related expenditures, supporting 124,700 in-state jobs. massvacation.com

September 20, 2013
Autumnal Equinox Celebration at Well Within

Grab a friend and join Well Within on Sunday, September 22nd from 1-4 pm as we celebrate the autumnal equinox with an open house at Well Within.

Drop in anytime during the open house to sample delicious paleo friendly hors d’oeuvres that highlight the foods of fall and experience equinox themed mini-treatments including acupuncture, massage, reiki and more.

Click HERE to learn more!

September 18, 2013
Meet Newton Alderman Deb Crossley this Sunday!

Representative Kay and Nasir Khan, School Committee Member Diana Fisher Gomberg, Carol and Ken Krems, Joan McGrath, and former Mayor Thomas B. Concannon invite you for Coffee, Snacks & Conversation with Alderman Deb Crossley, Candidate for Re-Election for Alderman-at-Large

Sunday, September 15, 2013
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

at the home of
Kay and Nasir Khan
18 St. Mary’s Street
Newton, MA 02462

RSVP requested but not required Kay Khan at 617-527-1451 or kaykhan7@gmail.com

September 13, 2013
The Farmhouse to Benefit Family Equality Council

Join us on the evening of Tuesday, September 17 at 6:30pm for a special seven-course dinner with wine pairing at The Farmhouse Restaurant in Needham, Mass to benefit Family Equality Council, the nation’s leading advocate for the 3 million parents in the US who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and their 6 million children.

Family Equality Council is changing attitudes and policies to ensure that all families are respected, loved, and celebrated – including families with parents who are LGBT.

Tickets for the event are $150 per person and space is limited. For more information or to purchase your tickets go to www.familyequality.org/farmhouse.

Any questions, please contact Abby Thorp at 617-502-8708 or athorp@familyequality.org.

September 10, 2013
Newton Election Candidates to Debate

The City of Newton will hold a municipal election this Fall for the offices of Mayor, Board of Aldermen and School Committee. A preliminary election is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 for the offices of Ward Alderman, Ward One and Mayor. In collaboration with the Newton Chapter of the League of Women Voters, NewTV is producing a series of debates through the preliminary and general elections.

Here is the Mayoral Debate.

Tune in on Thursday, September 12 at 7pm for LIVE debate coverage featuring the four mayoral candidates — Alderman Ted Hess-Mahan, Tom Sheff, Jackie Gauvreau Sequeira and Mayor Setti Warren — on NewTV’s Government Channel (Comcast 9, RCN 13, Verizon 33) and streamed online on NewTV’s website.

Viewers are encouraged to post their questions for the candidates to info@lwvnewton.org, or the evening of the event on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/NewTV) and Twitter: @New_TV.

Ward 2 Ward Alderman and Ward 5 Alderman At Large is taking place this coming Thursday, Oct 3

Ward Alderman, Ward One – Thursday, August 29, 2013, 7:00 pm

Office of Mayor – Thursday, September 12, 2013, 7:00 pm

Viewers are encouraged to take part in the debate by submitting questions for the candidates via Facebook, Twitter and via email at info@lwvnewton.org

September 9, 2013
Hammond Pond Newton Rock Climbing Event

One Day Escape (Part II)

The Boston Rock Gym Offers Second Date for Sold Out One Day Outdoor Climbing Escape

WHAT:              Due to the overwhelming success of its first one day escape, Boston Rock Gym is offering locals a second opportunity to get out and experience the city on Saturday, September 28, 2013 with its One Day Escape (Part II) in partnership with the soon to open Cook Restaurant.

Climbers will meet at the scenic Hammond Pond, located in Newton, MA(just a short T-ride away for all the city dwellers) at 9:00AM where they’ll meet their climbing group and expert outdoor instructor for a one-of-a-kind day outdoors. The group will learn all of the basics of outdoor rock climbing including tying knots, appropriate climbing gear, proper climbing and rappelling techniques before they head out on the rocks and begin to climb.

Following the introduction class, the group will enjoy a gourmet picnic-style lunch from the much anticipated second restaurant of Chef Paul Turano, “Cook,” located in Newton, MA. Whether an experienced indoor climber or someone just looking for a fun, this all-inclusive outdoor excursion is only $65 per person and has something for everyone!

WHERE:           Hammond Pond, Hammond Pond Parkway, Newton, MA 02467. Class meets in parking lot by MDC sign.

WHEN:             Saturday, September 28^th, 2013 from 9:00AM to 3:00PM

COST:              $65 per person. Bagged lunch and all equipment is included.

RSVP:              Pre-registration is necessary and can be done by calling the Boston Rock Gym at (781) 935-7325.

About Boston Rock Gym:

The Boston Rock Gym is New England’s premier indoor rock gym, offering the best in climbing terrain and instruction at their state-of-the-art rock gym located just outside of Boston in Woburn, Massachusetts. The second oldest rock gym in the United States, Boston Rock Gym offers group and individual lessons, technique classes for beginner to advanced climbers, various levels of membership, climbing competitions, outdoor excursions, equipment demos, youth programs, team building, corporate and special events, birthday parties and gift certificates. An industry leader in certified instructors and outdoor educators, the Boston Rock Gym staff helped to pioneer the Rock Wall Instructor Certification Course with The Climbing Wall Association and The American Mountain Guide Association, and nearly all team members are certified Rock Wall Instructors. The Boston Rock Gym is located at 78 Olympia Avenue Woburn, MA 01801. Hours are Monday-Friday: 12PM to 10PM, Saturday: 10AM to 10PM and Sunday: 10AM to 6PM. For more information call (781) 935-7325 or visi twww.bostonrockgym.com.

September 5, 2013
Running Strong: Free Workshop for Athletes

Newton-Wellesley Hospital, an official medical provider of the Boston Marathon, is sponsorsing a series of FREE workshops, lectures and clinics geared to runners of all levels to help athletes avoid injury and maximize performance.

Running Strong

Wednesday, September 18 • 6:30 pm

Newton-Wellesley Hospital • Shipley Auditorium

2014 Washington Street • Newton, MA

Couch to 5K and beyond

6:30-7:15 pm

Presented by Dan Graovac, Owner and Head Coach of Gforce Multisport. Do you want to start running? Are you getting ready for your first race? Do you want to improve your performance? If so, this presentation will provide beginner and intermediate runners with the tools to develop a program for a sound running foundation. Learn tips on developing smoother and more efficient running and get help with meeting your training goals.

A Quick Guide to Preventing Common Injuries

7:15-8:00pm

Presented by Tess Townsend, Physical Therapist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. No matter how many years you have run, your mileage or terrain, minor running injuries are bound to curb your running at least once. Learn about common running injuries, simple ways to assess your risk and the prehab exercises you can do to avoid letting a little twinge turn into a big problem.

Registration is required. To reserve your seat for this free workshop, email carefinder@partners.org or call 617-243-6383.

September 3, 2013
Free Admission to The Discovery Museums August 30

The Highland Street Foundation Provides Free Admission to

The Discovery Museums on August 30, 2013

as part of the 5^th Annual Free Fun Fridays Program

(Newton, MA) – The Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays program will offer free admission to The Discovery Museums on Friday, August 30, 2013. This year, a record-breaking 60 venues are participating in Free Fun Fridays, with six cultural venues open free-of-charge each Friday this summer. Free Fun Fridays is a 10-week program, which runs from June 28 – August 30. This is the fifth year of the program.

Who:                     Any individual or family is invited to attend. (Due to expected crowds, large groups cannot be accommodated on this day. Please contact The Discovery Museums directly at (978) 264-4200 with questions.)

What:                   Free Fun Fridays, the annual summer program that opens the doors to some of Massachusetts’ best cultural venues at no cost to visitors.

When:                 9:00am – 8:30pm; Friday, August 30, 2013

Where:               The Discovery Museums

177 Main Street, Acton, MA

From 10:00am – 7:00pm, the Museums will offer participatory outdoor programs involving paint, yarn, dirt, paper, face paints, bubbles, and more in the event that there is a wait to be admitted to the museums.

In addition, The Discovery Museums will host will host The U.Fund Dreams Tour from the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), the Commonwealth’s college financing expert, and Fidelity Investments.® Visitors may enter for a chance to win $10,000 for their child’s college education! Kids will have the opportunity to spin the prize wheel for fun giveaways and participate in photo activities.

For more information about Free Fun Fridays, visit: http://www.highlandstreet.org/programs/free-fun-fridays-2.html and http://discoverymuseums.org/

August 21, 2013
New Art Center Fundraiser Ball

Party Packs & Tickets are selling quickly. Don’t miss the chance to celebrate art, support the New Art Center and party like it’s 1985!!

What: New Art Center Arts Ball Remixed

When: October 17th, Saturday 7:30-11:30 pm

Wear: Music inspired by the rhythm of the 1980s. Dancing shoes and clothing from the 80s highly recommended!

Who: Bring your party to the party! Buy a discounted pack of ten tickets for $1,000. Each party pack includes gifts to get the party going. Party Pack deadline is September 15th. (Individual Tickets – $125)

Click here for Event Information and Registration.

August 9, 2013