May 2019
Culture & Art Blooms in the District!
Our event season began with the Annual Fundraiser "An Evening of Culture" which highlighted the amazing culture in our own community. Featuring the local Sutherland Pipe Band, Irish Step Dance, Flamenco, Tango and the Natick Drum Circle, just to name a few. It was an electric night of fun and entertainment!

In the months ahead there are many events to choose from and always something to do, see or learn!

We've featured a few below but visit our website for a full listing at:   natickcenter.org.
Students of the Arambhik School of Dance perform a classical Indian dance, Kathak, at an Evening of Culture on April 6th.
ArtWeek Events
The Natick Center Cultural District is a proud partner of ArtWeek, bringing many new and exciting events to town. Look for events at local businesses such as:

Agostino's Restaurant & Bar will host local artist Jason Cheeseman-Meyer and have your portrait created by him just for you on Thursday, 5/2: 6:00 - 8:00 pm. https://calendar.artweekma.org/Detail/603

Paint This! on May 2nd from 6-9:00 pm at dates and olives on Main Street: https://calendar.artweekma.org/Detail/402 .

Young or Old, Singing Lifts You, Heart & Soul
Friday, 5/3 - 06:30 PM : 08:00 PM with the Golden Tones Chorus and Natick High School students. https://calendar.artweekma.org/Detail/64

Smiling Faces Outdoor Mosaic Mural Installation
Learn about the creation of "Smiling Faces," a 12'H x 54"W public art mosaic that will be installed during ArtWeek! The mosaic was designed by Natick artists Carol Krentzman and Amy Robinson Steinmetz. Each day during installation, Carol will give a short talk about the process at 11:30 am. After the talk, you are invited to stay and watch as the installation progresses. Note that this event is weather dependent.

Friday, 5/3 - 09:00 AM : 03:00 PM
Saturday, 5/4 - 09:00 AM : 03:00 PM
Sunday, 5/5 - 10:00 AM : 02:00 PM

Full schedule of ArtWeek events can be seen HERE!
Portrait drawing with artist Jason Cheeseman-Meyer at Agostino's on
May 2nd from 6-8:00 pm.
Paint This! on May 2nd from 6-9:00 pm at Dates and Olives  on Main Street.
Smiling Faces Outdoor Mosaic Mural Installation on 5/3 - 5/5. View more HERE .
Look for Natick's Tunnel of Love to appear over the pedestrian bridge at the T-station
 by the end of May and w hat a colorful way to welcome people into our town!
Tunnel of Love
Natick's Tunnel of Love is an exciting public art project brought to us by the Morse Institute Library (MIL) Stitchers that will consist of a floral arbor made of colorful knitted/crocheted flowers! The frame will be attached to the railroad ties bordering the interior rails of the MBTA pedestrian bridge in Natick Center creating a one-of-a-kind gateway into town!

They anticipate the need for 400-500 crocheted flowers of all sizes to cover the arbor and look to YOU for assistance in creating them! Knit or crochet a flower, any size and any patter, knitted or crochets. (Please only use acrylic yarn.) Patterns and some yarn will be available at the Morse Library and flowers can be dropped off there c/o the MIL Knitters.

Saturday, May 4, 11:00 AM - 1:00 pm the MIL Stitchers will be stitching at the Morse Institute Library. (This will be the last day of group stitching and last day to give us your artwork!)
Walnut Hill Walking Tours
Discover the stories of the Walnut Hill neighborhood just steps from Natick Center on May 11 from 10:30-12:00 pm. Join local historian Vincent Vittoria for a walking tour of Natick's historic Walnut Hill neighborhood. In the 90-minute walk, you'll learn about the people, historic mansions, and interesting stories that give Walnut Hill its fascinating history.

This tour is FREE and open the public.
Send any questions about the tour to [email protected].
Discover the stories of this neighborhood just Walnut Hill on May 11 from 10:30-12:00 pm.
On May 18th from 2-4:00 pm it's Holi Festival at the
Fisk United Memorial Methodist Church
at 106 Walnut Street
Holi Festival
On May 18th from 2-4:00 pm celebrate the spirit of multi-culturalism of our town with Holi, the festival of colors! Holi (/holi/; Sanskrit: होली Holi) is a spring festival celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, also known as the "festival of colors" or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships.

There will be eco-friendly dry powdered color available for all, Bollywood music, and delicious Indian food for purchase.

This is a FREE event (with the exception of the food.) Held at the Fisk United Memorial Methodist Church at 106 Walnut Street.

Rain Date May 19th from 2-4:00 pm
Farmers Market
The Natick Farmers Market will host it's opening day on the common on May 11th!

Held every Saturday year-round from 9:00-1:00 pm. It features local farms with fresh fruit, vegetables, local vendors with bread, bagels, pastries, unique crafts and more!

Please visit  natickfarmersmarket.com   for more information and a weekly list of vendors.
The market will move from the Common St.
Spiritual Center to the common on May 11th!
NCC Annual Awards
Ceremony
The Natick Cultural Council would like to announce their annual awards evening. Held at The Center for the Arts in Natick (TCAN) on Wednesday May 15th. Doors open at 6:30, performances start at 7pm.

In addition to recognizing all 2019 grantees, several of our winners will perform or present: Eve Costarelli, Carol Krentzman, the Natick Historical Society, the Metrowest Symphony Orchestra, and Smitha Radhakrishnan.

This is a free, family-friendly event and all are welcome. Light refreshments served. Come see a few of our local artistic gems!
Call to Artists
The Natick Center Cultural District and the Town of Natick are excited to announce the 2nd "Call for Creatives" to propose public works of art and design in Natick Center. 

Selected finalists will receive an award of $500 for design concepts and up to an additional $1,500 for fabricating and installing selected proposals (the maximum award granted will be $2,000 for design, fabrication and installation of a selected concept).

The deadline to apply is May 13th, 2019 at 12:00 pm . Finalists will be selected by the end of June. Projects must be installed by September 27, 2019. Please visit HERE for all the details and instructions for submitting to the Call.
The Clootie Tree featured as one of the "For the Love of Natick" temporary art installations.
Women of Natick and Ponkapoag: Untold History of Praying Towns on May 30th at 7:00 pm
Natick Historical Society
Women of Natick and Ponkapoag: Untold History of Praying Towns on May 30th at 7:00 pm

Join Kristen Wyman of the Natick Nipmuc Tribe and Elizabeth Solomon of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag for a conversation about the development of praying towns in 17th-century New England and how missionary work influenced national Indian policy and continues to perpetuate a myth of Indian extinction today.

This event is supported by the Wellesley Bank Charitable Foundation and is part of the “Crossing Borders” series, a collaboration between Historic Newton, the Natick Historical Society, the Needham History Center & Museum, and the Wellesley Historical Society.

It is FREE and open to the public.

Natick Center Cultural District
20 Main St., Suite 208
 Natick, MA 01760 - 508-650-8848
Check out our Events Calendar at our website for information on Natick Center activities and information!

Also visit the business directory for downtown information on local merchants,
art classes, organizations and much more!