Do the winter blues have you feeling down? Newton will have a fix for that later this month.
Newton Community Pride is hosting its third annual WinterFEST on Saturday, Jan. 27, and Sunday, Jan. 28. WinterFEST events—which are mostly outdoors, so dress accordingly—will be held in Cold Spring Park, Newton Highlands, Newton Centre and Newtonville.
“WinterFEST is back this season for a weekend of free and accessible family entertainment and exciting winter themed programming for all to enjoy,” NCP Executive Director Blair Lesser Sullivan said. “Our end of January festival has become a calendar highlight and we are thrilled to be bringing it to the community for a third year. This year’s event includes even more activities as well as a new venue, New Art Center.”
Here’s a rundown of the planned events:
Saturday, Jan. 27
At 10 a.m., the Newton Conservators and Olaf from the film “Frozen” for a family- and dog-friendly winter walk around the 1.5-mile wooded trail of Cold Spring Park. Dogs must be leashed. Participants are asked to meet at 10 a.m. at the Beacon Street entrance and then go left to the trail entrance near the athletics fields. Free hot chocolate will be served after the walk.
From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., NCP and Hyde Community Center will host a Community Soup Social at the Hyde Playground. Local restaurants will provide hot bowls of soup to keep guests warm while the Timba Messengers perform. There will also be hot chocolate and cookies, glow-in-the-dark hula hoops, public art by Brighter Ignited, Olaf from the film “Frozen” and a visit from Officer Leo, Newton’s community resource dog.
Sunday, Jan. 28
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., NCP will host live entertainment on the Newton Centre Village Green, featuring Elsa from the film “Frozen,” the ZOVA Quartet, Newton North’s Melocotones and Northern Lights acapella groups, BC’s B.E.A.T.S, a Lion Dance presented by Wu An Martial Arts and an Indigenous performance by Tokalli Macehualli. There will also be ice sculpting demonstrations, a visit from the Roaming Snowballogists, a chance to paint a plow truck with the Newton DPW, a Winter Pop-up Market and more. NCP and Welcome Home will have a winter blanket collection drive on the Newton Centre Green. You can bring new or gently used full, queen, or king blankets—without any rips or stains—and drop off at the Welcome Home table during WinterFEST hours.
The Village Bank is the 2024 WinterFEST Presenting Sponsor.
For more information, visit newtoncommunitypride.org/winterfest.