Snapshots: Newtonville Village Day

newtonville9

Newtonville's Village Day featured its iconic mini-train, which carried passengers up and down Walnut Street during Newton's Village Day on Oct. 5, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Walnut Street in Newtonville was packed with crowds, vendors and family fun on Sunday for Newtonville’s Village Day, as people soaked in the summer-like weather and mingled with friends and neighbors to celebrate their community with an epic block party.

And there were candidates. Lots of candidates. With the election just a month away, those seeking to serve on the City Council and School Committee had booths all along the street welcoming voters to talk as they dodged the passing mini-train.

Newtonville has gone through some dramatic changes over the decades. According to Historic Newton, after the town (before it was incorporated into a city) built its public high school there in 1858, people started moving to that village in droves, and the village had a thriving business center by the late 19th century.

The village saw so much post-Civil War growth that in 1880, a station for a train line to and from Boston was built there.

Today, with the additions of the Austin Street development and Trio complex standing tall over a turnpike that runs through the village, Newtonville is a busy, bustling village and that train station is about to be renovated to bring it into the modern age.

Check out these photos from Newtonville’s Village Day 2025, including a couple from Newtonian Ken Sanders, who’s now taking drone photos for the Newton Beacon so you can enjoy your community from the sky.

Newton’s Village Day on Oct. 5, 2025, as seen from above via drone. Photo by Ken Sanders

Newton’s Village Day on Oct. 5, 2025, as seen from above via drone. Photo by Ken Sanders

City Councilor Josh Krintzman works his booth at Newtonville’s Village Day on Oct. 5, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Elizabeth Heilig of the West Newton Cinema Foundation and City Councilor Julia Malakie talk about upcoming cinema programming at Newton’s Village Day on Oct. 5, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Sue Cohen of NPS, left, and School Committee candidate Mali Brodt, right, engage with voters at Newton’s Village Day on Oct. 5, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Shara Ertel, owner of Fulfilled Goods in Newtonville (and soon, also in Newton Centre), works a booth at Newton’s Village Day on Oct. 5, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Left to right: City Council candidate Lisa Gordon, City Councilor Tarik Lucas and City Council candidate John Chaimanis attend Newton’s Village Day on Oct. 5, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle