The Natick Center Cultural District

Natick Porchfest 2025
2025-09-20 14:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Natick Porchfest
Saturday, September 20, 2025, 2:00-6:00 PM
We will stop accepting applications on Friday, September 12, 2025.

If you have a band and want to play during Natick Center Porchfest, fill out this form.
If you have a porch near Natick Center and would like to host bands during Natick Center Porchfest, fill out this form.
Check out the street list below to see which neighborhoods have been selected:
Area #1: Washington St., Walnut St., Harvard St., Franklin St., Florence St., David Drive.
Area #2: Grant St., Wilson St., Sheridan St., Sherman St., Avon St., Garfield St., Chester St., Morse St.
Area #3: Pond St., Maple St., Plain St., Park St., Western Ave., Floral Ave., Waban St.
Note: Additional Areas/Locations will be considered based on the volume of interest and availability of artists.

For a full listing of porches and bands, visit the website here.

It is generously sponsored by Music Go Round Boston located on Rt. 9 in Natick.
Natick Center Porchfest will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 2:00-6:00 PM on the porches of generous hosts, who are sharing their porches and lawns with neighbors and the community around Natick Center!
The rain date is the following day (September 21) from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Email us at natickporchfest@gmail.com.
This event is organized by Natick Center Associates and a fantastic team of energetic community volunteers.

Natick Farmers Market
2025-09-20 09:00 - 13:00, 2025-09-13 09:00 - 13:00, 2025-09-06 09:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-30 09:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-23 09:00 - 13:00 | Natick Common
The Natick Farmers Market is a year-round program of the Natick Center Cultural District and is open every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.

Visit natickfarmersmarket.org for current location and vendors.
Spring and Summer
Natick Town Common
The intersection of Routes 27 and 135
Natick

Fall and Winter
Common Street Spiritual Center
13 Common Street
Natick

Jammin with You
2025-09-19 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-09-05 10:30 - 11:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
Be prepared to laugh, dance, sing, and jam your way through 30 minutes of non-stop family fun at the Bacon Free Library! This performance is geared toward kids ages 1 – 7, but fun for the whole family. With modern takes on children’s classics and classic original tunes, you’ll be humming and bopping all the way home.
This program will be held outdoors on the BFL lawn, so bring a blanket or chairs. In case of rainy or cold weather (under 45 degrees), it will be rescheduled.

Atlanta Rhythm Section
2025-09-18 20:00 - 22:30 | The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
The Atlanta Rhythm Section… ARS… In the annals of rock and roll, where do they fit? They put out 15 albums of excellent original material, and consistently put on entertaining live shows-both of which helped establish a broad if not huge fan base. They had some big hits and have been a major player in the Southern Rock scene. But is that the whole story? In some circles, maybe. But for those who’ve really gotten to know their music over the years, there’s a lot more to the story.
You know Atlanta Rhythm Section from the hits So Into You, I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight, Champagne Jam, Imaginary Lover, and their session work on the original recording of Spooky made famous by the Classics IV, and later re-recorded by ARS.
ARS was paired with contemporaries Lynyrd Skynyrd as the successors to the Allman Brothers – carrying the mantle of “Southern Rock” in the late 70s. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it may have made sense at the time. But performing songs that were more musically diverse and having hits that had a softer, pop sound, the “Southern Rock” label was a mixed blessing and many of their unique musical accomplishments became lost in a genre that has lived on to this day-but never really fit ARS.
Visit: atlantarhythmsection.com

Sip & See at the Planted Collective
2025-09-18 17:30 - 20:30 | The Planted Collective, 37 S Main Street, Natick, 01760, United States
Sip and See: A Wine Night Featuring Local Makers
✨ An exclusive evening of firsts, finds, and full glasses. ✨
As the nights grow shorter and the shop fills with fresh fall magic, we’re opening our doors for a one-night-only sneak peek of our newest collection—before it ever hits the shelves.
Join us for a Sip and See, where you’ll sip delicious wine, wander through plant-filled corners, and explore a curated showcase of handmade goods by some of the most creative local makers we know:
📱 Katie May Designs🎨 Jeni LoBolita Watercolors🪞 Pane and Panic🪵 Derek Wilkinson Woodcrafting🧵 Mouseriver Crafts📼 Upcycled Life 🕯 Apothecorner🌿 Body, Stone & Soul🎁 and more surprises still to be revealed

To make the night even more special, each maker’s display will be paired with a thoughtfully chosen wine and cheese selection, bringing an extra layer of delight to your browsing experience.
🗓 Thursday, September 18📍 In-shop at Planted Collective🎟 Spots are limited—grab yours now for a cozy, creative night of wine, wonder, and early access.
This is shaping up to be our biggest event yet, and we’re thrilled to host it just in time for our upcoming one-year anniversary. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than with the community that’s helped us grow.
Choose Your Wave:
To keep things flowing and personal, the evening is divided into four entry waves. Select your arrival time when reserving:

🌿 Wave 1: 5:30 – 6:15 PM
🌿 Wave 2: 6:15 – 7:00 PM
🌿 Wave 3: 7:00 – 7:45 PM
🌿 Wave 4: 7:45 – 8:30 PM

✨ As you explore the shop, you’ll be guided by a thoughtfully curated passport that pairs each maker’s display with a hand-selected wine and cheese. Each pairing is designed to highlight the essence of their work—inviting you to slow down, savor, and connect.
We truly hope you’ll join us for this meaningful celebration of creativity, community, and the changing season.

Mixer on The Hill
2025-09-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Walnut Hill School for the Arts, 12 Highland St., Natick, MA
Mixer on The Hill
An Evening of Art, Connection & Community

Wednesday, September 17 | 6:30–8:30 PM | 21+ Event
Walnut Hill School for the Arts
Let’s kick off the season—together.
Join community leaders, creative professionals, educators, and arts supporters for an unforgettable evening blending live performances, inspiring stories, and meaningful connections—all set against the backdrop of Walnut Hill’s vibrant campus.
Your Evening Includes:

Signature drinks and seasonal bites
Immersive displays of art
Dynamic short performances from students
Exclusive season sneak peek
Meet, mingle, and network

Come see what’s next. You’ll leave inspired, connected, and ready to help champion the arts in our community—plus, you’ll receive complimentary tickets to an upcoming Walnut Hill performance.
Be Inspired. Be Connected. Be Part of the Season.
Space is Limited – reserve your spot today.

Mixer on the Hill
2025-09-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Delbridge Center
An Evening of Art, Connection & Community at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts
Let’s kick off the season—together.
Join community leaders, creative professionals, educators, and arts supporters for an unforgettable evening blending live performances, inspiring stories, and meaningful connections—all set against the backdrop of Walnut Hill’s vibrant campus.
Your Evening Includes:

Signature drinks and seasonal bites
Immersive displays of art
Dynamic short performances from students
Exclusive season sneak peek
Meet, mingle, and network

Come see what’s next.You’ll leave inspired, connected, and ready to help champion the arts in our community—plus, you’ll receive complimentary tickets to an upcoming Walnut Hill performance.
Be Inspired. Be Connected. Be Part of the Season.
Space is Limited – reserve your spot today, 21+ event.

Rotary Club of Natick's Annual Brett Conaway Cup Charity Golf Tournament
2025-09-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Sandy Burr Country Club, 103 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA, 01778, United States
The Rotary Club of Natick will host its annual Brett Conaway Cup Charity Golf Tournament on October 17th at the historic Sandy Burr Country Club.
All participants will receive a special gift, enjoy burgers and hot dogs on the course, and end the day with a festive Italian dinner. The scramble format ensures a fun, welcoming experience for golfers of all levels.
Players can enjoy contests including putting, longest drive, closest to the pin, and a hole-in-one challenge with a chance to win a Subaru.
Proceeds benefit local non-profit organizations and students in the Natick Public School District, helping to make Natick a better place to live and work.
For registration and details, visit: natickrotary.org/page/natick-rotary-golf-tournament-2025.

Robin Baratz Oil Paintings
2025-09-17 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-04 08:00 - 17:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
Robin Baratz creates oil paintings that depict her instinctive connection to natural land and water and to the people. She motors and sails to reach and capture countrysides, harbors, and cityscapes of the United States, Ireland, Scotland, Europe, and Canada on her canvas. But, no matter what the actual locales, the scenes have broad appeal, reminding us of people and places we remember fondly.
Come to the Bacon Free Library to view her work, which will be on display from August 28th through October 9th. You can also enjoy this collection of oil paintings at The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN) during the month of November.

Eilen Jewell
2025-09-12 20:00 - 22:00 | The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
Hailed as “one of America’s most intriguing, creative, and idiosyncratic voices” by American Songwriter, Jewell built her career the old-fashioned way, touring relentlessly with the kind of undeniable live show that converts the uninitiated into instant acolytes. Over the course of nearly two decades on the road, the Idaho native has crisscrossed the US, Europe, and Australia countless times, playing an endless series of headline and festival dates in addition to sharing bills with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Loretta Lynn, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, and The Blind Boys of Alabama.
Visit: eilenjewell.com

Exposure – a streaming documentary film
2025-09-12 08:00 - 17:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
Stream and enjoy the documentary Exposure. This stunning film chronicles a Muslim chaplain, a French biologist, a Qatari princess, and eight other women who pull 120-pound sledges across the fast-disappearing Arctic sea ice to become the last-ever team to reach the North Pole.
Please register to view the film. You will receive the link to screen the film on September 12th. The link will be good through September 26th.

BOTH SIDES NOW: The Music of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen
2025-09-11 20:00 - 22:00 | The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
“Two singer-songwriters sit on the edge of a cliff…” With these words, we are drawn into the world of Both Sides Now – a theatrical concert that explores the music and lives of long-time friends and one-time lovers, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Created by, and starring Robbie Schaefer and Danielle Wertz, the cabaret-style performance traverses decades alongside songs such as A Case of You, Hallelujah, Big Yellow Taxi, Suzanne, and many more. Both Sides Now is at once a piece of the 60s and 70s, and of right now — offering us a story about the messiness of being human, of lives persistently lived at the edge of growth, and of finding the courage to turn toward one another, again and again.
Robbie Schaefer
Robbie is a rabbi, singer-songwriter, and theatre/film artist. The guitarist and songwriter for the indie-folk band Eddie From Ohio has several solo releases as well, including the 2023 single Under the Sun.
Danielle Wertz
Danielle is a storyteller, collaborator, jazz musician, composer and arranger. Described as, “untarnished by the politics of music” (Jazz Music Archives) and “a masterful ballad interpreter” (New York City Jazz Record) she has rapidly gained national acclaim.
Visit: bothsidesnowshow.com

Latino Night
2025-09-10 18:00 - 21:00 | The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
Network, Learn, Celebrate!
Join us in celebrating our Hispanic and Latino community in the MetroWest. Hear from Latino entrepreneurs, business owners and experience Latino music performances.
This event celebrates our Hispanic and Latino community, but we invite everyone to attend!

Virtual: Whole Grains for Everyday with Empty Nest Kitchen
2025-09-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
Whole grains are simple to incorporate into your dinners if you know the tips and tricks to coax out maximum flavor. We’ll be preparing farro bowls and fall harvest quinoa. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out, this class offers practical skills and tasty recipes to incorporate whole grains into your daily diet. Join us to enhance your cooking repertoire and embrace the wholesome goodness of barley, farro, and oats!
This virtual program will be led by Chef Christine of The Empty Nest Kitchen and is hosted by the Bacon Free Library.
Please register to receive the meeting link.

Virtual: Author Heather Wolf Discusses the Colors of Birds – Beauty and/or Evolutionary Advantage?
2025-09-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
Join Heather Wolf, author of Find More Birds and Birding at the Bridge, as she shares her beautiful images of colorful birds. We’ll discuss the birds, their colors, and the purpose of their colorful feathers, as well as evolutionary advantages they may have because of their plumage. We hope you can join us for another great discussion!
This virtual program is brought to you by the Bacon Free Library in collaboration with a multitude of MA & NH libraries, and is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library.
Please register here for the Zoom link.
About the Author
Heather Wolf is a Brooklyn-based birder, photographer, and educator. She works with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as a web developer, teaches birding classes at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and gives walks and talks for various organizations in New York City and beyond. Heather started birding on Florida’s Gulf Coast and has been an avid eBirder ever since. In 2016, she published Birding at the Bridge: In Search of Every Bird on the Brooklyn Waterfront, her photographic journey to document every bird in her Brooklyn, New York, patch. And in 2023, she published Find More Birds: 111 Surprising Ways to Spot Birds Wherever You Are.
If you’d like to purchase a signed copy of Heather’s book, you can do so through Aesop’s Fable. In the comment section of checkout, note that you would like your book to come with a signed bookplate.

Note: This program will be recorded and a link will be sent to all registrants soon after the program. It will be available on YouTube for one month.

Instrument Petting Zoo
2025-09-06 11:00 - 12:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
The Bacon Free Library is partnering with Bach to Rock (B2R) in Wellesley to bring you this instrument petting zoo. B2R will bring a variety of musical instruments to the Bacon for 60 minutes of instrument exploration to give people of all ages a chance to learn about instruments and experience playing them. This event will be held outdoors at our picnic table.
Please stop by to try out an instrument, or two, that you’re curious about. No registration required.

Superman
2025-09-03 14:00 - 2025-09-07 16:00 | The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
“James Gunn’s new ‘Superman’ film earns a glowing five-star review, revitalizing the iconic character by embracing vulnerability, humor, and hopeful optimism.” – Tom Shone, Film Critic – The Times (UK)
Superman, DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.
When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman’s four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it’s too late?
In 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed as co-CEOs of DC Studios, a newly formed division within Warner Bros. Discovery. This is part of a larger overhaul of the DC movie and TV franchises, intended to create a more unified, cohesive cinematic universe, similar to what Marvel Studios has done with the MCU. The shift to DC Studios is a way to reset the franchise under a more strategic and creative direction, with a focus on interconnected storytelling.
Director: James Gunn
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hours 9 mins
Released: July 11, 2025
Format: DCP
Audio: 7.1 Surround
Accessibility: Z-Screen subtitles, Audio Description (headphones), Assisted Listening (headphones)
Visit: superman.com
SREENINGS:
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 | 2:00pm
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 | 7:30pm
Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 7:30pm
Saturday, September 6, 2025 | 2:00pm
Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 4:00pm

Drop-In Plein Air Art Studio
2025-08-25 13:30 - 16:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
Join Natick landscape artist Barbara Levine this summer for drop-in plein air (outdoors in natural light) painting on the grounds of the Bacon Free Library.
All levels of painters, and all mediums are welcome. Supplies will not be provided, so please bring your own equipment including: easels, paints, brushes, any solvents or mediums used, painting surfaces, paper towels, drinking water, hats, garbage bags, sunscreen and good humor.
Barbara will be on hand to offer suggestions during this recurring 2-hour program. Come to as many sessions as you like and please arrive by 1:30pm in order to have time to set up. Please register for the sessions you will be attending, so that we have an idea of how many artists to expect each week and so we may contact you if the program is canceled due to inclement weather.
This program is for adults only.
Please register in advance.

Stephen Kellogg: Old Friends Tour with Javier Colon
2025-08-23 20:00 - 22:30 | The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
A Stephen Kellogg performance is like watching Ted Lasso live. Whether he’s playing music or doing stand-up, his shows leave people inspired and restored. For more than two decades, this wordsmith, TedX speaker, stand-up comic, author, and troubadour, has delighted audiences around the world. Planet Bluegrass calls him “a first-class songwriter with a poet’s gift for fresh imagery,” and Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz says of Kellogg, “there are few people in rock n’ roll who are just so great.” He has received the Armed Forces Entertainer of the Year award and has had his work nominated for a Grammy.
Rolling Stone magazine describes his sound as “John Prine fronting the Heartbreakers.” The recent “Sit Down & Stand Up” Tour was a one-man show that opened to rave reviews from fans and critics alike, culminating in a two-night filming for a forthcoming one-hour comedy special. A mix of music, humor, and storytelling, each performance paints a unique canvas that covers the full spectrum of human emotions. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll go home with a full heart.
Blessed with a stunningly soulful voice, an uncanny songwriting talent, a charismatic personality, and a commanding stage presence, co-headliner Javier Colon has already won the attention of an international fan base that’s embraced his personally-charged, acoustic-textured blend of pop, rock, and R&B, an effortlessly distinctive style that he’s dubbed “acoustic soul”.
Visit: stephenkellogg.com javiercolon.com

2025 Multicultural Day
2025-08-23 11:00 - 14:00 | Natick Common
The Natick Center Cultural District is pleased to announce Multicultural Day on August 23 from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM on the Natick Common. This event highlights the diversity and cultures in our community.

Enjoy delicious food from Mashal’s Kitchen, Mig’s Dogs, Baha Mexican, and Kona Ice.
The Event Schedule of music and dance performances.

Visit a variety of cultural booths for fun activities and educational opportunities!

Anokh
Association of Romanians in New England
Black Lives Belong
Boston Language Hub
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA
Framingham Akikai
Horizon of Opportunities
Ming Hui Academy Boston
Morse Institute Library
Natick Health Department/Natick 180
Natick is United
Paper Fiesta
SOAR Natick
SPARK Kindness
Tins, Trunks & Trousseau
Walnut Hill School for the Arts

To be a part of Multicultural Day, please fill out this Google Form here.
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Clothing Swap
2025-08-23 10:00 - 15:00 | Common Street Spiritual Center
Bring your clean, unwanted clothes in good condition to swap with your neighbors.
If you don’t have any clothes to swap, feel free to come and get some clothes anyway.
Any clothes left over at the end of the swap will be donated. Please bring no more than one bag of clothes per person.
Event hosted by Natick is United and Mutual Aid Natick.

Jammin With You
2025-08-22 10:30 - 11:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
Be prepared to laugh, dance, sing, and jam your way through 30 minutes of non-stop family fun! This performance is geared toward kids ages 1 – 7, but fun for the whole family. With modern takes on children’s classics and classic original tunes, you’ll be humming and bopping all the way home.
This program will be held outdoors at the Bacon Free Library. If it rains, the program will be moved to the Morse Institute Library.

Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank

Matt Schofield
2025-08-21 20:00 - 22:00 | The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA, 01760, United States
British born and now US-based, Matt Schofield continues to push the frontiers and reshape the boundaries of the British Blues tradition. A multi-award winning guitar virtuoso, singer, songwriter, producer and band leader, after more than 30 years of performing, and 20 years into his solo career, Schofield’s impact as one of the most influential and distinctive guitarists of his generation is unquestionable.
Along with a storied career that has taken him and his band to nearly 30 countries worldwide comes awards, industry and critical acclaim – three time “British Blues Guitarist of the Year,” “British Blues Album of the Year,” and the first guitarist inducted into the “British Blues Awards Hall of Fame”. Mojo Magazine “Blues Album of the Year” and Guitar “Bass Magazines” Top Ten British Blues Guitarist of All Time” alongside Eric Clapton and Peter Green.
Visit: mattschofield.com

VIRTUAL: George Boutwell – The Most Consequential American Political Figure You’ve Never Heard Of
2025-08-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Bacon Free Library – 58 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 United States
Listen in as historian Jeffrey S. Boutwell discusses his new biography, Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy.
George S. Boutwell is the most consequential American political figure you’ve probably never heard of. For seven decades, George Boutwell sought to “redeem America’s promise” through racial equality, economic equity, and the humane use of American power abroad. During his career from 1839 to 1905, he was Governor of Massachusetts, served in the U.S. House and Senate, was Treasury Secretary for Ulysses Grant, and Commissioner of Internal Revenue for Abraham Lincoln, he also helped create the Republican Party in the 1850s, and challenged the efforts of Presidents McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt to annex the Philippines in 1900 following the Spanish-American war. Boutwell was instrumental in framing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, initiating the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and investigating white vigilante violence against blacks in Mississippi in the 1870s.
This virtual program will be held in collaboration with the Bacon Free Library and the Ashland Public Library. It is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library.
Please register here for the Zoom link.
