Want to see these events - and more - in a searchable format? Head to https://www.district2framingham.com/eventcal! NEW: I’m experimenting with an events chatbot + searchable table, so you can ask questions like ‘Tell me all the movie events in December.’ Still a work in progress!
Friends of Saxonville Holiday Community Mixer - Thursday, Dec. 4, 6 to 8 pm, Saxonville Mills Building Number One (2 Central Street). Mingle with neighbors and local business owners at this free event featuring complimentary refreshments, raffles, giveaways, and Saxonville merchandise for sale. Snow date Dec. 11. Hosted by Allie Keast Jewelry and CRL Promotions.
Official Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Block Party (downtown Framingham) - Friday, Dec. 5, 5 to 7:30 pm, Memorial Building Plaza and Union Avenue. The city will light a 35-foot Norway spruce donated by local residents. Also featuring Santa, free hot chocolate and cookies, live entertainment, and a sing-along. With NBC10 anchor Latoyia Edwards as MC. Free books for children, popcorn from the library, story time with author Megan Litwin, and more family activities.
Deaf Santa Claus Movie Screening - Friday, Dec. 5, doors open at 6 pm, at The Learning Center for the Deaf, Schwab Athletic Center, 848 Central St. Follow along as Deaf father Charles Graves chases his dream of becoming a professional Santa Claus. Movie premiered at the Austin Film Festival. “The film offers unique perspectives on navigating Deaf and hearing worlds in a story about family, fatherhood, and creating new traditions,” according to the event announcement. Recommended for ages 12 and up. $5 per person. Sponsored by the TLC Parents Association.
Framingham Garden Club’s Annual Holiday Greens Sale, 9 am to 5 pm Friday, Dec.5 and 10 am to noon on Saturday, Dec. 6. Wreaths, outdoor baskets, centerpieces, and more. At the Cushing Maintenance Building in Cushing Park next to the children’s playground (enter the Keefe Tech driveway on Winter Street, immediately turn left, follow signs to end of road.)
Framingham High School Annual Holiday Marketplace - Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 am to 3 pm, at Framingham High School, A Street. FHS’s biggest annual fundraiser featuring more than 75 vendors and student groups with gifts, crafts, food and more. $5 entry fee, students and kids free.
German Christmas Market at Jack’s Abby - Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7, noon to 6 pm, Jack’s Abby beer garden, 100 Clinton St. Traditional German Christmas Market featuring 12 unique vendors, mulled wine, hot hard cider, and hot chocolate. Free admission. Santa visits on Sunday 1 to 3 pm. Outdoors in heated, decorated tent in the beer garden. Market will continue the following weekend with different vendors.
Milk Jug Winter Native Flower Seed Project - Saturday, Dec. 6, 1 pm, McAuliffe Library, 746 Water St. Get a head start on next year’s garden! Bring a translucent gallon jug or use one of theirs (supplies limited) to sow winter seeds. Make planters out of gallon jugs to be placed outdoors over winter and transplant the seedling in the spring. All ages welcome.
Gingerbread Decorating (kids and families program) - Saturday, Dec. 6, 10:30 am to 11:30 am, McAuliffe Library craft room. Come and decorate some gingerbread! For ages 2+.
Arts Wayland Holiday Marketplace - Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 am to 4 pm, Wayland High School Commons, 264 Old Connecticut Path. Shop the work of more than 35 artists and artisans offering handmade items for sale including art, jewelry, pottery, photography, soaps, and silks.
Sudbury Holiday Village - Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 am to 3 pm, Fairbank Community Center at 40 Fairbank Rd. Folk art and holiday traditions from around the world, featuring folk art presentations from India, Ukraine, America, and China. Plus: origami workshop, storytelling, hands-on activities, gift market, baby animals, and a food hall. See web page for schedule. (Although this isn’t the area of Sudbury closest to District 2, it’s probably not a longer drive than heading to Keefe Tech.)
Embracing Winter: Wisdom From Traditional Chinese Philosophy & Medicine - Sunday, Dec. 7, 4 to 5:30 pm, Edwards Hall at Open Spirit, 39 Edwards St. (on the campus of Edwards Church). Yining Lu, a Harvard Divinity School student and student of Traditional Chinese Medicine, will lead a multi-sensory experience on the connection between water and winter. Featuring music, sound, touch, and taste, as well as a time for conversation.
Caroling on the Common - Sunday, Dec. 7, 4 to 6 pm, Village Hall on the Common. Framingham History Center’s annual holiday caroling event with Voices of MetroWest featuring holiday carols and hands-on holiday crafts from 4 to 6 pm. Free.
Bell Ringers Concert (Wayside Inn, Sudbury) - Sunday, Dec. 7, 3 and 5 pm, at the Martha and Mary Chapel. The Bell Ringers of the Memorial Congregational Church will be performing. Tickets $25, $15 for TWIF members.
Looking ahead: New Year’s Eve on the Cochituate Rail Trail returns for its 3rd festive, fun-filled year! The celebration will be from 4:30 to 7:30 pm Wednesday, Dec. 31 this year, featuring fire pits and lighting along the trail. Want to volunteer to help with tasks like setting up trail lighting, marking and supplying fire pit stations, helping hosts with transport and setup, being “eyes on the ground” during the event, and/or break down? Sign up to help at the NYE On The Rail Trail Volunteer Form.
Can’t wait until this upcoming week? Natick’s Holiday Lighting and Stroll is today, Sunday, Nov. 30, 3 to 5 pm. Holiday lighting has moved indoors to the Cole Center, 179 Boden Lane - including music, dancing, crafts, story time, hot chocolate, face paint and more - due to expected rain. Holiday stroll through downtown area will go on as planned.
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