Needham Local

Sunday Salon: “American Eldercide and Ageism Today”
2025-12-07 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Needham Public Library Community Room, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494, United States
The Friends of the Needham Public Library present:
A Fresh Voice from the Harlem Renaissance: Dorothy Peterson
Wellesley College professor Octavio Gonzalez will celebrate the Harlem Renaissance of 100 years ago through the lens of educator/translator Dorothy R. Peterson, an important figure whose legacy has been overshadowed by other luminaries. Peterson was a close friend of novelist Nella Larsen, as well as poet Langston Hughes, with whom Peterson collaborated on many translations from the Spanish to the English. Peterson also introduced Hughes to major Puerto Rican poets of the era, including Nicolás Guillén, with whom Hughes developed a close relationship as fellow poets. Professor Gonzalez will present other aspects of Peterson’s life, including her lifelong work as a teacher and educator as well as her final years as an expatriate in Spain. In the final decades of her career, Peterson devoted herself to archiving the manuscripts and ephemera of the Harlem Renaissance, ensuring the continuity of that period into the present, by curating and helping to promote the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection of African-American Arts and Letters at Yale University. This Collection is where Peterson’s own papers are found.
Professor González is the Barbara Morris Caspersen Associate Professor of Humanities and an Associate Professor of English & Creative Writing at Wellesley College. He is the President of the Modernist Studies Association and on the editorial board of the Queer Feminist Maternities Book Series.
This Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Needham Public Library. Registration is required, as we have a current capacity limit of 108.
***IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION E-MAIL AFTER REGISTERING, PLEASE CALL THE REFERENCE DEPARTMENT (781-455-7559 X2) TO CHECK REGISTRATION STATUS***

Holiday Sale & Book Signing
2025-12-07 10:00 - 15:00 | Needham History Center & Museum, 1147 Central Ave., Needham, MA, 02492, United States
Do your holiday shopping while enjoying refreshments, music, and exhibits! We have unique Needham merchandise – gifts for everyone on your list! (You know it’s not too early to start…)
And check out our Heirloom Shop for serveware, barware, and vintage table pieces to decorate your home and dress up your holiday table. Here is your big chance to pick up that extra set of matching glasses before the guests arrive!
Gloria will also be on hand to sign her new book, All Roads Lead to Needham. Wow! So much to do, all in one place!

Paul Winter's Winter Solstice Celebration
2025-12-06 19:30 - 22:00 | Powers Hall at Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Ave., Needham, MA, 02492, United States
Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice Celebration, featuring The Paul Winter Consort.
With Paul Winter, soprano sax; Eugene Friesen, cello; Brazilian pianist Henrique Eisenmann; Bulgarian bassist Peter Slavov; German percussionist Bertram Lehmann; organist Tim Brumfield; and beloved vocalist Theresa Thomason.

Holiday Boutique at the Needham Community Council
2025-12-06 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-05 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-04 10:00 - 18:00 | MA
The Needham Community Council’s Holiday Boutique Sale will run from Thursday, December 4th through Saturday, December 6th. There are special seasonal items for December holidays and New Year’s Eve as well as holiday clothing, jewelry, and beautiful serving pieces for your holiday tables. Proceeds from the Holiday Boutique help fund Council programs throughout the year such as the food pantry, Council Care Rides, Tech & Tutors program, and the English Language Learning program. Holiday Boutique hours are Thursday, December 4th from 10AM – 6PM, Friday, December 5th from 10AM to 4PM and Saturday, December 6th from 10AM – 2PM. The sale will be held at the Council offices at 570 Hillside Avenue. For more information, please call the Council offices at 781 444 2415, email office@needhamcouncil.org or visit www.needhamcouncil.org.

Annual Holiday Wreath and Arrangement Sale
2025-12-06 09:00 - 13:00 | Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, 02492
The Needham Garden Club will host its annual Holiday Wreath and Arrangement Sale on Saturday, December 6th from 9 – 1 in the Fellowship Hall of the Needham Congregational Church (1154 Great Plain Avenue, Needham). The sale will feature hand-crafted wreaths and a wide variety of creative arrangements for the holidays.
Parking for the event is in the rear of the building and the entrance to the sale is on Linden Street across from the Post Office.
Proceeds from the sale help sponsor educational programs in horticulture and floral design at the Needham Library, Garden Therapy sessions at local assisted living and nursing homes, a college scholarship for a Needham Senior planning to study biology, horticulture, conservation or environmental science and the planting and maintenance of community garden spaces around town.

Needham Street Design Forum
2025-12-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Needham Town Hall – Powers Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492, United States
The Town of Needham is embarking on an initiative to develop a Street Design Guide.
The Street Design Guide will:
• Translate the Town’s Complete Streets goals into everyday design practice
• Establish clear, consistent design features based on road usage and context
• Integrate internal standards with state and federal best practices
• Recommend new policies that will support Town’s transportation goals
• Improve transparency and communication with residents about how roadway infrastructure is designed
Join the Mobility Planning & Coordination Committee and the Department of Public Works at a Hybrid Public Forum to learn more about the Street Design Guide where community members are invited to share ideas and help guide the future of Needham’s streets.
The Forum will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd from 7-9 pm in Powers Hall in Needham Town Hall, via Zoom*, and live streamed on The Needham Channel.
*Zoom link: https://needham-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/81437464537?pwd=[REDACTED]

Needham Planning Board
2025-12-02 19:00 - 23:00 | Public Services Administration Building, 500 Dedham Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492, United States
The Needham Planning Board meets for its regular session at the Public Service Administration Building at 500 Dedham Avenue. Due to multiple simultaneous meetings, the Needham Channel will not be providing coverage. However, the Planning Board holds their sessions in a hybrid manner, so live coverage will be available online through Zoom. Look for the Needham Channel to subsequently air and stream the meeting through the Municipal Channel, HD Channel, at needhamchannel.org, and through its free Roku App.

School Committee Meeting
2025-12-02 18:30 - 21:00 | Broadmeadow School Performance Center, 120 Broad Meadow Rd, Needham, 02492
The Needham School Committee will hold three meetings this month. For the first of its regular sessions at the Broadmeadow School Performance Center, the Needham Channel will be recording this event and airing it LIVE on the Needham Education Channel and HD Channnel. The School Committee meeting will subsequently play back on the Needham Channel Education, Municipal and HD Channels the following day. The meeting will also be available for streaming at www.needhamchannel.org and on the Needham Channel’s free Roku app. Agendas are available typically online the Friday prior to the meeting.

Handmade Greeting Cards with Vidya Shyamsundar
2025-12-02 18:30 - 20:30 | Needham Public Library, 1132 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492, United States
For Needham Art Association’s December program, artist and NAA member Vidya Shyamsundar will lead us in a joyful mixed-media art activity. Explore the playful process of gelli printing by rolling acrylic paint onto a Gelli plate and adding texture and patterns with hand-cut stencils, stamps, and found objects. Then, collage your unique prints and embellish them with thoughtful messages or materials such as beads, mosaic pieces, or decorative stones to create your very own one-of-a-kind holiday greeting cards.

This event is free and open to the public. All materials and supplies will be provided — just bring your holiday spirit and creativity!

Needham Select Board
2025-12-02 18:00 - 22:00 | Select Board Chambers at Town Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492, United States
In the month of December, the Select Board have altered their usual dates for their meetings to accommodate the winter holidays. The Needham Channel will be covering this meeting live on their Municipal Channel. This Select Board session will also be available through the Town’s Zoom Meeting link, and streaming on the Needham Channel website and Roku app.

Needham Community Theatre presents "Annie"
2025-11-30 14:00 - 17:30, 2025-11-29 14:00 - 17:30, 2025-11-23 20:00 - 22:30, 2025-11-23 14:00 - 17:30, 2025-11-22 14:00 - 17:30, 2025-11-21 20:00 - 22:30 | Newman Elementary School Auditorium, 1155 Central Ave., Needham, 02492
Needham Community Theatre is presenting ANNIE directed and choreographed by Marianne Lonati, music directed by Alan Rodi, and produced by Heather Daley, Naomi Goldman and Nina Barzilay. Performances at the at Newman Elementary School Auditorium, 1155 Central Avenue, in Needham, November 21-30, 2025.
ANNIE is a musical about a spunky orphan girl in 1930s New York City who is adopted by the billionaire Oliver Warbucks, while also trying to avoid the cruel orphanage mistress, Miss Hannigan, and her accomplices. The story, based on the “Little Orphan Annie”, comic strip, follows Annie as she goes from a hard knock life in the orphanage to finding a new family with Warbucks, his assistant Grace Farrell, and her dog Sandy. ANNIE is a musical filled with love, acceptance and courage, a classic must-see for the whole family ages 4 and up!
There are many restaurants and pubs in the Needham area and some theatergoers enjoy a refreshment before or after the show.
The NCT production of ANNIE is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)

Needham Holiday Raffle 2025
2025-11-28 10:00 - 2025-12-31 15:00 | MA
Get ready for some festive fun, Needham! Event coordinators Tin Rabbit and Proud Mary are thrilled to announce the return of the Needham Holiday Raffle, and this year, it’s bigger and better than ever with 15 additional businesses joining in on the merriment! Now, we have a total of 41 fantastic local spots for you to visit and support.
A huge shout-out goes to our amazing sponsors, Copley Motor Cars and Needham Bank.
To join the holiday hustle, grab a flyer from any participating business and start collecting your stamps. Here’s how it works: collect just 3 stamps for 1 entry into the raffle and 6 stamps for 2 entries—up to 2 entries max per person, please! For each $35.00 you spend, you’ll earn a stamp, but remember, those stamps must come from different businesses to count! Mark your calendars—the raffle runs from November 28th to December 31st, and we’ll announce the lucky winners on January 10th, 2026, via email, phone, or your favorite social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
Let the holiday spirit and local shopping begin! 🎉 Enjoy free street parking!!
LIST OF PARTICIPATING BUSSINESSES
Beauty Muse, Bagel’s Best, Cook Restaurant, Shop Micki, Pura Vida, Tin Rabbit, French Press, Capella Restaurant, Fresco, Proud Mary, Needham Center Fine Wines, Learning Express, The James, Hearthstone Home, Needham Florist, Michelson’s Shoes, Sky Candle, W.O.W., Barre 3, Hearth Pizzeria, The Farm House, The Common Room, Blue Lotus Healing Arts, Little Spoon, Sweet Basil, 2nd Hand Rose, Wave Medical Aesthetics, A New Leaf, Needham House of Pizza, Closet Exchange, Needham Garden and Hardware, Hazel’s Bakery, Treat Cupcake Bar, Conrad’s Restaurant, Cookie Monstah, Needham Wine and Spirits, Hungry Coyote, Vinodivino, Volante Farms, Sweet Tomatoes Pizza, Reveler Beverage Co.

Needham Select Board
2025-11-25 18:00 - 22:00 | Needham Town Hall – Powers Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492, United States
The Select Board return to their usual day, time and venue for their second session of the month. The Needham Channel will be covering this meeting live on their HD Channel and on the Municipal Channel. This Select Board session will also be available through the Town’s Zoom Meeting link, and streaming on the Needham Channel website and Roku app.

Bonfire 2025
2025-11-25 17:30 - 19:00 | MA
Bonfire 2025 is a community event where there is a lot of food, a big fire, and a few performances from the Needham Dance and Cheer teams, as well as the Bomb squad. Throughout the night children will have the opportunity to meet some of the Needham High School football players.

Needham Zoning Board of Appeals
2025-11-20 19:30 - 23:00 | Public Services Administration Building, 500 Dedham Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492, United States
The Needham Zoning Board of Appeals will meet for their regular monthly session. The location of this meeting is the Charles River Room of the Public Services Administration Building at 500 Dedham Avenue. The Needham Channel will be covering this meeting live on their Municipal Channel and HD Channel. The session will also be available through the Town’s Zoom Meeting link, and streaming on demand the following day on the Needham Channel website and Roku app.

Needham Planning Board
2025-11-19 19:00 - 23:00 | Public Services Administration Building, 500 Dedham Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492, United States
The Needham Planning Board is meeting at unusual times this month due to the addition of several community meetings. Due to this, the Needham Channel will not be providing coverage for its regular sessions. However, the Planning Board will be holding their sessions in a hybrid manner, so live coverage will be available online. Look for the Needham Channel to subsequently air and stream the meeting through the Municipal Channel, HD Channel, at needhamchannel.org, and through its free Roku App.

School Committee Meeting
2025-11-18 18:30 - 21:00 | Broadmeadow School Performance Center, 120 Broad Meadow Rd, Needham, 02492
The Needham School Committee will hold meet for its regular session at the Broadmeadow School Performance Center. The Needham Channel will be recording this event and airing it LIVE on the Needham Education Channel only, due to the Large House Community Meeting scheduled for this evening. The School Committee meeting will subsequently play back on the Needham Channel Education, Municipal and HD Channels the following day. The meeting will also be available for streaming at www.needhamchannel.org and on the Needham Channel’s free Roku app. Agendas are available typically online the Friday prior to the meeting.

Winter Wow! Beautiful Containers for the Colder Months
2025-11-18 09:30 - 11:00, 2025-11-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Needham Public Library Community Room, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494, United States
Needham Public Library
As winter approaches it doesn’t mean window boxes or containers need to be filled with skeletons of long-dead plants. Deborah Trickett, of the Captured Garden will share and entertain us with creative ideas to carry you through the holidays to spring.

Needham Open Studios Art Exhibit & Opening Reception
2025-11-16 11:00 - 14:00 | Christ Episcopal Church, 1132 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494, United States
Sunday, November 16th
11am – 2pm
Community Art Gallery, Christ Church
1132 Highland Avenue
Holiday Sale and Opening Reception, with Orginal Art and Fine Crafts. The Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm, and Sundays from 9am to 12pm. A portion of the sales will be donated to the Needham Community Council.

A Joyful Call for Unity: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 Brings Together Our Local Communities
2025-11-15 19:30 - 22:00 | Trinity Chapel, Boston College, 885 Centre Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459, United States
This coming weekend, the New Philharmonia Orchestra invites you to experience one of music’s most powerful celebrations of humanity—Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, performed live in the heart of Newton.
Few works speak so directly to the spirit of community as the Ninth Symphony. Beethoven’s visionary setting of Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” proclaims, “All men become brothers,” a message that transcends time, culture, and language. In an age when connection and compassion are more vital than ever, the New Phil’s performance brings this call for unity to life—right here among our neighbors. The orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Jorge Soto, joins forces with local choirs and vocal soloists. Together, they embody the orchestra’s motto, “Music for All,” blending professional artistry with the warmth and diversity of our communities. The City of Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller will deliver an opening speech at 7:30 pm Saturday, November 15th.

Pollard Middle School Project: Open House — Tours and Q&A
2025-11-15 09:00 - 10:30 | Pollard School, Needham, MA, 02492, United States
Community members are invited to Pollard Middle School (200 Harris Avenue) for an open house where you can tour the school and ask questions. This is a great opportunity to see the current conditions at Pollard and learn about the goals for the building project. Children are welcome to attend, and on-site childcare will be available.

A Conversation with Needham's New Town Manager Katie King
2025-11-13 19:30 - 20:45 | Needham Public Library Community Room, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494, United States
Join the League of Women Voters of Needham’s Fall Forum and meet Katie King, Needham’s new Town Manager, on Thursday, November 13 at 7:30 pm in the Community Room at the Needham Public Library. League member Vicki Krupp will interview Ms. King, followed by audience questions.
Katie King is only the second Town Manager to serve Needham in its history. The Select Board appoints the Town Manager as the CEO for the Town. Come meet Ms. King and hear what she has to say about her new role, plans, etc.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email president@lwv-needham.org.
