Wellesley Halloween activities, 2018

October 22, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Theatre Project, Halloween party, October 27

Dana Hall School of Music Halloween Open House, October 27

The Dana Hall School of Music will hold its eighth annual Halloween Open House with musical trick-or-treating on Saturday, October 27, from 2–4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Families and children of all ages are invited to come in costume. Behind every door, there will be a different instrument to explore, from piano and violin to harp and trombone. Children can participate in a musical scavenger hunt to find each instrument along with some musical trick-or-treating. There will also be a guided “rhythm instrument petting zoo” for the kids to get a chance to make some music of their own. RSVPs are requested but not required. The School of Music is located at 103 Grove Street in Wellesley. For more information, please email [email protected] or call (781) 237-6542.

Halloween Trick or Treat Parade, October 27

This fun annual event starts and ends at Clock Tower Park. Fun and games ghoul-ore.

UU Wellesley Hills Haunted Maze

When: Saturday, Oct, 27th 11am – 1pm

Location: Near the Clock tower, in front of UU Wellesley Hills, 309 Washington Street

After the Wellesley Hills Halloween Stroll, continue the fun in our monstrously mysterious maze and then stop by our treat table to recharge! Located near the clock tower in front of UU Wellesley Hills. Ages 0-8 No charge, but donations are welcome and appreciated. For more info, go to: http://uuwellesley.org/haunted-house or email [email protected].

UU Wellesley Horrific Haunted Hallway

When: Saturday, Oct, 27th 11am – 1pm

Location: 301 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills

Teen and Tweens are invited to scare up some fun in our Horrific Haunted Hallway! $5 per youth ($10 max per family) for unlimited walkthroughs. Cider and treats available for purchase. For more info, go to: http://uuwellesley.org/haunted-house or email [email protected].

Frankenstein screenings at Wellesley Free Library:
October 31, 7pm
This showing is regarded as the definitive film version of Mary Shelley’s classic tale of tragedy and horror in which ‘Frankenstein’ made unknown character actor Boris Karloff a star and created a new icon of terror. The 1931 film’s greatness stems less from its script than from the stark but moody atmosphere created by director James Whale. Frankenstein was greeted with screams, moans, and fainting spells upon its initial release, obliging Universal to add a disclaimer in which Edward Van Sloan advises the faint of heart to leave the theater immediately. If they don’t: ‘Well…we’ve warned you.’ Join us for a viewing of this classic horror tale on Halloween night! 71 min.

You’re not really going to let your kids eat all that candy, are you?

Wellesley Dental Group will hold its 11th annual Community Candy Drive to benefit the U.S. Troops serving overseas. From November 1 – November 8, they will be collecting candy, handwritten notes and cards for our soldiers. Then on November 9 at 10am, the yearly dramatic display of all the loot will take place outside of the 5 Seaward Rd. office. Schools and organizations are invited to attend.

The goal is to teach the kids lessons in giving by encouraging them to share the extra Halloween candy with our troops oversees. The packages will be sent via CarePacks, a non-profit organization, along with oral hygiene supplies.

To schedule a candy drop-off, please call (781-237-9071) or email us ([email protected]).

Have a Halloween event we haven’t mentioned above? Email us at [email protected].

Wellesley Free Library concert: femme fuoco

October 19, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Formed at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, femme fuoco is Dorisiya Yosifova, violin; and Emilie Catlett, viola. Passionate about all the standard repertoire from baroque to contemporary, they are particularly devoted to performing and commissioning the music of female composers. Free and open to the public. Generously sponsored by the Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries.

WHEN: Sunday, October 21

TIME: 3pm

WHERE: Wellesley Free Library, Wakelin Room

Get all the spooky Wellesley Halloween happenings

October 16, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Don’t miss out on the fun. Find out about all the spooky Wellesley Halloween happenings here.

Pumpkin Fair, House Decorating Contest, Frankenstein screenings, Trick-or-Treat parade, Haunted Maze, Horrific Haunted Hallway, Cheer’oween Clinic, and what to do with all that candy.

Birth of a Movement: Film & discussion at Wellesley temple on Oct. 21

October 16, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

Temple Beth Elohim at 10 Bethel Rd., in Wellesley invites the public for a viewing this Sunday, Oct. 21 from 6:30-9pm, of the film Birth of a Movement, followed by discussion.

The documentary covers the controversy over the notoriously Ku Klux Klan-friendly blockbuster film, The Birth of A Nation, about 100 years ago. Human rights, freedom of speech and a changing media landscape will all be up for discussion following the film. Panelists include:

Dick Lehr, author, journalist, and Professor of Journalism at Boston University. Long-time Boston Globe legal affairs reporter and Spotlight team member, author of Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI and a Devil’s Deal and the 2014 book, Birth of a Movement: How Birth of a Nation Ignited the Battle for Civil Rights.
Dr. Dolita Cathcart, Associate Professor of History, Wheaton College. Scholarly interests in race, gender, class, gender and identity, and the History of the Americas and African Diaspora Studies.
Dr. Bob Bellinger, Associate Professor of History, Suffolk University; Director, Black Studies Program; Director, Clark Collection of African American Literature. Research interests include late 19^thcentury African American history, West African history and culture, and West African drum traditions.
Michael Curry, Esq., Senior Vice President of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and NAACP National Board of Directors. In 2017 he helped launch the NAACP’s inaugural “Next General Young Professional Leadership Program.” He portrays the role of William Monroe Trotter in the film Birth of a Movement.

RSVP to [email protected]

For Wellesley: a spooky book recommendation — The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

October 10, 2018 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

It’s a dangerous thing to be a witch, even when all your life it’s been kept secret. The truth will out, eventually, and when it does what are the costs? Lydia Montrose and her sisters and parents have left the city in disgrace as “…the most reviled family in Boston,” and now live in the wilds of New Oldbury. It’s a gloomy place, prone to storms, fog, and wicked winds. Suddenly, a shot may ring out. You never know in this Gothic historical fiction novel by first-time author Hester Fox.

The Witch of Willow Hall, Hester Fox — Hester Fox signs copies of The Witch of Willow Hall at Brookline Booksmith.

Set in 1882, The Witch of Willow Hall is a tale of witchcraft, tragedy, and love. Lydia knows she is merely “currency in a business transaction” when her engagement to an opportunistic cad is arranged, but when the dashing Mr. Barrett comes into her family’s life through business connections, Lydia becomes less willing to serve as a pawn. If only her older, prettier, and definitely more desperate sister wasn’t always getting in the way.

“You attract them. Some mean you harm. Prepare for what lies ahead,” warns a chilling message. There are a lot of layers in that bathroom mirror scrawl, written by heaven (or hell) only knows who. As Lydia finds out more about a Salem ancestor and what exactly has been passed down to her, things get ever spookier. I’m talking multiple ghosts, a potential poisoning, blackmail, a perhaps deadly fever, fights for honor, and fake news.

If you’re in a mother-daughter book group, or if you’re just looking for an eerie autumn read with shades of English Gothic novels try Fox’s The Witch of Willow Hall.

I caught up with the author at Brookline Booksmith, where she read from her novel and I led a question and answer session with the audience of about 40. We talked about the book of course, but also about her writing rituals (coffee houses serve as procrastination locations, real work gets done in her home office) and her inspirations. Look for Fox’s next project to be a twist on the Beauty and the Beast tale.