Halloween Happenings in Newton this Weekend

Kids can start celebrating Halloween early in Newton this weekend with Halloween parties, a fair, a concert and a haunted house.  

The is having a on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 492 Waltham St., Newton.

Kids up to 10 years old can come in costume for pumpkin, apple and cookie decorating, face painting and mask making, says Marketing and Communications Director Kim Freedman. 

One of the Halloween Fair’s biggest attractions is a mega maze made of boxes that the kids can crawl through.

“They take our entire auditorium and turn it into a crawling maze,” Freedman says.  “It’s a great way to let the little kids have a safe and fun activity when they are too young to be going out at night.”

The fair is a fundraiser for NCSC’s early childhood programs, and tickets for activities will be sold at the door for $.50 each, 12 for $5, or 25 for $10. The maze is $5 for unlimited entry.

The New Philharmonia Orchestra will be putting on a Halloween-themed “Ghosts and Goblins” and Instrument Petting Zoo on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the , 848 Beacon St., Newton Centre.

The Halloween concert is one of three family concerts that the New Phil puts on each year, says Associate Director Kara Robbins, who also plays bass for the New Phil.   

“This one is my favorite because all of the musicians dress up in costume,” said Robbins. “They go all out.” 

Kids can come in costume too.

This year, the New Phil will be joined by students from the Suzuki School of Newton, who will be playing alongside them. 

“Kids can relate to seeing kids their age playing with us,” says Robbins.

The concert is interactive, with a focus on learning how to be a conductor.  Kids will clap to keep the beat and learn how to make the orchestra loud and quiet, says Robbins. 

After the concert, the kids will march through the church in a “parade of horribles” followed by the instrument petting zoo, where they can hold the instruments and even try to play them. 

“It’s really fun because they see all the instruments on stage and then they get to try them,” says Robbins.   

Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $10 for students and are sold online.  

Also on Sunday, the Newton Highlands Area Neighborhood Council will be putting on a Preschool Halloween Party from 5 to 6 p.m. and the from 6:30 to 8 p.m., both at the , 90 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands.

These free community events usually attract between 100 and 200 kids, says John Rice, Executive Director of the Hyde Community Center.

“It’s a community activity to bring people together for Halloween,” says Rice.  “It’s a fun time for kids.”

The Preschool Halloween Party is for children under eight with an adult and will include games, refreshments and a costumed parade around Newton Highlands.

For the Haunted House, which is targeted for children ages 8 and older, the gym will be divided into rooms, each with a different scary theme.  This annual tradition has been going on for more than 50 years, says Rice.   

Another Halloween tradition in Newton this weekend: the annual Halloween Window Decorating in the business districts around the city. 

Although registration for a window is closed, you can stop by and check out all the painting Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. (rain date is Sunday). Then, once the decorating is done, take a walk or drive around the city to see the fantastic work!

Kids can also start trick-or-treating early at , 647 Washington St., Newtonville on Sunday, where there will be in-store trick-or-treating, a balloon artist and kids’ activities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Lastly, if you want to find some last-minute fun this afternoon, don't forget about starting at 3 p.m. today at the , 303 Nahanton St., Newton. Check out a bike-powered cider press, crafts, a haunted barn and more.