Summer Events & Performances
Summer movies and concerts are free and take place on the Hyde Bandstand. Concerts start at 6 PM unless otherwise noted. Movies start around dusk. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and pack a picnic or support local Highlands restaurants. In case of rain, Friday concerts and movies move into the Hyde Gym. The Village Bank is our premier sponsor for all activities on the Hyde Bandstand this summer, in partnership with the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council.
The summer 2025 event schedule will be announced in late spring.
Newton Highlands Soup Social
The annual Newton Highlands Soup Social is a free, outdoor community event featuring hot gourmet soups and crusty breads that warm up a cold winter night. Part of Newton Community Pride’s WinterFEST, the Soup Social is a delectable evening of fresh soups and extras from local restaurants and grocers.
Surefire Band will perform on the Hyde Bandstand, and the community is invited to enjoy Brighter Ignited Interactive Art, an illuminated and traveling art exhibit that activates light from the community and encourages us to explore how we can stand up for what we believe in. It is interactive and accessible for all ages.
Closed for Renovations
The Hyde gym will be closed beginning Monday, December 23 at 7AM for a new coat of polyurethane. Beginning December 26 at 7AM, the Hyde hallway floor will be replaced. While this work is being performed, there will be no admittance to the Hyde. Anyone visiting the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office during this time will use a separate entrance from Erie Avenue.
Free Puppet Show - The Fairy Circus presented by the Tanglewood Marionettes
After trick or treating in the Highlands’ Lincoln Street business district, bring the kids indoors for a lively performance by the Tanglewood Marionettes. Featuring over 20 beautifully hand-crafted marionettes, The Fairy Circus is a showcase for turn-of-the-century-style trick puppetry. The puppets will dance, play instruments, juggle, contort, transform, and fly through the air with the greatest of ease, all to the best-loved music of favorite composers. Perfect for families with children in grades pre-K - 2, but older children may enjoy it too.
The Fairy Circus is performed by a solo puppeteer. The presentation begins with a puppetry demonstration, and concludes with a Q&A session. Running time: 40 minutes.
Sponsored by Hyde Community Center and Woman’s Club of Newton Highlands, with a donation from The Village Bank.
Performance venue: The Woman’s Club of Newton Highlands at 72 Columbus Street.
Movie: Kung Fu Panda 4
After Po is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a wicked sorceress plans to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm. The all-star voice cast includes Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, Bryan Cranston and Seth Rogen. (1h 34m)
Concert: Boston Rock and Soul Revue
Boston Rock and Soul Revue is one of Boston's premier live bands, having played public and private events across New England for many years. With powerhouse vocals, an electric rhythm section that brings the funk, and the famous Hot Damn Horns, Boston Rock and Soul Revue gets people dancing at every event!
Movie: Inside Out
When young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions — Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) — conflict on how best to navigate a new city, home, and school. (1h 35m)
Concert: The Gringo Kings
Inspired by the great Salsa groups of Cuba, The Gringo Kings has evolved a style of music that takes the swinging creativity of Jazz and broils it under the heat of Latin rhythms. The band plays covers along with sometimes fiery, sometimes irreverent originals penned by the group’s leader and tenor saxophonist, Ed Harlow.
India Day Celebration
This annual, free, family-friendly event features Bollywood dance and music, cultural performances, a variety of vendors, and face painting. Celebrate Indian heritage and culture, and enjoy Indian delicacies from local food vendors. All are welcome! Sponsored by Newton Community Pride.
Movie: Groundhog Day
Bill Murray stars as a cynical TV weatherman who finds himself reliving the same day over and over again when he goes on location to the small town of Punxsutawney to report on its annual Groundhog Day event. His predicament drives him to distraction, until he sees a way of turning the situation to his advantage. Co-starring Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott, and directed by Harold Ramis. (1h 41m)
Concert: Monster Groove Band
Monster Groove Band is a 6-10 piece R&B band including: bass, drums, male & female vocals, key board, guitar, alto/tenor sax, trombone and trumpet.
Concert: Jabbering Trout
Jabbering Trout began its trajectory as a high-energy, two-person, drum and guitar duo in Boston in the ‘90s. The band has since opened for acts including Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band, the late Jeff Buckley, and Ani Difranco — then became a headline act known for catchy songwriting delivered live with energy. The band put out two well-received albums. Since the early ‘00s, Jabbering Trout has had many incarnations but has stayed true to its high-energy performance style.
Movie: Wonka
Armed with nothing but a hatful of dreams, young chocolatier Willy Wonka manages to change the world, one delectable bite at a time. Based on the beloved Roald Dahl book. Starring Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key and more! (1h 57m)
Concert: Martin & Kelly
The talented duo of Jilly Martin and Ryan Brooks Kelly are standouts in today’s crossover country music scene. Jilly & Ryan’s songs bridge the boundary between traditional and new country, and these New Englanders have made their mark in Nashville with highly acclaimed original music and great live performances. Their compelling songwriting, dynamic vocal harmonies, and stunning musicianship have earned them a spot as a support act for many traditional and mainstream country artists.
Movie: Encanto
This animated film tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal — every child except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. The film features songs by Emmy®, GRAMMY® and Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. (1h 42m)
Concert: Soft Touch Dance Band
Soft Touch is a classic big band with full horn and rhythm sections and two outstanding vocalists. This Waltham-based 18-piece band specializes in swing-era music from the '40s to the '60s, plus Broadway hits and classic rock favorites. The retired professional musicians and serious amateurs who comprise the band donate their engagement fees toward college scholarships for local high school seniors who have excelled in music. So far, they have awarded over $130,000 to talented local students. The band is directed by Kirt Thaller.
Movie: The Sandlot
When Scottie Smalls (Thomas Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood, he manages to make friends with a group of kids who play baseball at the sandlot. Together they go on a series of funny and touching adventures. The boys run into trouble when Smalls borrows a ball from his stepdad that gets hit over a fence. (1h 41m)
Concert: The Ivory Rockers
The Ivory Rockers’ Dueling Pianos is a high-energy and interactive rock and roll show. Sing along to all your favorite, from pop or rock classics to Top 40.
The Concord Players Present “The Merry Wives of Windsor”
The Merry Wives of Windsor is a fun frolic, a comedy that lampoons the idea that the men are the cleverer of the sexes, and that reinforces the concept of true love. With themes of love and marriage, jealousy and revenge, social class and wealth, and plot points such as Falstaff sending identical love letters to two wealthy married women, and three different men vying for the hand of the young Anne Page. While remaining true to Shakespeare's language in this condensed version, The Concord Players present this play as a modern-day soap opera, complete with villains, heroes/heroines, clever characters and oafish egotistical suitors. We hope that you will come to laugh, to think, and to enjoy.
Movie: Dr. Doolittle 2
A group of beavers, headed by a Godfather-style leader, ask Dr. Dolittle to save their habitat from loggers. The only hope is to get the forest preserved because it's the home of a protected bear. But there's a problem: the bear's the only bear in the forest, so she can't reproduce. Undaunted, Dolittle persuades a circus bear to help out, but he has to teach him not just the ways of the wild, but the wiles of lady bears too. The film stars Eddie Murphy in the title role. (1h 27m)
Concert: Jabbering Trout
Jabbering Trout began its trajectory as a high-energy, two-person, drum and guitar duo in Boston in the ‘90s. The band has since opened for acts including Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band, the late Jeff Buckley, and Ani Difranco — then became a headline act known for catchy songwriting delivered live with energy. The band put out two well-received albums. Since the early ‘00s, Jabbering Trout has had many incarnations but has stayed true to its high-energy performance style.
Movie: Rear Window
A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his Greenwich Village courtyard apartment window and, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend, becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. (1h 52m)
Concert: The Black Velvet Band
Boston's premier band for Irish and American music boasts almost 200 Irish songs and over 180 American tunes on its playlist. Enjoy a great mix of Irish ballads, rebel songs, pub tunes, traditional and caeli, polkas, waltzes, foxtrots, jives, and set dances along with popular music from Sinatra to Springsteen to Smashmouth, Elvis to Eagles to Ed Sheeran — music from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and today,
Movie: Luca
Set on the Italian Riviera in 1959, this animated coming-of-age fantasy film centers on a young sea monster boy with the ability to assume human form while on land. He and his friends experience a life-changing summer adventure. The film is produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, and stars the voices of Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo, Marco Barricelli, Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan and others. (1h 35m)
Concert: Charles River Reprobates
Join us for a great evening featuring blues/roots musicians Jimmy Ryan, Danielle Miraglia, Eddie Scheer and Bob Enik.
Movie at the Lake: The Princess Bride
The Hyde Community Center, in partnership with the Crystal Lake Conservancy, is excited to announce our first-ever Movie at the Lake — an outdoor movie at Crystal Lake. A large screen will be set up in the park next to the Crystal Lake Bathhouse, where we will screen the beloved cult classic, The Princess Bride. NewTV will supply the popcorn. Crystal Lake Bathhouse will be open during this event so movie-goers have access to restrooms. This is a free, family-friendly event, and all are welcome!
The Hyde Community Center and Crystal Lake Conservatory thank our event sponsors: Newton Community Pride | Newton Parks, Recreation and Culture Department | NewTV | The Village Bank | West Newton Cinema Foundation
Please note that Rogers Street will be closed during the event.
Movie: Back to the Future
When teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is blasted to 1955 in the DeLorean time machine created by the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), he finds himself mixed up in a time-altering chain reaction that could vaporize his future — and leave him trapped in the past. Powered by innovative special effects, unforgettable songs and non-stop action, Back to the Future is an unrivaled adventure that stands the test of time! From Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis. (1h 56m)
Concert: The Reminisants
The Reminisants have been entertaining audiences of all ages throughout New England since 1973. The band specializes in oldies music from the 1950s through the ’90s, playing a collection of great music for all musical tastes and generations. The band was formed by three Waltham High School friends, Dom Viscione, Mike Joyal and Fran Doorakian, and has since expanded to the current six-member group.
Concert: Highland Glee Club
The Highland Glee Club and Firefly Band welcome summer with music of peace, love, and understanding: close covers of counter-culture songs of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, with outstanding men's harmony vocals, full live band, and pro sound. Bring a lawn chair, a picnic, and some flowers for your hair. It's the Highland Glee Club’s thank-you to the community, and most of all, a wish for peace. Sarah Robinson Seeber, Music Director.
Rain date: Monday, June 17, 7 PM