Summer Fun Guide: Newton and Needham

Outings near Newton to add to your summer bucket list

Slide from WWI Memorial Park in North Attleboro; tubes from Westwood Tot Lot

Pick your own berries

  • PYO Strawberries in June at Belkin Family Lookout in Natick, Sunshine in Sherborn, Tangerini’s in Millis, Hanson’s in Framingham
  • PYO Blueberries in July-August at Patts in Holliston, Tangerini’s in Millis, Nourse in Westboro, Tougas in Northboro
  • PYO Raspberries in August-Sept at Sunshine in Sherborn, Tangerini’s in Millis, Nourse in Westboro, Tougas in Northboro
  • Find all the local PYO spots on our Farm Map (filter by type of fruit)
  • Always call ahead or check online as picking conditions and availability are variable

Find a new playground

  • Local favorites for a quick outing:
    • Perrin Park, Wellesey [Approx. 90 Thomas Rd]
    • Hunnewell Tot Lot, Wellesley [Approx. 431 Washington St]
    • Warren Park, Wellesley [Approx 90 Washington St]
    • John J Lane Park, Natick [Approx. 185 Speen St]
    • Murphy Playground, Natick [Approx 157 N Main St]
    • Caryl Park, Dover [Approx 105 Dedham St]
    • Cushing Park, Framingham [Approx. 68 Dudley Rd]
  • It’s worth a drive to:
    • Sherborn Playground for a beautiful, shady new accessible fenced playground
    • Smiles Playground, Sudbury for large variety of structures for all ages
    • Hannah Williams Park, Wayland-Natick Line for a fenced-in playground, large sandbox, swings
    • Norfolk Kids Place Tot Lot for a turf-covered fenced in tot lot
    • WWI Memorial Park, North Attleboro for a multi-story slide, massive sandbox, big playground and free petting zoo
  • Find these and many more (with GPS addresses) on our Activities Map (filter by “Outdoor Playground“)

Cool down at a splash pad

  • You’ll have to drive a bit to find FREE Splash Pads in Hudson, Northboro, West Roxbury, Chestnut Hill, Waltham, Belmont, and (new) Marlborough
  • There are splash pads with Day or Season Rates in Bellingham, Walpole, and at the YMCA in Westborough.
  • Find all these and more (with GPS addresses) on our Summer Swimming Map

Swim in the ocean

  • Got toddlers? Some favorite low-surf beaches are Wingaersheek in Gloucester, Nantasket in Hull, Scusset in Sandwich, Mayflower Beach on the cape, and Second Beach in Middletown, RI
  • Got bigger kids? Horseneck Beach in Westport or Scarborough beach in Narragansett RI have strong surf for boogie boarding, as do some of the beaches on the ocean side of the cape like Nauset Beach.
  • Our favorite beaches (with GPS addresses) are on our Summer Swimming Map

Celebrate Independence Day

Parades in Natick and Needham, fireworks in Needham and Newton… all the local July 4th festivities are on this list!

Enjoy a concert at the park

  • Sundays in Sudbury
  • Mondays in Natick
  • Tuesdays in Needham (afternoon kids’ performer)
  • Wednesdays in Natick (Children’s), Weston, Wellesley
  • Thursdays in Framingham (Jazz), Needham, Wayland
  • See them all on our Jam-Packed Event Calendar
  • We mention the best upcoming Children’s Performers in our Weekly Newsletter

Stay up late for a movie at the park

  • Lyman Estate Grounds, Waltham on Thursdays
  • Davis Museum, Wellesley on select Thursdays
  • Every movie, along with the title (when available) is on our Jam-Packed Event Calendar

Make an animal friend

  • Local zoos (See all on our Activities Map, filter by “Museums and Zoos“):
    • Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon (with kiddie rides)
    • Roger Williams Zoo in Providence (with big animals like giraffes and camels)
    • Animal Adventures in Bolton (animal rescue center)
    • Franklin Park Zoo in Boston (Free Fun Friday August 3, 2018)
    • Buttonwood Park in New Bedford (Free Fun Friday August 24, 2018)
    • Stone Zoo in Stoneham
    • WWI Memorial Park in N. Attleboro (FREE petting zoo, massive slide, epic sandbox area, playgrounds)
  • Local farms with animals (See all on our Farms Map, filter by “Animals“):
    • Natick Community Organic Farm, Natick
    • Belkin Family Lookout Farm, Natick (Fee)
    • Hanson’s Farm, Framingham
    • Powisset Farm, Dover
    • Tangerini’s Farm, Millis
    • Drumlin Farm, Lincoln (Fee)

Explore a new museum

  • Check for discounted passes at the library, or look into memberships that offer reciprocal free admisssion to many additional museums. Museum of Science has a great one!
  • Find all of these on our Activities Map (filter by “Museum or Zoo“):
    • Discovery Musuems in Acton are a blast for toddlers and pre-K (Free Fun Friday July 20, 2018)
    • Easton Children’s Museum is great with even young toddlers (Free Fun Friday June 29, 2018)
    • Boston Children’s Museum is excellent for a variety of ages (Free Fun Friday July 6, 2018)
    • Providence Children’s Museum has free parking and lots of hands-on fun
    • EcoTarium in Worcester is at its best in the summer, with indoor and outdoor exhibits (Free Fun Friday August 31, 2018)
    • Musuem of Science in Boston is best for kids in elementary school
    • New England Aquarium is a local destination for your water animal fix, or it’s worth the trip to the Mystic Aquarium in CT

Make a mess at someone else’s place

  • Drop-in Pottery Painting: Plaster Fun Time (Framingham, Newton, Dedham)
  • Drop-in Arts and Crafts of Many Types: Whimsy (Framingham), Kids Place for Fun (Needham)

Give mom and dad a moment of peace!

  • See our detailed list of Summer Drop-Off Programs (camps and the like), where we list age range, dates, and times. Some are very flexible, with options for 1 or 2 days each week

Carnivals, Touch-a-Truck, Festivals, Free Library Events

  • Community Kangaroo is a team of 10 parents in the Boston suburbs who bust our tails filling the calendar with hundreds of local family events each month.
  • Emily in Needham writes this region’s free weekly newsletter, which is just as helpful as this list. Subscribe here, and have an awesome summer!