De Hirsh Margules, Mother Ann Lighthouse, Eastern Point, Gloucester, 1946. Gouache on paper. Gift of Jean M. Horblit, 2002. [Acc. #2002.004.002]
WBUR: 5 things to do this weekend, including WinterFEST and a salty celebration in Gloucester
By Maddie Browning, January 22, 2025
I am desperately trying to romanticize the cold weather with cozy indoor days watching the snowfall and bundled up outdoor walks. If you’re hoping to find the bright side of roaring winds and low temperatures, there are cute events around Greater Boston like a winter festival in Newton. If you would still prefer to stay indoors, we’ve also got you covered with a kid-friendly musical, youth symphony performance and more.
‘Pierre Boulez: Fold by Fold | The radical who rebuilt the music world‘
Friday, Jan. 24
In partnership with the Boston University Center for New Music, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston will present a concert honoring contemporary French composer Pierre Boulez. Boston ensemble Sound Icon will perform Boulez’s “Le marteau sans maître” and “Dérive 2.” Berklee assistant professor Jeffrey Means will conduct. Tickets are $15 for members and students and $25 for nonmembers.
WinterFEST
Friday, Jan. 24-Sunday, Jan. 26
Newton is celebrating the cold weather with its 4th annual WinterFEST. The event will kick off with ice sculptures and a live carving demo, music by BC Acoustics and NN Melocotones, a glowing hula hoop performance, a blanket drive and free hot chocolate on Friday. There will be a guided winter walk, storytime with author and illustrator Jannie Ho, community soup social, music by Surefire Band and interactive public art on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be a screening of “Happy Feet” at the West Newton Cinema, a winter craft and family dance party and a photo booth. The weekend-long event is free and open to all. Those interested can register for the programming through Newton Community Pride’s Eventbrite.
Gloucester’s So Salty
Saturday, Jan. 25-Sunday Jan. 26
The Cape Ann Museum invites community members to “celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses” at the 4th annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival. Guests can pick up a map at the museum and find 10 ice sculptures across downtown. They can also visit “ Portrait of a Sculptor: Walker Hancock & Michael Lafferty” at the museum for free. There will be discounts and freebies at downtown shops, like free stickers and candy at Toodeloos. Guests can also participate in activities like attending Sea Shanties by Three Sheets to the Wind with a sing-along at the Unitarian Universalist Church and making a “salty craft” at Maritime Gloucester.
‘Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical‘
Saturday, Jan. 25-Sunday Jan. 26
Introduce your little ones to the magic of the theater with “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical.” The production is a musical adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man” spin-off series, “Cat Kid Comic Club” — it’s great timing with the film adaptation of “Dog Man” releasing in theaters on Jan. 31. The musical follows Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog as they teach 21 baby frogs to create their own comics. However, it’s not quite that simple. The frogs misbehave and send the comics in crazy directions with their wild imaginations. The production description asks, “Will the club survive? Will the frogs ever get along? And will creativity finally save the day?” The show is 60 minutes with no intermission at Emerson Colonial Theatre, and tickets range from $35 to $94.
Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras: ‘Don Carlo‘
Sunday, Jan. 26
The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras will perform Verdi’s 1867 five-act grand opera “Don Carlo.” BYSO works to foster young musicians’ talents through opera music. The concert will be conducted by Federico Cortese, who has been music director of the orchestra since 1999. WBUR arts critic Lloyd Schwartz previews in the winter classical music guide, “The story is harrowing and heartbreaking and the music is both sublime and in exceptionally good hands.” The performance at Sanders Theatre is recommended for ages 10 and older, and tickets range from $45 to $75.
See the original article on the WBUR website.
