Get Out

4 Things To Do This Weekend: June 30-July 1

Get an early start on celebrating the Fourth of July or check out the Needham Farmers Market.

It’s Thursday, and the weekend is right around the corner. Patch has your back with a few fun things to do. Check our picks for the activities to hit and some places to explore. Here's what's happening in and around your town. 1. Wilmington’s Fourth of July Festivities 2. An Organ Tribute to John Williams 3. Needham Farmers Market 4. Take a Hike/Have a Picnic

• Photos (3)
• Documents (1)

2012 Fourth of July Fireworks Displays Near Needham

The local display is set for Tuesday, July 3, but you can check out even more events all over the area over the next week or so.

Whether you're a huge fireworks buff, can't make Needham's event or just want to keep the Fourth of July celebration going all week long, there are plenty of options nearby. Check out the list of area fireworks events below and click on the links for more information about each event:

• Photos (1)

Needham Line Service Cut Postponed to July 7

The local Commuter Rail trains will continue operating through the weekend to accommodate visitors during the Tall Ship and Fourth events.

The Commuter Rail's Needham Line will continue to operate through the upcoming holiday weekend, as plans to eliminate weekend service have been postponed until July 7. The Saturday service cut was part of the final plan approved by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in April in an effort to close a projected $161 million deficit in the 2013 fiscal year. The plan called for other cuts on various Commuter Rail and bus lines and an across-the-board fare increase. The changes were set to take place on July 1 with the start of the new fiscal year. While the fare increases are set to begin as scheduled, weekend service on Needham and other lines will not be eliminated until one week later. "A normal Sunday service will operate on …

• Photos (1)

Lida Harkins Named 2012 Parade Grand Marshal

The former state representative will lead the Needham Exchange Club's Fourth of July Parade this year.

Needham's Fourth of July celebration is less than two weeks away, and in preparation for the big event, the Needham Exchange Club has named this year's parade grand marshal. Former state representative Lida Harkins has been named the 2012 Grand Marshal for the Fourth of July Parade, which will be held on Wednesday, July 4. "In appreciation of the many years of service that Lida Harkins has committed to the town of Needham, the Needham Exchange Club is honored to recognize her as this year’s Grand Marshal for the Fourth of July Parade," the Exchange Club announced in a press release. Harkins began her public career in Needham, serving as a Town Meeting Member and later as a six-year member of the School Committee, holding the position of …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (5)

Needham Fourth of July Schedule Released

The Exchange Club's annual festivities will include a fireworks spectacular on July 3, parade on July 4 and many more activities for all ages.

The Needham Exchange Club's annual Fourth of July festivities are less than one month away, and the club has released a preliminary schedule of events and map of the parade route. The club also plans to announce this year's parade marshal in the coming weeks, member Moe Handel said. The annual parade and fireworks are provided free to the community every year by the Needham Exchange Club. Below is a schedule of events: Tuesday, July 3 Wednesday, July 4

• Photos (6)

Contents of 1961 Time Capsule Revealed

Officials showed off items set aside 50 years ago at the July 4 celebration.

Hundreds of Needham residents gathered Monday morning on the hill behind Needham High School to spell out “Needham 300” and become part of a historic photo taken from a helicopter overhead. Afterward, many stood in front of a stage set up on Memorial Field to witness another historic event—the opening of a time capsule closed 50 years ago in 1961 during the town’s 250th anniversary celebration. With state and town officials watching from on-stage, Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and Selectman Dan Matthews revealed the items inside the time capsule. It was a light-hearted ceremony, as Matthews commented on the capsule’s contents and joked that he wanted to “find out if my socks are still in there, too.” (They weren’t.) First, he pulled out a …

• Photos (12)

Viewfinder

Kids Cavort at Needham's Great Playdate

Children of all ages and families took part in playing a variety of games at Memorial Park for Needham's Great Playdate.

Children and families gathered at Memorial Park on July 2 for a fun-filled afternoon at Needham's Great Playdate. More than 50 different games were available to play courtesy of Knuckle Bones, which provided both equipment and adults to help lead some of the activities.

• Photos (17)

Take Me Out to the Old Ball Game

As part of the weekend celebration, Needham hosted the Mudville Nine vs. Melrose Pondfeilders in a display of 1860s baseball.

Needham continued its yearlong 300th birthday celebration on the nation's birthday—Monday, July 4—by welcoming the Mudville Nine of Holliston and the Melrose Pondfeilders to Memorial Park for a game of baseball using 1860s rules. Mudville left with the victory, 10-7. Both Mudville and the Pondfeilders are a group of men who play games throughout the year, celebrating their love of the history of the game. This particular event was brought to Needham by Carol Stento and Doug Reddington and went along with the other Fourth of July festivities held in Needham on Independence Day. “We wanted to do a vintage game and Doug did the research and contacted them,” Stento said. Prior to the game, the story “Casey at the Bat” was read over the public …

• Photos (8)

Daily PatchCast

PatchCast: Celebrating Independence

A video roundup of the area's latest developments for Tuesday, July 5.

Follow the links below for more on today's featured headlines:

• Videos (1)