Village Day 2010 in Newton Highlands

Despite the persistent gray skies, the rain stayed away, and hundreds of people turned out for Village Day in Newton Highlands on Sunday.

A crowd milled along Lincoln Street on Sunday.

Several blocks of Lincoln Street were closed to traffic as local merchants opened their doors and in many cases took to the sidewalks and street to meet and greet neighbors and friends. 

Restaurants and other food merchants sampled or sold an assortment of delicious items – from gazpacho samples at Bakers’ Best (now BB Café), to gourmet, house-made hot dogs at 51 Lincoln, a cappuccino truck at Lincoln Street Coffee, and Persian food specialties at Walnut Market.

Locally made jewelry and crafts were for sale, and there were an assortment of raffles and a silent auction to benefit local groups.  A few carnival rides were also available for kids.

Of all the villages in Newton, the Highlands enjoys the longest-running and perhaps best-organized Village Day in the city – thanks to the tireless efforts of dedicated volunteers working with its Neighborhood Area Council. Ward 5 Alderman John Rice is spearheading efforts to create Neighborhood Area Councils and village days in Upper Falls and Waban.

Village Days are a great way to bring the community together, and Newton Villages is working with various groups to aid in organizing Village Day events in other locations in order to celebrate the vitality and diversity of Newton’s village centers.  Stay tuned for updates.