The Reading Post

Colonial Chorus Players Miracle on 34th Street
2024-12-06 19:30 (America/New_York) | Colonial Chorus Players, 1249 Main Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play
Written by George Seaton
Story by Valentine Davies
Directed by Bob Beckman
Produced by Tom Coffin and Sharyn Taitz
PERFORMANCES:
December 6–8, 2024
LOCATION:
Old Hose House Theater
1249 Main Street
Reading, MA
CAST:
Michael Barry
Kirsten Brown
Peter Cavicchio
Angela Merrill
Avery Merrill (as Susan)
David Murgo
Carla Perrotta

Shop the Bock
2024-12-05 17:00 - 21:00 | MA
Reading’s much-celebrated annual Shop the Block event is on Thursday, December 5. Extended hours and specials are available from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Grab a few friends to shop and dine.
This event gives customers the chance to celebrate longer and enjoy fun shopping experiences all season long. Businesses and restaurants in Reading are working together to make this an amazing event, so be sure to follow Shop The Block’s Instagram and Facebook page.

Middlesex Concert Band Free Holiday Concert
2024-12-02 15:00 | Galvin Middle School, 525 Main St., Wakefield, MA, 01880, United States
Join the Middlesex Concert Band for its annual Holiday Concert, which will take place Dec. 15, 2024, at 3:00 pm at Galvin Middle School in Wakefield. The band will perform many memorable pieces, such as “The Night Before Christmas,” “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring,” “Three Moods of Hanukkah,” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” Thanks to a generous donor, the concert is free of charge.
Joining the band again this year will be guest soprano April Foley, an accomplished singer and voice teacher with a teaching studio in North Andover. She will be narrating “The Night Before Christmas” and singing in the medley “Christmas from the 50s,” which features familiar tunes such as “Frosty the Snowman” and “The Christmas Waltz.” Foley will also be leading a holiday sing-along. The Band will also play the medley, “A Contemporary Christmas,” featuring tunes such as “Feliz Navidad” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” The program also includes a clever piece called “Minor Alterations,” which features familiar Christmas tunes transposed from a major to a minor key. That piece’s dramatic ending includes a frenzied excerpt from the finale of the Nutcracker Suite.
Finally, all will enjoy a pleasing arrangement of the calypso tune, “Mary’s Boy Child,” as well as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” which comes complete with the sounds of a cracking whip and a neighing horse.
The Middlesex Concert Band’s annual holiday concert is traditionally one of its best attended concerts. Audiences will enjoy the lively program chosen for this year.
The Middlesex Concert Band’s Holiday Concert will take place Sun. Dec. 15 at
3:00 pm at Galvin Middle School Auditorium (525 Main St., Wakefield, MA). The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Middlesex Concert Band’s website.

“A Christmas Carol” at Creative Arts of Reading
2024-12-01 15:00 | First Congregational Church of Reading, 25 Woburn Street, Reading, MA, United States
Creative Arts presents “A Christmas Carol” Creative Arts and the First Congregational Church of Reading’s 2nd annual co-production of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens will perform during FCCR’s Annual Cookies & Cocoa event taking place on the same day as the Reading Annual Tree Lighting event on the town common.
Audiences are invited to attend this FREE PERFORMANCE in the sanctuary at the FCCR, which is stroller and wheelchair accessible. The performance is only 30 minutes long. Join us at 25 Woburn Street in Reading.
The cast includes local Reading residents Ingrid, Tay, and Peter Rhoads, Matthew Garlin, Esme Moss, and Ethan Dill.
Rounding out the cast are: John Murtagh as Scrooge, John Pease as Jacob Marley (and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be), Matthew Garlin as Bob Cratchit, Steve Bermundo as Fred, Eveline Putnam as The Ghost of Christmas Past, Spencer O’Dowd as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Tay Evans-Rhoads as Mrs. Cratchit. Sebastian Putnam as Peter Cratchit, Esme Moss as Martha Cratchit, Ingrid Rhoads as Belinda Cratchit, Allison Ruddman-Putnam as Mrs. Fezziwig, Christian Moll as Belle, Spencer Moll as Young Scrooge, Peter Rhoads as Old Joe, Heather Rotundi as Mrs. Dilber, Maya Concepción as Lilly, Fred’s Wife, and Ethan Dill as Tiny Tim. The production is directed by Andrew Rhodes.
“A Christmas Carol” is free and open to the public. For more information, you may contact the Creative Arts office at (781) 942-9600 or director@weteachcreativearts.org.

Tree Lighting on the Common
2024-12-01 14:00 - 16:30 | Reading Town Common, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
The 31st Annual Tree Lighting on Reading Common will take place on Sunday, December 1st from 2:00 to 4:30 when Santa comes to light up the display. This event, sponsored by the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce, is a long-time holiday favorite drawing over a thousand people from the community. This is your chance to show your support for this wonderful event and get your name in front of your local customers.

Quannapowitt Players Suburban Holidays 13
2024-12-01 14:00, 2024-11-30 20:00, 2024-11-29 20:00 | Quannapowitt Players, 55 Hopkins St, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
The Quannapowitt Players are proud to present the 13th Annual Suburban Holidays from November 29 to December 7. Suburban Holidays 13 is a series of short, holiday-themed plays that are sure to delight!
Single tickets are $25 for Adults or $23 for Seniors/Students and can be purchased online at qptheater.com/box-office/. Or you may call the QP Box Office at (781) 942-2212. The Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 PM. The Sunday performance is at 2 PM.

Parker Tavern Opens for Tours November 29 (Black Friday)
2024-11-29 12:00 - 15:00 | Parker Tavern, 103 Washington Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
Are you looking for a different way to spend Black Friday, something without malls, crowds, online shopping, or any expenditure? Do you want to impress your Thanksgiving guests with a cool, enlightening—and nearby—activity?
Then hop over to Reading’s own Parker Tavern (103 Washington Street) any time between noon and 3:00 p.m. on November 29 to enjoy a special tour. Adults will appreciate the Tavern’s interesting displays of daily life in a bygone era. Kids will wonder how children 300 years ago could have managed without cell phones, video games, cars, or bicycles. And how many items may be a mystery to both age groups? Come and test your knowledge. Not sure what something is? Questions are always welcome!
This is the perfect solution for what to do the day after Thanksgiving and a great chance for folks to travel back to a time not that distant from the first Thanksgiving.
This 1694 building is one of Reading’s oldest landmarks. The Reading Antiquarian Society owns and maintains it.
We invite you to drop by Parker Tavern on Friday, November 29 from noon to 3:00 p.m. to take a peek into the past.

The RMHS Robockets STEM Expo
2024-11-23 13:30 - 15:30 | Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
The RMHS Robockets Team is hosting a STEM Expo on Saturday, November 23, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM at the Reading Public Library, and they invite you to come join them! Come enjoy a wide variety of STEM-related activities! Feel free to go at your own pace as you move from activity to activity! Most importantly, remember to have fun!

Reading Senior Citizens Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
2024-11-23 12:15 | Hillview Country Club, 149 North St, North Reading, MA, 01864, United States
Reading Senior Citizens are invited to attend the annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Hillview Country Club in North Reading on Saturday, November 23, at 1 p.m. Doors will open at 12:15 p.m. The event will be held in the facility’s beautiful grand ballroom.
Held annually since 2008, the Reading Thanksgiving Dinner is hosted by Representative Brad Jones, his wife Linda, Representative Richard Haggerty, and Senator Jason Lewis. As in years past, hundreds of local residents are expected to attend this year’s event and enjoy a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings. Guests will enjoy live entertainment, dancing, and singing.
“We are excited to be able to help celebrate the start of the holiday season with Reading’s seniors,” said Representative Jones. “Thanks to the support of my legislative colleagues, Representative Haggerty and Senator Lewis, as well as the generosity of the many local businesses and individuals who have partnered with us over the years, we are able to carry on this wonderful annual tradition for the community, and we look forward to seeing everyone on the 23.”
The dinner is free and open to all Reading residents over the age of 60. However, reservations are required and will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. For reservations for the dinner, please contact the Pleasant Street Center at 781-942-6794 by Tuesday, November 19, and ask for Linda Antinoro or Chris Kowaleski.
As we continue to support those in need in our community, we have also partnered with the Reading Food Pantry. All attendees who are able are asked to bring non-perishable, non-expired food items for donation to the Reading Food Pantry. The Food Pantry can always use coffee (regular and decaffeinated), tea, flour, sugar, baking soda, cooking oil, lunch packs of fruit, granola bars, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, and tissues. At this time, the most needed items on the Food Pantry’s wish list include:

Laundry detergent
Tissues
Solid white tuna in water
Cereal

Community Art Unveiling
2024-11-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
You are welcome to the unveiling of our Community Art Project at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 23, 2024, in the Reading Public Library Studio.
Reading Public Library (RPL), Reading, MA—Join us as we unveil our Community Art collaboration with Indigenous artist, Massachusett Tribe Educator, and Historian Thomas Spirit Tree Green.
Working together, a group of Reading artists created a beaded jewelry set depicting the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash, which pays tribute to the Pawtucket band of the Massachusett tribe. Green, of the Neponset Band of the Massachusett, will provide insight and discussion about the process of creating the pieces and the place of the Massachusett tribe in Reading’s history and culture. Light refreshments will be served after the program has concluded.
Thank you to The Friends of the Reading Public Library for their generous sponsorship of this project.
Community Art Unveiling | Saturday, November 23, 2024 | Reading Public Library Studio
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The Reading Public Library is committed to evolving together to strengthen communication, equity, collaboration, and learning in our community. Our mission is to be a center and resource for learning and civic engagement. We provide a place and platform of, by, and for the people who can benefit as individuals as well as contribute to the well-being of the community. We work to achieve these goals and commitments by focusing on education, equity, accountability, and access.

Church of the Good Shepherd FALL-iday Fair
2024-11-23 10:00 - 14:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 95 Woburn Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
The Church of the Good Shepherd FALL-iday Fair will be held Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 10 am – 2 pm. 95 Woburn St, Reading, MA 01867
Unique gifts, Raffle, Baked goods, Christmas items, Gourmet Coffee Shoppe, Bargain Box, Jewelry, Toys, Vendors, Live Music

Christmas Faire at St. Athanasius Church for Christ the King Parish
2024-11-23 10:00 - 14:00, 2024-11-22 16:00 - 20:00 | St. Athanasius Parish Center, 300 Haverhill Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
Find a treasure or start your Christmas shopping at the St. Athanasius Christmas Faire! Put yourself in the best mood for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Faire begins Friday, Nov. 22, 4 – 8 and goes to Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 – 2 at the St. Athanasius Parish Center, 300 Haverhill St, Reading, MA.
Treasures, new and gently used, are waiting to be found at our always-popular White Elephant Room. New and gently used fashion jewelry, toys, and giftware await in full and beautiful rooms. Sporting goods, décor, puzzles, baked goods, and all-new designer fashions are organized and beautifully presented for your purchase. All proceeds go directly towards our important parish work and local community outreach.
Our Faire has been a strong, annual tradition in Reading for over 40 years! Our two-day event builds fellowship and community spirit especially needed as we all adjust to our post-pandemic world.
In addition, leading up to the Faire, we are looking for your donations! This is a great opportunity to clean out your toy rooms, basements, and attics. We cannot accept clothing, baby equipment, or books. For a complete list of what we can accept, please check out our website: https://christthekingreading.org/

Town Wide Food Pantry Collection
2024-11-23 10:00 - 13:00 | MA
Our Food Pantries are busier than ever! There will be an annual “drive-through” collection on Saturday, November 23, from 10 AM to 1 PM. As you prepare your grocery list this week, please consider adding items for those who are not able to purchase what is needed. By providing nutritious food for a meal, you are also helping to prevent serious health issues. Children and Seniors are especially vulnerable.
Each November, the First Congregational Church collects food and other items to be shared between the Reading Food Pantry, which currently serves 350 individuals, and the Neighbors in Need Food Pantry of Greater Lawrence, which serves over 5000 families each year.
Volunteers will be on the lawn off Sanborn Street, between Lowell and Woburn Streets. Items currently needed include the following:
Canned Fruit, without sugar
Canned Vegetables and Beans (not baked)
Peanut Butter
Tuna, white in water
Cereals, unsweetened
Shelf-stable Milk (like Parmalat)
Crackers, all types
Laundry Detergent
Tissues
Hot Cocoa Mix
Thank you for your generosity!

Antiquarian Society Hosts Biennial Meeting – A Look Back at Feast Prep, Circa 1750
2024-11-18 19:00 | Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
As you ponder hosting family and friends for Thanksgiving this year, do you ever wonder how a harvest celebration dinner (before Thanksgiving was an official holiday) was prepared over 250 years ago?
Wonder no more!
On Monday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the Reading Public Library, the Reading Antiquarian Society, the caretaker organization of the Parker Tavern, will hold its biennial meeting. Following a very brief business meeting, a program will be presented, giving a little insight into what it took to create a harvest feast before 1775. Learn a bit about what our ancestors ate, what it took to put it all together, and how various foods were cooked. While some traditional dishes remain today, others, like turtle, may have fallen out of favor. Attendees will receive a copy of a few authentic period recipes to try out — or not!
Some of the Tavern’s cooking items and utensils will be used and explained during the presentation. You’ll recognize some things, but a few may surprise you!
We hope you’ll attend this retro look at how our ancestors handled a celebratory meal in their rustic kitchens. This little history lesson will likely turn into one that will give you something unexpected to be very thankful for this Thanksgiving — your kitchen!
Light refreshments will be served — but not a holiday feast sampler!

Senator Jason Lewis Virtual Office Hours for November
2024-11-18 15:00 - 16:00 | MA
State Senator Jason Lewis will be holding Virtual Office Hours on Monday, November 18, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Any constituent of Senator Lewis is welcome to attend Office Hours, with no appointment necessary, to discuss any personal issue or legislative feedback with the Senator and his staff.
Virtual Office Hours are held on Zoom. To join the meeting please visit SenatorJasonLewis.com, use the following link, or enter the meeting information on Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83854164671?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 838 5416 4671
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Each constituent meets privately with the Senator during the Zoom session.

We Will Rock You – School Edition Presented by RMHS Drama Club
2024-11-17 14:00, 2024-11-16 19:30, 2024-11-15 19:30, 2024-11-10 14:00, 2024-11-09 19:30, 2024-11-08 19:30 | RMHS Performing Arts Center, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
Reading Memorial High School Drama Club presents “We Will Rock You – School Edition,” a jukebox musical based on the songs of the British rock band Queen with a book by Ben Elton.

Reading Remembrance Tour
2024-11-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Reading Town Common, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
This walking tour will offer a unique opportunity to learn about a significant, yet often overlooked, part of Reading’s history. As we walk through downtown, we’ll share stories that honor the individuals who lived, labored, and built their lives here under the constraints of enslavement. This tour is a step toward remembering and acknowledging our community’s past in a way that encourages reflection, understanding, and growth.

Congressman Seth Moulton’s Veterans Town Hall
2024-11-11 13:00 | MA
On Veterans Day (Monday, November 11th), I’ll be hosting my 10th annual Vets Town Hall in Marblehead. I started this tradition on Veterans Day in 2015 after being inspired by the author Sebastian Junger’s book, Tribe, in which he wrote about the disconnect between veterans and the people they serve.
Since then, we’ve built Vets Town Halls into a national movement. This event provides veterans a forum to share the pride, grief, or quiet appreciation of life that war bestowed upon us. Just as importantly, the event gives non-veterans an opportunity to listen and connect.
We will be joined by a number of special guest speakers from the community. I’ll share more information about them in the coming days.
DETAILS:
WHAT: Vets Town Hall
WHEN: Monday, November 11th // 1:00pm ET
WHERE: Abbot Hall (188 Washington Street, Marblehead, MA 10945)

Veterans Day Ceremony
2024-11-11 11:11 | Memorial Park, 53 harrison Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
Join the Veterans Services Office for a Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11, 2024. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park, where the six service flag poles that were kindly donated to the Town of Reading by the Good Samaritan Masonic Lodge of Reading will be officially dedicated. All are welcome for light refreshments immediately following the ceremony at the Good Samaritan Lodge at 110 Haven Street.

Reading Art Association Autumn Art Exhibit And Sale
2024-11-09 10:00 - 15:00 | First Congregational Church, 25 Woburn St, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
The Reading Art Association Autumn Show will be held the weekend of November 8. It will feature artwork by over 90 artist members representing surrounding towns and cities.
The show will take place at the First Congregational Church in Reading on Friday, Nov. 7, from 7:30 to 9:30 and Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10:00 to 3:00. Entrance to the show is through the side door of the church on Sanborn Street.
Original works of framed and unframed art will be on display and are available to be purchased throughout the weekend.
There will be a raffle for a framed original painting. The winner does not need to be present to win when the lucky ticket is drawn on Saturday.
This will be a wonderful show put on by some very talented artists. The Reading Art Association is starting its 63rd year promoting art. For more info, go to readingart.org.

Kris Kringle Fair
2024-11-09 09:00 - 14:00 | Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, 239 Woburn St, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
The Kris Kringle Fair will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 9 am to 2 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, 239 Woburn St., Reading, MA. Sales will take place indoors as well as under the tent. Booths include Jewelry, Attic Treasures, Toys and Kids Books, Silent Auction, Potpourri (new items), Boutique (handmade items), Raffle, Live Music, Baked Goods, Country Store, Snack Bar and Puzzles. All spaces are handicap accessible.

Reading Art Association Autumn Art Exhibit And Sale
2024-11-08 19:30 - 21:30 | First Congregational Church, 25 Woburn St, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
The Reading Art Association Autumn Show will be held the weekend of November 8. It will feature artwork by over 90 artist members representing surrounding towns and cities.
The show will take place at the First Congregational Church in Reading on Friday, Nov. 8, from 7:30 to 9:30 and Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10:00 to 3:00. Entrance to the show is through the side door of the church on Sanborn Street.
Original works of framed and unframed art will be on display and are available to be purchased throughout the weekend.
There will be a raffle for a framed original painting. The winner does not need to be present to win when the lucky ticket is drawn on Saturday.
This will be a wonderful show put on by some very talented artists. The Reading Art Association is starting its 63rd year promoting art. For more info, go to readingart.org.
