2018 Wellesley Wonderful Weekend Event Guide

WELLESLEY, MA — For Wellesley residents, this weekend doesn't get more wonderful.

The 20th edition of Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend starts Friday afternoon and continues through Sunday night. The weekend-long event includes everything from a parade, fireworks, open houses, road races, and even a chance to check out some cool cars.

Sunday is the highlight of the weekend and is when the parade, picnic, and fireworks take place.

Below is the schedule of events via the Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend website.

Friday, May 18

Annual Hunnewell Fun Fair* — Hunnewell School PTO

• 3:05 to 6 p.m. at Hunnewell Elementary School, 28 Cameron Street
• Rides, games, crafts

Remembering the Roaring Twenties* — The Friends of the Wellesley Council on Aging and the Wellesley Council on Aging

• 7 - 9:30 p.m. at Wellesley College, 106 Central St., Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall
• Preregistration required - 781-235-3961

Saturday, May 19

Pancake Festival* at the Wellesley High School — Wellesley Kiwanis Club and Wellesley High School Key Club

• 8 a.m. to noon at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St.

Free Eye Exams at the Lions Club Eye Mobile — Wellesley Lions Club

• 8 a.m. to noon at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St.

Boulder Brook Reservation Walk— Wellesley Trails Committee

• 9 to 10 a.m. at Kelly Memorial Park
• Meet at 9 a.m. at the Kelly Memorial Park parking lot located on the left side of Elmwood Road 0.3 miles east of Weston Road

Dog Contest — Fun and Health for Pets and Their 'People' *

• 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Warren School Playground, 90 Washington St. (Route 16)
• Prizes awarded in various categories including "shaggiest", "best grooomed", "best tricks", "wiggliest", and many more!

Open House at the Dadmun-McNamara House -- Wellesley Historical Society

• 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 229 Washington St.

Wheels of Wellesley VI @ Wellesley Community Center

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 219 Washington Street
• Featuring Exotic and Antique Cars, Motorcycles, Magic Show, and Bicycles plus live music plus The Munster's Family Hearse and Grandpa's Dragula Racing Car.

Spring Carnival at Unitarian Universalist Church (UU Wellesley)*

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sprague Tower Park, 309 Washington St.

Wellesley Unified Plan

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Family Adventure featuring WHS Evolutions student sculptures. Pick up reward punch cards and maps to earn prizes along the route at the Pancake Festival

Open House at Tolles Parson Center

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 500 Washington St.

Open House at Wellesley Municipal Light Plant

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4 Municipal Way (off 455 Worcester Street, Route 9)

"Touch a Truck" Open House at Wellesley Department of Public Works

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 20 Municipal Way (off 455 Worcester Street, Route 9)

Open House at Wellesley Police Station

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 485 Washington St.

Open House at Wellesley Main Fire Station #2

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 457 Worcester Street (Route 9)

Build Your Own Woodland Troll & Fairy House — Wellesley Conservation Council

• 1 to 3 p.m. at Cochituate Aqueduct, Russell Road / Kendall Road (for elementary school kids)

Art in the Park — Wellesley Community Art Project & Wellesley Women Artisans

• 1 to 4 p.m. at Simon’s Park (Corner of Washington & Brook Street, left of the Library)

Walking Tour of Wellesley Square—Wellesley Historical Society

• 2:30 p.m.
• Meeting in front of Town Hall

Memorial Grove Ceremony

• 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Fuller Brook Park Parking Lot off of State Street. Additional parking at Wellesley High School
• The Story of Memorial Grove - Click here for a fantastic video about the Memorial Grove

New Magic Show in Support of Cure Alzheimer's Fund*

• 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wellesley Community Center at 219 Washington St.
• Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of Family Entertainment featuring a select group of close-up and stage magicians who will amaze and astound you. In support of Cure Alzheimer's Fund, $10 individual, $25 family available at the door.

Veterans’ Ecumenical Memorial Mass at Saint Paul Church - Wellesley Veterans’ Council

• 4 p.m. at 502 Washington St.

Fifth Grade Only Teen Center at Wellesley Middle School (WMS)

• 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Use the gym A entrance. Open to children in fifth grade who attend Wellesley Public Schools; attend private schools, but live in Wellesley; live in Boston, but attend Wellesley Public Schools. For more info go to www.wellesleyteencenter.org.

Sunday, May 20

Bird Walk Locally, with Jim Pugh - Wellesley Conservation Council

• 8 to 10 a.m. at Wellesley Public Library
• Meet at the Cameron St. Parking lot at the main library

5th Annual Wonder Run 5K and Kids Fun Run 1K* —Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club

• 8:30 a.m. - 5K Run
• 9:30 a.m. - Kids 1K Run
• At Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street
• Click for registration

Fuller Brook Park Cleanup — Natural Resources Commission

• 10 a.m. to noon
• Contact nrc@wellesleyma.gov or 781-431-1019x2294 for details.
• Note that there are 10 Sections to clean-up and team Captains may designate other times for cleanup. Use info above to contact NRC.

Due to the weather, the following events have been moved to June 3:

50th Annual Wellesley Veterans’ Parade - The 100th Anniversary of the End of World War I

• 1 to 3 p.m.
• The parade starts at the intersection of Route 16 (Washington Street) and Route 9 and continues westbound along Route 16 to Wellesley Square. The reviewing stand is in Wellesley Square.

Picnic in the Park at Hunnewell Field

• 5 p.m. to dusk
• Food*, drinks*, kid’s rides*, crafts, games, pony rides & other fun food by Charles River Rotary, Captain Mardens, and others

Concert for Wellesley at Hunnewell Field

• 6 p.m. to dusk
• Featuring the Reminisants and WHS Jazz Combo

Fireworks — the Biggest Ever! at Hunnewell Field

• Dusk (around 9 p.m.)

Saturday and Sunday (Decamp After Parade)

18th Century Military Encampment at Town Hall Grounds

• At Town Hall Grounds at 525 Washington St.
• The Royal Irish Artillery, Tours all day Saturday, Cannon Firing on the half hour on Saturday.

All Weekend

World War I Historical Displays

• Main Wellesley Library, 530 Washington St.

Scavenger Hunt of the Relmagined Fells — Hosted by the Wellesley Free Library Foundation

• Maps available at Hunnewell Fun Fair, Pancake Breakfast, and online. Participants will be entered in a prize drawing. Click here for more info.

Events with an asterisk may have an extra cost.

To learn more about the weekend, head over to the event website.

Parade Detour And Fireworks Road Closures

From the Wellesley Police Department:

Washington Street will be closed from Oakland Street to Grove Street on May 20, 2017 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Street will be closed from Grove Street to Crest Road, and Crest Road will be closed from Linden Street to Central.

Other road closures for the parade include the ramps from Route 9 east and west to Route 16 (Washington Street) in Wellesley Hills.

There will be significant parking restrictions on May 20 as well. There will be no parking on Washington Street from Wellesley Hills to Wellesley Square. Some area side streets will also be posted with temporary no parking due to the fireworks on Sunday evening.

On Sunday evening, Washington Street will be closed from State Street to Forest Street starting at approximately 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. This closure is due to the fireworks show at Hunnewell Field starting at dusk (9 p.m.). There will be a detour in place for this road closure.

Image Credit: Jenna Fisher