Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Porchfest, Herring Fest, Dolmas, Comedy, Mario Bros.

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The 2025 Herring Fest is Sunday at the Watertown Dam.

Feeling feisty or even festy? This is the weekend to indulge in festivals, including, of course,  Watertown Porchfest on Saturday, a festival of local musicians that covers the whole town. While you probably know that already, you may not know about the festivals that surround Porchfest that add some variety to the weekend festivities. On Friday there is an art exhibit and an open mic comedy evening at Fort Gallery called Spring Harvest. Saturday after taking in some bands, head to the Dolma Fest which includes a competition for the best grape leaf and cabbage dolmas. A post-Porchfest event at our community TV studio includes a Mario Cart Grand Prix competition and a performance of the MIT Video Game Orchestra. So fun! Sunday afternoon, you can let your ears relax while enjoying the soundsof the Charles River at the Herring Festival. Face or arm painting of herrings included. 

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Faced Real-Life Scenarios in the Middlesex Sheriff’s Mobile Training Center

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Watertown Police Officer Mike Hill looks at the screen in the Middlesex Sheriff Office’s Mobile Training Center. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A trailer parked on a vacant lot in Watertown appeared quiet and tranquil from the outside, but inside Watertown Police officers faced intense situations in which they sometimes had to draw their firearms and even fire real bullets.

Around Town

Russell Cooperative Preschool’s Spring Ramble Includes Marionettes, Games & Music

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The following announcement was provided by Russell Cooperative Preschool:

Mark your calendars and bring the whole family to one of Watertown’s most delightful springtime events! On Saturday, May 17, Russell Cooperative Preschool will host its annual Spring Ramble — a day packed with enchanting entertainment, live music, tasty food, and fun-filled games, all held on the grounds of the historic First Parish of Watertown at 35 Church Street.

Around Town

Creative Chats Features Artist Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

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The following announcement was provided by Matt Hanna, host of Creative Chats:

Matt Hanna of Little Local Conversations will lead the featured conversation with painter, printmaker, and collage artist Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. They’ll chat around a question that Julie has been spending time pondering on within the topic of creativity and the creative life.

Letters

LETTER: Preserve the Shade Trees on Mt. Auburn Street

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Dear Mr. Micieli:

Removing urban street trees to facilitate so-called road improvements for the movement of pollution-belching behemoths challenges science and common sense in our time of crisis climate change. Scientists have documented the public health harm from tailpipe emissions, which is reduced significantly by the proximity of trees.