Around Town

Watertown’s Tipsy Tea Party 2026: “Drag me to the Disco!”

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The Tipsy Tea Party will be hosted by the City of Watertown’s Events Team at the Commander’s Mansion on Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. See more details provided by the Events Team, below. Pride Month is around the corner, and that means the Tipsy Tea is back! 

Join the City Events Team and the Friends of the COA for a festive gathering featuring delicious brunch bites, a cash bar, and fabulous drag entertainment in celebration of Pride. This year’s theme is “Drag Me to the Disco!” 

Tickets are $40 and go on sale Friday, May 1, 2026. Please note this event is 21+. Visit our website to meet this year’s dazzling performers, and don’t forget to set a reminder — tickets go fast! The Commander’s Mansion is located at 440 Talcott Ave., Watertown.

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: New Beer Garden, Amelie Teen Edition, Devil Wears Prada 2, Half Off Sandwiches, Eco Fest

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Spring has definitely sprung, and with that warmer weather is coming a new biergarten at Gore Place, that will be open only on weekends from now until October. They will serve beer and hard seltzers, but also non-alcoholic drinks. So it will be a lovely place to gather outside at the end of a workweek. Watertown Children’s Theater is putting on a show of “Amelie.” This is their teen edition, so I encourage you to take in this fun romantic comedy.

Around Town

Watertown Hosting Poppy Social With Wreath Laying Ceremony, Open House

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As part of the Memorial Day celebrations, the City of Watertown will hold a Poppy Social, with a wreath-laying ceremony and open house at the Commander’s Mansion. See more information from the City’s Events Team, below. Poppy Social: Open House & Wreath-Laying Ceremony

Friday, May 22, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Commander’s Mansion

440 Talcott Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472

We are pleased to welcome all Watertown Veterans and the general public to join us for the annual Poppy Social! The Watertown Veterans’ Services and City Events Team will host an Open House at the Commander’s Mansion including light refreshments and guided tours of the historic residence located in the Arsenal on the Charles complex. Be sure to arrive by 10:30 a.m. for the Honor and Color Guard wreath-laying ceremony!

Around Town

Watertown Business Coalition’s Quarterly Coffee Connect Coming to Commander’s Mansion

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The Watertown Business Coalition and the City of Watertown’s Events Team will co-host a Quarterly Coffee Connect at the Commander’s Mansion on April 15. See details in the announcement from the WBC, below. Join the Watertown Business Coalition and the City Events Team on Wednesday, April 15th from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Commander’s Mansion for a morning of networking, coffee, a light breakfast generously provided by Panera Bread Catering, and samples from BesTEA. Hear from the City Events Team as they provide a sneak peek at the City’s Events for 2026 including EcoFest, Octoberfest at The Faire and more! We also look forward to hearing from Tia Tilson, Executive Director of the Watertown Community Foundation, who is our non-profit partner for this event. 

We can’t wait to see you there!

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Merry Mingle, Lego Building, Holiday Makers Market, Concert, “Christmas Carol” Performance

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This is a packed Watertown weekend with winter and holiday events. On Saturday afternoon there will be an art sale at the Mosesian Center for the Arts with a wide variety of arts including ceramics, paintings, ornaments and jewelry. It’s great for shopping locally and supporting our artists. Saturday evening at Gore Place there will be a dramatic reading by Johnny Kinsman of A Christmas Carol including musical accompaniment by Justin Ouellet and Ann Moss, both local musicians. On Sunday there is a hands-on intergenerational Lego building activity at the Jewish Community Day School, it’s a challenge to build the world’s tallest Chanukiah! Later Sunday afternoon at the library, you can go relax after all the holiday activities with a winter concert given by the Vivace Music School Faculty. No need to leave Watertown this weekend to find some holiday cheer!

Entertainment

Merry Mingle Returns to the Commander’s Mansion with Holiday Characters, Train Rides & a Tree Lighting

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Please join us for The Merry Mingle on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 from 4-8 p.m. at the Commander’s Mansion! Enjoy festive outdoor activities including a toy chest drive with Watertown Veterans’ Services benefiting the Whooley Foundation, meet-and-greets with holiday characters, train rides, artificial snowball fight with Watertown Recreation, and the Christmas tree lighting at 7:30 p.m., and more! Guests can also visit the reception tent for games and musical performances, including the WPS All City Chorus and Orchestra. Inside the mansion, guests can create River of Light lantern-making with the Public Arts and Culture Committee, listen to seasonal storytime with the Watertown Free Public Library, and visit Winter Holidays Around the World vignettes on the second floor.

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Halloween Fun, Two Plays Hit the Stage, Artists Open Studios

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Halloween celebrations are in full swing this weekend. The Commander’s Mansion will host the second annual Wicked Watertown on Saturday, and enjoy some fall fun at Gore Place on Sunday. It’s a weekend of theater at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, with two classic plays hitting the stage — one put on by the Watertown Children’s Theatre and the other by the Actors’ Shakespeare Project. Take an inside look at artists studios on Saturday and Sunday during the Turtle Studios Open Studios. While the event is just over the river in Newton, several Watertown artists create their works at the studios.

Around Town

City’s Wicked Watertown Event to Features Halloween Fun

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Once again in 2025, the Commander’s Mansion will be the site for Halloween fun during Wicked Watertown. See more details provided by the City of Watertown, below. Wicked Watertown returns to the Commander’s Mansion, located at 440 Talcott Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 4-8 p.m.! Featuring two sessions of tours for $5 per person and under 3 enters for free (choose your fright level: spooky or scary) plus free outdoor guest experiences including games and activities with Watertown Recreation, stories by flashlight with Watertown Free Public Library, and more Halloween fun!