Children's Rides, Pony Rides, animal Shows, Music, Food... and much more!

Profile will be performing at 5:30pm, followed by Fireworks at 9:30pm

John Penny Band. Special Children's performance at 6:15 pm featuring Jenny the Juggler sponsored by Mary's make a Wish Foundation in memory of Mary Brasco. Sponsored by Danversbank.

Works by Piazzolla, Satie and more. Duo Orfeo brings to life a world of sound; intimate, charming, subtle and haunting. These classical guitarists, create performances and recordings that composer David Macbride has described as “the embodiment of grace and beauty.”

Bring the family to enjoy show tunes and singing dance tunes in the European Klezmer tradition. Take in the beautiful setting while sitting back and enjoying your $1 a cup Lizzy's ice cream or kick up your heels and strut your stuff. BYO chairs, blankets and dancing shoes!

Native American lecture by Frank Maloney.

Complimentary samples from our menu Thursday to Sunday night from 6-8. Snack Hour appetizers in the lounge every night from 4-7 and 10-Close starting at $2.99. FREE delivery in Waltham!

Restaurants feature value lunches and dinners. See www.walthamtourism.com for details

3rd Annual Metz Meet featuring the slide show: "When Flying Machines Came To Waltham"

Turn unwanted kitchen scraps into a rich fertilizer for your plants when we teach you how to set up a home composting bin. Topics covered include choosing the right bin, feeding and maintaining your worms, and harvesting your black gold fertilizer.

Children may join the museum at 1:00 PM a time traveling story time. We will read The Pocket Watch by Michelle L. Izmaylov and make our own pocket watch to take home.

Bring your antique watch or clock to the museum and discover its history. The museum will have several historians and specialists on hand to provide condition reports and backgrounds for anyone wanting to learn more about their antique watch or clock.

1860 rules, Essex Baseball League and Medfield Pondfielders

A hands-on farm program for ages 6-9. Help with animals, plant seeds, learn about the life-cycle of plants, harvest & eat vegetables from the gardens and take a hayride tour of the grounds. Space limited. $160/pp $145 Family/Kids’ Club members.

See mailable pictures of Waltham's past.

Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra, sponsored by Watertown Savings

Paul Revere's ride to warn the colonial militia of the British march on Lexington and Concord is a legendary contribution to the American Revolution. Midnight Ride, Industrial Dawn reveals another side of this American hero's life, that of a transformational entrepreneur instrumental in the industrial revolution.

Guitarist David Newsam will perform a concert of classical and contemporary music in the 1793 Carriage House at Gore Place. David will play a variety of stringed instruments including 6, 7, 8, and 10 string guitars! David has performed with many noted musicians, including jazz legends Clark Terry, Phil Wilson, Joe Williams and Milt Jackson and performs regularly as part of the Back Bay Guitar Trio.

Lecture on the history of the Embassy Theater by Jonathan Boschen.

Meet Waltham's own pen & ink artist Donna Laswell and see her amazing work of historic buildings and antique homes while enjoying a free sampling of summer teas!

Led by a guide in period dress, you will explore the beautiful 1806 Governor Gore mansion while hearing stories of unusual occupations in the early 19th century. Free parking. Capacity limited. For tickets, call: (781) 894-2798.

Menu TBA - featuring fresh produce from Waltham Fields Community Farm. Bring a blanket or chairs, and your friends.

Take your place in history. Bring 1 to 3 photos for inclusion in a public digital archive.

Morning Prayer according to the 1792 Book of Common Prayer

See the windows donated by Waltham families (See f you can find Lydia Lyman Paine depicted above our altar!) -- Touch the stones gathered from the grounds of the Paine Estate See how the history of Christ Church is the History of Waltham.

70th Reunion of the Class of 1941 at the Chateau Restaurant. A slideshow will be presented. Other graduates and the public are invited. Reservations required.

Enjoy more than 200 classic and antique vehicles, music by the New Liberty Jazz Band, food concessions, family activities and tours of the Codman Estate at the 27th Antique Auto Show. $10 registration fee for vehicles, passengers are free. Classic and antique cars, trucks, motorcycles, and fire engines are welcome. Entrants receive show ribbon.

Steve Taddeo Swing Senders, sponsored by Gordon's Liquors.

A morning hands-on farm program for children ages 8-12. Spend the day like a farmer. Plant and pick vegetables in the fields, then prepare your harvest for the farm stand. Space limited. Family/Kids’ Club members $30 per class. $35 nonmembers.

Power Point presentation on the Waltham Watchand its history by Mike Squillante

Lecture on the Military History of Waltham presented by Jack Vallely.

Tour the "Back of the House" and learn about the women and men who lived and worked at Stonehurst in the 19th century.

Held at the LaCava Conference Center, Bentley Univ., this geneology seminar has various speakers and topics of discussion.See website for details.

Two of WLT's founding members will share their knowledge of the history and flora of Mackerel Hill and the nearby Whitney-Farrington-Cook House. We'll hike up the slight incline of Mackerel Hill then down to the House, whose owner has granted us permission to enter. This is a special treat!

The Continentals. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.

Learn about plans to restore the peach wall garden, re-create the historic garden path, re-establish the box hedge, and rehabilitate the rhododendron grove.

Learn how Historic New England is making the historic building energy efficient.

A morning hands-on farm program for children ages 8-12. Spend the day like a farmer. Plant and pick vegetables in the fields, then prepare your harvest for the farm stand. Space limited. Family/Kids’ Club members $30 per class. $35 nonmembers.

“Any new song that can live comfortably beside the well-worn songs of folk tradition has a good chance of surviving the test of time. Such, we believe, are the songs of Bill Staines”--Charles “Sandy” Paton, Folk Legacy Records

A lecture on growing up in Waltham to include the history of WCRB by Dave MacNeil.

The award-winning, traveling youth circus raises its Big Top tent on the grounds of Gore Place! Kids ages 10 to 18 star as aerialists, wire walkers, jugglers, clowns, acrobats and more! This is the circus The Boston Globe called a "cultural treasure" and Family Fun magazine called "one of America's best!" This year's show is "Frontpage Follies:" Paparazzi clowns, acrobatic anchors, juggling paperboys and one wacky weatherman seek all the news that fits...inside center ring!

Ruins in the woods and fields surrounding Stonehurst offer clues to the history of this once thriving family estate and working farm.

It's a great time to plant and get some great deals on plants. All of the hosta, perennial, herb, and annual plants at the greenhouses are heavily discounted for this weekend sale. Have our expert staff help you choose plants for your garden conditions.

Waltham American Legion Band. Sponsored by the Chateau Restaurant and Waltham Police National Night Out.

Author Peter Alden will give an illustrated talk on how the polar bears are faring, how the Arctic and Antarctic differ, what the local peoples' lives are like and how the changes in climate pattersns have already affected them.

Help the Waltham Land Trust and Trustees of Reservations remove non-native plants from the trails of the Charles Riverwalk up/downstream of the Moody Street Dam. These invasives compete with and crowd out our native riverside plants! Tools and instruction provided. Bring water and sunscreen, and wear closed-toed shoes.

The Soft Touch Band. Sponsored by the Waltham Arts Council.

) Led by a guide in period dress, you will explore the beautiful 1806 Governor Gore mansion while hearing stories of unusual occupations in the early 19th century. Free parking. Capacity limited. For tickets, call: (781) 894-2798.

The Reynolds Band. Sponsored by the Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce.

Reminisants. Sponsored by Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation, Inc.

The Herrmann family, breeders and trainers of the famed Lipizzan horse, demonstrate the highest levels of horsemanship in three shows. These stallions are among the last horses capable of executing the "Airs Above the Ground" maneuvers, dramatic leaps and plunges that were developed as aggressive battle maneuvers in the sixteenth century and are now among the most beautiful displays of equine grace and strength. Please bring seats and bug spray. Snacks and souvenirs are available.

A Grand Day Out plays rock, blues and '60's and '70's classics.

The Herrmann family, breeders and trainers of the famed Lipizzan horse, demonstrate the highest levels of horsemanship in three shows. These stallions are among the last horses capable of executing the "Airs Above the Ground" maneuvers, dramatic leaps and plunges that were developed as aggressive battle maneuvers in the sixteenth century and are now among the most beautiful displays of equine grace and strength. Please bring seats and bug spray. Snacks and souvenirs are available.

Waltham Farmers' Market bring fresh produce, meat, cheese, eggs, specialty foods, art and crafts to downtown Waltham every Saturday, rain or shine.

The Herrmann family, breeders and trainers of the famed Lipizzan horse, demonstrate the highest levels of horsemanship in three shows. These stallions are among the last horses capable of executing the "Airs Above the Ground" maneuvers, dramatic leaps and plunges that were developed as aggressive battle maneuvers in the sixteenth century and are now among the most beautiful displays of equine grace and strength. Please bring seats and bug spray. Snacks and souvenirs are available.

Join local craftsperson Alexis Shaw as she demonstrates how to create a floral Indian Summer Swag at the Waltham Public Library on Wednesday, September 7th at 7:00 PM. Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating limited. Call to reserve 781-314-3425 ext 2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us

WLT and the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center are establishing a monthly walking group. At this event, we will kickoff our partnership with a 10:30 a.m. and noon tour of Waltham Common. Health fair activities and healthy snacks will also be offered.

What was it like to live in the dark with only candles to light your way? Led by a guide in period clothing, this special evening tour of the beautiful Governor Gore mansion will explore life before the electric light. Free parking. Capacity limited. For advanced tickets, call: (781) 894-2798.

Guitarist Santiago Diaz returns with a program of works by Bach, Fernando Sor, Joaquin Rodrigo and more. The Boston Globe wrote “He's a really spectacular player. The combination of his technique and his passionate performance is really not to be missed”...“A player with flair, lyricism, and technical finesse.” $12 advanced, $15 at the door, $10 gore Place members and students with i.d. To order, call (781) 894-2798.

Moody Street String Band gives an open-air concert of Celtic, Scots and Yankee traditional music.

Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street in Waltham will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the parish LIFETEEN Youth Ministry with a special event and personal appearance by singer, composer and storyteller Jesse Manibusan on Saturday, September 17, 2011. This special event will begin with a 4:00PM Mass, followed by a live concert featuring Jesse’s music, humor and inspiring witness of faith. The event will conclude with refreshments at Sacred Heart Parish Hall. Jesse Manibusan is a Catholic singer-composer who has traveled the world over, performing in the presence of popes and millions of young people at youth gatherings. Jesse’s recordings showcase his amazingly versatile singing voice. The popularity of his songs have credited him with being named ‘Artist of the Year’ by the United Catholic Music and Video Association. For more information on this free event please contact us at sacredheartlifeteen@comcast.net or call 781-893-8461.

WRKO Radio personality Bill Kelly will speak at Sacred Heart on Saturday morning, September 17th at 10AM. William A. Kelly is founder and president of Kelly Financial Services of Braintree, MA. Bill is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and has focused on Senior Safe Money Strategies since 1994. He is a noted industry speaker and hosts the weekly Safe Money® program on WRKO, AM 680 radio. His program is heard throughout the northeast every Saturday morning from 9:00am to noon. Bill’s Senior Safe Money Strategies® workshops and seminars have reached more than 12,000 seniors over the past decade. Mr. Kelly lives in Rhode Island with his wife Kelly, his son and two daughters. Bill will speak on various topics related to personal finance and there will be time for questions from those attending. Following the presentation a light brunch will be served. Tickets are just $10 per person, in advance of this event, and are available by contacting the religious education office at 781-893-8461. Tickets are also available at The Tea Leaf, 487 Moody Street, (Wed. through Sunday 11:30am to 5:00pm). For additional information call Sacred Heart Religious Education office at 781-893-8461.

Get expert advice from Roberta K. Taylor, RNCS, M.ED., on the topic of retirement planning. Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating limited. Call to reserve, 781-314-3425 ext 2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

Come celebrate farming at Waltham Farm Day! This event is free and all are welcome. Ongoing activities will include cider-pressing, live music by Royer’s One Man Band, a cooking demonstration with fresh produce by Healthy Waltham, chicken and bee activities by the Waltham 4-H Clubs, and more. Rain or shine!

Find books for all ages, fiction and non-fiction, paperbacks, movies, music, audio books and magazines at the annual Books Sale from September 24 through October 1st at the Waltham Public Library. Your purchase helps the Friends supplement City library services for all residents.

Tonic jazz trio performs an open-air concert at the market.

This Columbus Day, you can search the 45 acre grounds of the beautiful Gore estate for clues. Solve the puzzle and you win a prize! $5 per map. Come to the mansion at 52 Gore Street in Waltham to start your search!

This month the Walking Group of Waltham Land Trust and Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center enjoy the “Riverwalk Park Route” in a guided tour along the Charles River. Park/meet at Joseph Smith (564 Main St). We’ll return by dusk.

Oct. 14, 21 & 28. Led by guides in period dress telling tales of ghosts and strange happenings in early New England, the tour begins in the 1793 Carriage House, proceeds through the gardens and into the mansion including the major rooms of the first and second floor.

Join financial planner Brian Mullen as he points out the financial decisions we do control and some of the options that are available. Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library this event is free but seating limited. Call 781-314-3425 x 2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us to register.

With a rich tenor voice and a mastery of guitar, dobro, mandolin, and dulcimer, David has been performing his unique mixture of folk, Appalachian and blues for over 20 years. Concert will be held in the 1793 Carriage House.

This program provides homeowners with practical options for improving energy efficiency in historic and older houses and highlights two weatherization projects undertaken by Historic New England at the Lyman Estate and the Pierce House. Learn how to make sound, practical, and affordable choices for energy improvements that also respect historic features. With the right approach, any older home can be made greener and more sustainable. Free to Waltham Residents and Historic New England members.

Hot Tamale Brass Band brings the Dixieland sound of New Orleans to the Waltham Farmers' Market's last concert of the season.

Dear Friends, We have had to unfortunately cancel this lecture due to circumstances beyond our control. As you know, we keep cancellations to an absolute minimum and we only do so when we must. We hope we will be able to offer this lecture in the spring and that you can join us then. Thank you, Rosa Di Virgilio Taormina, Scholars Program Assistant Director

Sam Hunt spent two years cooking with celebrity restauratuer Barbara Lynch (No. 9 Park and B. & G. Oysters). Sam, Executive Chef at 15 Washington in Hamilton, will tantalize your taste-buds with a sumptuous meal served in the 1793 Carriage House using local ingredients. $90/ (wine included). Res. req'd.

The Dire Fate of Boys Rosalind Chait Barnett Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. Scare stories about the fate of boys are proliferating in the media. We hear that they are falling behind, that their brains are so different from those of girls that they have to be taught in “boy-friendly” classes, that they are ill-equipped to comprehend major works of literature, that they are aggressive, unemotional, and even uncaring – all the things that girls are not. Are these stories based on fact or on stereotyped fictions? And does it matter? Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Children and their families can dance to a DJ, listen to stories, play games, join a costume parade, and take a wagon ride around the farm fields of this 45 acre estate. Children and adults are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes but no scary costumes please as this event is intended for young children. $5 per person, all ages. Admission is good for one wagon ride per person. Tickets available at the door. Free parking. No pets.

Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Russia; Tchaikovsky, Rococo Variations; Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5

A Room of One's Own Alexandra Borrie Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. Playing the role of Virginia Woolf, Alexandra Borrie will deliver a condensed version of several lectures, given to several womens' colleges in England during the mid 1920's and published under the now famous title A Room Of One's Own in 1929. Woolf herself describes the work as " a trifle...written with ardour and conviction". It is that and a good deal more, addressing a woman's need for money, time and a private space in which to create art. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Dr. Matthew Raider will discuss the parallels between near death experiences and the experiences of meditators in the past and today. Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating limited. Call to reserve at 781-314-3425 ext 2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

Celebrate orchid blooming season. Hundreds of orchid plants are for sale, including many hard-to-find varieties. Visit the greenhouses and enjoy gorgeous floral colors, shapes, and scents. Among the many varieties on display and for sale are cattleyas, laelias, oncidiums, Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis. Their long-lasting and showy blooms make orchids a dramatic addition to any indoor environment and this adaptable species can be grown in a variety of home conditions.

More than eighty members of the Waltham Mills Artists Association and Lincoln Studios will open their studios to the public. These artists work in a wide range of media including sculpture, painting, glass, printmaking, textiles, film and video. Parking at RTN Credit Union 600 N. Main Street.

More than eighty members of the Waltham Mills Artists Association and Lincoln Studios will open their studios to the public. These artists work in a wide range of media including sculpture, painting, glass, printmaking, jewelry, textiles, film and video. Parking at RTN Credit Union 600 N. Main Street.

Returning to the Old New World, Part 2 Ludmila Shtern Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. This presentation summarizes my observations of the changes that have taken place in Russia since the demise of the Soviet Union. I will share my experiences in the literary and political worlds from 1990 to the present. I will also read from my new book on this topic. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Join the Ligue Francophone of New England for "An Evening of History, Music and Food" at the Waltham Public Library. Dr. Helene Day will provide the history via her illustrated lecture "Who Was Wilfrid Laurier?" Monsieur Roger L'Heureux will provide folkloric pieces on his accordion. Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating limited. Call ahead to reserve 781-314-3425 ext 2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

What was it like to live in the dark with only candles to light your way? Led by a guide in period clothing, this special evening tour of the beautiful Governor Gore mansion will explore life before the electric light. Free parking. Capacity limited. Advance tickets suggested. To order, call: (781) 894-2798.

Join a guide dressed in period costume who will use the famous author's words to describe life in the Regency era while touring the beautiful 1806 Governor Gore mansion. Capacity limited. Call for tickets.

Don't miss Mimi Braverman on Degas. The noted art historian and adjunct lecturer with the MFA will detail the exhibit co-organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating limited. Call to reserve 781-314-3425 ext 2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

CD Audio-Play Launch and Talk/Performance: ‘Perceval & the Grail’ Diana Durham and Alexandra Borrie Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. Narrated by the opinionated sorceress Morgana, this retelling weaves original insights into the 12th century from over a decade of study and explains in simple terms the meaning of the Grail. The story is comic, fast-moving and relevant to women and men of all ages and backgrounds. We will present excerpts, summarize the story and explore its meaning. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Wine expert Paul Malagrifa will be offering a selection of popular wines from the early 19th century as well as some wonderful contemporary wines. Taste the fine wines in vogue in Gore's day in the beautiful surroundings of Gore Place.

The Long Street: a Visual Journey Emily Corbato Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. This presentation draws upon several series of photographic detours taken while traveling to different places. In these explorations ordinary experiences become fanciful, curious, and sometimes profound. I have selected images, some with texts, from many portfolios, creating a photographic trip through ideas and image. This detour will include work from Alcatraz, Terezin, Lebanon, Peru, “Mother’s Apartment”, new work-in-progress, recent images from Plum Island as well as other surprises. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

You don’t need a greenhouse to grow orchids. Success can be achieved on your windowsill. Learn the essentials of growing orchids; media, light, water, temperature, fertilization, selection and repotting are taught by Lyman Estate Greenhouse Manager and horticulturist, Lynn Ackerman.

What was life like 200 years ago? Find out how people ate, slept, worked, and played with a special tour just for kids! Explore the Gore Place mansion with a costumed guide and take part in fun activities and puzzles. $7, Designed for children 8-12 years old. Reservations are required by November 17 as space is limited. To reserve, email tamar.agulian@goreplace.org or call(781) 894-2798.

The Roads not Taken: Ego-Histoire or my Encounter with Three Women Scientists. (Two Nobel Laureates and a "Girl Interrupted") Pnina G. Abir-Am Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. This talk examines the overlapping careers of three women scientists by reflecting on how their careers and lives in science relate to the unfinished gender revolution of the 1970s, to each other, as well as to this historian author, who happens to share key biographical features with all three subjects. Two of these scientists are members of the first ever team of women Nobel Laureates in 2009 (for the discovery of telomerase and the role of telomeres in replication, aging, and cancer) while relating to each other as Ph.D. adviser and advisee. The third scientist was their predecessor, and actually the first woman to be hired in the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of California at Berkeley in the mid-1970s, prior to becoming part of the “leaking pipeline” of women in science. The essay concludes by highlighting the under-utilized synergy between the interests of wo/men scientists and wo/men historians in making both science and the world at large a more robust space of gender equality. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

) Enjoy a tour of the beautiful 1806 Gore mansion led by a guide in period clothing telling stories of how people entertained in the early 1800s. Capacity limited. For advanced tickets, call (781) 894-2798.

Businesses throughout the downtown show their Holiday Prelude creativity by decorating their windows for the season! Walk or drive through downtown Waltham and enjoy the displays. Have a favorite? We'd love to know. Email us your favorite(s) at discoverwaltham@gmail.com Windows will be judged by the DTI Committee members and winners will be announced before Christmas.

Celebrate Holiday Prelude with SAVINGS! There is something for everyone at Gourmet Pottery. Just say the magic word 'Fruitcake' before we ring up your merchandise and receive 10% off your entire purchase at Gourmet Pottery!

Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy invites you celebrate the first evening of Waltham Holiday Prelude with the City's Annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Waltham Common. The Waltham High School show choirs will be on hand to get everyone in the holiday spirit with singing some holiday classics! Santa’s mailbox will also be set up on the Common for children to leave their letters to Santa during the holiday season (be sure to leave a return address on each child’s letter). Parents make sure to bring your camera to take your child’s photo on Santa’s lap in City Hall after the tree lighting is kicked off on the Common. The Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce will have a table of information about the 4th Annual Holiday Prelude,the Waltham Tourism Website and the Watch City Card

Small Business Saturday is part of Waltham Holiday Prelude each year. Look for the American Express flyers on establishment doors or windows throughout the city. As an American Express customer, Am Exp will credit your account $25. when you use your card to shop on November 26th! Local business owners pay local taxes and give to many local charities. Keep your business local and show your support of Waltham businesses by shopping and dining local on Small Business Saturday, November 26th!

As part of the 4th Annual Waltham Holiday Prelude, The Tea Leaf will open at 9:30am for holiday shopping, tea, breakfast pastries, lunch,Afternoon Tea, etc. Please call for tearoom reservations. Mrs. Jessica Claus will, once again, visit The Tea Leaf from 1-3pm. Children are encouraged to bring their letters to Santa and Mrs. Claus will take them back to the North Pole. Please be sure to put return address on the letter so that Santa can reply! Bring your camera! Free candy canes, tea sampling and save 20% on your entire purchase of regular priced items!

Holiday Music Favorites, plus Swan Lake, March of the Wooden Soldiers, Harry Potter Suite. Holiday Singalong. Refreshments, Raffles, Cash Bar. Fun for the Whole Family during the Holiday Prelude! Show your City Card and get a free raffle ticket!

Coming to America: Success and Failure in the First Generation of Filene's Ann W. Caldwell Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. Catherine (Kay) Filene Shouse (1896-1994) never knew economic hardship. She had money all her life, thanks to the spectacular success of her father Lincoln Filene, and her uncle Edward, at the Boston specialty store William Filene and Sons. But the Filene money and famous name only partially explain the drive, soaring ambition, and powerful search for meaning through philanthropy that Kay brought to her long life in Washington DC. In this early chapter of her biography, I explore how much the backdrop of failure, poverty and even bankruptcy of her immigrant grandparents fueled Kay's determination. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

As part of Waltham Holiday Prelude, enjoy private shopping and light refreshments at 9:00am before Bon Worth opens to the general public. At 10:00am there will be a fall and winter fashion show of Bon Worth's latest arrivals!

Come in from the cold to a warm and festive historic setting decorated for the holidays! Warm up to the holidays with seasonal music by the Waltham Philharmonic Chamber Players while previewing sample exhibits about this national treasure in your own back yard. See more Waltham Holiday Prelude festivities at www.walthamtourism.com.

Waltham Holiday Prelude!!! Stop by and do some holiday shopping with many of our venders!!

The lecture begins at 12:00 p.m. with a musical interlude by Emily Corbató, followed by readings from our Scholars: Creative writer Nancer Ballard will read an excerpt from her memoir-in-progress, The Odd Direction Of Heaven, in which a young woman, struggling to make changes in her own life, tries to discover what makes people endure impossible situations. Together with the Colombian poet Clara Ronderos, Mary G. Berg, will read from recent collaborative translations of Ronderos' 2010 prize-winning collection Estaciones en exilio (Seasons in Exile). Emily Corbató will read “The Piano Lesson,” a short story about friendship, love of music and the relationship between a teacher and her student. Georgia Sassen will read five poems ranging from a humorous vilannelle to free verse reflecting on human connections and our relationship to the natural world. Rachel Munn will read from her poetry collection, Winter Street, A Year, which weaves themes of time in renovating a hundred year old farmhouse, raising young children and Jewish identity. Naomi Myrvaagnes will read from her novel in progress, The Third Street Temple, which explores Rabbi Felice Whitman's mission to inspire her congregants to commit to their Jewish heritage.

As part of Waltham's Holiday Prelude Celebration we have decked the halls and are hosting an addmission free day today. Enjoy special activities such as typing a letter to Santa on our antique typewriters, or finding Santa's elves through out the museum in our scavenger hunt. In addition right next door, the Francis Cabot Lowell Mill Apartments will be hosting its annual holiday Sale and craft market.

HOLIDAY PRELUDE GIDT BOUTIQUE! Sacred Heart Holiday Gift Shop Sacred Heart Parish will hold a holiday gift sale throughout this weekend following all Masses. A wonderful selection of holiday gifts for the home or for for those on your Christmas list. So come and shop for that special hostess gift, teacher gifts, gift basket collection or indulge yourself with a special holiday gift or accent for your own home. The sale will take place before and after the 4:00 Mass on Saturday December 3rd and before and after the 10:00AM and 6:00PM Masses on Sunday December 4th.

Enjoy a first-floor tour of the beautiful Governor Gore mansion during Waltham's Holiday Prelude. You'll see the Great Stairs, Great Hall, Oval Parlor, Dining Parlor, Gore's Office, and the Family Breakfast Room. There will be a Gift Boutique for your holiday shopping, as well. Admission is just $5 per person. No reservations necessary. Holiday Prelude is organized by the Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and the Down Town Initiative.

In conjuction with the Waltham Chamber of Commerce & the Waltham Holiday Prelude, there will be a holiday concert, singalong, instrument petting zoo, with holiday cookies & tea/cocoa

Featuring: Jim Plunket Musician/Comedian

HOLIDAY PRELUDE EVENT! Sacred Heart Parish in Waltham will celebrate the closing event for the Holiday Prelude on Sunday, December 4th beginning at 6PM with the evening Mass followed by a concert by the Sacred Heart Church Choirs with a special "guest" presentation. There will also be a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by John Frassica and Santa will make a special appearance. Children will have the opportunity to visit with and have a photo taken with Santa and each will receive a small token from one of Santa Claus' elves! The concert will begin at 7:00 PM and cookies, cocoa and hot cider will be served at this FREE event, so come, bring the family and enjoy the music, fun and refreshments. Sacred Heart Church is located at 311 River Street and is handicapped accessible with plenty of parking. Sacred Heart Holiday Gift Shop Sacred Heart Parish will hold a holiday gift sale throughout this weekend following all Masses. A wonderful selection of holiday gifts for the home or for for those on your Christmas list. So come and shop for that special hostess gift, teacher gifts, gift basket collection or indulge yourself with a special holiday gift or accent for your own home. The sale will take place before and after the 4:00 Mass on Saturday December 3rd and before and after the 10:00AM and 6:00PM Masses on Sunday December 4th.

Come celebrate Waltham Holiday Prelude with an evening of music, story, and light refreshments! A mini concert by the Sacred Heart Adult Choir and The Life Teen Band and a reading of The Night Before Christmas by WNTN's John Frassica, and a visit from jolly St. Nick himself! Bring the children and a camera! Shop the mini gift boutique. Light seasonal refreshments will be served following the performance.

Wassail punch, fantastic floral design presentation, live music, delicious bites, great raffle prizes, and holiday cheer. Please join the Waltham Garden Club as they celebrate their 70th anniversary and the start of the holiday season. Tickets Joanne 781-891-8779 or email: info@walthamgardenclub.com

Solstice Sackbuts perform a winter concert at the Waltham Public Library on Monday, December 5th at 7:30 PM. They will take you on a musical tour from Renaissance to Baroque to pop and jazz on brass. Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating limited. Call to reserve, 781-314-3425 ext 2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

Thursday, December 8th, 6-9pm Learn to make a flower that will stay colorful all winter long! Great for holiday gifts, clothing embellishments, or household decoration, felted flowers are a great project for beginning and experienced felters alike. In this workshop, each participant will learn to turn fleece into a beautiful felted flower to take home and enjoy. Register Online here: http://www.communityfarms.org/index.php/involved/skills-workshop-form $20 members/$25 non-members, and $5 materials fee to pay to instructor on day of workshop

The complexities of balancing paid work, family roles and community responsibilities challenge every woman, with an added dimension when women also seek to promote social change. Work groups can provide both personal support and an effective setting to explore feminist models of leadership and consider how our work can lead to progressive change. Janet Freedman will outline ways to create a small work group within your field, or across occupations, and offer the audience a chance to exchange ideas with participants in one such group.

) What was it like to live in the dark with only candles to light your way? Led by a guide in period clothing, this special evening tour of the beautiful Governor Gore mansion will explore life before the electric light. Free parking. Capacity limited. For advanced tickets, call: (781) 894-2798.

Pastimes Entertainment will present interactive theatrical experiences, including Victorian Carolers, a Victorian Santa Claus and his workshop elf. Queen Victoria will hold court and roving actors will present scenes from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Visitors may interact with Tiny Tim, the ghosts of Christmas past present and future, watch one of Santa’s elves make toys for good girls and boys, and more. In addition the museum has gathered together twenty vendors offering hand crafted reproduction Victorian merchandise including wooden toys, leather gifts, porcelain china, top hats, jewelry and more.

Dec. 10, 11, 16 and 17 at 1 and 3pm. Enjoy a 3-tiered afternoon tea in the beautiful Governor Gore mansion. Following your tea, you’ll join a guide dressed in period clothing for a tour of the sumptuously furnished mansion with tales of life in the Jane Austen era. $45/pp. Advanced tickets required. Call: (781) 894-2798.

Dec. 10, 11 and 17. Enjoy a special menu children's tea in the beautiful Governor Gore Mansion. Then, join in an activity, followed by a visit from Santa! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets required at least one week in advance.

Fern Abrams and Joan Garniss performing as Duo con Anima, present a holiday selection for their four-hand and two piano performance.Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating limited. Please call ahead to reserve a place, 781-314-3425 ext 2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

Rachel Kadish will read from her collection of short stories titled "The Argument" and invites discussion. Through a wide span of characters and voices, the stories, set in Israel and the U.S., pose questions about love, humor, and memory, Jewish and human identity. Is an argument a form of faith, or the end of faith? When and how does laughter outshout loss, beauty trump fear? In the aftermath of the Holocaust, is memory always a virtue? What, if anything, does a reparation claim repair?

Social commentators ranging from psychiatrists to writers and filmmakers have alternately revered or reviled mothers including older mothers. Drawing on selected feature films from the 1930s through the 1990s with actresses age 60 and older, Elizabeth Markson will examine the portrayal of older mothers' relationships with their adult children.

Among the items displayed in this whole-house exhibit entitled are the trade sign from Christopher Gore's family's paint shop, the weathervane from the1793 carriage house, and Frances Pinckny Gore's 1732 sampler. Placed throughout the mansion, these unique items give a glimpse into the private lives of this distinguished couple. Viewed as part of the mansion tour. Tour times are Monday through Friday at 1pm. Saturdays at 12, 1, 2 & 3pm.

Start off the New Year on the right foot with a hike in Prospect Hill Park. We’ll hike up to Boston Rock for spectacular views of Waltham and the Boston skyline. Hot refreshments will be provided. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.

What was it like to live in the dark with only candles to light your way? Led by a guide in period clothing, this special evening tour of the beautiful Governor Gore mansion will explore life before the electric light. Free parking. Capacity limited. Advance tickets suggested. To order, call: (781) 894-2798.

The great author returns to read his spookiest tales! This wonderful program will enlighten the aficionado and the casual reader alike. Q and A to follow. Held in the Great Hall of this 1806 Gore mansion. Light refreshments provided. Call to order: (781) 894-2798 ext. 12. Recommended 16 and older.

Members of the Waltham Philharmonic and the Waltham Symphony Orchestras join together as the Waltham Violin Trio, performing at the Waltham Public Library on Sunday, January 15th at 2:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, this event is free but seating limited. Call to reserve a place, 781-314-3425 x2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

A resume workshop with Theresa Maturevich is being held at the library on Tuesday, January 17th. She will give helpful advice on writing resumes in today's tricky job climate. Sponsored by the Friends, this event is free but seating limited. Call to reserve, 781-314-3425, ext 2, or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

Learn the latest in dressing for cold temperatures and nasty weather. Afterwards, see a sneak peek of the winter waterfowl we hope to see on the 7th Annual Duck Walk happening on Sunday, January 22.

You'll be glad you attended our Duck Walk primer class when you don't freeze as you identify a Hooded Merganser on our 7th Annual Duck Walk. Bring your binoculars and dress for the weather.

On a Slippery Slope: The Medicalization of Grief Phyllis Silverman Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. In the U.S. today, there is a movement to transform the normal life cycle experience of “grief following a death” into a psychiatric illness. This shift is part of the larger phenomenon of the medicalization of human experience. My presentation will illustrate how grief is framed increasingly in the language of illness and will discuss the consequences of this move. The following quote by famed sociologist Elliot Friedson will be my starting point: “A pathology arises …when the only legitimate spokesperson on an issue relevant to all must be someone who is officially certified” (1970). Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Award-winning jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin is treating Waltham to his unique style of swinging bluesy jazz at the Waltham Public Library on Monday, January 30th at 7:00 PM. Sponsored by the Friends, this event is free but seating limited. Call to reserve, 781-314-3425 ext 2, or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

One Hundred Years of Kibbutz Life: A Century of Crises and Reinvention Shulamit Reinharz Thursday, February 09, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. After offering some basic definitions, my lecture will have three parts: 1) the story of the woman who should be credited with founding the first kibbutz; 2) an overview of the principles that guided kibbutz life; and 3) the ways those principles changed so that the kibbutz could survive. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

What was it like to live in the dark with only candles to light your way? Led by a guide in period clothing, this special evening tour of the beautiful Governor Gore mansion will explore life before the electric light. Free parking. Capacity limited. Advance tickets suggested. To order, call: (781) 894-2798.

The five-piece jazz group Swing Set presents a Jazz Valentine at the Waltham Public Library. Enjoy classic love songs selected from the American songbook, played in a variety of styles by seasoned pros. This program is free but seating limited. Call to reserve at 781-314-3425 x2 or online under "Events Calendar" at waltham.lib.ma.us.

Join a guide dressed in period costume who will use the famous author's words to describe romance in the Regency era while touring the beautiful 1806 Governor Gore mansion.

What do trains, flutes, and clocks all have in common? Visitors can find out at the New England Model Engineering Show held at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham, Mass. This festival will feature model engineers showcasing their working creations – steam engines, gasoline engines, aircraft engines, Stirling cycle engines, clocks, locomotives, moving puzzles, mini machines, pinhole cameras, wooden vehicle modes, model boats, and much more. There will be 100+ working machines on display, as well as hands-on experiments to learn from.

Enjoy an evening tour of the beautiful 1806 governor Gore Mansion. With its spiral staircase, marble floors and oval rooms, the elegantly furnished mansion has been called “the Monticello of the North” and architectural historians consider it to be the most significant Federal period mansion in New England.

Ernestine L. Rose (1810-1892): Reclaiming Her Place in History Paula Doress-Worters Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Rose was the first person to petition a state legislature in the U.S. for women's rights; the first to say, "Women's rights are human rights." In the 1830s before there was an organized women's movement, Rose became a mentor and colleague to Stanton and Anthony. As an immigrant, a Jew, and a freethinker, she was outside the predominantly American-born Protestants mainstream of reform movements. Nevertheless her eloquence, logic, and humor made her a valued leader. I will share initial successes of the Ernestine Rose Society and her increasing recognition following publication of my collection of her speeches and letters. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

From Manuscript to Performance Laury Gutierrez Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. A preview performance of selections from Camilla de Rossi’s oratorio The Prodigal Son, with a glance at the research process and the challenges of transforming the original manuscript from archival piece to vibrant music. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Memoir as Process WSRC Scholars Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Using examples from our own work, we will explore the process of memoir writing, discussing choices of focus, where and how to start, and what to include or omit. Audience participation is welcome. Panelists include Nancer Ballard, Mei-Mei Ellerman, Frinde Maher and Mary Mason. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Creating Poems, Creating Community: Building Social-Emotional and Literacy Skills in Schools Georgia Sassen Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. This multi media presentation will describe Sassen's Drums and Poems program, currently in use in the Waltham schools. Children's and parents' comments on the program will accompany videos of the children in action, and explanation of the relational theory behind the program. Audience participation will be encouraged. Two Brandeis students will be part of the presentation. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Art and Angst: Is Pain Necessary? WSRC Scholars Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Stereotypically, artists are characterized as “suffering.” This year’s panel will delve into the layers of this model, and why suffering may or may not be necessary to the process of creating. The 14th Annual Panel on Creativity held as part of Brandeis University’s Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts presents the following panelists: Rosie Rosenzweig, writer and founder; Dana Maiben, composer; Diana Durham, writer; Laury Gutierrez, musician; Michele L’Heureux, artist and curator; and Vivian Montgomery, musician. A Musical Interlude by Emily Corbato will precede the event at 12 noon. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

25th annual! Demonstrations of sheep-shearing, herding dogs, spinning, weaving, and more. Large crafts fair, live entertainment, wagon rides, historic demonstrators, games and farm animals. Food vendors on site, free parking, no dogs allowed, children must be accompanied by an adult. $14, ages 12 and under free.

Come join us for the 2nd Annual Moody Street 5K Road Race. Race begins on Moody St by The Skellig and runs the length of Moody St, down Crescent, around the Island and back along the DCR Landry Park River Walk to a finish on the Moody Street Bridge. Walk or run, fun for the whole family as well as serious runners. We will have chip timing. Sign up online at RaceWire.com. We are still looking for additional sponsors, donations and volunteers...email us and we will be in touch!

Fear of Success Revisited: First Findings, Further Questions Phoebe Schnitzer Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. How do today's young women and men view success? Is the 1970's concept, "fear of success," still meaningful? Initial data analyses of contemporary narratives about achievement offer a first look at current gender similarities and differences and stimulate questions about different explanations. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc

Neurological Curiosities: Implications for Research, Art, and Activism Stephanie Wasserman Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Art: Does color exist in the objects around us? Contrary to intuitive experience, it does not! Research: Startling neurological evidence indicates that the cerebral cortex actively constructs our private, inner world of perception. Activism: Surprising brain mechanisms for rapid judgments and misattributions will be explored. Even therapeutic strategies for healing phantom pain in nonexistent limbs will have implications for those involved in activism. Location: Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Women’s Studies Research Center, Epstein Building, Brandeis University Contact: Rosa Taormina, taormina@brandeis.edu, http://go.brandeis.edu/wsrc