Weds, June 1 @ 7:00 pm on Zoom: A Culture Marker: The Story of Kolam in Natick Center

How did Kolam, a ritualistic floor art practiced by generations of Tamil Hindu women across South India, find its way to Natick Center? Join us for a conversation with Swati Dave to learn more about this beautiful art form and how its presence in Natick nurtures a sense of identity and belonging in our community. This event will be held on zoom.

Swati Dave, a long-time resident of Natick, is actively engaged in the town with equity, inclusion, and diversity work. She has been the Chair of Natick Cultural Council and is currently a board member of Natick Center Cultural District, SPARK Kindness, and Natick is United.

This program is jointly sponsored by the Bacon Free Library and the Natick Historical Society. It is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required. Register using the form here.

Saturday, June 11 @ 2 pm in Shaw park across from the BFL:  Create Your Own Kolam

Join the Natick Historical Society and the Bacon Free Library for a free hands-on program on how to make a Kolam, a traditional decorative floor art practiced by generations of Tamil Hindu women across South India. Supplies will be provided.  Then visit us at Shaw Park (across the street from the Bacon Free Library & Natick Historical Society) to make a Kolam of your own to take home with  you.

Please register here:  https://baconfreelibrary.org/event/kolam/

Children’s Programs

Friday, June 3 @ 10 am inside the library: Dog Tales Personal Story Time

Sign up for a special story time with Lorcan and his human Cheryl!   We will read a couple books that are doggie approved, while your kiddo can cozy up with Lorcan.  Registration is required:

Every Monday @ 10 am outside, behind the library: Monday Morning Stories & Songs

Join us for a high-energy story time!  We’ll mix things up with a combination of stories for listening and songs for dancing.  

This program will be held outside on the library lawn.  Bring a towel or blanket for stretching.  Look for us around back!  If there is rainy weather, the story time will be moved indoors.

Every Tuesday @ 10 am outside, behind the library: Outdoor Story Time

Come and join us for in-person, outdoor story time on the beautiful grounds behind the library.  Be sure to bring a blanket or chairs to get comfy.

If there is rainy weather, the story time will be moved indoors.

Friday, June 17 @ 10 am outside at the library:  Let’s Get Growing

Presented by Tower Hill Botanic Gardens. Explore the wide world of plants as we sing songs, read, play, investigate, and plant our own beans to care for at home. This program is best for Grades PreK-K; held outside on the library grounds. Registration is required:

Weds, June 22 @ 10 am outside at the library: Diane Edgecomb: Trail Mix

Step off the Beaten Path and into the Big Outdoors in this fun-loving Participatory Program with award-winning storyteller Diane Edgecomb.

We’ll go on a fossil dig in Montana to discover a new dinosaur and take on the world’s sassiest bugs all before we break out our lunch pails.

Join in the stories, songs and FUN that have made Diane Edgecomb one of New England’s favorite storytellers. Diane has been featured on NPR and is a winner of a Parent’s Choice award for her CDs and recordings.

Beloved storyteller Diane Edgecomb is known for transforming into the characters in her tales, bringing stories to vibrant life.  Diane’s warmth and invitation to participate brings today’s family audiences into the heart of the moment. Diane has been featured on NPR and is the winner of the ORACLE award for Storytelling Excellence in the Northeast as well as five Storytelling World awards. 

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Natick Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural council, a state agency. 

Weds, June 29 @ 10 am out side at the library: Big Bubbles with Mr. Vinny the Bubble Guy

Join us on the lawn for running, jumping, and bubble-popping fun!  Mr. Vinny is bringing his hand-made, giant bubble wand to create floating blobs of soapy goodness. The kids can chase and pop to their heart’s delight, while Mr. Vinny tells jokes and answers questions.  It will be good clean fun!

Book and Film Clubs - all are held on Zoom, please register in advance

Mystery book club: 

Thursday, June 2 @ 1 pm * with author visit

Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik

Register here:

History book club:

Thursday, June 9 @ 11 am 

Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Register here:

Environmental book club:

Tuesday, June 21 @ 7 pm 

Under a white sky: the nature of the future by Elizabeth Kolbert

Register here:

Nonfiction book club:

Saturday, June 25 @ 10 am

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

Register here:

Cinephile movie discussion club:

Monday, June 27 @ 4 pm

Movie TBA

Register here: 

Tuesday night book club:

Tuesday, June 28 @ 7 pm

Yellow Wife  by Sadeqa Johnson

Register here: