While music lovers around the country are paying a premium this summer to attend faraway festivals, Newton residents can listen to a plethora of performers from July 21-22 for free.
Classical, funk, pop, jazz, salsa, bluegrass and other musicians will hit two stages at the Hyde Community Center park/playground during Newton Community Pride’s 8th annual Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts.
“We’re featuring some great talent,” said show producer Chris Pitts. “I look for people that can bring the ‘wow’ [factor].”
Since the musicians will be alternating between the two stages, there will be no lag time between performances. Luckily, in the event of rain or dangerous temperatures, the performances can move inside the center if needed, said Pitts.
Thaddeus Hogarth Collective is seen performing at the 2022 Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts at the Hyde Playground. The group will perform again at this year’s event at 6PM on Saturday, July 22. 
Albino Mbie is seen performing at the 2021 Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts. Mbie will pay at this year’s event on Saturday, July 22 at 7PM at the Hyde Playground. (photo: Gloria Gavris) 
Haiku Newton, which will participate in the 2023 Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts’ pop-up market, is seen at the event last year. Attendees at the Hyde Playground festival can view original haikus and try creating their own on July 22. (photo: Blair Sullivan) 
Couch, seen here performing as the closing act during the 2022 Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts at the Hyde Playground, will also be the final musical group at this year’s festival which takes place July 21-22. (photo: SadieAnn Strauss) 
A member of the New Philharmonia Orchestra lets a child try out a cello at the “Instrument Petting Zoo” during the 2022 Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts at the Hyde Playground. Attendees can listen to the orchestra and try out instruments at this year’s festival on Friday, July 21. (photo: Blair Sullivan) 
The New Philharmonia Orchestra at the Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts at the Hyde Playground in 2022. The orchestra will perform at this year’s event on July 21.
While enjoying the music and activities, attendees can make their own contribution to the festival — and the city — on Saturday starting at 11AM, by helping artist Franklin Marval paint a large mural on the Hyde Community Center itself.
The festival will also feature children’s entertainment and an opportunity to donate cereal to two Newton food pantries. All festival entertainment is at no cost to the public.
“Part of our mission … is offering free community programming [that] really brings the community together,” said Gloria Gavris, chairwoman of Newton Community Pride (NCP), an independent nonprofit that has been sponsoring the festival since 2015.
In addition, there will be arts and crafts vendors and food, beer, and wine for sale.
The event’s name changed in 2019 to honor longtime community arts advocate Linda Plaut, the former director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, who died that year.
“Linda Plaut deserves a lot of accolades” for her work on the arts in the city, said Pitts.
In 2020, Gavris said, NCP grew its mission and more volunteers and donors came onboard. One of the more significant changes was when the nonprofit started paying the artists, since during Covid, “The arts community was hurting,” she said. The money comes from partners, donations, and grants, said Gavris.
Looking ahead to the 2024 festival, Gavris said, “Every year we try to be bigger and bolder.”
Schedule for the Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts
Hyde Playground (90 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands)
Friday, July 21
- 6:30PM: New Philharmonia Orchestra with Kemp Harris
- 7:30PM: Instrument Petting Zoo
- Dusk: Movie – E.T.
Saturday, July 22
- 11AM-6PM: Cereal Drive for Centre Street Food Pantry and Newton Food Pantry
- 11AM: Story Starters presents Children’s Book Reading by author, Candelaria Norma Silva
- 11AM: Live Mural Painting – artist Franklin Marval
- 12PM-4PM: Arts & Crafts Booths
- 12PM: Peter Cannizzaro – Juggler & Family Fun
- 12:30PM: Plugged In Band – Kids Rock
- 1PM: Outrageous Fortune – Bluegrass & Jugband
- 2PM: Newton Baroque
- 3PM: Ben Romanow – Latin American Style
- 4PM-8PM: Beer & Wine ($5 per glass)
- 4PM: PJ Adamson & Friends of Steel – Caribbean Jazz
- 5PM: Timba Messengers – Latin Jazz Salsa
- 6PM: Thaddeus Hogarth Collective – Soul/Funk
- 7PM: Albino Mbie – Global Afro Pop
- 8PM: Couch – Pop R&B
