The lure of warm churros and hot chocolate from Tango Mango, entertainment, and the colorful glow from an art installation — that could double for a massive “Lite Brite” toy — drew a bundled-up crowd for the January 23 kickoff for the fifth-annual WinterFEST.
The Friday night portion of the three-day event, sponsored by Spark Newton (the new name for Newton Community Pride), took place on the Newton Centre Green.
“Brighter Ignited,” the large art installation located closer to Centre Street, was created by Needham resident Tova Speter. The art therapist and educator said her love of Lite Brite — the 1960s battery-operated lightbox — helped her come up with the idea.
“Lite Brite was one of my favorite toys when I was younger. I still have my original one from the ’80s. It was definitely my inspiration for this piece,” said Speter.
The super-sized board looked like a giant tent with holes punched out in a grid, and the “pegs” were the size of travel coffee mugs. This allowed “for a larger-than-life experience where people [played] together as a community,” she said.
Children and parents at WinterFEST enjoyed inserting the colorful pegs into the holes to create a lit-up pattern right on Centre Street.
Speter created Brighter Ignited in 2022 by working with more than 12 groups in greater Boston, including two in Newton.
“During the workshops we talked about causes we are passionate about and how we can share our light to ignite action and make a positive impact in the world,” said Speter. After participants drew on and connected with pegs of certain colors, over 400 were created “by the community that are now utilized whenever the piece tours at an event.”
Visitors at WinterFEST chose from the different colored pegs and picked the one that meant the most to them, adding them to the overall design.
“When they light it up, they are not only sharing their own light but also sharing the light of the person who created the peg — someone they don’t know but with whom they have a connection,” said Speter.
Visitors on Friday could also listen to a cappella performances by local groups; watch ice sculptures being made and a hoop dancing performance; or say hello to Olaf from Frozen or Officer Leo, the City’s affectionate community resource dog.
Lisa Rudolph of the Boston Hoop Troop performed tricks with a hula hoop at the fifth-annual WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Tovah, 5½, sat on a throne of ice in Newton Centre at the fifth annual WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Officer Leo, the Newton Police Department’s community resource dog, got plenty of hugs, accompanied by Officer Justin Lau at the fifth annual WinterFEST in Newton Centre. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Craig McConnell, the owner of Images in Ice, and his workers carved a bear sculpture during the fifth annual WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
A sculpture of a penguin family decorated the Newton Centre Green for the fifth annual WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Olaf from “Frozen” greeted children at the fifth-annual WinterFEST in Newton Centre. (photo: Julie M. Cohen)
The nonprofit Welcome Home also accepted donated blankets at the event.
The rest of the WinterFEST weekend featured the following on Saturday:
- Hot cocoa at an ice bar in Newtonville
- Storytime at Newtonville Books
- Flower press activity at Derby Flowers in Newton Centre
- Women in World Jazz performance at Walnut Park
- Activities at the library for all ages
- Soup Social at the Hyde Community Center
The annual Soup Social at the Hyde Community Center was a welcome source of warmth on a very cold Saturday evening. Per custom, elected officials — State Representatives, the Mayor, City Councilors, and Area Council members — served soups and desserts provided by local restaurants.
The final event that was able to run took place on Sunday morning at the West Newton Cinema for the screening of Abominable!
Unfortunately, severe cold and a winter storm caused several events over the weekend to be cancelled, including a Saturday winter walk in Cold Spring Park with the Newton Conservators. On Sunday, a band performance at the New Art Center and a teen activity at the library also were cancelled.
