Hello, Dedham.

Feels like summer. With the heat, and a slew of activities to go along with it. We've got the Flag Day Parade, the opening night of the Arts at Endicott concert series, a book sale, the World Cup at every screen in town, the first Farmers Market of the summer, a murder mystery at a mansion, and a kids' author event at the Blue Bunny. All in seven days. Take a breath and read on.

In this week's Drop:

— KB

🎓 DHS GRADUATION. Dedham High School held its graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 6. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

💦 PUT DOWN THE HOSE. Starting Wednesday, June 17, the Dedham-Westwood Water District is implementing Level 2 Mandatory Water Restrictions, meaning no outdoor watering. The state upgraded our region from a mild to a significant drought on June 9, citing declining groundwater and streamflow levels. Drip irrigation, hand-held hoses, and watering cans are still allowed for ornamentals and flower gardens. Everything else nonessential is banned. Full details at dwwd.org.

⚽ THE WORLD CUP IS HERE. FIFA World Cup 2026 is officially underway, with Boston hosting matches at Gillette Stadium through July 9. Dedham is ready. From Roundhead to Dedham Square, you've got options all week long. See the Summer of Soccer section below.

🌿 SUMMER FARMERS MARKET OPENS THIS WEEK. Dedham Square's Summer Farmers Market begins Wednesday, June 17, running every Wednesday from 2–6PM at the Town Green. All local, all handmade. SNAP & HIP accepted.

📚 BOOK SALE THIS WEEKEND. The Friends of the Dedham Public Library are hosting their annual Book Fair at the Main Library. Pre-sale Friday afternoon, public sale Saturday morning. Prices start at $1. Cash, check, or Venmo.

🏳️‍🌈 PRIDE IS COMING TO DEDHAM. Dedham Pride 2026 is set for Saturday, June 20, 4–6PM at Barnes Memorial Park. Live music, food trucks, vendors, games, and a Pride flag raising. Details in Looking Ahead.

✳️ Have a local announcement or news item? Hit reply and let us know.

Sweet Haven is an acoustic and vocal group performing a variety of traditional music and contemporary Americana tunes, with inspiration from many sources. The core of the band’s sound is 3-part vocal harmonies from Lisa Seibert, banjo player Linnea Bardarson and mandolinist Natalie Jensen, and we now welcome new members Tim Parke on guitar and George Batchelor on bass.

7:30 PM on Friday, June 19
First Church
670 High Street, Dedham

➡️ TODAY! Thursday, 6/11

🧠 Memory Café. A welcoming space for individuals and families living with memory changes. Main Library, Piano Space. 1–3PM. Registration required.

🦁 Jerry Pallotta: Who Would Win? Author Event. Kids of all ages are invited to meet Jerry Pallotta, author of the wildly popular Who Would Win? series — where reptiles, mammals, sea creatures, dinosaurs, and insects go head-to-head. Hosted by The Blue Bunny, Books and Toys, 390 Washington St. 6:30PM. Tickets via Eventbrite.

Friday, 6/12

📚 Friends of the Library Book Fair — Pre-Sale for Friends & Family. First pick of the stacks before the public sale. Children's books and paperbacks $1 | Hardcover, YA, and trade paperbacks $2 | DVDs and CDs $2 | Specials as marked. Cash, check, or Venmo only. Main Library, 43 Church St. 2–4PM.

Saturday, 6/13

🛒 Family Shopping at the Dedham Food Pantry. 8AM–Noon. dedhamfoodpantry.org

📚 Friends of the Library Book Fair — Public Sale. Open to everyone. Children's books and paperbacks $1, hardcovers/YA/trade paperbacks $2, DVDs and CDs $2. Cash, check, or Venmo only. Main Library, 43 Church St. 9AM–1PM.

🔪 Murder at the Mansion. An immersive, interactive dinner theater experience at the stunning MIT Endicott House in Dedham. Unravel a devious murder as you dine beneath chandeliers, explore grand halls, and encounter suspicious characters and hidden clues at every turn. Directed by Richard Rinninsland. Doors open 6PM, show starts 6:30PM. Overnight accommodations available. Tickets via mitendicotthouse.org.

🧺 White Pine Market at Trillium Canton. A curated outdoor artisan market on the Trillium patio. 11AM. 100 Royall St, Canton.

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 Sunday, 6/14 — Flag Day 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

🇺🇸 2026 Flag Day Parade. Dedham's beloved annual tradition returns! Marching bands, floats, and community groups march through town. Get where you’re going early. Road closures start as early as 3PM. Parade at 5PM.

Monday, 6/15

🏛️ Community Meeting #2 — Facilities Master Plan. Your chance to weigh in on the long-term future of Dedham's public buildings and schools. Consultants from Arrowstreet will share survey results, review existing conditions, and run a live interactive session. All welcome. 7PM. Dedham Middle School

Tuesday, 6/16

🎵 Free Concerts on the Green. The Dedham Square Circle's free weekly summer concert series continues on the Town Green in Dedham Square. 6PM.

Wednesday, 6/17

🌻 Dedham Summer Farmers Market — Opening Day! Every Wednesday through the season. Town Green, 670 High St. 2–6PM. All local. SNAP & HIP accepted.

👶 Legacy Littles: Concert with Stacey Peasley Band. Free weekly kids' programming at Legacy Place — this week, a live concert! Tickets required for children only; adults are free. 10:30–11:30AM.

🎶 Arts at Endicott — Opening Night: SteveSongs. See Live Music section below.

Thursday, 6/18

🌿 Endicott Garden Luncheon. Celebrate summer with a leisurely lunch in the Endicott House garden, including a grounds tour, culinary demonstration, and a history talk featuring recently discovered family artifacts. 11:30AM–2:30PM

The FIFA World Cup is here — and Boston is one of the host cities, with matches at Gillette Boston Stadium running June 13 through July 9. Match days are June 13, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29 and July 9.

🚨 MBTA FRANKLIN LINE ALERT: On all World Cup match days, the Franklin Line will not run between Readville and Windsor Gardens — that means no service at Endicott, Dedham Corporate Center, or Islington stations on those days. Shuttle buses will connect Forge Park/495 and Walpole to Providence Line at Canton Junction. Plan ahead at mbta.com.

Where to watch locally:

🍕 Dedham House of Pizza Catch every match on two in-house TVs. A new 24-seat outdoor patio is open for al fresco match-day watching. Special Stadium Snack Appetizer Platter ($25.50 — 4 sides, 2 dipping sauces) plus beer and wine available. Open daily 10AM–10PM.

🥙 MEZŌ Mediterranean MEZŌ has installed a dedicated 65" TV just for the tournament, with 26 indoor seats and a brand-new 18-seat outdoor patio inspired by the Greek islands. Mediterranean match-day specials include the Match Day Tray (lamb chops, chicken souvlaki, pork souvlaki, shrimp souvlaki, gyro meats, warm pita for $75). Cocktails include the Athenian Mule and Mediterranean Margarita ($15 each). Imported beer and wine. Open daily 11AM–9PM.

🍺 Roundhead Brewing Your Hyde Park home base for the tournament. Roundhead is screening every match on giant 200" screens with Latin-inspired food and fresh cerveza. Most watch parties are free. Their Summer of Soccer Community Pass ($121) includes a $100 gift card, a $21 donation to a local youth sports org of your choice, and 10% off food at every watch party. A feel-good buy.

🎳 Kings — Legacy Place Legacy Place's Kings is also in on the fun. Check their site for World Cup viewing specials and deals throughout the tournament.

WEDNESDAY, 6/17
Arts at Endicott Summer Concert Series — Steve Roslonek (SteveSongs).

The Dedham Junior Women's Club kicks off the 40th anniversary of the beloved Arts at Endicott Summer Concert Series with SteveSongs. Opening attractions begin at 6:30PM, headliner at 7PM. Free and outdoors. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Endicott Estate.

This season runs every Wednesday in June and July and is presented by the Dedham Junior Women's Club. Sponsored by Dedham Savings Bank, Norfolk & Dedham Group, Dedham Cultural Council, Needham Bank, and Wegmans.

FRIDAY, 6/19
Sweet Haven at Friday Folk Coffeehouse | Sweet Haven is an acoustic and vocal group performing a variety of traditional music and contemporary Americana tunes, with inspiration from many sources. 7:30PM, First Church.

🏗️ YOUR BUILDINGS, YOUR VOICE. The Town's Facilities Master Plan is underway and Community Meeting #2 is this Monday, June 15 at 7PM at Dedham Middle School. Consultants from Arrowstreet will share results from the community survey, review existing conditions across all Town and School facilities, and run a live interactive Mentimeter session. This is a real opportunity to shape long-term decisions about Dedham's public spaces. Full details here.

🏛️ This Week's Meetings:

📺 Missed a meeting? Catch replays at DedhamTV.com.

🎊 Juneteenth Observance & Celebration — Saturday, June 20, 12-3PM. A community event at Lower Memorial Field featuring the 54th Massachusetts color guard and keynote speakers on Dedham Civil War and Juneteenth history.

🏳️‍🌈 Dedham Pride Celebration — Saturday, June 20, 4–6PM. Barnes Memorial Park, 131 Eastern Ave. Live music, food trucks, vendors, games, and a Pride flag raising. Dedham's annual family-friendly Pride celebration. Free and open to all.

☀️ Summer Stroll — Thursday, July 16, 6–9PM. High Street shuts down to cars and opens up to live bands, art, food, outdoor dining, and 50+ street vendors. Free to attend. dedhamsquarecircle.org

As always, double-check links before heading out — times and details can change. If you see an error or have something to add, hit reply.

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