Hello, Dedham.

June is here — and what a week to kick it off. Dedham High’s class of 2026 walks this weekend. Until then, enjoy the sunshine.

In this week's drop:

Let's get into it.

— KB

PS… DYK Dedham is one of the oldest towns in the country? Our Village neighborhood has homes dating to the 1700s. Next week, residents get to weigh in on the future of our public buildings. Read more below in “civics class” and save the date.

🎓 The Class of 2026 walks on Saturday. DHS holds its Graduation Ceremony at 11AM on June 6 — a big moment for the whole community. Congrats to every grad and their families. 🎉

🎤 The Big Bear goes acoustic this Saturday. A free Songwriters Circle is coming to Big Bear Cafe & Espresso Bar — three local artists trading originals and covers with no amps, no mics. Just music and stories in a living room kind of setting. Details below.

🤼 Pro wrestling returns to Dedham on June 12. Northeast Championship Wrestling is back at the Jacob Jones VFW Post for NCW Don't Stop Believin' — featuring a disputed heavyweight title, a new mixed-gender tournament, and at least one uninvited champion promising to crash the party. Not your average Friday night on Eastern Ave. Read more

📚 The library runs six book groups. From thrillers to history to LGBTQ+ lit, there's a group for just about every reader in town. Borrow the book free with your card and show up ready to talk. Find your group

✳️ Have a local announcement or news tip? Hit reply. Want to reach Dedham neighbors? Learn about sponsoring the Drop.

🎵 Music with Friends — Dick Pierce performs 30 minutes of family-friendly favorites. First Thursday of the month. Dedham Public Library (Main Branch). 10:30AM

🎬 Afternoon at the Movies — Classic movie screening at the Ames Senior Center. 2PM

🥂 Dedham Storytellers Celebration Luncheon — Honoring participants in the Ames Senior Center Storytellers program. Ames Senior Center. 11:30AM

🏠 Homeownership 101 — First-time buyer workshop at the main library. 6PM

Friday, June 5

🎵 Groovin' and Movin' — Stories, music, and movement for preschoolers. Main library. 11AM

Saturday, June 6

🛒 Family Shopping at the Dedham Food Pantry. 8AM

🌽 Spring Farmers Market — Hosted by Dedham Square Circle. Outside at the First Parish green. 10AM

💧 Dedham-Westwood Water District Open House — Tour the District's new vehicle & equipment storage garage. Donuts & coffee 10–11AM, ice cream truck 11AM–1:30PM. Touch-a-truck, arts & crafts, and everything you wanted to know about your drinking water. Bring a non-perishable donation for the food pantry! 10AM–2PM

♟️ Chess for Kids — Learn the world's greatest board game with No Stress Chess. Dedham Public Library (Main Branch). Grades 4–8. 10:30AM

🎓 DHS Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony. 11AM

Sunday, June 7

🎴 Boston-Dedham Pokémon & TCG Show — Buy, sell, and trade Pokémon, Magic the Gathering, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh, and more. Holiday Inn Boston-Dedham, 55 Ariadne Rd. $3 admission, kids under 16 free. Hourly door prizes. 4:15–9:15PM

Tuesday, June 9

📖 Between the Lines Book Group — Fiction and nonfiction discussion at the Endicott Branch Library. 6:30PM

🎵 DSC Summer Kickoff Fundraiser — Kick off concert season at Oscar's Pub & Kitchen with food, drinks, live music from the Bill O'Connor Jazz Collective, and a silent auction. Tickets $50, space is limited. 4:30–6:30PM

Wednesday, June 10

🤝 Friends of the Library Monthly Meeting — The board meets at the Main Library. Everyone welcome! 1:30PM

📖 Afternoon Book Group — Discussing More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova. Endicott Branch. 2PM

📚 Elementary Book Group — For grades 2–5. Endicott Branch. 3:30PM

✍️ Local Author Book Talk — Wayne M. Miller discusses Burn Boston Burn: The Largest Arson Case in the History of the Country. Main library. 6:30PM

Thursday, June 11

☕ Memory Café — A welcoming, interactive space for individuals and families living with memory changes. Main library. 1–3PM

🤠 June 14 — Tecovas Country Concert Kick-Off at Tecovas, Legacy Place. Live music, western bites from Liberty & MAIN, cannoli from Puffy Clouds, giveaways (including a chance to win Chris Stapleton tickets at Fenway!). Tickets $15; proceeds benefit Lovelane, which provides therapeutic horseback riding for people with disabilities. Noon–2PM Get tickets

🏛️ June 15 — FMP Community Meeting #2 — Dedham Middle School, 7PM (see Civics Class, below)

🏛️ June 15 — Legacy Blvd Advisory Committee First Public Meeting

🦆 June 20 — Duck Race on the Charles — The 24th Annual Duck Race returns to Riverdale Park. Music, food, and rubber ducks. Hosted by the Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary. 1PM nvsrotaryevents.org

🎉 June 27 — Dedham Porchfest — The free volunteer-run neighborhood music festival. Local performers, front porches all over town. 4–8PM dedhamporchfest.org

Thursday, June 4

🎸 Trillium Presents: The Mallet Brothers Band — An intimate acoustic session at Trillium Canton. 6:30–9PM

🎶 Will Dailey and the Will Dailey Band at The Fallout Shelter, Norwood. 7PM Get tickets

Friday, June 5

🎵 Live Music featuring Nico Rivers at Trillium Canton. 6–9PM

🎤 Mike Emery Acoustic — Friday night live music at Irish Brewing Boston, Norwood. Beer, pizza, and live music. 6–9PM

Saturday, June 6

🎸 Songwriters Circle featuring Zaq Qastino, Jerry Sheehan, and Jonny Pape at Big Bear Cafe & Espresso Bar, Dedham. No amps, no mics — just three songwriters trading turns with originals, covers, and stories. Free admission. 6–8PM

🎵 The Billy Dodge Moody Band at The Fallout Shelter, Norwood. 7PM Get tickets

Sunday, June 7

🎻 Onóir Live — Irish traditional music at the Irish Cultural Centre, Canton. 4PM

🎸 Sunday Live Blues featuring Willie J Laws at Common Room Grill, Needham. Featuring drummer Steve Chaggaris and SLB regulars Chris Stovall Brown & Bob Vabulas. Funky Texas blues, zydeco, R&B — never a cover charge. 7–9PM

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🌟 Still time to audition for DHS Frozen! DPS students in grades 2–8 can still submit interest forms for Frozen: The Broadway Musical (performances Nov. 13–15) — forms are due June 5, so check with DHS Theater Director Lindsay Soson at [email protected] if you’re reading this after then!

🏐 DHS Youth Volleyball Clinic — 6/19. Grades 4–8, no experience needed. DHS Gym. $40 pre-register / $45 walk-in. Contact [email protected]. 9AM–1PM.

🎨 Mother Brook Summer Youth Arts Program July 13–August 28, full days 9AM–3PM. Ages 7–12, themed weekly sessions. $513/week, 10% full-summer discount, scholarships available. Register at motherbrook.org.

🏺 Teen Ceramics at Mother Brook Mondays July 6–August 24, 4PM–6PM. Ages 13–17. Wheel throwing, handbuilding, glazing — all materials included. $310. Register at motherbrook.org.

🥒 Youth Pickleball Summer Camp For rising 2nd-9th graders at Boston Pickle Club on Sprague Street. Players of all abilities are welcome. Various dates & rates throughout summer.

🏑 Garvey Stags Field Hockey Summer Camp July 27–30 at Northeastern University's Dedham Turf, 370 Common St. Grades K–12. Full day 9AM–4PM: $599 | Half day 9AM–1PM: $320. Register at garveystags.com.

⚽️ Dedham Youth Soccer Fall Tryouts are coming right up (rising 3rd - 8th graders.) Players must register BEFORE trying out.

😎 Summer sports? Got info on summer sports leagues? Hit reply and let me know!

📋 Save the Date: Facilities Master Plan Community Meeting #2 — June 15

The Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee hosts its second community meeting on Monday, June 15 at 7PM at Dedham Middle School. The evening includes a project update with consultant team Arrowstreet, key findings from the recent FMP survey, a live interactive Mentimeter segment, and an "Interactive Data Walk" where you can post sticky-note feedback on town and school buildings. This is your chance to shape long-term decisions about every public building in Dedham. Bookmark beheard.dedham-ma.gov/fmp-project. Subscribe for updates at dedham-ma.gov/subscribe.

🏗️ Legacy Blvd Mixed-Use District — Process Underway An advisory committee has been appointed to develop a plan for the Legacy Boulevard corridor, with its first public meeting also on June 15. More details to come as the process develops.

🦟 Bug Spray? The town sprays for mosquitos on Wednesday from May through September. Read more.

🏛️ Upcoming Meetings This Week:

📺 Missed a meeting? Catch replays at DedhamTV.com

Saturday, June 6

🌈 Norwood Pride Celebration 2026 — Theme this year: "Cosmic Kindness." Face painting, crafts, activities, costume contest (prizes for most colorful, best alien, most creative, most on-theme). Rain date is June 7. Norwood Town Common. 3–5PM

🥩 Ribstock at Volante Farms — Sample pork ribs and small bites while the Backwards Hats Trio plays live. Free event, no registration needed. Volante Farms, Needham. 11:30AM–2PM

🍓 Field Day Maker & Vintage Market Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon | 11AM–4PM (free admission)

Sunday, June 7

🌈 Westwood Pride Celebration — Live music, performances, crafts, games, ice cream, and face painting. Hosted by Inclusive Westwood with the Westwood Young Women's Club and local faith communities. Westwood Council on Aging. 1–4PM

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.

The Dedham Drop publishes weekly. Forward to a neighbor who needs to know what's happening. Love where you live. 🏡

— KB

*I’ll always call out when a brand has sponsored the Dedham Drop. Occasionally, I’ll include affiliate links. If you click, I may receive a tiny commission. Most of the time, you’ll receive an offer. Win/Win! These products/services mentioned are ones I believe in.