Halloween Window Painting Contest

Join us for Halloween Window Painting 2026!

Now in its 27th year, Halloween Window Painting is a beloved annual tradition in Newton. Students in grades 3-8 experience public art by painting merchant windows in seven Newton village centers. This event provides an opportunity for our community to celebrate Halloween and our talented student artists.

NEW (RETURNING) this year: Halloween Window Painting will again be a contest! Winning painters will be chosen in each of our participating villages and celebrated at an event at Newton City Hall (date TBD).

DETAILS:
The event is Saturday, October 24 (rain date October 25). It is open to Newton students in grades 3-8 (under adult supervision). Each artist is assigned a space on the outside of a participating merchant's window on which to paint their masterpiece. The subject matter can be anything with a Halloween theme—jack o’ lanterns, ghosts, goblins, witches, owls, black cats or whatever painters imagine!

The participating villages are: Auburndale, Newton Centre, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, Nonantum, Waban, and West Newton. Sign up early to secure a spot in your preferred village. If there are no longer spaces available there, sign up for the wait list or register for an alternative village.

Please register early! Priority registration ends October 12; after that date a late fee of $5 will be applied. Please be sure you have read the contest Rules and Guidelines prior to the event. 

Scholarships are available. Email culture@newtonma.gov if you have financial need and would like to participate in this event.

Window assignments will be announced Saturday October 17 on our webpage: www.newtonma.gov/artsandculture.