Malden Reads

06/03/2026

Holding onto that vibe like we are? Still want a porchfest t-shirt? We have extras! In exchange for a donation to ZAMIMA, (supporting girls’ education in Afghanistan), one of our t-shirts can be YOURS! Message us and we’ll make arrangements with you. (& didn’t get to the Purple Porch this year? If you have a t-shirt, no one will ever know!) 💜

06/02/2026

Our 5th porch-versary for was absolutely magical! Thank you to everyone who smiled, played music, helped, and just enjoyed each other’s company. Rain doesn’t dampen our joy!! This is what every day should feel like, and we are still basking in the glow and can’t wait till our 6th porch-versary next year! 💜🎶💜

Check out our Flickr album: https://www.flickr.com/gp/maldenreads/nx5t0xSCK2

Thanks to all the kids & their families for coming for our 1st-ever story-time! We loved reading with you & giving books to you to take home!

🎵MUSICIANS! We love all our musicians! We need art & music, and if you didn’t get a chance to tip them, you still can! Thank you to for bringing the 🌞! And to the African Roots Band who had us dancing in the rain! Thanks to for joining the lineup this year🤘

🖐️HENNA! 💜 to for the hula hoop fun & even more so, the gorgeous henna!

COMMUNITY PARTNERS…
🇦🇫 It was so special to have ZAMIMA come and sell homemade delicious Afghan food to help raise $$ for girls in Afghanistan. In addition to funds raised Fromm food sales, we raised $150 in tshirt sales for ZAMIMA! Did you miss getting a tshirt? Message us - we still have more! Happy to take any donation for ZAMIMA in exchange for a tshirt! 👀

📚 Thank you to allll our friends in the for joining our shenanigans, helping out, and having fun books for sale!

Thanks to for the yummy ☕️🥤!

So much gratitude for & their volunteers, , Marcel & Liam & , and all the behind the scenes people who made the magic happen!

And most of all, thank you to the purple house & to all the neighbors, friends, and helpers from near and far! With 💜 till next time!

05/31/2026

📣Updated Malden PorchFest plans for the Beltran Street block party for Sunday, 5/31! 💜🎶

🔅1pm Laura Lee
🔅3pm Malden Reads story-time
🔅4pm African Roots band (guitar + vocals)
https://africanrootsband.com
🔅5pm Whiskey Cherrybomb
https://davidfameson.wixsite.com/whiskey-cherrybomb/portfolio

Ongoing:
🔅henna by Henna Inspired: Artwork and Design by Karyn Alzayer
🔅ZAMIMA delicious Afghan food fundraiser for girls’ education
🔅cupcake swap
🔅free books from
🔅Friends of the Malden Public Library book pop-up
🔅Learn about Malden Juneteenth

We are learning patience & flexibility this weekend! Check for updates.

05/29/2026

UPDATE: The Beltran Street Block Party will be on SUNDAY, May 31

🎶 💜🎶

Join us at 37 Beltran St. as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of PorchFest with an afternoon full of music, community, dancing, and good vibes!

✨ returns at 1 PM — and yes… the purple sequins are officially making a comeback as promised last year.
✨ story-time at 3-3:30 PM, and also cupcake swap!
✨ African Roots Band takes over at 4 PM bringing incredible energy, rhythm, and celebration to the block.
✨ We’ll also have a henna artist joining the fun during the day!

✨ZAMIMA
This year, we’re especially excited to support an incredible fundraising effort led by high school students from Afghanistan who have created a nonprofit dedicated to helping girls in Afghanistan gain access to education and learning resources. They’ll be selling homemade Afghan food and dumplings during the event, so come hungry and help support an amazing cause.

✨ giving away books!

✨ pop-up!

✨ Come learn about !

Bring your own chair, hang out with neighbors and friends, and celebrate one of the best days of the year in Malden with us!

📍 37 Beltran St.
🗓 SUNDAY, May 31
⏰ PorchFest runs 12 PM – 6 PM

See you on the porch 💜

05/27/2026

📣 TONIGHT, 5/27:Declaration Day at Bell Rock Park! 📣

Join us as we celebrate Malden’s revolutionary heritage, and Malden Public Schools Beebe students bring the Boston Tea Party to life! 🇺🇸

December 16, 1773. Colonists disguised as Native Americans. British ships at Griffin’s Wharf. $1.7 million worth of tea dumped into Boston Harbor. 🫖⚓

This Wednesday, May 27, Beebe School students will bring the Boston Tea Party to life at Malden’s Declaration Day celebration!

Through Readers’ Theatre, students will step into the roles of historical figures, including the Mother of the Boston Tea Party Sarah Bradley Fulton, and show us the courage and protest that helped spark the American Revolution.

They’ve been rehearsing for months - studying & practicing, and building their confidence as both readers and performers.

Join us Wednesday, May 27 at Bell Rock Park - performance around 6pm.

Honoring the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution 🇺🇸 Come cheer on our local student historian performers!

City of Malden (Official)
Malden Public Library
Malden Public Schools

05/24/2026

December 16, 1773. Colonists disguised as Native Americans. British ships at Griffin’s Wharf. $1.7 million worth of tea dumped into Boston Harbor. 🫖⚓

This Wednesday, May 27, Beebe School students will bring the Boston Tea Party to life at Malden’s Declaration Day celebration!

Through Readers’ Theatre, students will step into the roles of historical figures, including the Mother of the Boston Tea Party Sarah Bradley Fulton, and show us the courage and protest that helped spark the American Revolution.

They’ve been rehearsing for months - studying & practicing, and building their confidence as both readers and performers.

Join us Wednesday, May 27 at Bell Rock Park - performance around 6pm.

Honoring the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution 🇺🇸 Come cheer on our local student historian performers!

City of Malden (Official)
Malden Public Library
Malden Public Schools

05/03/2026

Today’s NYTimes article has us already wondering what we should read next…

The nonfiction and novels we can’t stop thinking about.

04/26/2026

We had more fun than you can fit on an (almost)! In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we had none other than .mark as our tour guide showing us how important Malden’s role was — and reminding us it’s up to each of us to preserve our republic for future generations. Big thanks to the Community Connections Grant, and our collaborators & — & especially to Mark and our awesome driver Mike for taking good care of us! (& if you haven’t yet read this year’s Malden Reads book Our Missing Hearts, why not start now?!)

For more pics, check our Flickr album: https://www.flickr.com/gp/maldenreads/5pWXR9b732