Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is here. Growing up in the hills of East Texas, Memorial Day weekend marked the opening of our neighborhood swimming pool. With great hopes that this weekend will be sunny and beautiful, we plan to follow this youthful tradition by blowing up the kiddie pool! My daughter’s beside herself. Yesterday she was running around the yard in her water-wings, river shoes and underwear. (And she’s got the bug bites on her back to prove it.) She wouldn’t take them off at bath-time. So why not … let her bathe with her swimming attire on. She got very frustrated with the water-wings. “They keep popping up!” she hollered as she tried to keep them submerged.

With the lilacs in bloom, Memorial Day weekend also marks the 33rd annual MA Sheep and Wool Craft Fair at the Cummington Fairgrounds – one of the oldest sheep fairs in New England. Is it my imagination, or have we had cruddy weather for the past couple of years during the fair? I’m actually hesitant to check the weather report. I’m going on wishful thinking!

The fair is a great opportunity to take the family to discover more about one of the oldest industries in the world. I’ve included a few of their events in this week’s list that are specifically for kids and families, but there is much more going on at the fairgrounds during the weekend. Visit their website for a complete schedule of events.

If you have a family-friendly event or educational program you’d like to let us know about, or would like to submit your event to the Hilltown Families calendar of Suggested Events, email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com. Comments are warmly welcomed!

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Events Happening in the Hilltowns

Friday – 05/25

All Day – HORSE SHOW – Arabian Horse show at the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA. A lovely opportunity for those young equestrian animal lovers. Happens Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 8am-10pm. 860.287.2861 [Families] (Free)

5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Menu TBA. 413.628.4003 [Families] ($)

7pm – MUSIC FUNDRAISER – The Fifth Annual “Night of Music” fundraiser for the Crane Memorial Scholarship will be held at the Gateway Performing Arts Center in Huntington, MA. [Families] ($)

Saturday – 05/26

8am – MA SHEEP & WOOLCRAFT FAIR – One of the oldest of all the New England sheep fairs happens on Saturday & Sunday from 8am-5pm at the Cummington Fairgrounds. A fun and affordable way to spend a day with family and friends discovering one of the oldest industries in the world. Shepherds, spinners, weavers, fiber artists, demonstrations, sheep dog trials, spinning and weaving contests,a fleece sale, fiber workshops, a shearing service, live music, and workshops for kids. Click here for schedule of events. [Families] ($)

8am – MUSIC – While traveling around town, tune-in to WXOJ 103.3 FM in Northampton, MA, from 8-10am to hear fabulous family-friendly music on Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Aric Bieganek will be performing LIVE this week. [All ages] (Free)

10am – BOOK SALE – At the Meekins Library in Williamsburg, MA. [Families] ($)

10am – FAMILY PERFORMANCE – Aric Bieganek of Recess Rock at Cup and Top in Florence, MA. [Families] (Free/$)

10am – TAG SALE – The Northampton Parent Center is having their annual tag sale on the lawn of the Unitarian Society in Northampton, MA. 413.582.2636. [Families] ($)

10am – ARTS & CRAFTS – Kool-Aid Dyeing with Jenny Atkins at the Cummington Fairgrounds. Dye a bit of fleece, roving or yarn in a baggie with vibrant, non-toxic Kool-Aid colors. Under Tent. [All Ages] ($3)

11am – FIBER ART – Family Felting and Kumihumo with Susan Loring Wells & Jill Pollack at the Cummington Fairgrounds. Learn two simple fiber techniques, felted beads and kumihimo, Japanese braids. The finished product will be of your own design. Under Tent [Ages 6 & up] ($3)

2pm – FIBER ART – Beginning Spinning for Kids with Mershele Springstube at the Cummington Fairgrounds. Try your hand at spinning using hooked sticks and a CD drop spindle that you can take home. Under tent. [Ages 5 & up] ($3)

5:30pm – POTLUCK & ICE CREAM SOCIAL – A potluck supper will be held in the Cummington fairgrounds dining room. Everyone is welcome! Please bring a prepared main dish or salad (sufficient to feed your family) to the kitchen by 4 p.m. NO BREAD! Rolls, beverages and place settings will be provided. Both refrigerators and warming ovens are available on the grounds. Ice cream social to follow the potluck. [Families] (Free)

Sunday – 05/27

10am – MEMORIAL DAY FESTIVAL – At the Littleville Fairgrounds in Chester, MA. Horse Pulls, Wagon Rides, Chicken BBQ, crafts, and more. 413.667.3987. Rain or shine. [Families] ($ – Buy tickets in advance for discount)

10am – ARTS & CRAFTS – Felt a Treasure Bag for Kids with Mershele Springstube at the Cummington Fairgrounds. You’ll felt over a small rock then cut it open to create your own special bag. Under tent. [All ages] ($3)

Noon – ARTS & CRAFTS – Kool-Aid Dyeing with Jenny Atkins at the Cummington Fairgrounds. Dye a bit of fleece, roving or yarn in a baggie with vibrant, non-toxic Kool-Aid colors. Under tent. [All Ages] ($3)

2pm – ARTS & CRAFTS – Fleece Sheep and Bunnies with Nyssa Lanzafame at the Cummington Fairgrounds. A great Kid’s workshop! Make a simple bunny or sheep to take home. Under tent. [Ages 5 & up] ($3)

6pm – FAMILY MUSIC – The Golden Age Harmoni-Cats is A harmonica group composed of 18 skilled harmonica players and their music is interactive. They will be performing from 6-8pm at the Beveridge Pavilion in Stanley Park in Westfield, MA. 413.568.9312 [Families] (Free)

Monday – 05/28

Memorial Day (observed)

If you’re reading this then you’re more than likely looking for something to do with the family. If you discover something fun to do with the family, or have a suggested event, please post below in the comment box. In the meantime, here are some freebies:

 

• Scholastic has a free book offer right now. Click here and enter 3000006527 as the “UPC code.”
• Mr. David is giving the first 3,000 fans who sign up for his newsletter a free, signed copy of the “Hey! It’s Lunchtime!” single.

 

Tuesday – 05/29

7pm – Hilltown Family Variety Show – Tune-in between bath and bed time to the Hilltown Families very own radio show on WXOJ LP 103.3 FM, Valley Free Radio, out of Northampton, MA. www.valleyfreeradio.org [Families] (Free)

6:45pm – PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT – Meet at Cup & Top Café in Florence, MA, for an Art Salon. Simple creative writing & drawing exercises to bring out your creativity and to get “unstuck.” Materials provided. 413.584.8328 [Parents] ($)

Wednesday – 05/30

Memorial Day

Last day to drop off self-portraits at the Children’s Art Museum. Click here to read more.

9am-ish – HILLTOWN PARENTS SOCIAL – Breakfast at Elmer’s! After dropping your children off at school, Hilltown Families invites you to head on over to Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, for coffee, tea and crumpets. Bring your lap tops and get some work done too. 413.628.4003 [Parents] (Free/$)

Thursday – 05/31

10am – MOVEMENT FOR MOMS – Movement classes for moms at the Wood Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Florence, MA, from 10-11:15am. Childcare available. 413.238.4499 [Mothers] ($)

1:30pm – HOME SCHOOL THURSDAYS – Meet at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA, to explore the museum while connecting with other home school families; visit the galleries, explore art-making in the Studio, books in the Reading library, and view a short film at 2:30pm. [Ages 5 & up] ($/Check out free pass from your local library)

4pm – YOUNG FARMERS – Young Farmers at Red Gate are invited to help a farmer feed animals, check for eggs and take care of other chores in Buckland, MA. Parents and younger siblings also welcome. [Ages 5 and older] (Free)

7pm -OUTDOOR EDUCATION – Bring a picnic dinner and join Naturalist Aimee Gelinas for a gentle paddle at Barton Cove in Gill, MA. In the 1980s Massachusetts initiated an eagle restoration project in hopes of reintroducing this magnificent bird. This became a success story; we now have 16 nesting bald eagles in the state, including one pair at Barton Cove. Although we can’t guarantee eagles, this spot has been very reliable, and there is a video camera in the nest. At this time of year, we hope to see both the adult and young. 413.584.3009. [Ages 8 & older] ($)

Friday – 06/01

4pm – FIRST FRIDAYS @ THE CARLE – At the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst. From 4-7pm the Eric Carle Museum invites all visitors to head to the Museum after school/work, grab a quick and casual bite to eat (pizza!) in the Museum’s Café, enjoy a storytime in the Reading Library, drop by the Galleries, take in a short film in the Auditorium, and create a masterpiece in the Art Studio… all before bedtime! First Friday of each month. [Families] ($)

5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Menu TBA. 413.628.4003 [Families] ($)

7:30 – OUTDOOR EDUCATION – Late spring and summer nights are filled with the flashing light of the various firefly species. By watching the location and duration of the flash, you can learn to distinguish different species and tell whether it is a male or female. Join Environmental Educator Rebecca Moretti in a firefly game, make a firefly craft, and walk into the fields to enjoy and learn about the incredible light show that fireflies provide at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, MA. 413.584.3009. [Ages 5 & older] ($)

Anyday – Anytime

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