THEATER MARATHON vs. CANNONBALLS

We’re RICH in theater this week. With an abundance of theater-going opportunities, I could potentially take my daugher to see seven classic stories performed on stage, including The Princess and the Pea, Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast, Cinderella, Three Little Pigs, Hansel & Gretel and the Frog Princess. All in the span of seven days! If I were really ambitious, we could go on a theater marathon, doing a home study on the various methods the different shows will be empolying, including puppetry, musicals, avantgarde or classic theater … or… we could hang out poolside in Worthington, or at the lake in Ashfield, soaking up the sun and splashing the day away.

My daughter will start her third week of swim lessons next week. She’s this close (pinching fingers half an inch apart) to swimming on her own. She’s doing cannon balls off the dock, dropping in over her head in the murky waters, and then emerging with fear and exhilaration on her face. Then she gets out, runs up on the dock and does it again. And again. And again. Until she’s so tired that just the thought of a popped balloon will send her into a complete meltdown.

NEW FEATURES, BELLS & WHISTLES

A feature has been added for our list of weekly suggested events on Hilltown Families: A Printable Format Link. (hear loud applause, cheering and whistles!) That’s right folks … you are now able to print out our list of suggested and coordinated events every week and tack it to your bulletin board, tape it to your fridge, or shove it in your junk drawer. I decided to make this available after a number of families have expressed how much they missed the monthly calendar I put together for several years for young families with kids 5 and under. Now that our kids are getting older and getting out and about, here’s a printable version to go along with you.

SUGGESTED EVENTS THIS WEEK

If you have a family-friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, or would like to submit your event to the Hilltown Families calendar of Suggested Events, email Sienna at swildfield@juno.com. Comments are warmly welcomed!

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Events Happening in the Hilltowns

Friday – 07/20

10am – PLAYDATE – Bridge Street School playground in Northampton, MA. 10am-Noon. [Families] (Free)

10am, 1pm & 7pm – FAMILY MUSICAL – The Academy at Charlemont will offer a free musical: “The Princess and the Pea.” Call 413.339.4912 for more info and directions. [Families] (Free)

Noon – PUPPET SHOW – At the Springfield Museum Romper Rhythm and Puppets will present “Pirates Ahoy.” 413.263.6800 [Families] ($)

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

5pm – MUSIC FESTIVAL – Green River Festival pre-festival music event at Energy Park in Greenfield, MA, with Crooked Still and Ellen Jewell. [Families] (Free)

6pm – HOT AIR BALLOONS & MUSIC – The Green River Festival begins with a Louisiana Music Night & hot air balloon rides. At 9:30pm is a balloon illumination program set to music. It’s better than fireworks! Greenfield, MA. [Families] ($)

Dusk – MOVIE ON THE COMMON – Free outdoor movie on the Pittsfield Common, beginning shortly after dust. This week it’s Charlotte’s Web, based on the classic children’s book by E.B. White. Rain cancels. 413.499.9344 [Families] (Free)

Saturday – 07/21

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 [All ages] (Free)

9am – SCOTTISH FESTIVAL – The Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival will be at Look Park in Northampton, MA, from 9am-9:30pm. There will be dancing, athletics, music, food and more. 413.848.2816. [Families] ($)

9:30am – OUTDOOR EDUCATION – The Meekins Library in Williamsburg, MA, will be hosting Fungus Follies: A Mushroom Talk and Walk. Registration required. 413.268.8219 [Ages 5 & up] (Free)

10:30am – FAMILY PERFORMANCE – Free performance at the South Hadley Town Commons with Tom Neilson and his interactive songs. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Rain location: Odyssey Book Store [Families] (Free)

11am – MUSIC MAKING FOR KIDS – At MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA, join other kids for a fun-filled morning of music for the younger set with the folks from Bang on a Can. Space is limited. Call to reserve tickets. 413.MoCA.111 [Ages 5 & up] ($)

11am- COMMUNITY DAY & FIREMEN’S MUSTER – In Hinsdale, MA, from 11am-midnight, and on Sunday from 1-5pm. Catch a firemen’s, kids and parade musters, along with a parade, water polo, bonfire, music, food and more. [Families] (free/$)

1pm – HOT AIR BALLOON & MUSIC FESTIVAL – Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA, presents a days worth of music. Click here for schedule. [Families] ($)

1pm – STORYTELLING – At the Eric Carle Museum in Hadley, MA, master storyteller, Motoko weaves a performance with mime and oral traditions. Her stories promote an understanding of Japanese history and culture while highlighting the universality of the human experience. 413.658.1155 [Families] (Free with a museum pass)

HERB FESTIVAL – Stockbridge Herbs in South Deerfield, MA will be hosting a mid-Summer Herb Festival 07/21-07/22. 413.665.6971 [Families] ($)

Sunday – 07/22

PARENTS DAY

10am – YOUNG EQUESTRIANS – The Hampshire County Riding Club will be presenting an Old Time Gymkhana with lots of games and food. All are invited. Located on Ball Road in Goshen, MA. For more information call 413.339.5592 [Families] (Free)

5:30pm – PARENT’S NIGHT OUT – The Art Salon at Cup & Top in Florence, MA, are starting back up. Click here for details. [Adults] ($)

6pm – OUTDOOR CONCERT – Look Park in Florence, MA, presents an outdoor concert at the Sanctuary at Willow Lake as part of their Sunday evening band concert series. Bring your lawn chairs. [Families] (Free with park pass)

Monday – 07/23

10am – CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT – Mark Sheepard will be at Look Park in Northampton at the Pines Theater with a children’s performance of drums, songs and stories. [Families] ($)

11am – KIDS MOVIE – Free movies are being played in Springfield, MA. Click here for details. [Families] (Free)

11am & 2pm – PUPPET SHOW – The Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes will be performing Aladdin at the Guthrie Center in Great Barrington, MA. On a sunny day, bring a picnic lunch to share with your family. 413.698.2591 [Families] ($)

4:30pm – FAMILY SWIM – Hilltown Families invites families to meet at Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, MA, for a swimming playdate. Bring a picnic dinner. [Families] (Free)

Tuesday – 07/24

9am – OUTDOOR EDUCATION – The Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke if offering a “mom-and-me” program, Plants and Animals. Activities include planing, gift makin, seed art, living pests, and more. MA Master Gardeners will be assisting participants. Bring a snack. Call to register. 413.322.5660 [Ages 5 & up] ($)

10am – LIBRARY PROGRAM – Catch the Beat at Your Library summer reading program in Becket, MA. Click here for more info. [Families] (Free)

10am – PLAYDATE – Pulaski Park in Northampton, MA, next to the Academy of Music on Main Street. 10am-Noon. [Families] (Free)

10am – SUMMER READING – Story hour at the Lilly Library in Florence, MA. Registration required. 413.587.1500. [Ages 2.5 and older] (Free)

11am & 2pm – PUPPET SHOW – The Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes will be performing Beauty & The Beast at the Guthrie Center in Great Barrington, MA. On a sunny day, bring a picnic lunch to share with your family. 413.698.2591 [Families] ($)

Noon – LUNCH TIME – Following story hour at the Lilly Library or a playdate at Pulaski Park, join other families at Cup & Top in Florence, MA, for lunch and playtime. 413.584 .8328 [Families] (Free/$)

6pm – MUSIC EDUCATION – The Lilly Library in Florence, MA, will be sponsoring Springfield Symphony Orchestra Musical Petting Zoo. There will be tubas, violins, cellos. Come check out a variety of instruments and meet member of the SSO. 413.587.1500 [Ages 5 & Older] (Free)

6:30pm – COMMUNITY SING – Penny Schultz will be leading a community sing at Earthdance in Plainfield, MA. Rounds, part songs, chants and spirituals from a wide variety of cultures. All ages and abilities welcomed. 413.634.5678 [Families] (Children Free, Adults $5)

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)

Wednesday – 07/25

10am – CHILDREN’S THEATER – Black Cat Theater will be presenting an outdoor performance at Buttery Brook Park in South Hadley, MA. This weeks performance is of Pinocchio and runs from 25th-28th. Bring blanket or chairs and participate in live theater. 413.563.6023 [Families] ($)

10am – PLAYDATE – Look Park’s big playground & splash park in Florence, MA. See you there! 10am-Noon. [Families] ($)

11am – CHILDREN’S THEATRE – The Berkshire Theatre Festival presents Cinderella at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA. Runs Wed-Sat until 07/28. 413.443.7171 [Families] ($)

5pm – CHILDREN’S CONCERT – Guitarist Laura Cayer from the kid’s rock group Pop Rockets will be performing an interactive dance party at Chandlers in Deerfield, MA. 413.665.1277. Call to make reservations. [Families] ($)

5pm – FAMILY PIZZA NIGHT – Hilltown Families invites families to come together for pizza at Country Pie on Main Street in Ashfield, MA. [Families] ($)

Thursday – 07/26

10am – SUMMER READING – Did you know that newspaper reporters have beats? On Thursday mornings at the Lilly Library in Florence, MA, during the summer reading, come write and edit a community newspaper with former reporter Valle Dwight. Registration required. 413.587.1500. [Ages 8 & Up] (Free)

10am – PLAYDATE – Look Park’s big playground & splash park in Florence, MA. See you there! 10am-Noon. [Families] ($)

11am & 2pm – PUPPET SHOW – The Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes will be performing Three Little Pigs at the Guthrie Center in Great Barrington, MA. On a sunny day, bring a picnic lunch to share with your family. 413.698.2591 [Families] ($)

1pm – CHILDREN’S THEATER – The Majestic Theatre offers a tongue and cheek performance of Grimm Brothers’ tale, Hansel and Gretel in West Springfield. 413.747.7797 [Families] ($)

2pm – CHILDREN’S THEATER – Forbes Library in Northampton, MA, will be hosting a live theater performance, sponsored by the Multi-Arts Summer Camp. The play will address issues that children face every day. 413.587.1010 [Families] (Free)

6pm – COMMUNITY PICNIC – Join other Hilltown Families for a community picnic happening on Main Street [St. John’s Corner] in Ashfield, MA. Potluck. Hot dogs, burgers and beverages provided. Bring a lawn chair and a game if you wish. [Families] (Free)

6:30pm – OUTDOOR MUSIC – Every Thursday in July & August there will be a free summer music series in Huntington, MA. Bring lawn chairs and join the community at the gazebo. Rain location: Stanton Hall. [Families] (Free)

6:30pm – MAGIC SHOW – Sherid Adams will be at the Meekins Library in Worthington, MA, doing a magic show. [Families] (Free)

6:30pm – ARTWALK- Celebrate 3rd Thursdays in downtown Pittsfield, MA. Click here for more information. [Families] (Free)

Friday – 07/27

An organized local weekend camping trip for families is being offered by the CFC. Click here for details.

10am – PLAYDATE – Bridge Street School playground in Northampton, MA. 10am-Noon. [Families] (Free)

10:30am – CHILDREN’S THEATRE – New Century Theatre presents The Frog Princess from 07/25-07/28. General seating. Show begins promptly at Theatre 14 in Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts of Smith College in Northampton, MA. Click here for more info. 413.587.3933 [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] ($)

Anyday – Anytime

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