Suggested Events 12/01/07 – 12/07/07

Posted on November 29, 2007 By Hilltown Families

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, Wie treu sind deine Blätter

CCL (c) RcktManIL When I was growing up, we always put our Christmas tree up the weekend following Thanksgiving. A family tradition I’ve stayed true to with our daughter. The only difference is we don’t unpack our tree from a box we keep in the attic the way my folks did (nor do we have a cat to knock the tree down six or seven times like we did when I was a kid).

Growing up I had longed for a real Christmas tree… that smell of pine and fallen needles dusting the packages underneath. Between my childhood and my daughter’s, I forewent putting up a tree, artificial or real. Largely because I was living out of a backpack or in a tiny apartment, but I still longed for that real tree experience. So on our daughter’s first Christmas, we put HER in the backpack and went out on Christmas Eve and cut down our first ever REAL CHRISTMAS TREE! Never-mind that it was Christmas Eve and all the “good” ones were gone. It was REAL! It smelled of pine and needles fell to the ground, which were chewed on by the baby … and we kept it up long past all social graces, because it was REAL! And we had pine needles all over the house to prove it. Now we have a new family tradition that we take part in every year, the debate over colored lights vs. white lights. (Out of all the issues in the world to tackle, this one comes up same time, every year.)

LOCAL CHRISTMAS TREES

This will be our 6th Christmas Tree, a full seven-foot Balsam Fir. Standing on stools, our daughter and her best friend hung the ornaments. They even created a little hammock out of ribbon for an angel missing a loop for hanging. We’re fortunate to have an abundance of local tree farms in our area to take our kids to for choosing the perfect Christmas tree. Click here to find a local tree farm near you.

THIS WEEK’S LIST OF SUGGESTED EVENTS IS SPONSORED BY:

Elmer's Store, Ashfield, MA

Become a Sponsor

To find out how you or your business can help support Hilltown Families by becoming a sponsor, drop us an email or give us a call at 413.296.0096 for more information. We’re offering very reasonable rates throughout the holiday season. By having individuals in our community and area businesses become sponsors, Hilltown Families can continue to offer a weekly list of suggested events, a weekly podcast, updated resources, articles and much more.

Submit an Event

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!

Local forecast | Get directions | Free Museum Passes

Events Happening in the Hilltowns

Saturday – 12/01

8am – FAMILY RADIO – 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. Tune in this week for a live interview with DAN ZANES! [All ages] (Free)

10am-5pm – CRAFTED IN THE VILLAGE – Enjoy an old-fashioned kid of Christmas with the family in Ashfield, MA. Elmer’s Store has information and maps on where to go. Click here for details. 413.628.4003 [Families] (Free/$$)

10am – FAMILY BOOK CLUB – A family book club will be forming at the Meekins Library in Williamsburg, MA. Click here for more info. [Ages 9-12] (Free)

10am-4pm – FAMILY CRAFT FAIR – The Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School will be having their 4th Annual Family Winter Craft & Book Fair at the Brassworks Building in Haydenville, MA. click here for more info. [Families] (Free/$)

10am-4pm – HOLIDAY SHOW – The Hilltown Artisans Guild will sponsor their annual Holiday Show & Sale at Worthington Town Hall in Worthington, MA. Music and refreshments. [Families] (Free/$)

2pm – ART WORKSHOP FOR KIDS – Turkish Printmaking at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts in Pittsfield, MA. 413.499.9348 [Ages 5 & up] ($$)

2pm-3pm – FAMILY CONCERT – The Pop Rockets will be performing in South Deerfield, MA, at Yankee Candle. Click here for more info. [Families] (Free)

5pm-8pm -FAMILY MUSEUM NIGHT – It’s family night at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA, featuring Yo-Yo People and the Silver Swimmers. 413.443.7171 [Families] ($)

5pm-8pm – HOLIDAY HAYRIDES – Look Park in Florence, MA, is offering a tour of their holiday lights display on a horse drawn hayride. [Families] (>$)

Sunday – 12/02

10am-Noon – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES – Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, MA, will be offering Animal Homes and Holes. 413.584.3009 [Ages 4-12 & their parents] ($)

10am-5pm – CRAFTED IN THE VILLAGE – Enjoy an old-fashioned kid of Christmas with the family in Ashfield, MA. Elmer’s Store has information and maps on where to go. Click here for details. 413.628.4003 [Families] (Free/$$)

1pm-3pm – HOLIDAY CRAFTS FOR KIDS – Artspace in Greenfield, MA, will be offering free workshops, including holiday ornaments, fish prints, popsicle stick doll ornaments and more. [Ages 4 & older] (Free)

2pm – HOLIDAY SHOW – PVPA High School will be having their holiday show in South Hadley, MA. 413.552.1590 [Families]

2pm – WORLD MUSIC – The Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, will have gypsy and eastern European folk music. 413.256.4900 [Families] ($)

2:30pm – HOLIDAY CRAFTS FOR KIDS – Artstar in Haydenville, MA, will be offering a “Unique Holiday Cards” workshop. [Families] ($$)

Monday – 12/03

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Bright Nights at Forest Park in Springfield, MA

Holiday Light Display at Look Park in Florence, MA

Tuesday – 12/04

1pm & 2pm – PARENT EXERCISE – Community Walking Program in the Hilltowns, organized by the Hilltown Community Health Centers. Every Tuesday (weather permitting) meet at Russell Conway School Parking lot in Worthington, MA. Beginner start at 1pm & experienced walkers start at 2pm. Call to register. 413.667.2204 [Parents] (Free)

6:30pm – WORLD MUSIC – At the Blanchard Center at mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, there will be a West African drum performance. 413.538.222 [Families]

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

Wednesday – 12/05

9pm – PARENT COFFEE BREAK – After dropping the kids off at school or their homeschool program, drop into Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA. Not only do they have great coffee, they have a fantastic breakfast menu too. Connect with other parents. If you’d rather do some work, bring your laptop (they have wireless!) and let them bring you coffee! To find out what’s happen over at Elmer’s, read Notes from Nan, a weekly update posted here on Hilltown Families. [Parents] ($/Free)

5pm-6:30pm – HANUKKAH CELEBRATION – Hanukkah Music Jam for families at the Northampton Community Music Center in Northampton, MA. Click here for more information. 413.585.0001 [Families] (Donation)

Thursday – 12/06

5:30pm – READ TO DOGS – The Meekins Library in Williamsburg, MA, will be resuming their special program Reading to Dogs. Animals are ideal nonjudgemental reading companions that are less intimidating than peers. Children sign up for 20minute slots. All dogs are registered therapy pets. 413.268.7472 [Ages 6 & up] (Free)

Open till 8pm – LOCAL LIBRARY – Did you know the Meekins Library in Williamsburg, MA, stays open until 8pm every Thursday? A great thing to have as the winter months approach. Take the kids in their PJ’s and spend time at the library before bed time reading stories or getting help with homework. [Everyone] (Free)

7pm-9pm – PARENTING WORKSHOP – “Are You Raising a Highly Sensitive Child?” A free lecture offered at the Lilly Library in Florence, MA. 866.kid.coach [Parents & Gaurdians] (Free)

Friday – 12/07

11am-12:50pm – HOME SCHOOL ICE SKATING – Mullins Center at the University of MA in Amherst, MA, is starting up a Home School (Ice) Skates. Ice skate rentals are free and accompanying parents are free. The Mullins Cafe will be open serving coffee and assorted foods. [Ages 5 & up] (>$)

5pm-7pm – MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE – The Berkshire Museum will part of the downtown Pittsfield‘s holiday celebration. 413.443.7171 [Families] (Free)

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-8pm – HOLIDAY HAYRIDES – Look Park in Florence, MA, is offering a tour their holiday lights display on a horse drawn hayride. [Families] (>$)

6:30pm-7:30pm – SCIENCE FOR KIDS – It’s Scien-Triffic Fridays at the Mad Science “Adventure Lab” in Northampton, MA This Friday it’s “Detective Science.” 413.584.7243 [Ages 5-11] ($) Postponed to next Friday.

7:30pm – DANCE PERFORMANCE – The Lisa Leizman Winter Dance Company offers “Mind of Winter” at the Northampton Center for the Arts in Northampton, MA. Kids are warmly welcomed. Click here for more info. [Families] ($)

8pm – COMMUNITY CHORUS – Songs of Praise & Faith from around the world, sung by the “Spirit of the Hills,” will be held at the Helen Hills Chapel on the Smith College Campus in Northampton, MA. Led by Penny Schultz and accompanied by Chris Haynes. Reception follows. [Families] (Donation)