The Snowman

One my favorite films to watch during the holidays is The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, a 23 minute pencil-drawn animation. It’s the purity of The Snowman that I enjoy the most. The film is without words and set to the composition “Walking in the Air” by Howard Blake and performed by Peter Auty. With his wonderful illustrations and a timeless musical composition, Briggs brilliantly captures the innocence of a young boy’s imagination during the holiday season.

Somehow we’ve misplaced our copy of The Snowman and have had to get our holiday movie classic quota from outside sources … BUT, I was happy to find the video for view on-line. So if you’re looking for something to do with the kids, grab them and enjoy the magic of Raymond Briggs:

To add this video to your movie collection, click here to buy it from Amazon.

Thank you to this week’s Suggested Events Sponsor, Spirit of the Heart. Nancy has a couple of weekend classes for families available. Check them out and get the kids active!

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!

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Events Happening in the Hilltowns

Saturday – 12/22

WINTER SOLSTICE

8am – FAMILY RADIO – (Air Waves) 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)

Noon – SPORTS – (Amherst) Take the family to see the “big girls” play basketball at UMass (vs. Buffalo) in the Mullins Center. 413.545.0810 [Families] ($$)

2pm – THEATER – (Stockbridge) The Berkshire Theatre Festival will be presenting Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol at the Unicorn Theatre. 413.298.5536 x33. [Families] ($$)

2:30pm – FAMILY MUSIC – (Greenfield) Join the rocking kids music group The Pop Rockets at Barts Ice Cream for a family fun holiday show. They’ll be serving up new music and hot cocoa, along with a sing-a-long to traditional holiday music. www.poprocketsmusic.com [Families] (Free)

4:30pm – HOLIDAY CAROLING – (Cummington) The CFC invites families to go caroling down Main Street, followed by hot chocolate and a potluck dinner. Caroling begins at the Cummington Community House. [Families] (Free)

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

5:30pm-8:30pm – SOLSTICE CELEBRATION – (Easthampton) Arcadia Nature Center & Wildlife Sanctuary will be hosting a Winter Solstice Celebration with candles, readings, music, bonfire & hot cider. 413.584.3009 [Famileis] (Free)

6pm – HOLIDAY DISPLAY – (Florence) Join the community for the annual Luminaria Display in the Village of Florence. There will be a public display, holiday reception at the Civic Center and free hayrides. 413.320.2306 [Families] (Free, Benefit)

6pm-8:30pm – SOLSTICE CELEBRATION – (Westhampton) A Full Moon Howl and Solstice Celebration will be held at Parsonage Field. There will be refreshments, bonfire, singing, sledding, and marshmallow roast. 413.527.1731 [Families] (Free)

6:30pm-8:30pm – SOLSTICE CELEBRATION – (Ashfield) On the town green join other families for a Winter Solstice Celebration with candles, a bonfire, singing, story tellingand Morris Dancers. [Families] (Free)

7:30pm – SPORTS – (Amherst) Take the family to see the “big boys” play basketball at UMass (vs. CCSU) in the Mullins Center. 413.545.0810 [Families] ($$)

Sunday – 12/23

2pm – HOLIDAY CAROLING – (Westhampton) Families are invited to go Christmas caroling and present holiday baskets to older and ill town residents, followed by hot chocolate and cookies. Caroling begins at the church. [Families] (Free)2pm – THEATER – (Stockbridge) The Berkshire Theatre Festival will be presenting Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol at the Unicorn Theatre. 413.298.5536 x33. [Families] ($$)

5pm – TOWN CELEBRATION – (Hatfield) The Hatfield Public Library will host a family story hour with featured guest reader, Sen. Stan Rosenberg. Townwide candle lighting @ 5:30pm. Music & Santa at the town hall @ 6:30pm. Refreshments at the fire station @ 7pm. 413.247.9097. [Families] (Free)

Monday – 12/24

10am-2pm – FESTIVAL OF TREES – (Pittsfield) At the Berkshire Museum is “On the Move,” the 23rd annual Festival of Trees, exhibit features over 200 trees decked out in all forms of locomotion. 413.443.7171 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)

Noon-4pm – SANTA’S WORKSHOP – (Florence) Take the kids to visit Santa in his workshop at Look Park. 413.584.5457 [Families] (Free)

1pm-3:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Amherst) Families are welcomed to come ice skating at the Mullins Community Ice Rink (on the UMass campus). 413.545.3990 [Families] ($)

Tuesday – 12/25

CHRISTMAS

11am-4pm – WINTER SOLSTICE – (Amherst) A Winter Solstice Celebration will be held at the Yiddish Book Center. Choral music by Mak’hela, the Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts, will be presented. 413.256.4900 [Families] ($)

7pm – FAMILY RADIO – (Air Waves) 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. Extended holiday episode. [Families] (Free)

Wednesday – 12/26

FIRST DAY OF KWANZAA

1pm-3:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Amherst) Families are welcomed to come ice skating at the Mullins Community Ice Rink (on the UMass campus). 413.545.3990 [Families] ($)

1pm-3pm – SCIENCE HAPPENINGS – (Pittsfield) The Berkshire Museum will be offering an art-making activity: Rockets In Flight! Children can build their own rocket ship and learn about the science of space flight. Timed tickets to Rockets in Flight will be available at the front desk beginning at 10 a.m. each day on a first come, first served basis. 413.443.7171 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)

11am-3:30pm – MEDIEVAL DAYS – [Springfield] The Springfield Museums will be having their school vacation fun with Medieval Days. Today see Tom Foolery of Fooltales fron noon-12:30pm, and at 1pm catch his comedy magic show. 413.263.6800 x420 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)

Thursday – 12/27

10am-4pm – ART – (Amherst) In The Art Studio at the Eric Carle Museum, participate in their art project, Play is Hard Work! Find inspiration in the exhibition Children Should be Seen and construct a toy with found materials. 413.658.1126 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)

11am-3:30pm – MEDIEVAL DAYS – [Springfield] The Springfield Museums will be having their school vacation fun with Medieval Days. Safari Dan will be around today, introducing animals from the Solutia Live Animal Center around 11am. Costumed knights are around during the day, and Wasabi: A Dragon’s Tale marionette show starts at 1pm. 413.263.6800 x420 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)

6pm-9pm – KWANZAA – (Pittsfield) The Women of Color Giving Circle of the Berkshires will be hosting its Second Annual Community Kwanzaa Celebration, “Kujichagulia: A Day of Self-Determination,” at the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), 36 Linden Street in Pittsfield. There will be dinner, live performances, & an official Kwanzaa Ceremony highlighting principles of family and community values. Besides enjoying a night of unity, festivities, learning about the history of Kwanzaa, and having great food, each person will leave with a creative gift and the motivation to pursue aspirations. 413.443.2768 [Families] (Free)

Friday – 12/28

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

1pm-3:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Amherst) Families are welcomed to come ice skating at the Mullins Community Ice Rink (on the UMass campus). 413.545.3990 [Families] ($)

1pm-3pm – SCIENCE HAPPENINGS – (Pittsfield) The Berkshire Museum will be offering an art-making activity: Rockets In Flight! Children can build their own rocket ship and learn about the science of space flight. Timed tickets to Rockets in Flight will be available at the front desk beginning at 10 a.m. each day on a first come, first served basis. 413.443.7171 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)

11am-3:30pm – MEDIEVAL DAYS – [Springfield] The Springfield Museums will be having their school vacation fun with Medieval Days. Safari Dan will be around today, introducing animals from the Solutia Live Animal Center around 11am. A medieval princess tea party (ages 4-12) happens throughout the day, and Tanglewood Marionetts presents Hansel & Gretel at 1pm. 413.263.6800 x420 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)

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] ($)