Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events 12/29/07 – 01/04/08
HAPPY NEW YEAR … HILLTOWN FAMILIES LOOKS AHEAD!
We’ve survived the holidays (so far!) and are looking forward to an exciting New Year! Lots of fun and exciting events and activities are on the horizon for all families to choose from and enjoy in the months to come, including:
- Outdoor Adventures for Kids in the Hilltowns, starting on January 7th with our winter program. Hilltown Families (that’s us!) has collaborated with Tekoa Mountain Outdoors to offer a ten week Monday afternoon (4pm-5pm) adventure program for kids ages 5-7 at the TMO Base Camp in Chesterfield, MA, starting January 7th and ending March 31st, 2008. Led by Program Coordinator, Timothy Vogel of Tekoa Mountain Outdoors. If you’re interested in participating be sure to sign up soon. Click here for more information.
- Family concerts! Hilltown Families is presenting a couple of family concerts this winter, including Uncle Rock at the Florence Civic Center in Florence, MA, at 10:30pm on Saturday, February 2nd; and Princess Katie and Racer Steve (co-presented with Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child) at Lyman Hall in Northampton, MA, at 1:30pm on Saturday, March 8th. Mark you calendars. More details to come!
- House concerts! Members of the Hilltown Families Listserv are invited to house concerts scheduled this winter. Details will be posted to the listserv. If you are a family living in Western Massachusetts and would like to be a part of the HF Listserv, send us an email to get started!
- Guest writers! We have a couple of new guest writers that will be joining us on Hilltown Families, including Connie Gills of Constant Wonder, and Katie Sullivan from PK&RS. If you’re interested in being a guest writer for HF, click here to discover our current guest writers and how to send your query. All writing styles and creative ideas are welcome.
- Contests! We’ll be continuing our weekly contest to win music and apparel on our HFVS posts. Plus, we’ve added books to our contest offerings, including titles donated by our friend Dawn over at Barefoot Books and this week’s sponsor, Grendel Books, ABAA/ILAB.
Speaking of sponsors …
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 | School Closings & Delays
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
Saturday – 12/29
11am – MEET THE ARTIST – (Amherst) Meet Tommy dePaolo at the Eric Carle Museum. He will be discussing the exhibit Children Should Be Seen: The Image of the Child in American Picture Book Art. 413.658.1100 [Families] (Free w/museum pass) UPDATE: Tommy dePaolo will not be at the museum after all, but there will be a film about him. See the comment below. (Thanks Christy!)
11am-3:30pm – MEDIEVAL DAYS – (Springfield)The Springfield Museums will be having their school vacation fun with Medieval Days. Today see Roger the Jester perform A Fool for All Reasons at 1pm. 413.263.6800 x420 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)
7pm – THEATER – (Stockbridge) The Berkshire Theatre Festival will be presenting Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol at the Unicorn Theatre. 413.298.5536 x33. [Families] ($$)
Sunday – 12/30
1:30pm – SINGING – (Greenfield) Families are welcome to join in for a cappella singing at the Second Congregational Church. Potluck snack. 413.774.4355 [Families] (Free)
3pm – PUPPET SHOW – (Cummington) The Tanglewood Marionettes will be performing Cinderella at the Cummington Community House. 413.634.5362 [Families] (Free)
3pm-5pm – ICE SKATING – (Easthampton) Open ice skating every Sunday at Williston Northampton School’s Lossone Rink. 413.529.3000 [Families] ($)
4pm – SING-ALONG – (Cummington) 43rd Annual Sing-Through at the Cummington Village Church. Instrumentalists welcomed. 413.634.5320 [Families] (Free)
Monday – 12/31
11am – FAMILY CONCERT – (Pittsfield) Ben Rudnick and Friends will be performing in the auditorium at the Berkshire Museum. 413.443.7171 [Families] ($)
Tuesday – 01/01
NEW YEARS DAY
10am-Noon – HIKE – (Williamsburg) First Day Family Hike (no dogs please). Off Nash Road on Henhawk Trail. From Williamsburg Center, take Nash Hill Raod 3.2 miles. The trailhead is on the left. Bring showshoes, water and snacks. 413.268.8371 [Families] (Free)
Noon – HIKE – (Goshen) A first day hike will be held at the DAR State Forest. Meet at the DAR State Park. Hot cocoa. 413.268.7098 [Families] (Free)
5:30pm – WORLD DANCE – (Northampton) At the First Churches there will be a candlelight potluck dinner and scottish country dancing. [Families] ($)
Wednesday – 01/02
10am-4pm – MAKE A TOY – (Amherst) In the art studio at the Eric Carle Museum come make a toy with found materials after being inspired by the current exhibition, Children Should Be Seen. 413.658.1126 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)
7pm – SPORTS – (Amherst) Take the family to see the “big boys” play basketball at UMass (vs. Houston) in the Mullins Center. 413.545.0810 [Families] ($$)
Thursday – 01/03
10am-4pm – MAKE A TOY – (Amherst) In the art studio at the Eric Carle Museum come make a toy with found materials after being inspired by the current exhibition, Children Should Be Seen. 413.658.1126 [Families] (Free w/museum pass)
Friday – 01/04
4pm-7pm – STORYTIME & FILM – (Amherst) The Eric Carle Museum offers families a place to come together for stories, a film an opportunity to make some art every first Friday of the month. 413.658.1126 [Families] (Free w/ museum pass)
Just to let folks know- Tommie de Paola will not be at the Eric Carle Museum today- but there will be a wonderful film about him. I didn’t want folks to make the journey out to Amherst & be disappointed. I work at the Eric Carle museum & we do have some great exhibits now- also make your own toy in our art space out of recycled materials! Hope to see you there…