Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events 05/31/08-06/06/08
Spring Festivals Are Blooming!
Spring festivals bloom this time of year and are always great fun to take the family to. A couple of weeks ago the Hilltown Spring Festival celebrated life in the Hilltowns, and this past weekend the Sheep & Woolcraft Festival celebrated its 33rd year at the Cummington Fair Grounds. And this weekend there are a couple of fairs and festivals worth checking out too:
MAY FAIR (POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER & ILLNESS)
On Saturday (05/31/08) in Ashfield, MA, the Ashfield Community Preschool will be celebrating spring with a May Fair and Family Concert. The fair begins at 10am with Maypole dancing, a fairy forest, baby animals barnyard, crafts, food and music! The Nields will be performing an outdoor family concert beginning at 1:30pm (>$) and Lady May will be roaming the grounds to greet visitors in her magic cloak. HF Listerv members Geri & Mark Pollard of Bread Euphoria will be serving up pizza and their organic baked goods. (POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER & ILLNESS)
FAMILY CONCERTS
Earlier on Saturday, HF Listerv members Helen Kahn (Cup & Top) & Bill Childs (Spare the Rock) will be hosting/presenting Dog on Fleas at Cup and Top in Florence. And it’s FREE! Dog on Fleas is a great band. So between The Nields at 1:30pm and DOF at 10am, and The Nields AGAIN on Sunday (see below), families are RICH with great family music events.
CULTURAL SURVIVAL BAZAAR
Another Spring Festival happening this weekend worth mentioning is the Cultural Survival Bazaar happening all weekend long on the Amherst Commons. We went last year and loved it (plus, it’s free!). Great music, food and crafts! Here are some photos we took at last year’s festival:
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If you have a family-friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page.
Suggest an Event | Local forecast | Get directions | Museum Passes | Farmer’s Market | Family Centers (Ages 0-4)
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
The following key represents the sum cost of one adult and one child:(>$) Under $10; ($) Between $10-$19; ($$) Between $20-$44; ($$$) Over $45
Saturday – 05/31
7am – 9am – FAMILY RADIO – (Air Waves) Are you prepared to rock?! Join Bill & Ella on Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child every Saturday on The River 93.9FM (101.5FM in Brattleboro), or 103.3 FM WXOJ-LP to hear two hours of quality family-friendly music. [All ages] (Free) LINK
9am-10am – FAMILY RADIO & STORYTELLING – (Air Waves) Join our Hilltown Family! Spend a little time with The Hilltown Family Variety Show every Saturday on WXOJ-LP 103.3FM to hear a full hour of commercial-free, quality family-friendly music and storytelling. [Families] (Free) LINK
9:30am-4:30pm – HISTORIC COOKING – (Deerfield) Open Hearth Cooking Demonstrations at the Historic Deerfield Hall Tavern Kitchen. All are invited to experience the sights, sounds, and aromas of hearth cooking while learning about colonial foods and diet. Visitors can also see what’s growing when they visit the Cooks’ Garden dedicated to the memory of Margaret Quinn Orloske. Demonstrations are included with general admission. 413.775.7214 [All Ages] (Free with museum pass. Borrow a museum pass from your local library.) LINK
10am – FAMILY CONCERT – (Florence) Dog on Fleas will be at Cup and Top. [Families] (Free) MORE INFO
10am – MAY FAIR & FAMILY CONCERT – (Ashfield) At the Ashfield Community Preschool. Maypole dancing, fairy forest, barnyard, crafts, music, food, and more. The Nields will be doing a family concert at 1:30pm. [Families] (Fundraiser) (POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER & ILLNESS)
10am-6am – CULTURAL FESTIVAL – (Amherst) Cultural Survival’s 3rd Annual Amherst Common Bazaar [All Ages] MORE INFO
10:30am-11:30pm – SIGN LANGUAGE – (Greenfield) REACH Program will be offering sign language classes at the Greenfield YMCA. [Adults] (Free) MORE INFO
Noon-4pm – HISTORIC FLOWERS – (Deerfield) May Flowers at the Historic Deerfield Museum. In this family friendly history workshop visitors can learn about the many meanings and uses of flowers in the past. A printed “flower expedition” will have guests seeking blossoms hidden in wallpaper designs, clothing, ceramics, and more in our historic houses and in the Flynt Center of Early New England Life. Children and adults alike can make a nosegay of decorative paper flowers to take home. Workshop is included with general admission. 413.775.7214 [All Ages] (Free with museum pass. Borrow a museum pass from your local library.) LINK
3pm – BACKYARD BARNYARD – (Northampton) Learn how your family can keep chickens at the Forbes Library. [Adults] (Free) MORE INFO
4pm – 5:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Amherst) There will be a public skate at the Mullins Center Ice Rink. Skate rentals available. 413.545.3990 [Families] ($) LINK
6pm – DANCING & ART – (Shelburne) Art Bridge will be hosting a spring dance and art-making party. It’s a potluck. Bring the family. [Families] ($) MORE INFO
Sunday – 06/01
9am-5pm – ECOLOGY – (Holyoke) Help migrating fish over their dams at the Robert E. Barrett Fishway. Underwater viewing windows at the fishways provide a window on the river. Happen between 05/07-06/15 (Wed-Sun). 413-659-3714. [All Ages] (Free)
10am-6am – CULTURAL FESTIVAL – (Amherst) Cultural Survival’s 3rd Annual Amherst Common Bazaar [All Ages] MORE INFO
10am – WILDFLOWERS – (Northampton) Wildflower walk at the Turkey Hill Conservation Area. [All Ages] (Free) MORE INFO
Noon-4pm – GARDEN HISTORY – (Deerfield) Explore the use of herbs as air fresheners, seasonings, and even as medicine in early America. Though many people today grow herbs for fun, it was a way of life in the past. Learn the many uses of herbs, and practice identifying them by sight and smell. Make an herbal sachet or tea bag to take home. Families will also receive a booklet of herbal recipes. Included with general admission. 413.775.7214 [All Ages] (Free with museum pass. Borrow a museum pass from your local library.) LINK
Noon-4pm – HISTORIC FLOWERS – (Deerfield) May Flowers at the Historic Deerfield Museum. In this family friendly history workshop visitors can learn about the many meanings and uses of flowers in the past. A printed “flower expedition” will have guests seeking blossoms hidden in wallpaper designs, clothing, ceramics, and more in our historic houses and in the Flynt Center of Early New England Life. Children and adults alike can make a nosegay of decorative paper flowers to take home. Workshop is included with general admission. 413.775.7214 [All Ages] (Free with museum pass. Borrow a museum pass from your local library.) LINK
3pm – 4:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Amherst) There will be a public skate at the Mullins Center Ice Rink. Skate rentals available. 413.545.3990 [Families] ($) LINK
6:30pm – FAMILY SINGALONG – (Northampton) The Nields will be doing a family singalong at Edwards Church to benefit the restoration project at First Churches’ [All Ages] ($)
Monday – 06/02
Tuesday – 06/03
10am-11:30am – FATHERS GROUP – (Amherst) Please come to talk about fathers’ issues, meet other dads and have coffee with us at this drop-in fathers group. You will be able to find out any common issues you face and just talk with other dads. Held at the Amherst Family Center in the basement of the Unitarian Church at 121 North Pleasant St. in the center of Amherst, entrance is at the back of the building. Childcare provided. [Free] (Father’s)
10:15am-12:15pm – POSTPARTUM STRESS SUPPORT GROUP – (Northampton) Every Tuesday there is a drop-in support group at 56 Vernon Street. Free child care and snacks. A welcoming group for all mothers to share the adjustment to motherhood, especially those experiencing postpartum stress, anxiety or depression. Find support, connection with other women. 413.253.8990 [Mothers & their children] (Free)
Wednesday – 06/04
9am-5pm – ECOLOGY – (Turners Falls) Help migrating fish over their dams at the Turners Falls Fishway. Underwater viewing windows at the fishways provide a window on the river. Happen between 05/14-06/15 (Wed-Sun). Across the river is a nesting pair of bald eagles. 413-659-3714. [All Ages] (Free)
10:30am – STORY TIME – (South Hadley) Children’s story time at Odyssey Books. [Ages 3-5] (Free) MORE INFO
Thursday – 06/05
7:30pm – POETRY READING – (Shelburne Falls) Susie Patlove and Chard deNiord at the Arms Library. [All Ages] (Free) MORE INFO
Friday – 06/06
5pm-8pm – DANCING – (Amherst) Show your support of The Eric Carle Museum, party to your fav 80s hits, AND have your kids tucked in by 8:30! DJ PM, Gallery Searches, and Art Activities PLUS a special dessert buffet included. Kid-friendly supper available for purchase in the Museum’s Café. For the safety and enjoyment of all our visitors, there is a limit of four admitted children per adult. [Families] ($$) LINK
5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – (Ashfield) Elmer’s invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Click here for menu 413.628.4003 [Families] ($) LINK
6:00pm – LIVE MUSIC – (Haydenville) Blue House Cafe. [All Ages] ($)
