Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events 08/01/09-08/07/09
Lazy summer days on the Westfield River. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
SUGGEST 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, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening, along with time, location, age appropriateness and costs before attending
FEATURED EVENTS
Putumayo Presents: A Picnic Playground Family Concert Tour at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA on Saturday at 1pm. Click here for more info.
And don’t forget about the Mettawee River Theater Co. outdoor performance in Cummington, MA on Sunday at 8pm. Click here to read our post.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
- Tom Adams of Williamsburg, MA writes: Angel Park Summer Music Series: tomorrow (7/31), 5pm, Williamsburg, MA. Featuring: AJ Rabino, old school country singer/songwriter bring appetizers and a blanket! See you all there, pass it on! www.williamsburgcac.org
- Erin O’Donnell of Willamsburg, MA writes: Our family fun fundraiser is happening! August 8th (raindate August 9th)
11:00-4:00 at 13 West St. (Off route 10, right before the bridge and rotary) in Easthampton, MA: Crafts, Games, Tag/book sale, baked goods. Help us bring our baby home from China!- Tony Lemos of Ashfield, MA writes: There is a “Medicine Girls Competition” going on. Click here to read more.
- Jessica Thompson of Ashfield, MA writes: Ashfield Community Preschool Has Openings – Enroll Now! We still have a few spaces left to accept children into our Fall program. For more information or to schedule a visit please call 628-3248. Click here to read more.
- There will be a screening of Food, Inc. at the Little Cinema in the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA from August 7th-13th, 2009. Nightly at 8pm. Monday Matinee at 2pm. Call for more info and to confirm: 413-443-7171.
BLUEBERRIES
On Saturday, August 1st, there are a number of blueberry celebrations happening in Western Mass:
- Blueberry Bake-off!
Greenfield Farmers’ Market and CISA are hosting a blueberry bake-off featuring treats made with locally grown blueberries! You are invited to participate. Baked goods should be dropped off on the day of the event at 9am and judging will take place at 10am. Your baked item will be taste tested by our 4 judges, Mayor Martin, Jay Fadanza from WHAI radio, CISA’s executive director Phil Korman, and Rachel Robertson-Goldberg from Crabapple Farm to determine the Blue Ribbon Winner and the recipient of a $50.00 gift certificate to the Greenfield Farmers’ Market and a CISA community membership (valued at $60.00). The runner-up will receive a $25.00 gift certificate and a CISA tote bag (valued at $10.00). The market is located on Court Square in Greenfield, MA. For more information call Lauren at 413-665-7100.- 8th Annual Wild Blueberry Jubilee
The Benson Place,2-8pm, 182 Flag Hill Road, Heath, MA
Great food and music, farm education, family activities, lovely views. Rain or shine
Details at http://www.bensonplace.org or 413-337-5340.- Blueberry Festival and Tasting
West Granville Blueberries, 10am-4pm, 448 North Lane, Granville.
Blueberry food tasting and recipes, children’s activities and blueberry picking
Call the Blueberry Phone for daily picking information, 413-357-8829
Suggest an Event | Local Forecast | Get Directions | Free Museum Passes | Farmer’s Market | Family Centers (Ages 0-4)|Facebook
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
Saturday – 08/01
- 6-10am – FAMILY RADIO: Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) offers 4-hours of commercial-free family programing every Saturday, including Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child from 7-9am, and the Hilltown Family Variety Show from 9-10am. Listen via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org. SRSC can also be heard on The River from 8-10am.
- 8:30am-12:30pm – Ashfield Farmer’s Market.
- PYO – Take your family raspberry picking at Summit Farm (131 Summit Street) in Plainfield, MA.
- 9am-9pm – ART EDUCATION: The C.X. Silver Gallery in West Brattleboro, VT will present a Bhutanese Weaver to learn about the textile arts of Bhutan. Appropriate to children and adults, anyone with an interest in learning about an active weaving tradition. (802) 579-9088 or (802) 257-7898, ext. 2. (Free)
- 9:30am-4:30pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: At the Historic Deerfield Museum in Deerfield, MA, visitors will see, handle, and work with the natural materials that were used to make the buildings and objects that New Englanders lived with every day. Explore fibers and learn about different clays and woods that were used. With natural materials, make a special project to take home.
- 10:30am & 11:30am – THEATER: Goowin’s Balloowins in the Center Court at Eastfield Mall in Springfield, MA. (Free)
- 11am – THEATER: “Wind in the Willows,” presented by Berkshire Theatre Festival at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA.
- 1pm – FAMILY CONCERT & MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Putumayo Kids Picnic Playground Tour at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA (Free with Museum Admission)
- 2pm – LITERATURE: Jarrett Krosoczka, Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians and Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. Launch party at the Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, MA. (Free)
- 7:30pm – OUTDOOR CONCERT: Greenwood Concerts at Concert Barn on Harlow Road in Cummington, MA. (Free)
- 8pm – THEATER: Double Edge Theatre presents The Arabian Nights in Ashfield, MA. Special ticket prices for Hilltown families.
- 8pm – DATE NIGHT: Live music at Ashfield Lakehouse in Ashfield, MA with Radio Free Earth.
Sunday – 08/02
- 7am-7pm – PYO – Take your family blueberry picking at Running Fox Farm (74 Thrasher Hill Rd) in Worthington, MA.
- 9:30am-4:30pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: At the Historic Deerfield Museum in Deerfield, MA, visitors will see, handle, and work with the natural materials that were used to make the buildings and objects that New Englanders lived with every day. Explore fibers and learn about different clays and woods that were used. With natural materials, make a special project to take home.
- 10am-5pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Summer Festival Days at the Springfield Museums in Springfield, MA. Summer Festival Days is a six week series of drop-in activities that provide avenues for children and families to learn together through performances and informal hands-on art activities and demonstrations. Each week feature a different theme: Pirates & Princesses, Bubble Mania, Magnificent Magic, Celebrate Mexico, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and Weird & Wacky Science.
- 11am-4pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Free Family Day at the Clark. Dove/O’Keeffe: Circles of Influence will be on view, and the day will feature art activities, Southwestern entertainment, local food vendors, and turquoise jewelry and cactus workshops (fee charged for workshops). Admission to the galleries is free on this festive day. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. 413-458-2303 (FREE)
- 12Noon-5pm – PRIDE EVENT: Pride & Joy’s 1st Annual Picnic and Outdoor Games Dance Party at the Clarion Pavillion in Northampton, MA.
- 12Noon-6pm – CULTURAL FAIR: Pittsfield Ethnic Fair happens in Downtown Pittsfield, rain or shine. (Free)
- 1-5pm – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: On Saturdays and Sundays through Columbus Day, also Labor Day, Tour the William Cullen Bryant Homestead (207 Bryant Road) in Cummington, MA. Explore this National Historic Landmark, the ancestral home of the great 19th-century poet, newspaperman, and essayist, and wander the grounds and trails above the Westfield River. Sponsored by Trustees of Reservations. Call 413-532-1631 x13 on weekdays or 413-634-2244 on weekends for information.
- 1-5pm – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: On Saturdays and Sundays through Columbus Day, also Labor Day, participate in I Spy! at the Bryant Homestead (207 Bryant Road) in Cummington, MA. Be a detective and discover the Homestead’s secrets on this self-guided walk using a hands-on spy pack. Sponsored by Trustees of Reservations. Call 413-532-1631 x13 on weekdays or 413-634-2244 on weekends for information.
- 6pm – OUTDOOR CONCERT: Evening Band Concert Series in Florence, MA at Look Park with Tom Tisdell.
- 8pm – THEATER: Double Edge Theatre presents The Arabian Nights in Ashfield, MA. Special ticket prices for Hilltown families.
- 8pm – OUTDOOR THEATER: Mettawee River Theater Co. will perform outdoors in Cummington, MA at Pettingill Field. (Free)
Mon-Thurs in Pittsfield, MA
Free Outdoor Concerts
Get your favorite chairs and blankets ready for a week of free outdoor concerts! Monday, see Bluetree perform on the Common, and also enjoy hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and a bounce house! Tuesday, the Berkshire Hillsmen, a classic barber shop group, performs at Springside Park. Wednesday, enjoy the Tony Lee Thomas Band at beautiful Burbank Park on Onota Lake, part of the Live on the Lake!concert series. And Thursday, the Carlins Band performs big band favorites behind the Ralph Froio Senior Center.
Bluetree Concert | Monday, August 3 | 5:30-8:30pm | The Common| First Street| 212-6341 | Free
Berkshire Hillsmen |Tuesday, August 4 | 7 pm | Springside Park | 874 North Street | 743-5193 | FREE
Tony Lee Thomas Band | Wednesday, August 5 | 6-8pm | Burbank Park on Onota Lake | Lakeway Drive and Valentine Road | FREE
Carlins Band | Thursday, August 6 | 6:30pm | Ralph Froio Senior Center | 330 North Street| 499-9346 | FREE