Rabbit workshop for kids during the 2008 NOFA conference at UMass in Amherst, MA. (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 EVENT

The Northeast Organic Farming Association hosts their summer conference this Friday-Sunday, August 7th-9th at UMass Amherst in Amherst, MA. Over 220 workshops on organic farming, gardening and land care, homesteading, sustainability, nutrition, spirituality, food politics, activism, and much, much more…

Special workshops designed for kids and teens. An educational, fun opportunity for your children to bond with others from the Northeast while you attend workshops and events.

Entertainment for the whole family: Contra-dance, zydeco, drumming, Old-fashioned Country Fair, barter event, live music, teen dance and deejay, barter event, farmer’s market, games and fun.

Visit www.nofasummerconference.org for more information!

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Events Happening in the Hilltowns

Saturday – 08/08

• ALL WEEKEND: Northeast Organic Farming Association 35th Annual Summer Conference at UMass in Amherst, MA. Click here for more info.
• ALL WEEKEND: 88th Annual Littleville Fair in Chester, MA happens all weekend long. Click here for more info.
• 8:30am-12:30pm – Ashfield Farmer’s Market.
• 9-11am – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Pond Exploration for the Family at Red Gate Farm in Buckland, MA. Call to register: (413) 625-9503.
• 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.
• 10:30am – THEATER: Paintbox Theater performs Pinocchio in Northampton, MA.
• 10:30am – MUSIC: Grupo Folkloric Palo Santo, Afro-Cuban Folkloric Dance and Music at the Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, MA. (Free)
• 10:30am & 11:30am – THEATER: Bone’s Tropical Adventure in the Center Court at Eastfield Mall in Springfield, MA. (Free)
• 11am-4pm – FUNDRAISER: Family fundraiser in Easthampton, MA.
• 11am – THEATER:  “Wind in the Willows,” presented by Berkshire Theatre Festival at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA.
• 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 – ETHNIC DANCE: The Valley’s premier belly dance troupe The Crescent Dancers with special guests “The Ahlem Temple Desert Dancers” will be doing a benefit dance at the Melha Shrine Center in Springfield, MA.

Sunday – 08/09

• 7am-7pm – PYO: Take your family blueberry picking at Running Fox Farm (74 Thrasher Hill Rd) in Worthington, MA.
• Blueberry Days of Summer in Chester, MA.
• 9:30am – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES:  By popular request, the hike in the Northeast section of the Catamount Hills in Colrain, MA will be held again. Muriel Russell, local expert in Catamount history, will lead an exploration of cellar holes and caves in the Catamount State Forest. This is always a popular hike because of its variety and it is not too strenuous. Bring unscented bug repellent, water, flashlight to explore caves and a lunch to enjoy at McLeod Pond. Directions to start: From Rte. 112 in Griswoldville, Colrain, take Adamsville Rd. to Lively Rd., then quick left onto East Catamount Rd. (steep and dirt) to end where there is parking. Please register with Muriel Russell (413) 624-3311.
• 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-1pm – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: The Legacy of Bear Swamp at Bear Swamp (Hawley Road) in Ashfield, MA. This three-mile moderate to steep hike offers seemingly “untouched wilderness” with towering trees, wet meadows and vista views. Sponsored by The Trustees of Reservations. Call 413-532-1631 x13 to pre-register or for more information.
• 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.
• 2pm – POETRY: Poetry on the Porch at the Bryant Homestead in Cummington, MA. (Free)
• 4pm – FOOD & MUSIC: Lobster Boil and concert with Daisy Mayhem at Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA.
• 6pm – OUTDOOR CONCERT: Evening Band Concert Series in Florence, MA at Look Park with Ed Mari.
• 8pm – THEATER: Double Edge Theatre presents The Arabian Nights in Ashfield, MA.  Special ticket prices for Hilltown families.