Discover fun and educational events happening this weekend in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast.

SUGGEST AN EVENT

Fresh baked croissants from Bread Euphoria at the Ashfield Farmers' Market. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

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, place, age appropriateness and costs before attending.

DINNER IN THE HILLTOWNS

Friday, June 18th at Blue House Cafe in Haydenville: Tex-Mex Chalupa: grilled burrito with organic beans, rice, spinach, cheese, sour cream and homemade vegan sloppy joe mix. – Macaroni & Cheese – Indian Split Lentil Soup (Daal) – Gluten-free and vegan dishes too. BYOB. 268-7441

Friday, June 18th at Elmer’s Store in Ashfield: Grilled lemon chicken or grilled lemon tofu; Grilled red onion; Locally raised Swiss chard with golden raisins and tamari roasted almonds; Oven roasted potatoes; Locally raised mixed green salad. Kids aged 6 and under eat free from 5 to 6:30! BYOB 628-4003

Friday & Saturday, June 18th-19th at Bread Euphoria in Haydenville: Flank steak satay with peanut sauce and fresh cumber salad. Sandwiches, salads, soups and pizza (including Gluten-Free pizza!).  Beer & wine available. 268-7757

FEATURED SUMMER CAMPS

THEATER CAMP: Look no further than Ashfield Community Theater Full Day Summer Arts Program at Sanderson Academy for affordable children’s Arts programs!  NOW SAVE $15 each when you sign up with a friend or sibling! There are 4 great Visual & Theater Arts sessions this year, but this discount applies only to Session #1 (TAKE STAGE: WRITING COMES ALIVE– July 12-16) or #2 (ART OUTDOORS/BATIK & UKRANIAN EGGS–July 19-23).   Both feature talented teaching artists, small groups, and lots of fun– from T-shirt design, to nature sculptures and photos, Word Collages, improv games, stage craft, and performances—this is a chance to learn through doing in creative and inspiring ways.  M-F, 9am-3:30pm. Regular Tuition: $180. Call 413-626-1976. Scholarships available!

GIRLS ART CAMP: ArtStar Girl’s Camp, July 5th-9th, for girls 8-12yo in Williamsburg, MA. Spend the day (10am-2pm) creating with batik, silkscreening and tie dye as well as experiencing hand sewing and book making! Girls will be encouraged to explore their own artist expression in a relaxed lounge like environment at the private home studio of Marie Westburg, artist and Art Therapist. Sessions are limited to eight so sign up now! Cost is $180 per child. See artstarlounge.com for more info. or email artstarmarie@verizon.net

BEST BET

Saturday, June 19th in Amherst: Family Concert with Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Arts on Saturday (6/19) at 1pm. The proceeds from the concert go to benefit the Northampton Community Music Center.  More info here.

BULLETIN BOARD

Warm welcome to Hilltown Families newest sponsor, PaintBox Theatre, Northampton's own innovative theatre of imagination and improvisation for the young and young at heart, in residence at New Century Theatre at Smith College for it's 7th year! - Interested in joining PaintBox Theatre in the support of the work of Hilltown Families? Find out how to become a sponsor too! Inquiries can be emailed to hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.

ADVERTISING & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Deliver your message to a large local family based audience while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Advertise your event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement here in the Bulletin Board section of our List of Weekly Suggested Events.

Marie Westburg of Williamsburg, MA writes: Did you know that the Center for Ecological Technology is offering free air sealing of homes! Call MassSave for an energy audit. Also, click here for info about Deep-energy Retro-fits that can make your home 80-90% more energy efficient.

Candy Bird Laflam of Goshen, MA writes: I wanted to “put it out there”, that the Goshen Women’s Softball Team is looking for players for our summer games. Anyone from 17-70 is welcome! Skill level isn’t as important as having fun. We play on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting June 22- August 1st. Please email me Candy.Laflam@gmail.com or call me at 695-0427.

Katie Flanders writes: Any good preschools around the Hilltowns?

FREE CHILDBIRTH ED CLASS: The Hilltown Community Health Center will be offering a free childbirth education class next Saturday, June 19th, from 10am-2pm. This day-long format will prepare families for the childbirth experience in one session. Ann Buscemi, certified childbirth educator, will talk about what to expect in labor and delivery, as well as breathing and relaxation techniques. Call Lee at 238-5511 x155 for more information on location and to register.

Deadline to enter to win: June 22nd

ARENA CIVIC THEATRE will hold auditions for its fall musical ANNIE Friday June 25 at 6:30 pm at the Jones Library (Amherst) and Saturday June 26 at 5:30 pm at Artspace (Greenfield). Roles for 15 girls ages 7-14, 2 boys and 20 men and women ages 15-70. For more information contact director Martha King-Devine at devinekingmartha@gmail.com or http://www.arenacivictheatre.org. Annie will be produced at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls. Directed by Martha King-Devine with musical direction by Susanne Anderson and choreography by Melanie Reneris and Cara Leach.

FAMILY WELLNESS RESOURCE: Healthy Families is a statewide home visiting program for first-time mothers and fathers under the age of 21. They work with families beginning in pregnancy until their first baby turns three years old. They offer a range of services including home visiting, support groups, and help with resumes and job applications. They provide transportation to important appointments for parents and their infants/toddlers, parenting education information, referrals for community resources, general case management, and a non-judgmental listening ear. They work with both mothers and fathers, even if they are not living with their child. Be the best parent you can be, join Healthy Families today! Call 413-584-5690 x130, or email edlugosz@gcfcma.org.

Deadline to enter to win: July 11th

KIDS PHOTO CONTEST: MA 4-H Photography Contest. For current 4-H club members who are 8 to 18 years of age. Categories: action, people, animals, landscape, nature, waterscape, design, architecture, formal portrait. You may enter up to five photos that are unmounted, no smaller than 5″ x 7″ and no larger than 8″ x 10″, and each in a sheet protector. Up to 10 photos will be selected to be mounted and laminated for exhibit in the New England Center during the Big E. Entries are due in Waltham on July 5. Check out the entry guidelines on the 4-H website www.mass4h.org , click on News & Events, and then Upcoming Events.

HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW

Tune in every Saturday & Sunday - or anytime via Podcast!

This week on the HFVS, Yosi and the Superdads with be Guest DJing with a special Father’s Day Show, featuring music off of their new album, Super Kids Rock, along with their favorites by Brady Rymer, The Hipwaders, Steve Songs, Sara Hickman, and Dr. Noize.

Tune in on Saturdays from 9-10am, or listen to our podcasts HERE. Encore episodes are aired every Sunday from 7-8am. Families have several ways to tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show:

Streaming Audio: Surf on over to ValleyFreeRadio.org on Saturday & Sunday mornings and listen to us live via streaming audio.

On Your FM Dial: Tune in to WXOJ 103.3FM if you live near Northampton, MA.

PODCAST: Listen to the most recent episodes of the Hilltown Family Variety Show anytime you wish! Click here to see our current select of episodes, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast too!

WEEKLY LIST OF SUGGESTED EVENTS

Suggest an Event | Local Forecast | Free Museum Passes | Family Centers (Ages 0-4) | Movies in the Valley | Movies in the Berkshires | Farmers’ Markets | Listen Here

Events Happening in the Hilltowns

Saturday – 6/19

Deadline to enter to win: June 30th.

FARMERS’ MARKETS

6-10am – FAMILY RADIO: Yosi and the Superdads with be Guest DJing with a special Father’s Day Show, featuring music off of their new album, Super Kids Rock, along with their favorites by Brady Rymer, The Hipwaders, Steve Songs, Sara Hickman, and Dr. Noize . Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) offers 4-hours of commercial-free family programing every Saturday, including the Hilltown Family Variety Show and Spare the Rock. Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.

7:30am-9am – NATURE STUDIES: Notchview’s Nests at Notchview.  Join naturalist John Green for a bird walk exploring a variety of habitats during nesting season.  Call The Trustees of Reservations at 413 532-1631 x13 Windsor, MA (>$)

9am-12Noon – LOCAL FOOD: Want to learn how to make jam with all those strawberries you’re picking?  North Amherst community Farm is having a Making Jam workshop in the Community Room Kitchen at Pulpit Hill Co-Housing.  Space is limited so call Beth at 259-1972 Amherst, MA ($)

9am-5pm – NATURE STUDIES: Visit the Turners Falls Fishway. Underwater viewing windows offer visitors of all ages a chance to see American shad, sea lamprey and other migratory fish during their upriver spring journey to spawn. At Turners Falls Dam (behind town hall). 659-3714 Turners Falls, MA (Free)

9:30am-4:30pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: The many uses of berries will be investigated in a new program called “Berry Season” at the Historic Deerfield Museum. Used for food, medicine, and even for dyes and inks, berries were also a seasonal treat for early Americans. Visitors will explore the importance of berries to both Native Americans and English settlers in the 18th century, make berry ink, put together a refrigerator-jam kit to take home, and receive a berry recipe booklet. 774-5581 www.historic-deerfield.org Deerfield, MA ($)

All Day – COMMUNITY EVENT: Taste of Amherst happens this weekend with fun events for the kids, including: pony rides, face painting, hay rides, family music and much more. 253-0700 tasteofamherst.com Amherst, MA

All Day – COMMUNITY EVENT: 15th Annual World Peace and Prayer Day. Blue Star Equiculture invites you to participate in a weekend of music, history, horses, and prayer for peace, on Burgundy Brook Farm, a family-friendly event. www.worldpeaceandprayerday.org Palmer, MA ($)

10-11:30am – NATURE STUDIES: Forest Sensory Walk at Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary.  Use your five senses to explore Laughing Brook in a whole new way. See how many items you can find on their “unnature trail,” listen to the many different sounds, smell and taste nature’s mints, and feel different textures. Registration required 584-3009 Hampden, MA (>$)

10am-2pm – SAFETY DAY: Child safety seat checks, SAFE house demos, Sheriff’s office iris scan, and much more.  Food and fun too at the Anne Dunphy School (1 Petticoat Hill Rd.) 268-7237  Williamsburg, MA (FREE)

10am – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: A Wheelie Good Time on the Manhan Rail Trail – Bring Strollers, wagon, bikes, trikes or just your feet for a child friendly stroll along the Manhan Rail Trail with the Easthampton Family Center.  Meet on Payson Ave at the Easthampton Safety Complex. Picnic Snack provided after the stroll. 563-7672 Easthampton, MA (FREE)

10am-1pm – HIKE: Native Treasures of Bear Swamp. Experience vista views, diverse native flowers and ferns, towering trees, rocky outcrops, streams and wet meadows on this 3-mile moderate hike.  Trustees of Reservations members and Ashfield residents free.  To register call The Trustees of Reservations at 413 532-1631 x13 Ashfield, MA

10am-5pm – CULTURAL FESTIVAL: Russian Cultural Festival: Kalinka.  Discover Russian culture with a day of Russian music, crafts, cuisine, kid activities, and more. Will be at the West Springfield High School (500 Amostown Road). 726-1352 sprinfieldru.com West Springfield, MA (FREE)

10:30am – PARADE: Easthampton 225 Big Parade assembles on Williston Ave and continues on Union Street, Main Street and ends at Eastworks. Easthampton, MA (FREE)

10:30am-7pm – SUSTAINABILITY: Coop Power Sustainable Energy Summit at Nuestras Raices farm (24 Jones Ferry Rd.). Fun-filled family event this year with lots of hands-on activities. cooppower.coop Holyoke, MA (FREE)

11am-12Noon – GARDEN ADVENTURES: Seeds and Weeds: Children’s Garden at Naumkeag.  Children ages five and under along with their caregivers and siblings are invited to participate in the planning and planting of a children’s garden through a combination of stories and guided activities. 298-3239 Stockbridge, MA

11am-3pm – SOLSTICE CELEBRATION: Summer Solstice Celebration with the Berkshire Co-Op Market.  Events and shows include Harry: Dragon for Hire, music with David Grover, Roger the Jester, kids’ games, arts & crafts. 528-9697 berkshire.coop Great Barrington, MA (FREE)

11am-3pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Storrowtown Village Museum will host an opening day celebration. Costumed interpreters will reveal what life was like in the 19th century with activities and guided tours through Storrowton Village’s historic buildings. 205-5051 thebige.com West Springfield, MA (>$)

12Noon-4pm: COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Holyoke Heritage State Park celebration with music, games, entertainment and more.  Organized By: Centro Restauracion Emanuel. Holyoke, MA

12Noon-5pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Grand opening of Wrapped! Search for the Essential Mummy at the Berkshire Museum. live camels on the lawn; live cobras, pythons, and other scary snakes inside, hieroglyphic crafts & face painting, and an Egyptian reception! 443.7171 berkshiremuseum.org Pittsfield, MA (FREE for members. >$)

1pm – FAMILY CONCERT: Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem perform a family concert at The Eric Carle Museum Picture Book Art. 658-1100 carlemuseum.org Amherst, MA (>$)

1pm – SCIENCE STUDIES: Amherst Solar will be set up with their telescopes on the Amherst Town Common all summer.  Stop by with the kids and see Sunspots, Prominences, Limb Darkening and more.  256-6234  amastro.org Amherst, MA (FREE)

1-3pm – ANIMAL STUDIES: Backyard Friends at Forest Park Zoo. Learn about animals indigenous to Massachusetts and Connecticut. 733-2251 forestparkzoo.org Springfield, MA (FREE w/admission)

1-9pm – MUSIC FEST: There will be music all day at Millside Park as part of the Easthampton 225 celebration. easthampton225.com Easthampton, MA (FREE)

1-3pm – CHESS: Drop-in Chess at the Forbes Library Mezzanine. Casual meets every Saturday the library is open. All competition levels are welcome. Drop in for part or all of the session. Bring your own set if you have one or use one of the library’s. Northampton, MA (FREE)

1-5pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Explore the historic William Cullen Bryant Homestead, a Trustees of Reservation landmark. Cummington, MA (>$)

2pm – SCIENCE ADVENTURES:  Space-tacular: Solar System with Rachel Roberts at Northfield Mountain. Hands-on science and art activities connected to the planets in the solar system.  Ages 5yo+ Pre-registration required – call 800-859-2960 Northfield, MA (FREE)

2:30pm – LOCAL FOOD: The WAPF Northampton Chapter is co-sponsoring a Farm Tour at Sidehill Farm.  Meet their cows, tour their pastures and barn and enjoy some raw milk and yogurt. Great opportunity to get to know a local farmer, see where the milk comes from, and to try delicious raw milk if you haven’t yet had the pleasure. Click here for more info. Ashfield, MA (FREE)

6pm – SPORTS FANS: Take the family out to the ballpark to see a Pittsfield Colonials baseball home game at Wahconah Park. www.pittsfieldcolonials.com Pittsfield, MA ($)

7pm – COMMUNITY GATHERING: Star-light, Star-Bright: Bike-In Movie, Plant Swap & Local Food Pot-luck at Montview Neighborhood Farm Soccer Field. Plant Swap and Food starts at 7pm. Movie starts at dark o’clock (Shine Only). An evening of magic, intrigue & tikki torches as we celebrate the longest day of the year. Movies-under the stars, on the Montview soccer field, screening The Fantastic Mr. Fox. What to bring: plants and seeds to swap, a local/seasonal dish made with ingredients that you have gathered or grown (farmers markets and CSA food is great), blankets and beach chairs for the movie, bug spray or long-sleeved pants and shirts. 610-955-7168 montviewfarm.org Northampton, MA (FREE)

8:45pm – DRIVE-IN MOVIE: Northfield Drive-In movie theater is featuring Toy Story (G) as their first show, and Prince of Persia (PG-13) as their second show this weekend. (603) 239-4054 www.northfielddrivein.com Northfield, MA ($)

Sunday – 6/20

Happy Father’s Day

6-10am – FAMILY RADIO: Yosi and the Superdads with be Guest DJing with a special Father’s Day Show, featuring music off of their new album, Super Kids Rock, along with their favorites by Brady Rymer, The Hipwaders, Steve Songs, Sara Hickman, and Dr. Noize . Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) offers 4-hours of commercial-free family programing every Saturday, including the Hilltown Family Variety Show and Spare the Rock. Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.

9am-12Noon: OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Father’s Day Canoe Trip down the Housatonic River. Paddle past the ledges and floodplains of Bartholomew’s Cobble with a naturalist guide, watching for bald eagles, turtles and abundant wildlife.  Boats, paddles and life preservers provided.  Pre-register. 229.8600 Sheffield, MA ($)

9am-4pm – COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Family Day at Nonotuck Park, a family celebration and last day of Easthampton’s 225th birthday party!  Shows, games cook out, vintage baseball, rides, karaoke, ice cream, bounce house, petting zoo, puppet & rock show, and more. Easthampton, MA (FREE, >$)

9am-5pm in Turners Falls: Visit the Turners Falls Fishway. Underwater viewing windows offer visitors of all ages a chance to see American shad, sea lamprey and other migratory fish during their upriver spring journey to spawn. At Turners Falls Dam (behind town hall). 659-3714 (Free)

9:30am-4:30pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: The many uses of berries will be investigated in a new program called “Berry Season” at the Historic Deerfield Museum. Used for food, medicine, and even for dyes and inks, berries were also a seasonal treat for early Americans. Visitors will explore the importance of berries to both Native Americans and English settlers in the 18th century, make berry ink, put together a refrigerator-jam kit to take home, and receive a berry recipe booklet. 774-5581 www.historic-deerfield.org Deerfield, MA ($)

9:30am-5pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Bring your favorite dad to Old Sturbridge Village for Father’s Day Weekend and enjoy singing, dancing, artwork demonstrations and musical performances as part of Music & Art Weekend. (800) 733-1830 osv.org Sturbridge, MA (FATHERS 50% OFF ON SUNDAY, $)

All Day – COMMUNITY EVENT: Taste of Amherst happens this weekend with fun events for the kids, including: pony rides, face painting, hay rides, family music and much more. 253-0700 tasteofamherst.com Amherst, MA

All Day – COMMUNITY EVENT: 15th Annual World Peace and Prayer Day. Blue Star Equiculture invites you to participate in a weekend of music, history, horses, and prayer for peace, on Burgundy Brook Farm, a family-friendly event. www.worldpeaceandprayerday.org Palmer, MA ($)

10am-4pm – AIRPLANE ADVENTURES: New England Air Museum hosts Open Cockpit Sunday on Father’s Day.  Visitors will be permitted to climb into the cockpits of up to 12 vintage aircraft, a full-motion flight simulator and two static flight simulators.   There will be additional hands on activities for the enjoyment of the younger visitors during the event. neam.org Windsor, CT ($)

11am-5pm – FATHER’S DAY ACTIVITY: Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum. Dads ride for free when accompanied by a child of any age! The Museum is situated high above the glacial potholes in the charming and historic village of Shelburne Falls. It features Car Number Ten, the oldest operating trolley car still conducting business on the same railroad tracks since 1896. Visitors to the museum can Ride a 114-year-old beautifully restored trolley, take a hand at pumping the hand car up and down the railroad tracks, view the history museum and toy train displays. sftm.org Shelburne Falls, MA (FREE)

12Noon-4pm – FATHER’S DAY EVENT:  The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round at Heritage State Park presents Father’s Day: “Holidays in the Park” presents “Father’s Day Rocks”. Dads & Granddads can be treated to a free ride by a child with a ticket. Free 2-3 p.m. “Drum Away the Blues” program at the Visitor’s Center. Make a special craft with Dad at the Children’s Museum. 538-9838 holyokemerrygoround.org Holyoke, MA

12Noon-5pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Bring your dad to the Berkshire Museum for free to see their Egyptian mummy Pahat and his son Shep-en-Min side by side. This is the first time in North America that a father and son pair of Egyptian mummies have been exhibited together. Come on down, see the exhibit, and spend the afternoon among the history, science, art, and technology of Wrapped! Search for the Essential Mummy. berkshiremuseum.org Pittsfield, MA (FREE FOR FATHERS)

1-3:30pm – SCIENCE STUDIES: At the Springfield Museums, investigate the solar system, examine animal characteristics and discover other engaging activities, designed for families to explore. 263-6800 springfieldmuseums.org Springfield, MA

1-5pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Explore the historic William Cullen Bryant Homestead, a Trustees of Reservation landmark. Cummington, MA (>$)

2pm – SPORTS FANS: Take the family out to the ballpark to see a Pittsfield Colonials baseball home game at Wahconah Park. www.pittsfieldcolonials.com Pittsfield, MA ($)

3-5pm – SEWING: Ashfield Needles and Threads meets at Elmer’s. Get together and sew, knit, crochet, chat, hook rugs… ibranson@crocker.com Ashfield, MA (FREE)

3-5pm – PLAYGROUP: Join parents from the Northampton Parent Center at the Easthampton Community Gardens with Kate. 582.2636  Easthampton, MA (FREE)

8:45pm – DRIVE-IN MOVIE: Northfield Drive-In movie theater is featuring Toy Story (G) as their first show, and Prince of Persia (PG-13) as their second show this weekend. (603) 239-4054 www.northfielddrivein.com Northfield, MA ($)