Celebrating the New Year

Hilltown Family Variety Show New Year’s Day Peace Episode: A New Year’s Day episode with music about both world and inner peace for the New Year. Music by Babtunde Olatunji, Cat Stevens, Elizabeth Mitchell, Sweet Honey in the the Rock, Michelle Shocked, Pete Seeger and many other amazing musicians. – Story: Fawnie Byer reads “Peace Feather Story” off of Peace in the World Smiling.

It’s the last day of the year! There are a number of community events families can join in today to celebrate the last day of the year while ushering in the new year!

NEW YEAR’S EVE

• Holyoke’s First Night, Jr.
• Northampton’s First Night
• Wilbraham New Year’s Eve Celebration
• 16th Annual Starry Starry Night in Orange
• Jiminy Peak Tochlight Parade

If you’re looking for a fun Parents’ Night Out instead? Check out Popcorn Noir’s Glitter Ball in Easthampton

Other New Year’s Eve highlights include magician David Hall at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, New Year’s Eve kid-friendly celebration at Chandler’s Restaurant in South Deerfield, celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation in Springfield, and museum adventures at MASS MoCA in North Adams and Old Sturbridge Village.  Find out all the details on these New Year’s Eve happenings HERE.

NEW YEAR’S DAY

On New Year’s Day, there are First Day Hikes in Goshen and Pittsfield, and more museum adventures as previously mentioned in North Adams and Sturbridge.  Also, churches throughout the Pioneer Valley will be letting the beautiful sound of bells ring out through the crisp air in remembrance of Lincoln’s landmark policy to end slavery, the Emancipation Proclamation. Come out to hear the bells ring, or celebrate in your own home by ringing bells and learning together about the history surrounding the proclamation and the changes that it brought to the country.