Hilltown Families 
4 Holiday Strolls to Connect Community & Celebrate the Holiday Season
Holiday Strolls Light up the Dark and Kick off the Holiday Season!
In the dark of late fall, special holiday events bring families out and into the crisp air to build community and celebrate the season! Taking place over the next few weeks, these events are not to be missed – read on to find a holiday stroll near you!
Shining as beacons in the dark of late fall and early winter evenings, the downtown sections of cities and towns all over western Massachusetts are becoming increasingly brighter with holiday decorations and cheer! Over the course of the next few weeks, local communities will kick off the holiday season with special events drawing families out into the crisp air to explore and celebrate.
The first holiday stroll of the season is the village of Shelburne Falls’ annual Moonlight Magic, an event that fills Bridge Street with food, crafts, and entertainment. Held from 4-9pm on Friday, November 27th, Moonlight Magic provides families with a non-commercial means of celebrating the holidays on Black Friday. Families can find vendors set up along the street with hot drinks in hand, watch a holiday parade at 5:15pm, or discover treats and treasures at indoor craft and food sales. Stores, galleries, and restaurants will even stay open late for the special event!
During the weekend of December 4th-6th, Stockbridge comes alive with holiday magic for Main Street at Christmas. Made famous by Norman Rockwell’s iconic paintings of Stockbridge’s idyllic downtown, the town’s Main Street at Christmas event ends with a recreation of a Berkshire holiday long ago, complete with decorations of all kinds and vintage cars lining the streets. Other highlights of Main Street at Christmas include holiday readings, house tours, caroling, and a special holiday concert.
The northern Berkshires kick off the holiday season on Saturday, December 5th with Williamstown’s Holiday Walk. Marking the 32nd year that this event has taken place, this year’s Holiday Walk will feature old-fashioned caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice carving, and a visit from the jolliest of holiday icons, Santa Claus. A special Reindog Parade will take place at 3pm, featuring furry four-legged friends wearing festive antlers and other holiday canine garb. New this year will be a Run with the Reindeer Fun Run at 9:30 m, holiday crafts for everyone, Souperbowl Chili and Soup Cook-Off featuring local restaurants, gingerbread cookie decorating, and an ice carving demonstration.
Northfield, gateway town to the Pioneer Valley ,comes alive for the holidays on Saturday, December 12th with the 10th annual Special Day in Northfield. The town’s Main Street and back roads will be filled with special seasonal activities, including horse-drawn hayrides, holiday crafts at indoor locations, gingerbread decorating, roving carolers, live music, and a sunset bonfire. Families can celebrate community and the special treats that come with the holiday season during this aptly named special event!
For additional community strolls, walks and tours this holiday season, check our list of Weekly Suggested Events for highlighted ways of engaging in your community!
[Photo credit: (cc) MOTT]
RiverCulture presents “It’s A Wonderful Night in Turners Falls” Friday, December 11th from 3-10pm. Holiday activities for the whole family are planned throughout downtown: art exhibitions, live music, restaurant specials, performances and unique gift buying opportunities. Children and adults alike are encouraged to put a wish list in the Magic Mailbox, as well as notes of hope for friends, family and the world! Santa will arrive at Spinner Park to collect the notes at 6:30pm.
For more information and a performance schedule go to http://www.turnersfallsriverculture.org