Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events for July 7th – 13th, 2018
To find out about more event, be sure to visit our Suggest an Event Bulletin Board to see what our readers have recently shared! Have an event to share? Feel encouraged to self-post community events here at any time!
If you have a community event, educational program, or service-learning opportunity happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, self-post your event at any time on our Suggest An Event bulletin board. 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.
Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families supports development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, individuals, schools, and non-profits are encouraged to partner with Hilltown Families through sponsorship and advertising. Let us help get the word out about your after school/homeschool class, event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business/school, service, open house, volunteer opportunity or general announcement. Deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! Click HERE to find out more.
After-School Classes & Enrichment Programs
Reach thousands of families in the region with our 2017-2018 directory! Reserve your space.
Reach thousands of families in the region with our 2018-2019 directory! Reserve your space. Our community is rich in after-school learning opportunities to supplement the interests of our children, teens, and life-long learners. We are putting together a directory of after-school & weekend classes and enrichment programs happening across Western Massachusetts to be published on our web site later this month and featured throughout the school year. If you have a class or program you would like to have included in our directory, contact us at sales@hilltownfamilies.org to learn about our advertising options and sponsorship packages.
Bulletin Board
The New England Air Museum’s Soar into Summer Fun programming has begun! Enjoy eight weeks of interactive activities for children, families, and aviation enthusiasts of all ages. Daily programs include climb-aboard experiences in real aircraft; hands-on Build & Fly Challenges; interactive Flight Science Demonstrations; virtual flight simulators; and more. The Museum, located in Windsor Locks, CT, is open daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is $15 for ages 15+, $14 for seniors 65+ and $10 for ages 4-14. Museum members and children under 3 are admitted free; discounted admission is available for veterans and active duty military personnel. For more information about specific activities and program schedules, visit www.neam.org or call (860) 623-3305.
July 6 – Aug 5
The 2018 KO FESTIVAL OF PERFORMANCE has been curated on the theme of “RADICAL ACTS.” It’s all original work, created by the artists who come to Ko. From July 6 – Aug. 5, you can meet a group of 60s radicals, hear a true tale of going AWOL on a shamanic trip in the Amazonian jungle, witness a call to action by a woman whose encounters with bears – both real & mythic, help her discover links between her ill health & the environment — and we close with a show about the courage to create. Post-show discussions follow the shows & we’d like them to be intergenerational. Teens, Adults, Seniors – JOIN US! Tix for shows + our STORY SLAM & WORKSHOPS are available online at kofest.com & at the Box Office 413-542-3750. Special prices for SNAP/EBT cardholders.
July 7, 8, 11
PaintBox Theatre—the Valley’s theatre of imagination and improvisation—presents Tarzan! Renowned researcher Jane—assisted by an audience of scientists—is searching for the mysterious, elusive Tarzan. Is he really the king of the jungle? Not even close. Tarzan is a friend of all the wild beast youngsters, teaching the little ones how to swim, climb, and avoid danger. When Tarzan wants to brag, shout, and fly through the jungle, the older ones just play along. Shows are Sat. & Sun. July 7 & 8, 10:30am & 1pm at Easthampton’s Williston Theatre and Wed. July 11, 10:30am at the Easthampton Band Shell. Tickets: $10 at the door or at BrownPaperTickets. Season Tickets: $24. Group discounts (12+): $7. paintboxtheatre@gmail.com, paintboxtheatre.org.
July 13-15
Western Massachusetts’ most family friendly music festival happens at Greenfield Community College July 13-15 in Greenfield, MA. Kids 10 and under are always free. In addition to an incredible lineup of music for adults featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead, Old Crow Medicine Show, Dr. Dog, Josh Ritter, Lucy Dacus, Femi Kuti, and I’m With Her, Green River Festival is packed with activities for children and families. Come hang out with Curious George or Big Nazo’s hilarious larger than life characters. There is also music for the entire family on the Art Garden stage, Flying High Frisbee Dogs, crafts at The Art Garden tent, a Mardi Gras Parade, tethered hot air balloon rides, a swimming shuttle, and carnival games at The Art Garden Arcade.
Add your camp
Our summer camp guide is up! Check out our featured post, 2018 Summer Camps and Programs in Western MA for a list that will wow and dazzle you! Summer opportunities featured range from music, art, farming, theater, dance, science, nature, sports, speaking, yoga, rock ‘n roll… to traditional summer day or overnight camps/programs! There’s something for all ages, toddlers to teens! Check it out and start making your summer plans! — Do you have a summer camp or program you’d like to have included in our comprehensive list? Find out how you can submit your listing HERE.
Add your school
Hilltown Families Preschool Directory: Are you looking for a preschool that fits your child’s personality and reflects your family’s values? Check out our growing Preschool Directory, covering all four counties in Western Massachusetts, and find the perfect place for your young one! — Have a school you’d like to include in this list? Click here to find out how to have it added.
ADVERTISE HERE: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! See your summer camp, class, community event, school, open house, audition, homeschool program, workshop, volunteer opportunity, wellness program, local business, after-school class, or non-profit featured here in the Bulletin Board section of our list of Weekly Suggested Events and in our weekly eNewsletter, reaching thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! Find out more about our advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by emailing us at at sales@hilltownfamilies.org.
JOIN OUR TEAM OF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Interested in becoming a Contributing or Guest Writer for Hilltown Families? We welcome writings that reflect the community-building and educational efforts parents, teens, teachers, artists, activists and community leaders work towards and accomplish, and how that affects, supports and empowers our families. All writing styles welcomed, including local reviews, DIY posts, seasonal cooking/local food, and community-based educational & community service learning opportunities/resources. Send your query to info@hilltownfamilies.org.
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
July 7th – 13th, 2018
Saturday • Sunday
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday • Friday
Suggest an Event | Cultural Itineraries | Forecast | Museum Passes | Weekly eNewsletter | Farmers’ Markets | Storyhour & Playgroups| Berkshire Family Fun | Advertise/Sponsorship | en Español
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
Saturday, July 7th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
9-10am – HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org. As multi-award winning singer/songwriter Joanie Leeds hosts The Hilltown Family Variety Show for the third time, she challenged herself by finding the “Songs That Make You Go Hmmmm, curating The Songwriting Show.” While writing tunes for her band, Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights, Joanie has always been drawn to “play on word” songs. In her songwriting themed show, Joanie picked tunes that concentrate on “idioms,” “creative word play,” and songs about songwriting hoping listeners will be inspired to create songs of their own. Encore of Saturday’s broadcast airs Sunday morning from 7-8am and podcast is posted here on Hilltown Families immediately following Sunday’s broadcast. Listen to the Hilltown Family Variety Show podcasts anytime. Click here select from over 10 years of archived shows!
Saturday, July 7, 10:30am & 1pm
THEATER/LITERARY STUDIES
Saturday, July 7, 11am
THEATER/LITERARY STUDIES
“Some Pig.” There is a lot of wisdom in those two simple, famous words. E.B. White’s classic 1952 novel Charlotte’s Web explores the profound themes of life and death and the end of innocence in an accessible, gentle manner, which speaks to children as much as adults. Part of the novel’s enduring popularity is it’s realism. White refuses to shy away from challenging ideas, but in so doing, he creates characters that can truly reflect our own thoughts and feelings. How do we struggle through the complicated aspects of life? Acceptance, White suggests. New and old fans of Charlotte’s Web won’t want to miss this live musical adaptation of White’s story, set in 1830s. For more information and to order tickets, please visit The Charlotte’s Web Experience. Old Sturbridge Village. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA ($$)Saturday, July 7, 11am
THEATER/APIOLOGY
We are now starting to understand just how crucial bees are to our the biosphere. Their role as pollinators is vital to the growth of crops and it’s no exaggeration to say that our survival as a species depends upon our little buzzing friends. This truth was evidently known to many ancient peoples, as we can see in the example of the Bee Goddess cults in pre-Hellenic Greece. Many of the oldest Mediterranean communities worshiped a primordial Bee Mother Goddess, known as the “Pure Mother Bee.” Her priestesses were given the name “Melissa,” which means “bee” in ancient Greek. It is also thought that the tombs used by these cultures were built to resemble honeycombs. This worship of bees was common throughout Africa, the Mediterranean, the Near East, and India. Celebrate bees with an uplifting story about one farmer and his relationship with his bees, told through puppetry and music! “To Bee or Not To Bee,” offers a positive message about how human beings can work together with our environment. Greenfield Public Library. 402 Main Street, Greenfield, MA (FREE)Saturday, July 7, 12pm
THEATER/CONCERT
Come enjoy an afternoon of fun musical theater for children with the folks from Nutshell Playhouse! Committed to providing the Western Massachusetts region with access to live musical theater, Nutshell Playhouse has been performing imaginative works designed to spark children’s creativity and love of musical theater since 2007. This free show will feature a singing anaconda, tap dancing, and shapeshifting storyteller! Bascom Lodge. North Adam Road, Adams, MA (FREE)Saturday, July 7, 12:30-1:30pm
MARINE BIOLOGY/MUSEUM ADVENTURES
Ever wonder what fish, turtles, and lizards eat when they live in aquariums? How do human beings determine what to feed these creatures, who have evolved over millions of years to hunt for food in the wild? And who actually prepares the food for these animals? All these questions and more will be addressed during Chow Time at the Berkshire Museum, where participants can assist museum staff in preparing meals for some of the inhabitants of the aquarium. Berkshire Museum. 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)Saturday, July 7, 1-3pm
PLACEMAKING/ECOLOGY
Come celebrate the interdependence of all life on earth with an afternoon of giant puppets, live music, meditation, and lots more! As we continue to move deeper and deeper into the anthropocene, the first geological epoch defined by human activity, it’s becoming crucial that we understand how our species is dependent on other forms of life and aspects of the natural world. Humanity is not separate from nature. This realization demands that we reconceptualize our role in the ecosystem. Following the parade and live performances, Western Mass Climate Action Now will be leading a series of discussions around how we impact climate change and how we may be able to mitigate some of its most dire consequences. Don’t miss the third annual Interdependence Day Celebration! Pulaski Park. Northampton, MA (FREE)Saturday, July 7, 2:30
NUTRITIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY/HISTORY
We all associate “afternoon tea” or “tea time” with British culture but as it turns out, the custom only originated in the 1840s. This relatively recent tradition was first adopted by British upper classes as a meal take in between lunch and dinner. Observance of afternoon tea was held between 3:30 and 5:00pm and typically featured cucumber sandwiches, egg sandwiches, and small pastries. Afternoon tea, however, is only one of many important tea traditions in Great Britain and abroad. “Cream tea,” or “Devonshire tea,” is a custom, which originated in the West Country, which is to say Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset. Cream tea is served with thick, clotted cream spread over scones and topped with strawberry preserves. A source of bitter strife between the Cornish and Devonians, the former insists that the cream should be spread on top of the jam, while the latter has it reversed. However you take your tea, come enjoy a pleasant afternoon light meal with tea, pastries, and live music at the Porter-Huntington-Phelps Museum’s “A Perfect Spot of Tea.” Porter-Huntington-Phelps Museum. 130 River Drive, Hadley, MA ($)
Sunday, July 8th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Sunday, July 8, 10am-5pm
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/ART STUDIES
Bring a bit of bohemian romance to your summer! Paris will always be associated with the arts. As the center of a rich French culture and a popular historical destination for expats and emigres, Paris can truly be said to be a city of artists. This Sunday, the Clark Art Institute will be celebrating all things Parisian at its regular Free Family Day. So put on your finest beret and striped turtleneck and come browse the museums four summer exhibitions, all focusing on the City of Lights. A full day of activities is scheduled, from can-can dancing, to jazz performances, to live figure drawing. And don’t forget to enjoy a croissant and a strong cup of espresso. The Clark Art Institute. 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA (FREE)Saturday, July 7, 10:30am & 1pm
THEATER/LITERARY STUDIES
Sunday, July 8, 4pm
THEATER/AMERICAN HISTORY
Monday, July 9th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Storyhour & Playgroups: East Longmeadow, Pelham & Whately
Monday, July 9, 5:30-7:30pm
FILM SCREENING/LITERARY STUDIES
Madeleine L’Engle’s classic 1962 new adult fantasy A Wrinkle in Time was very nearly unpublished. The book was rejected by 26 publishers and L’Engle was dropped by her agent. A chance encounter at a tea party with a friend of John Farrar, from celebrating publishing house Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, finally led to the book’s publication. The book immediately won some of the highest honors in the children’s literature industry and has never been out of print since its first publication. A Wrinkle in Time tells the story of a young girl, who finds herself caught in the middle of a cosmic battle between good and evil. Drawing on L’Engle’s love for quantum physics, the novel presents a powerful critique of conformity and authoritarianism and offers a imaginative vision of the universe, in which all things are possible. East Longmeadow Public Library will be offering a free screening of the film A Wrinkle in Time, based on L’Engle’s novel. Pizza will be provided! Registration required. East Longmeadow Public Library. 60 Center Square, East Longmeadow, MA (FREE)Monday, July 9, 6pm
METEOROLOGY
Known to the indigenous Algonquian peoples as “The Place of the Concealed One,” Mount Washington features some of the most intense weather in the world. It once held the world record for surface wind speed and regularly features wind chill temperatures of up to -100 degrees Fahrenheit. In 1940, Charles Brooks wrote an article for Appalachia magazine, in which he described Mount Washington as “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” While this claim is certainly exaggerated, the meteorological forces at work on this mountain are absolutely noteworthy. At this presentation, Mount Washington Observatory’s Will Broussard will be discussing some of the factors that contribute to its powerful weather. Greenfield Public Library. 402 Main Street, Greenfield, MA (FREE)Monday, July 9, 6:30-7:30pm
ORNITHOLOGY/FOLKLORE
Monday, July 9, 7pm
SPORTS/LITERARY STUDIES
Calling all Harry Potter fans! It’s been more than ten years since J.K. Rowling’s fictional game “quidditch” was adapted into a real sport by students at Middlebury College in Vermont and the sport has been growing all over the world. The game is played by running while sitting on a broom and throwing a deflated volleyball through hoops. In the place of the magical flying golden “snitch,” players can also catch a tennis ball in a long sock for extra points. The sport is a loving homage to the Harry Potter books and there are quidditch teams on almost every continent. Come and learn how to play this fun and rapidly growing sport, with regular quidditch games, organized by the Greenfield Public Library. Registration required. Hillside Park. Greenfield, MA (FREE)
Tuesday, July 10th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Storyhour & Playgroups: Agawam, Amherst, Belchertown, Cheshire, Easthampton, Florence, Gill, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Hatfiled, Huntington, Lanesborough, Lee, Ludlow, New Salem, North Adams, Sheffield, Sunderland, Turners Falls, Ware & West Springfield.
Tuesday, July 10
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/AVIATION/STEM
The New England Air Museum’s Soar into Summer Fun programming has begun! Enjoy eight weeks of interactive activities for children, families, and aviation enthusiasts of all ages. Daily programs include climb-aboard experiences in real aircraft; hands-on Build & Fly Challenges; interactive Flight Science Demonstrations; virtual flight simulators; and more. The Museum, located in Windsor Locks, CT, is open daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is $15 for ages 15+, $14 for seniors 65+ and $10 for ages 4-14. Museum members and children under 3 are admitted free; discounted admission is available for veterans and active duty military personnel. For more information about specific activities and program schedules, visit www.neam.org or call (860) 623-3305.Tuesday, July 10, 10am-5pm
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
The beloved children’s character Clifford, the big red dog, was apparently based on an actual dog that belonged to author Norman Bridwell, although Bridwell stipulates that his dog was neither big nor red. Nevertheless, Clifford has delighted children ever since his first appearance in 1963. Clifford became so popular that Scholastic Publishing went on to adopt the character as its mascot. If you’ve got a Clifford fan at home, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to meet everyone’s favorite big red dog live and in the flesh! At Springfield Museum all day this Tuesday, Clifford will be available for hugs and high fives. And be sure to check out the wide variety of activities and games focusing on some of the most beloved characters from PBS and WGBY. Springfield Museum. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)Tuesday, July 10, 1pm
COMPUTER SCIENCE/WORKSHOP
Wednesday, July 11th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Saturday, July 7, 10:30am
THEATER/LITERARY STUDIES
Wednesday, July 11, 11am
THEATER/SCIENCE
Wednesday, July 11, 1pm
FOLKLORE/PUPPETRY
The Puerto Rican trickster character Juan Bobo, appears in dozens of folktales over the last two hundred years. Like many trickster figures in folktales from around the world, Juan Bobo is a fool and is constantly getting into trouble due to his innocence and naivete. In one famous example, Juan Bobo’s mother tells him to clean up the pig, to fetch a higher price at market. Juan, misunderstanding her instructions, instead dresses the pig up in his mother’s best clothes and puts lipstick on it. However, Juan Bobo’s misadventures often demonstrate important life lessons. Over the years, the Juan Bobo stories have been interpreted in a variety of different contexts, for example, as a representation of indigenous resistance to colonial oppression. Holyoke Public Library will be hosting a retelling of some of the most famous Juan Bobo stories through puppetry! Holyoke Public Library. 250 Chestnut Street, Holyoke, MA (FREE)Wednesday, July 11, 7pm
FILM STUDIES/MUSIC STUDIES
The Beatles-inspired 1968 film Yellow Submarine was an enormous success when it was first released. It’s psychedelic images, catchy music, and whimsical plot have continued to make this film a great hit ever since. The song “Yellow Submarine, on which the film is based, was originally written as a nonsense song for children but immediately inspired a wide variety of social and political interpretations. Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yellow Submarine with a special screening, this Wednesday! This is a great opportunity to see this classic film on the big screen, with full surround sound. Amherst Cinema. 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA ($)
Thursday, July 12th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Storyhour & Playgroups: Agawam, Amherst, Athol, Belchertown, East Longmeadow, Florence, Gill, Greenfield, Hatfield, Huntington, Lee, Lenox, Millers Falls, Montague, Northampton, Sheffield, South Hadley, and Turners Falls.
Thursday, July 12
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/AVIATION/STEM
The New England Air Museum’s Soar into Summer Fun programming has begun! Enjoy eight weeks of interactive activities for children, families, and aviation enthusiasts of all ages. Daily programs include climb-aboard experiences in real aircraft; hands-on Build & Fly Challenges; interactive Flight Science Demonstrations; virtual flight simulators; and more. The Museum, located in Windsor Locks, CT, is open daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is $15 for ages 15+, $14 for seniors 65+ and $10 for ages 4-14. Museum members and children under 3 are admitted free; discounted admission is available for veterans and active duty military personnel. For more information about specific activities and program schedules, visit www.neam.org or call (860) 623-3305.Thursday, July 12, 3pm
MUSIC STUDIES/DRUMMING
Drumming is one of the most ancient human cultural practices. In fact, drumming may even predate our development as a species. Several other primates, including Macaque monkeys, and even rodents such as kangaroo rats, use drumming as a method of communicating a wide variety of coded social messages. Some of the oldest drums have been found in China, dating back to the Neolithic era, around 5000 BCE. These drums were made with alligator skins, and like the origins of most drumming traditions, had their roots in traditional shamanic rituals. Come learn more about this ancient and joyful universal human tradition at this special drumming workshop for teens and tweens. Participants will be able to try out several different kinds of drums from all around the world. East Longmeadow Public Library. 60 Center Square, East Longmeadow, MA (FREE)
Friday, July 13th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Friday, July 13, 5:30-6:30pm
ENGINEERING/DESIGN
You may be familiar with the concept of a “Rube Goldberg Machine,” a complex machine designed to indirectly accomplish a very simple task. These clever devices use simple mechanical parts to work together, creating a domino effect. You might think of a ball that rolls down a ramp, which lands in a cup of water, which turns a wheel, which winds a spool of thread, which somehow lights a candle after six more steps. These machines are named for Rube Goldberg, a 20th century cartoonist, who became famous for depicting such contraptions in his comics. One such example was “Professor Butts and the Self-Operating Napkin.” If you are fascinated by these ingenious and silly inventions, don’t miss this Rube Goldberg Machine Workshop, for children ages 5 and above. Sunderland Public Library. 20 School Street, Sunderland, MA (FREE)Friday, July 13
MUSIC FESTIVAL/PLACEMAKING
Friday, July 13, 8:27pm
ASTRONOMY/CONFERENCE
Calling all amateur astronomers! The 36th annual Connecticut River Valley Astronomers Conjunction is coming to Northfield Mountain, July 13 and 14! This is one of the largest gatherings of amateur astronomers in the area. Join with other stargazers to learn about important news impacting the world of amateur astronomy, talk to others about their experiences, attend slideshows and presentations, and, of course, lots of stargazing. Participants will also have the opportunity to try out some of the most cutting edge telescopes available. Observation sessions will begin each night at sunset. Registration required. Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center. 99 Millers Falls Road (Route 63), Northfield, MA ($$)
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by a grant from the Belchertown, Buckland, Chicopee, Plainfield, Shelburne, Westhampton, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
