Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events for October 6th – 12th, 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 2018-2019 directory! Reserve your space.
Our community is rich in learning opportunities to supplement the interests of children, teens, and life-long learners. We have put together a directory of after-school & weekend classes and enrichment programs happening across Western Massachusetts throughout the school year. Many of these programs aren’t just for kids, so to all the adults out there – feel encouraged to pursue your interests and honor your callings through these enrichment classes, too!
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
Oct 5 – 28
Connecticut Trolley Museum will hold their popular Pumpkin Patch event starting Oct 5th and will run the rest of the month every Fri, Sat & Sun including Monday, Oct 8th for Columbus Day. Pumpkin Patch is a family fun filled adventure where you ride on a trolley car out to the pumpkin patch field and each child can pick out a FREE pumpkin. Additionally, when you return back to the Museum you can decorate the pumpkins, get your face painted (Fri & Sat) & enjoy the outside play area with SPOOKTACULAR Halloween activities. Don’t forget you can take as many Trolley rides as you would like. Visit www.ct-trolley.org for hours of operation. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $10 for youth (ages 4-12) and $3 for children (under age 3).
Oct. 6
The New England Air Museum will hold an Open Cockpit Day on Saturday, October 6, from 10am to 4pm. Special activities will include Touch A Truck, designed for children of all ages to view some very large vehicles-up close – from the following industries: aviation, construction, 1st responders and the military, along with the chance to climb aboard historic aircraft including a WWII P-47 Thunderbolt, a jet-age F-100 Super Sabre and a F-104 Star-fighter, as well as number of helicopters. Other activities include hands on flight simulators and the opportunity to Build & Fly your own flying machine! Food and beverage will be available, and all activities are included with museum admission. Rubber-soled shoes recommended. www.neam.org.
Oct 13
OnTrend Crafts is hosting its 5th annual Fall Craft Fair on Saturday, October 13 on the beautiful Hadley Town Commons. More than 60 of the region’s top indie crafters will be in Hadley selling their high-quality handmade goods. Shoppers will find handcrafted jewelry, home decor, paper goods, ceramics, body care products, knitted apparel, and much more. Locally sourced and made eats include tacos, ice cream, cake pops and more. Come support our talented local artisans! Free admission; rain or shine. For more information, visit ontrendcrafts.com or email Jennifer at jennifer@ontrendcrafts.com.
Oct 13
Join The Common School for their annual Children’s Carnival on Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on their school’s beautiful campus at 521 South Pleasant Street in Amherst. The Carnival is open to the public, with no admission fee. Many activities, such as a bounce house and games will be available for a small fee. Breakfast, hearty lunches and treats, such as, cotton candy, homemade baked goods and smoothies will also be available for purchase. In the event of rain, The Carnival will be held indoors at The Amherst Regional Middle School at 170 Chestnut Street. For more information, call 413-256-8989 or go to www.commonschool.org.
Oct. 16
The Bement School is pleased to host the Pioneer Valley Independent School Fair on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Kittredge Building. Twenty-five independent schools from the Pioneer Valley area participating represent pre-school through grade 12 and post graduate. Information sessions on topics such as how to apply for financial aid, finding the right match, and advice on applying to schools will take place from 5-6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Please contact Kim Loughlin in the admission office at Bement at 413-774-4209 if you have any questions. A list of schools participating in the event can be found at www.bement.org.
Oct 21
Celebrate the Valley’s farms, food, and friends with Kestrel Land Trust’s special 10th Annual 5K for Farmland & Farmers’ Market Festival! Sunday, October 21, 11 a.m. – 2 pm on the West St. Common, Hadley. Family-friendly 5K race on a flat route through scenic farmland or a beautiful 2-mile riverside walk. Farmers’ Market Festival after the race with music by “The Empty Bottle Ramblers,” local food, products and crafts, plus a live Birds of Prey demo with Tom Ricardi. Henry the Juggler will be there, courtesy of Hadley Cultural Council. For the adults, free local beer by Valley Malt for registered participants age 21+. Get a special edition pint glass and be entered into a drawing for great prizes when you register at 5kforfarmland.org.
Add your class
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.
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
October 6th – 12th, 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, October 6th, 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. Inspiration. What is it? Where does it come from? What inspires us to make music? In this episode of the Hilltown Family Variety Show, Jamie Broza takes us through a diverse array of fantastic songs and singers that have inspired him to make music, and hopefully will inspire some of our listeners to start writing their own songs! 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, October 6, 10am
HARVEST FESTIVAL/AGRICULTURE
In his 2008 book, Potato: The Propitious Esculent, John Reader suggests that the potato was responsible for changing world history. Originally cultivated in the area of Peru and Bolivia around 10,000 years ago, potatoes were introduced to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century. In its early years, the crop was not especially popular in Europe but eventually became such an important staple that according to conservative estimates, the potato was responsible for a quarter of the population growth in Europe between 1700 and 1900. In 1845, a plant blight spread throughout Ireland and Scotland, resulting in the failure of potato crops, which largely drove the Great Irish Famine. The popularity and cultural importance of the potato continues to grow worldwide. It is the fourth largest vegetable crop in the world after wheat, rice, and corn. Potato plays a vital role in world cuisines from Peru to India to Korea. The popularity of the vegetable continues to be strongest in eastern Europe, which is the highest per capita consumer of potatoes by an enormous margin. Despite the relative popularity of potatoes in the United States, the country is not even in the top ten per capita consumer. Come celebrate the amazing potato at the 4th Annual Potato Festival, where visitors can try a variety of potato dishes and kids can meet Mr Potato Head! Smiarowski Farmstand. 320 River Road, Sunderland, MA (FREE)Saturday, October 6, 10am-12pm
NATURE STUDIES/FORAGING
An increasing awareness of the harmful impact that modern human life has had on the natural world and the human mind and body has led many people to reconsider the assumption that civilization is necessary or even desirable. A growing community of people around the world are exploring ways to reconnect with the natural world and the lifeways that were common throughout humanity for the vast majority of our existence as a species. New practices, designed to recreate the experiences of our ancient past in a modern setting, such as forest bathing and the paleo diet can be put together under the umbrella of ‘rewilding.’ Originally used as a term in wildlife conservation, rewilding refers to the process of returning a species or ecosystem to its natural state. In human terms, rewilding revolves around the idea that the lifestyle of our hunter-gatherer ancestors remains the happiest, healthiest, and most environmentally conscious way to live. Foraging, even in urban areas, is a great example of practical rewilding. Come learn all about wild plants in our area, as well as some of their practical uses, on this informative plant walk. Just Roots. 34 Glenbrook Drive, Greenfield, MA (SUGGESTED DONATION)Saturday, October 6, 10am-4pm
HISTORY/CRAFTS
The incredible cultural significance of blacksmithing and metalworking in communities all around the world is evidenced by the prevalence of the blacksmithing god in world mythology. In ancient Vedic mythology, he is known as Tvastar, a solar deity and “the Heavenly Builder.” Interestingly, Tvastar is also associated with fertility. In Greek and Roman mythology, the blacksmith Hephaestus, or Vulcan, is the lamed god of craftsmen, metalworking, and fire. Disfigured and ugly, Hephaestus is ironically married to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. In the Anglo-Saxon and Norse folkloric traditions, Weyland Smith is a peculiar figure, captured and crippled by a greedy king, who demands that Weyland forge items of great beauty for him. Weyland escapes and wreaks a terrible revenge against the king and his family. As we can see from just these three examples, there are interesting similarities between depictions of the blacksmith god throughout the world, for instance the presence of a crippling injury and the duality of beauty and ugliness, creation and destruction. Often, due to his association with fire, the blacksmith god is considered a type of culture hero, a figure credited with the development of human culture. Considering the vital importance of blacksmithing in traditional societies, who would have depended on metalworkers to produce the vast majority of tools and other equipment, it’s no surprise that the blacksmith god plays such a key role. If you feel yourself drawn to blacksmithing, you won’t want to miss this historic blacksmithing demonstration. Historic Deerfield. 80 Old Main Street, Deerfield, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)Saturday, October 6, 10am-5pm
LITERARY STUDIES/ART STUDIES
When Eric Carle’s iconic children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar was first published in 1969, no one could have possibly predicted how popular it would become. Nearly fifty years later, someone on earth buys a copy of the book every thirty seconds! In addition to the charming story, and enchanting illustrations, Carle’s innovative design transformed the book into an interactive object, which readers can play with. Don’t miss this special 50th anniversary exhibit of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and learn all about this children’s classic! The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA ($)Saturday, October 6, 10am-6pm
ARTS AND CRAFTS/FESTIVAL
Come celebrate autumn, community, and the arts at the 24th Annual Paradise City Arts Festival. This beloved local event brings together 250 artists and craftspeople from around the country for a three day festival, featuring delicious food, workshops and demonstrations, and lots of fun activities for kids! This is a great time to enjoy the stunning fall foliage and give thanks for our community’s passion and commitment to the arts. Three County Fairgrounds. 54 Old Ferry Road, Northampton, MA ($)Saturday, October 6, 12-4pm
AGRICULTURE/FESTIVAL
The Cook family originally took ownership of their Hadley farm in 1909. Five generations later, the Cook family continues to care for the herds of Jersey and award winning Holstein cows. Since Cook farm opened their ice cream and dairy store in 1998, it has become an important part of the community. This Saturday, come celebrate Cook Farm at their annual fall festival. Enjoy a free afternoon of face painting, live music, milking demonstrations, and wagon rides. And don’t forget the ice cream! Flayvors of Cook Farm. 129 South Maple Street, Hadley, MA (FREE)Saturday, October 6, 6pm
MUSIC STUDIES/MUSIC THEORY
In the early 1960s, when American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass began to experiment with a new genre of music, which would later become known as ‘minimalism,’ they drew from a variety of sources including the traditions of Indian classical music, which several of them learned from Pandit Pran Nath. One of the most influential Indian classical singers of the 20th century, Pran Nath left his wealthy home and family in Lahore when he was 13 years old and went to seek the hermit singer Abdul Wahid Khan. Pran Nath would serve Khan for seven years before he was permitted to study with the master. For two decades, Pran Nath studied with Khan, living in a cave for much of the time. Eventually Pran Nath made his way to the United States where he taught at a number of universities and gave American audiences and composers their first introduction to the classical Indian raga form. A loose improvisational structure, with an established melodic framework, which centered around a primary musical motif, the raga revolutionized the way that experimental composers conceptualized music. If you are interested in music theory and minimalist music in particular, check out this study group Integrating the Lattice: Microtonal Music Theory. This study group, beginning on Saturday and meeting weekly, will focus on the work of W.A. Mathieu, a disciple of Pran Nath, and Erv Wilson. Looky Here. 28 Chapman Street, Greenfield, MA (FREE)
Sunday, October 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.
Sunday, October 7, 10am-6pm
ARTS AND CRAFTS/FESTIVAL
Come celebrate autumn, community, and the arts at the 24th Annual Paradise City Arts Festival. This beloved local event brings together 250 artists and craftspeople from around the country for a three day festival, featuring delicious food, workshops and demonstrations, and lots of fun activities for kids! This is a great time to enjoy the stunning fall foliage and give thanks for our community’s passion and commitment to the arts. Three County Fairgrounds. 54 Old Ferry Road, Northampton, MA ($)
Monday, October 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.
Storyhour & Playgroups: East Longmeadow, Pelham & Whately
Monday, October 8, 10am-6pm
ARTS AND CRAFTS/FESTIVAL
Come celebrate autumn, community, and the arts at the 24th Annual Paradise City Arts Festival. This beloved local event brings together 250 artists and craftspeople from around the country for a three day festival, featuring delicious food, workshops and demonstrations, and lots of fun activities for kids! This is a great time to enjoy the stunning fall foliage and give thanks for our community’s passion and commitment to the arts. Three County Fairgrounds. 54 Old Ferry Road, Northampton, MA ($)
Tuesday, October 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.
Tuesday, October 9, 6-8:30pm
ART STUDIES/SOCIAL ISSUES
Art truly has the power to change lives and communities. Public art projects such as murals, performances, and exhibitions can bring communities together to create a powerful sense of place and togetherness. If you are interested in learning more about how art can be used to promote social engagement, don’t miss this special workshop on leading and organizing public art projects. Participants will learn how to identify opportunities for community based art, make connections and collaborations within the community, and specifically design projects to meet the needs of the community. Pre-registration is required. Jones Library. 43 Amity Street, Amherst, MA (FREE)Tuesday, October 9, 7pm
CONCERT/MUSIC STUDIES
The 3rd century BCE Daoist sage Chuang Tzu once compared the sound of the wind blowing through the trees and over mountain tops to a musician playing a flute. Every hole in the ground is like the holes of a flute. The wind rushing through the world is the breath and music of the earth. The traditions of Chinese classical music date back roughly seven thousand years and continue to evolve in the present. Enjoy an evening of Chinese Melodies with Minqi Pipa! Old Chapel. 144 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA (FREE)
Wednesday, October 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.
Wednesday, October 10, 12-2pm
AGRICULTURE/FOLKLORE
The custom of decorating pumpkins and other types of vegetables around this time of year goes back hundreds if not thousands of years. Various types of gourds have been used to make lanterns in cultures all over the world. The oldest known reference to Jack o’ lanterns in particular, however, comes from East Anglia in the 17th century. An alternate name for the Will o’ the wisp, Jack o’ lantern refers to a type of atmospheric ghost light, which often appears in boggy, swampy areas at night. According to folklore, these lights resemble phantom lamps and often beckon unwary traveller from safe paths, to be lost forever in the mire. The origins of this malevolent spirit are contested. Stories from throughout Great Britain and the Appalachian region of the southern United States attest that Will, or Jack, was a drunken ne’er-do-well, who was cursed either by the Devil or Saint Peter to wander the earth forever, guided only by a single ember of fire placed in a carved turnip. Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery is offering free pumpkin painting in honor of their 10th anniversary! Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery. 172 Hockanum Road, Hadley, MA (FREE)
Thursday, October 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.
Thursday, October 11, 7-8pm
TAPHOPHILIA/HISTORY
New England is the perfect place for taphophiles, or ‘cemetery enthusiasts.’ Most small towns in our area have at least one little cemetery, surrounded by stone walls, with old and weathered gravestones dating back hundreds of years. You can learn so much about what life was like for the colonial inhabitants of New England by exploring these kinds of artifacts. The cemetery at the Hancock Shaker Village is no exception! The original carved granite tombstones have been removed and kept in safe storage and replaced by a single granite stone, marking the spot. This cemetery tour will allow guests exclusive access to the original gravestones, ordinarily available only by special appointment. Hancock Shaker Village. 1843 West Housatonic Street, Pittsfield, MA ($$)
Friday, October 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.
Friday, October 12, 11am-12pm
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION/MONTESSORI
Educational philosopher Maria Montessori once wrote: “The greatest sign of success for a teacher… is to be able to say, ’The children are now working as if I did not exist.'” Montessori education takes for granted the idea that learning is natural and that children are instinctively motivated to learn. This radical concept completely changes the way we view education. Children are not passive receptacles, which simply need to be filled up with “knowledge” by an “expert.” When supported and empowered, children intuitively seek out learning opportunities. If we give children options, they will learn. By presenting them with engaging materials and fun activities, children will learn through their own interests and from each other. The role of the teacher, according to Montessori, is to recognize the innate talents, abilities, and interests of the children. Members of the community will have the opportunity to experience Montessori education in action this Friday, for an hour of activities led by Montessori teacher Laura Frogameni. Forbes Library. 20 West Street, Northampton, MA (FREE)
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.
