Weekly Suggested Events for DECEMBER 19-25, 2020

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Photograph of gingerbread cookies decorated for Christmas and Hanukkah with text overly: Suggested Learning Ideas, Resources & Events.
LEARNING RESOURCES

Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities

Give the gift of music!

FEATURED VIRTUAL MUSIC LESSONS

This holiday season, surprise the music lover on your list with virtual music lessons. For a limited time, Community Music School of Springfield gift packages feature buy-4-lessons get-1-free pricing! Choose a Trial Lesson Package for someone who wants to get a feel for high-quality music lessons using CMSS’s state-of-the-art virtual platform. Or new this year, if your loved one is ready to commit to ongoing lessons, you can LOCK IN discounted pricing for the rest of the school year (this translates to 4 free lessons, and payment plans are available). Perhaps you have a little one at home this year – Enroll in any Prelude Preschool of the Arts remote programming in Nov or Dec and get a host of add-ons for free! Visit CMSS online to learn more.

Featured local lodging.

STAY IN THE HILLTOWNS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Built in 1832 as a hotel, Deer Hill House is the perfect place to stay overnight while visiting family and friends in western Massachusetts! Deer Hill House is now four separate apartments under one roof, located on a quiet country road along the Westfield River, with Deer Hill behind the house, and a large open yard. Private, sunlit, one-bedroom apartments on the first and second floor, complete with full kitchens, and baths, are ideal for a writing retreat or a comfortable home base for your adventures. Located in Cummington, MA, Deer Hill House is less than 10 minutes from Notchview, and 30 minutes from Northampton, Pittsfield, and MassMoCa. Check out the first-floor apartment or search Deer Hill House on Airbnb.

Graphic with background of a person wearing glasses surrounded by toy dinosaurs and the words "Curated Toys for Curious Minds" overlay.
Shop in-store or online!

FEATURED LOCAL TOY STORE

A2Z Science & Learning Toy Store has unique gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list! Find fun jigsaw puzzles for adults, science kits for kids, games for the whole family, baby & toddler toys, and just fun & cool stuff you won’t find anywhere else! Shop in-store or online with their full inventory range. (Over 8,000 products!) They offer curbside pickup, local delivery, and shipping anywhere in the USA! Find them at 57 King Street in Northampton, MA, or online at A2ZScience.com!

Graphic with background of paper cut-out people holding hands and the words "The Common School" overlay.
The Common School in Amherst, MA.

FEATURED PRESCHOOL

The Common School in Amherst, MA ♦ Children only get one preschool experience. Experience The Common School. The Common School, serving children ages 3-12 years, has two preschool classrooms for children ages 3-5 years. These classrooms provide strong student/teacher ratios, a diverse and inclusive community, opportunities for experiential learning, a stellar social and emotional curriculum, environmental awareness, play based learning, significant time spent outdoors and many resources, such as an extensive library, music and movement class. Prospective families are invited to meet their teachers and tour their newly renovated facilities, including outdoor learning spaces for extended time outside. Preschool. Ages 3-12yrs. For more information: 413-256-8989; www.commonschool.org.

Partner with HIlltown Families!

SEE YOUR AD HERE

Partner with Hilltown Families in your online advertising! Delivering your message each week to over 25,000 subscribers, web visitors, and social media followers, Hilltown Families can bring your message to thousands of readers in Western MA who are committed to their community and willing to support one another in times of need. In-person and virtual event organizers, local and online businesses, virtual and local service providers, non-profit organizations, and individuals are encouraged to reach out to find out about our affordable advertising options and marketing packages. To find out how we can partner together in your online marketing and outreach, contact Sienna at swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org.

Class Directory

Discover virtual & adapted programming in our 2020/2021 Class Directory for Western MA.

Preschool Directory

Find what you’re looking for in our 2020/2021 Preschool & Daycare Directory for Western MA

List of Weekly Suggested Events

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020

OUTDOOR ADVENTURESSledding Hills in Western MA

THEATERFall Festival of Shakespeare 

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. 8:45am. Wildlife tracking at McLennan Reservation in Tyringham, MA. Email to sign up: kathy.kessler@gmail.com 

ART STUDIES. 9am. Painting with Scissors 

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. 9am. Winter Hiking 101 Workshop 

CITIZEN SCIENCE. 10am. Christmas Bird Count for Kids 

WORLD CULTURE. 10am. Christmas Around the World

CITIZEN SCIENCE. 10am-12pm. Christmas Bird Count

LOCAL FOOD. 10am-1pm. Winter Farmers’ Market 

MUSIC STUDIES. 11am. Django a Gogo Festival

LOCAL FOOD. 11am-2pm. Holyoke Winter Farmers’ Market 

LOCAL FOOD. 10am-2pm. Great Barrington Winter Farmers Market 

MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 11am. 12:30pm. 2pm. Self-guided tour of the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum 

MUSIC STUDIES. 2pm. Handel’s Messiah 

FOLKLORE. 2pm. The Science and Indigenous Folklore of Santa and His Reindeer 

PASTRY ARTS. 3-4:30pm. Virtual Holiday Cookie Swap 

MAKER SPACE. 4-7pm. Northampton Community Making Space 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4-9pm. Holiday Lights Display at Look Park (Northampton, MA) 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4:45-8:45pm. Bright Nights at Forest Park (Springfield, MA) 

PLACEMAKING/HOLIDAYS. 5pm. NightWood, A Sound & Light Experience at The Mount

FOLKLORE. 8pm. Krampus & Christmas FairyTales: History of Folklore

Self-Directed Learning:
LITERATURE

THEATER
Sat., Dec. 19
Fall Festival of Shakespeare

Self-Directed Learning:
ORNITHOLOGY

CITIZEN SCIENCE
Sat., Dec. 19 @ 10am-12pm
Christmas Bird Count

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2020

Self-Directed Learning:
ASTRONOMY

ASTRONOMY
Sun., Dec. 20 @ 4:40-6:40pm
View the Christmas Star in Berkshires

Self-Directed Learning:
WINTER SOLSTICE

WINTER SOLSTICE
Sun., Dec. 20 @ 3:16pm
Winter Solstice – Livestream

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2020

INTERGENERATIONAL. 10:30am. Sing With Your Little Ones

LITERACY. 11am. “Look Up!” Storytime for preschoolers 

MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 11am. 12:30pm. 2pm. Self-guided tour of the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 

CULINARY ARTS. 12noon. Cookbook Club 

FIBER ART. 12:30pm. Knitting with Northampton Wools (Facebook Live) 

ARTS & CRAFTS. 4pm. DIY Holiday Craft Tutorial 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4-9pm. Holiday Lights Display at Look Park (Northampton, MA) 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4:45-8:45pm. Bright Nights at Forest Park (Springfield, MA) 

MUSIC STUDIES. 5:30pm. West African & Caribbean Drum and Song Class 

MINDFULNESS. 5:30-7pm. Winter Solstice Walk

BOTANY. 6pm. Mondays with Milford: The Botanist 

SIGN LANGUAGE. 6:30pm. Virtual ASL Basics Course 

MUSIC STUDIES. 7pm. Ukulele Play-Along 

WINTER SOLSTICE. 7pm. Winter Solstice Celebration 

ASTRONOMY. Night. Ursids Meteor Shower Peak Night

Self-Directed Learning:
ARTISAN CRAFTS

ARTS & CRAFTS
Mon., Dec. 21 @ 4pm
DIY Holiday Craft Tutorial

Self-Directed Learning:
MUSIC HISTORY

MUSIC STUDIES
Mon., Dec. 21 @ 7pm
Ukulele Play-Along

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020

Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD STUDIES

FAMILY RECIPES
The National Museum of Women in the Arts invites all to a Recipe Share that documents unique family histories.

Self-Directed Learning:
HANDMADE HOLIDAYS

DO-IT-YOURSELF
During Old Sturbridge Village Christmas by Candlelight, guests can see a variety of crafts and cooking demonstrations.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020

LITERACY. 10am. Story Time Online with Meghan 

CULINARY ARTS. 2pm. Learn to make Puerto Rican Pasteles 

LITERACY. 4pm. M is for Mitten Story Hour 

LITERACY, 4pm. Cushman Library Story Hour 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4-9pm. Holiday Lights Display at Look Park (Northampton, MA) 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4:45-8:45pm. Bright Nights at Forest Park (Springfield, MA)

Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD TRADITIONS

CULINARY ARTS
Wed., Dec. 23 @ 2pm
Learn to make Puerto Rican Pasteles

Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD TRADITIONS

FRENCH DESERT
Bread Euphoria Bakery prepares Bûche de Noël, a traditional holiday French dessert.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

WREATHS. 9:30am-4:30pm. Historic Deerfield Wreath Walk

HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4-9pm. Holiday Lights Display at Look Park (Northampton, MA) 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4:45-8:45pm. Bright Nights at Forest Park (Springfield, MA)

Self-Directed Learning:
ORNITHOLOGY

Learn about Mass Audubon’s Snowy Owl Project

Self-Directed Learning:
COOKIES

Explore World Cultures Through Holiday Baking

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2020

Self-Directed Learning:
MISTLETOE

Mistletoe facts from a Smithsonian botanist.

Self-Directed Learning:
MUSIC STUDIES

How did Christmas music start?

Online and in-person events and resources shared above are done so as a courtesy and not as an endorsement. While we do our best to share accurate and up-to-date information, please take the time to confirm information, age appropriateness, registration requirements, safety protocols, and associated costs.

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Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Gill, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Hinsdale-Peru, Holyoke, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Springfield, Washington, Westhampton, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

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