Weekly Suggested Events for DECEMBER 19-25, 2020
Home < Weekly Suggested Events

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: DECEMBER 19-25, 2020
LEARNING RESOURCES
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 3D Tours: Virtual Village from Old Sturbridge Village
LOCAL HISTORY. Massachusetts History Alliance
LOCAL HISTORY. Virtual Local History Learning Opportunities with The Trustees
FOOD HISTORY. Smithsonian Food History
DISABILITY HISTORY. Smithsonian Disability History
CREATIVE-FREE PLAY. Fresh Ways to Engage Toddlers in Creative Free-Play
CREATIVE-FREE PLAY. Fairy Houses
CREATIVE-FREE PLAY. Play Ideas for Family & Community
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Trails at Mass Audubon
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Hiking Trails in Massachusetts
Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities
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.
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.
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!
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.

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 ADVENTURES. Sledding Hills in Western MA
THEATER. Fall 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
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2020
THEATER. Fall Festival of Shakespeare
ORNITHOLOGY 10am. Winter Bird Walk at Moran Wildlife Management Area
FARMERS’ MARKET. 10am-2pm. Berkshire Grown Williamstown Holiday Farmers Market
MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 11am. 12:30pm. 2pm. Self-guided tour of the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.
WINTER SOLSTICE. 3:16pm. Winter Solstice 2020 – Virtual Livestream
MUSIC STUDIES. 4pm. Hidden Figures: Romantic
HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4-9pm. Holiday Lights Display at Look Park (Northampton, MA)
ASTRONOMY. 4:40-6:40pm. View the Christmas Star in Great Barrington
HOLIDAY LIGHTS. 4:45-8:45pm. Bright Nights at Forest Park (Springfield, MA)
PLACEMAKING/HOLIDAYS. 5pm. NightWood, A Sound & Light Experience at The Mount
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
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020
MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 11am. 12:30pm. 2pm. Self-guided tour of the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.
LITERACY. 4pm.Storytime for School-Aged Kids: “Whose Shoes?”
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 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)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2020
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)
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.
Subscribe ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities ♦ Learning Opportunities ♦ en Español

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.