Weekly Suggested Events for August 14-20, 2021

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Things to do in Western Massachusetts in mid-August! Discover smart & fun ways to engage while learning local and playing local.

Are you looking for things to do in western Massachusetts? Seeking place-based learning ideas? Are you a self-directed, life-long, and/or experiential learner? Are you curious or wanting to support the interests of your family? Our weekly Suggested Events list includes suggested learning ideas, resources, and fun events for all ages, each week!

Scroll down to discover featured events, learning opportunities, and educational videos to support learning from home. And be sure to subscribe to our free weekly eNewsletter so you never miss out!

Discover classes and in-person programming happening through out western Massachusetts!
FEATURED CLASS: Biocitizen Free Ranger Field Environmental Philosophy Adventures

Biocitizen Free Ranger Field Environmental Philosophy Adventures in Westhampton, MA, is an action-based, peripatetic investigation of natural and cultural history. These histories are “writ large” in the places participants study, and students learn how to read them while they hike. As Summer turns into Fall, Free Rangers investigate the transformations the biome and its creatures undergo. Students explore Northampton’s environs, focusing on places they don’t usually have access to, and learn about our “place” in the biome: by a great living river coursing through deep and rich soils cradled by foothills with wild ridges, cliffs, and rainforest canyons. For more information: kheidinger@biocitizen.org; 413-320-0522; ma.biocitizen.org/portfolio/free-rangers-summer-into-fall.

Music Classes with Jeremy Milligan in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
FEATURED MUSIC CLASSES: Music Classes with Jeremy Milligan in South Hadley, MA

Music Classes with Jeremy Milligan in South Hadley, MA. Give your children the experience of making music this school year. For the younger students (ages 5-9), the “Kids Music Class” will teach your child all about beat, rhythm, melody, and musical form through fun, interactive games, dances, and songs along with rigorous educational activities. For the older students (ages 7 and up), enroll in the “Guitar Orchestra.” Students perform on the guitar, uke, bass, or other string instruments in a large group. Students develop skills in music reading, dynamics, phrasing, ensemble playing, and following a conductor. Beginners welcome. The fall session begins on September 7, 2021. Each class session is 10-weeks and ends with a free concert that is open to the public. Secure your spot today! For more information: jeremymilliganguitar@gmail.com; 413-695-7558; jmilliganguitarstudio.com.

FEATURED PROGRAM: Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center in Shutesbury, MA.

Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center is now enrolling for Fall 2021! This fully outdoor elementary program serves students in grades K-6 and meets Massachusetts standards for curriculum and grade-level experiences. Caring educators offer hands-on, experiential learning with a project-based focus within a small school community. Students follow the rhythms of the land & seasons and learn within a framework that emphasizes social-emotional growth, stewardship & collaboration. This program offers full-time, in-person learning experiences on 85 acres in Shutesbury. Van service is available from Amherst, and aftercare is offered. Tuition follows a sliding scale model. Info about programs, curriculum, & staff at www.schoolatmorsehill.org.

FEATURED EVENT
Back Porch Bluegrass Festival
Northampton, MA

Sunday, August 15 from 12-7:30pm

Signature Sounds Presents is thrilled to bring the first Back Porch Bluegrass Festival on Sunday, August 15th, to the beautiful Pines Theater at Look Park. The festival will feature the best in bluegrass on two stages with Del McCoury Band, Sierra Hull & Justin Moses,Tony Trischka with Michael Daves & Bruce Molsky, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Brennen Leigh & Noel Mckay, Nora Brown, Rose & The Bros, and Mamma’s Marmalade. The music goes from 12-7:30 pm.There will be food trucks and beer and wine available for purchase. Kids 10 and under are free! Tickets are on sale now at
www.signaturesoundspresents.com.

FEATURED CLASSES
Berkshire Pulse
Housatonic, MA

Summer & Fall Classes

Summer and Fall Classes. Berkshire Pulse is a dynamic, welcoming, nonprofit dance, world music and movement arts education center. Outdoor, virtual and in-studio year-round programming provides children, teens and adults the opportunity to engage in the joys of movement, music and performance, while experiencing the rewards of community involvement and fitness – plus the vast benefits of artistic exploration and expression. High-caliber, professional teaching artists offer ongoing classes and workshops from beginner to advanced levels in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Creative Dance, Choreography, Musical Theater, Tap, African Dance, Flamenco, Latin Dance, Scottish Folk Dance, World Music Percussion, Hip Hop, Cardio Groove, Tai Chi, Zumba, Yoga, Pilates and more. For more information: berkshire.pulse@gmail.com; 413-274-6624; berkshirepulse.org.

FEATURED CLASSES
Whole Children
Hadley, MA

Virtual, In-Person/Indoors

Whole Children’s goal is to create an inclusive environment where every child is successful and valued for who they are, no matter their abilities or disabilities. Classes emphasize skill-building, social skills, self-advocacy, and just plain fun. They offer a diverse roster of afterschool and weekend classes, including gymnastics, yoga, theater, art, music, cooking, performing arts, and so much more. Whole Children is filling a vital need by creating classes where the hard work of skill-building is made social and fun for children of all abilities and, perhaps just as importantly, by creating a supportive and caring community for their parents. For more information: info@wholechildren.org; 413-585-8010; www.wholechildren.org.

FEATURED ICE SKATING CLASSES
The Skating Club of Amherst
Amherst, MA

Good News! After a long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Skating Club of Amherst will be resuming their full ice schedule in September. The Skating Club of Amherst figure skating club offers professional instruction at all levels, beginner to advanced, recreational or competitive. Their popular Learn-to-Skate program offers group lessons for ages 4-adult on Sundays at 5:50pm. Additional instruction is offered in free-skate, ice dancing, & testing for those looking to advance their skills further. All sessions are held at the UMass Mullins Center Practice Rink. The club is a member of United States Figure Skating & is a private, non-profit organization managed by volunteers. Registration forms for Sept, Nov, Jan & April are online. For more information: SCofAmherst@gmail.com; 413-253-6388; www.scamherst.org.

FEATURED THEATER CLASSES
Starlight’s Youth Theatre
Sunderland, MA

Starlight’s Youth Theatre offers in-person classes beginning in Sept 2021 on Saturday mornings & Monday evenings. Fall classes include: The Unique Unicorn for grades 1-3 on Saturdays (9/4-10/23) from 9-9:45am; Alice in Wonderland for grades 3-5 on Saturdays (9/4-10/23) from 10-10:45am; Fight for the Right, the Susan B. Anthony Story for grades 6-9 on Saturdays (9/4-11/6) from 11am-12pm; Doctor Doolittle for grades 3-5 on Mondays (9/13-11/6) from 4-4:45pm; Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson for grades 6-9 on Mondays (9/13-11/1) from 5-6pm. Costs: $125-$145. Performance locations include Eric Carle Museum, Northampton Center for the Arts, and Maple Ridge. Classes are held at Maple Ridge Community Center. More info: www.starlights-youth-theatre.com.

FEATURED NATURE-BASED PROGRAM
Grow Wild Association
Hinsdale, MA

In-Person/Outdoors, Private Tutoring or Coaching

Grow Wild Association is organized for educational, personal, and spiritual development, relying on a strongly held belief in and interdependence with nature. Grow Wild Association hosts an outdoor nature-based program for homeschool-aged children, adult classes, enrichment programs, and tutoring. They believe nature is our best and most important teacher, and children are innate learners who naturally follow their own sense of wonder. Mixed-age children’s groupings allow for role modeling, responsibility, community building, and multidirectional learning. All information/programs/services are intended for association members only. They’re accepting new members now! For more information: growwildlearning@protonmail.com; 413-464-2507; www.growwildlearning.com.

FEATURED EARLY EDUCATION
Community Action’s
Head Start & Early Learning Programs

Virtual Program. Indoor Program. Adaptable.

Daycare. Preschool. Early Childhood Education Program. ♦ Ages 6wks-5yrs
For more information: 413-387-1250; www.communityaction.us.

Community Action’s Head Start & Early Learning Programs offer a variety of program options for pregnant women and families with children ages birth-5 throughout Hampshire, Franklin, & Western Hampden Counties. Community Action’s Head Start provides early education and care and quality comprehensive services to children in Head Start/Early Head Start programs, offering full-day and part-day center-based classrooms, family childcare, and home visiting. Centers are located in Orange, Turners Falls, Greenfield, Amherst, Northampton, Easthampton, Ware, Westfield, & Agawam. All services are provided at either low or no cost to eligible children and families.

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Partner with HIlltown Families!

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.

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List of Weekly Suggested Events

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021
Discover classes and in-person programming happening through out western Massachusetts!

AGRICULTURAL FAIR. 8am-8:30pm. Middlefield Fair, an old-time country fair established in 1855 in the hilltown of Middlefield, Massachusetts at the Middlefield Fairgrounds. 413-623-6027. 7 Bell Rd, Middlefield, MA.  

GEOLOGY/NATURAL HISTORY. Sunrise-Sunset. Dinosaur tracks are Massachusetts’ state fossil. Paleontologists believe the prints were left by some of the earliest known dinosaurs, from small plant-eaters to large meat-eaters up to 20 feet long. The entire Connecticut River Valley region once existed as a mix of subtropical wetlands and shallow lakes about 200 million years ago. Since its discovery in 1802, this region has been recognized for its wealth of prehistoric footprints. Catch glimpses of the trace fossils visible at Dinosaur Footprints, including four distinct dinosaurs, stromatolites, fish and alligator ancestors, plants, and other ancient beings. The larger “Eubrontes” prints were likely made by ancestors of the great Tyrannosaurus rex, standing 15 feet tall and 20 feet long. Look for the 20-plus trackways, which formed the basis for the novel theory that dinosaurs traveled in packs or groups. Dinosaur Footprints. 413-213-4751. Route 5, Holyoke, MA. 

ECOLOGY/HIKING. Sunrise-Sunset. Petticoat Hill is one in a grouping of three hills that rise more than 1,000 feet above South Williamsburg. According to legend, the reservation got its name because the daughters of a family who farmed the hill generations ago hung their washed petticoats to dry outside—the garments could be seen for miles. Today, a 100-year-old forest crisscrossed by old stone walls covers a hillside dotted with cellar holes and foundations of early farmsteads. Where the valley meets the highlands, the reservation has a beautiful transition forest with specimen trees from both northern and southern climates. Some trees are more than 110 feet high, among the tallest in the region. Along a mile and a half of occasionally strenuous trails, you’ll be captivated by the sheer diversity of specimen trees, including hemlock and white pine, red and black oak, yellow and black birch, shagbark hickory, and sugar and red maple. The Williamsburg Water District owns Petticoat Hill Summit; The Trustees owns Scott Hill Summit on its slope. Locke’s Loop, a trail constructed by the Williamsburg Woodland Trails Committee, begins at the Scott Hill Summit. Petticoat Hill. Petticoat Hill Road, Williamsburg, MA. 

SENSORY-FRIENDLY. 9-11am. The Springfield Museums offers Sensory Friendly Saturdays, the second Saturday of each month. Sensory Friendly Saturdays provide less noise, less bright light, and cool-down spaces for those who have sensory sensitivity. Sensory-friendly crafts for all ages will be available too. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.

FARMERS’ MARKET. 9am-1pm. There are so many lessons to be learned and information to share at a farmers’ market. Every Saturday is the Pittsfield market, the first teen-run market in the region. Get curious (and hungry) and bring the kids! Pittsfield Farmers’ Market. First Street Common. Pittsfield, MA. 

GARDENING. 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn about the Native American practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together at the Native American Three Sisters Garden at Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.  

MUSIC STUDIES. 10am. Springfield Museums & Samba Meets Second Line Parade as part of the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival at the Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.

COMICS. 10am. Comic Book Day at the Meekins Library. 413-268-7472. 2 Williams St, Williamsburg, MA.

FAMILY FUN. 10am. Young at Heart: Family Dance Around the World at the Dewey Memorial Hall. 413-229-2357. 91 Main Street, Sheffield, MA.

TRANSPORTATION HISTORY. 10am. Museum Tours at the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum. 413-637-2210. 10 Willow Creek Rd, Lenox, MA.

NATURAL HISTORY. 10am & 2pm. Easy walking tour with a Park Interpreter. Discover the mysteries of Natural Bridge with short stories that enliven and highlight this unique park. Once the site of a major marble quarry, it is also home to North America’s only white marble dam. The feature attraction of this tour is the “Natural Bridge,” a marble arch spanning a gorge and carved centuries ago by melting glaciers. This tour offers one of the best places in New England to witness the amazing effects of glaciation! Suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a water bottle. Rain cancels. 20-30 minute duration. 413-663-6392. Natural Bridge State Park Visitor Center. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.

MYCOLOGY. 10am-12pm. Summer Ecology Workshop: Forest Fungi. Uncover the mystical world of fungi, examining mushrooms big and small of any color you can imagine on a walk around the sanctuary. Mushrooms are the architecture of the forest floor; from tree communication to decomposition, fungi play many roles and are endlessly fun to learn! No fungi will be consumed or removed from the sanctuary during this program. Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-637-0320. Holmes Rd, Pittsfield, MA. 

ECOLOGY/HIKE. 10am-1pm. Explore the Flora and Fauna of Basin Pond in Lee, MA. This round trip, 2-3 mile hike led by Naturalist and Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center Director Aimee Gelinas M.Ed will highlight the flora and fauna of this unique property managed by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council Hike is free (donations accepted). To register (required) and info email: aimee@gaiaroots.com. Basin Pond. Lee, MA.  

ARTISAN TRADE. 10am-4pm. Broom-Making Demonstrations. Watch a broom being made by hand, learn about growing and processing broomcorn, and see broom-making tools and equipment. Learn the story of Caleb Salisbury, an African-American man who lived in Deerfield and made brooms, and learn about the role of broom-making and the craft industry in the 19th century. Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA. 

WILDLIFE BIOLOGY. 10am-5pm. Wild Kratts: Creature Power, an immersive, interactive exhibit where kids and families explore four animal habitats and the creatures within them, building STEM skills as they play. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA. 

WATER PLAY. 10am-6pm. Water spray park at Look Park! Cool off in their 5000+ square foot Spray Park complete with ground jets, bucket dumps, water umbrellas, and more. Changing areas and lockers are available. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

STORYTELLING. 11am. Young Fogies & Old Whippersnappers presented by Folksinger/Story Teller Tim Van Egmond at the Whately Library. 413-665-2170. 202 Chestnut Plain Road. Whately, MA.

LANGUAGE ARTS. 11am. Zine-making workshop at Just Roots with the Griswold Memorial Library Colrain at Just Roots/Greenfield Community Farm. 413-325-8969. 34 Glenbrook Dr, Greenfield, MA.

MERRY-GO-ROUND/PHYSICS. 12-4pm. Are you someone who always picks a horse on the inside of the carousel, or do you ride one on the outside? All merry-go-round horses make one complete circle in the same amount of time, but the interior horses travel a much shorter distance in that time than the outer ones do, resulting in very different linear speeds. And what happens when you choose a stationary horse versus one that gallops up and down? Experience the fun of physics by bringing your kids, or grandkids, for a ride on the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round. Known as “Holyoke’s Happiness Machine,” the antique carousel with brightly painted wooden animals and calliope music is a sensory treat for young and old. It was once part of Mountain Park, an amusement park on the side of Mt. Tom, and was moved to Holyoke Heritage Park when Mountain Park closed in 1987. 413-538-9838. 221 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA.  

HISTORY/GAMES. 12:30-4:30pm. Family Fun Day at Historic Deerfield, an afternoon of indoor and outdoor fun and games for all ages. Try games of skill and chance like Fox and Geese or Checkers. Play outside and learn how to roll a hoop, play Quoits, the Graces, and Battledore and Shuttlecock. Try out an old game like Table Top Nine Pins or Shut the Box. Make your own Nine Men’s Morris game board to take home. Go on a StoryWalk™ and take a self-guided family-friendly Scavenger Hunt. John Porcino, a locally known and well-loved performer, will tell stories and sing songs to add to the fun. Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA. 

LANGUAGE ARTS. 1pm. Write-Up Springfield with the Springfield City Library. Virtual.

FAMILY FUN. 1pm. Ed the Wizard and his Balloon Animal Twisting Workshop at the Arms Library. 413-625-0306. 60 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES. 1pm. Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival at Stearns Sq, Springfield, MA.

SCENIC SUMMIT TOURS. 1pm & 2pm. Short park interpreter-guided talks along easy walking paths explore the history, culture, and unique mountain ecology of the highest point in Massachusetts. The Tour route is wheelchair accessible. All ages. Meet at the bronze map model at the Summit. A parking fee may apply. Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA.  

HILLTOWN HISTORY. 2-5pm. Kingman Tavern Museum. 413-563-1981. 41 Main Street. Cummington, MA. 

THEATER STUDIES/MUSICAL.  2pm. Wizard of Oz performed by the Berkshire Theatre Group outside under the big tent at The Colonial. 413-997-4444. 111 South St, Pittsfield, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES. 2:30pm. Tanglewood Pre-Concert Talks with Jeremy Yudkin at the Lenox Library. 413-637-0197. 18 Main Street. Lenox, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES. 3pm. Speaker Series: Carnival in Trinidad w/Etienne Charles as part of the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival. 276 Bridge St, Springfield, MA.

CLIMATE JUSTICE. 4:30pm. Speaker Series: Climate Justice Conversation with Rev. Sekou and Rev. Mariama White-Hammond as part of the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival. 276 Bridge St, Springfield, MA.

FAIRY TALES/PERFORMANCE. 5:30-8:30pm. This August at Old Sturbridge Village, experience your favorite fairy tale characters as you’ve never seen them before. Guests will experience an enchanted farm and meet characters from several beloved fairy tales, all now living beside each other at Fairy Tale Farm. Map in hand, guests will walk to various buildings that become the stage for each performance. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA. 

CULTURE STUDIES. 6pm. Speaker Series: New Orleans Voodoo, Music, and Carnival Culture: the background of Charles Neville as part of the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival. 276 Bridge St, Springfield, MA.

FIREWORKS. 6pm. Fireworks Parking at the United Church of Ware

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2021
Discover classes and in-person programming happening through out western Massachusetts!

AGRICULTURAL FAIR. 8am-9pm. Middlefield Fair, an old-time country fair established in 1855 in the hilltown of Middlefield, Massachusetts at the Middlefield Fairgrounds. 413-623-6027. 7 Bell Rd, Middlefield, MA.  

NATURAL HISTORY/HIKING. Sunrise-Sunset. Bear Swamp was truly rough terrain for early settlers: steep, wooded hillsides and exposed bedrock descending to boggy wetlands and swamp. Nonetheless, early settlers cleared all of the land for forest products, pasture, and even hay fields. But contemporary explorers will find a landscape of rugged beauty, with fields reclaimed by the forest and the dark lowlands illuminated by colorful wildflowers in bloom. Follow three miles of trails—some steep in places—to different parts of the reservation. The aptly named Fern Glade Trail passes through carpets of ferns and wildflowers. Take the Beaver Brook Trail to where an aging stone dam supports a beaver dam. The trail to Apple Valley Overlook ends with a grand vista of apple orchards in the near distance and, on the northern horizon, the Green Mountains of Vermont. Bear Swamp. Hawley Road, Ashfield, MA. 

GARDENING. 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn about the Native American practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together at the Native American Three Sisters Garden at Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.  

MUSIC STUDIES. 10am. Northampton Record Swaps at the Northampton Record Fair. 1 Kirkland Ave. Northampton, MA. LOCAL FOOD. 10am–2pm. Easthampton Farmers’ Market. 2350 Payson Ave., Easthampton, MA. 

NATURAL HISTORY. 10am & 2pm. Easy walking tour with a Park Interpreter. Discover the mysteries of Natural Bridge with short stories that enliven and highlight this unique park. Once the site of a major marble quarry, it is also home to North America’s only white marble dam. The feature attraction of this tour is the “Natural Bridge,” a marble arch spanning a gorge and carved centuries ago by melting glaciers. This tour offers one of the best places in New England to witness the amazing effects of glaciation! Suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a water bottle. Rain cancels. 20-30 minute duration. 413-663-6392. Natural Bridge State Park Visitor Center. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.  

ART STUDIESTake a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.) 

LOCAL HISTORY/GARDEN DESIGN. 10am-3pm. Naumkeag is a public garden and historic home in the heart of the Berkshires. This 48-acre architectural masterpiece is, at its heart, a family home. In 1884, Joseph Choate, a prominent New York attorney and U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, and his wife, Caroline, hired the famous architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White to design a summer retreat. When you visit this National Historic Landmark, explore the superlative gardens created by Mabel Choate and noted landscape architect Fletcher Steele. Take in the Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools, flanked by four flights of stairs and a grove of white birches. Elsewhere walk through the stunning beautiful Afternoon Garden, Tree Peony Terrace, Rose Garden, Evergreen Garden, and Chinese Garden, each of which evinces beauty while revealing the playful, inventive spirit of collaboration between Ms. Choate and Mr. Steele, which played out over the span of 30 years. Naumkeag. 413-298-3239. 5 Prospect Hill Rd, Stockbridge, MA. 

WATER PLAY. 10am-6pm. Water spray park at Look Park! Cool off in their 5000+ square foot Spray Park complete with ground jets, bucket dumps, water umbrellas, and more. Changing areas and lockers are available. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

COLLABORATIVE CONSUMPTION. 11am. Back-to-School Supply Cleanout at the Village Closet at It Takes a Village. 413-650-3640. 2 East Main Street. Huntington, MA.

WILDLIFE BIOLOGY. 11am-5pm. Wild Kratts: Creature Power, an immersive, interactive exhibit where kids and families explore four animal habitats and the creatures within them, building STEM skills as they play. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA. 

LOCAL HISTORY/SHAKER. 11am-5pm. A living history museum in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, Hancock Shaker Village brings the Shaker story to life and preserves it for future generations. Share your love of history, agriculture, and design with your children or grandchildren as our costumed interpreters engage them in various activities. Farming was at the heart of all Shaker communities. Through agricultural experimentation and wise use of technology, the Shakers made their farms into models of efficiency and innovation. Hancock Shaker Village is still a working farm today, with vegetables, herbs, and a barn full of livestock. Hancock Shaker Village. 413-443-0188. 1843 W Housatonic St, Pittsfield, MA. 

HISTORY WALK. 12pm. Join the Park Interpreter for an easy walking tour to rediscover the working life in a bustling quarry during the 1800s and early 1900s. What was it like to labor in the stone quarry in the heyday of the Industrial Revolution? Who were these tough quarrymen? Explore these topics along the way. Suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a water bottle. Rain cancels. 20-30 minute duration. 413-663-6392. Natural Bridge State Park Visitor Center. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA. 

Sunday, August 15 from 12-7:30pm

MUSIC STUDIES. 12pm. First Annual Back Porch Bluegrass Festival at Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA.

AGRICULTURE. 12pm. Peach Festival is featuring Sarah the Fiddler Trio at Outlook Farm Barn & Eatery. 413-539-9388. Rte 66, 136 Main Rd. Westhampton, MA.

MERRY-GO-ROUND/PHYSICS. 12-4pm. Are you someone who always picks a horse on the inside of the carousel, or do you ride one on the outside? All merry-go-round horses make one complete circle in the same amount of time, but the interior horses travel a much shorter distance in that time than the outer ones do, resulting in very different linear speeds. And what happens when you choose a stationary horse versus one that gallops up and down? Experience the fun of physics by bringing your kids, or grandkids, for a ride on the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round. Known as “Holyoke’s Happiness Machine,” the antique carousel with brightly painted wooden animals and calliope music is a sensory treat for young and old. It was once part of Mountain Park, an amusement park on the side of Mt. Tom, and was moved to Holyoke Heritage Park when Mountain Park closed in 1987. 413-538-9838. 221 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA.  

LOCAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY & CULTURE. 12-5pm. Muh-he-con-ne-ok: The People of the Waters That Are Never Still, on view through January 9, 2022. “We once called this land home and while forced removal may have physically moved us, our hearts remain. Muh-he-con-ne-ok: People of the Waters That Are Never Still showcases the history of the Stockbridge-Munsee Communities past, present, and future.” Following the symbolic pathway of water throughout the exhibition, visitors will develop new insights into the history and culture of this Berkshire County Indigenous community through objects from the Berkshire Museum collection and those of partner institutions, contemporary oral histories, and historical profiles of members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, timelines, and more. As they travel through the galleries, museum patrons will trace the journey of this region’s first residents from their lands that stretched from the Hudson River Valley to Berkshire County, through forced removal from these lands by white colonizers, to their current home in Wisconsin. Along the way, visitors will explore historical and current-day topics, discover actions they can take to be better allies to Indigenous people worldwide, and unlearn harmful misconceptions and stereotypes. Berkshire Museum. 413-443-7171. 39 South St, Pittsfield, MA.  

ARTS & CRAFTS. 2pm. Sunday Crafternoons with Agawam Family and Community Program at Perry Lane Pre-School Park. 413-789-1616. 108 Perry Ln, Agawam, MA.

THEATER STUDIES/MUSICAL. 2pm. Wizard of Oz performed by the Berkshire Theatre Group outside under the big tent at The Colonial. 413-997-4444. 111 South St, Pittsfield, MA.

AGRICULTURE. 2-3pm. Learn the basis and importance of grapes and grape growing that make great wine! Tour a working vineyard and learn how grapes hold a sense of place. Black Birch Vineyard. 413-247-3300. 108 Straits Rd, North Hatfield, MA. 

MUSIC STUDIES. 4pm. Sevenars Music Festival features live outdoor music held at the historic Academy concert hall alongside Jackson Brook. Sevenars Academy. 413-238-5854. 15 Ireland Street, South Worthington, MA. 

FAIRY TALES/PERFORMANCE. 5:30-8:30pm. This August at Old Sturbridge Village, experience your favorite fairy tale characters as you’ve never seen them before. Guests will experience an enchanted farm and meet characters from several beloved fairy tales, all now living beside each other at Fairy Tale Farm. Map in hand, guests will walk to various buildings that become the stage for each performance. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA. 

DANCE STUDIES. 6:30pm. Experience Banderole at The Mount. 413-551-5111. 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA.

FILM STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 6:30pm. West Springfield Drive-In. This outdoor movie experience, under the stars, harkens back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the drive-in movie experience created life-long memories for people of all ages. Located in the Eastern States Exposition’s Gate 9 parking area. West Springfield, MA. 

FILM STUDIESHope: Norwegian Film Festival hosted by Images Cinema. Virtual.

MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021
FEATURED CLASS: Free Ranger Field Environmental Philosophy Adventures

NATURAL HISTORY/HIKINGSunrise-Sunset. Once a poor farm and then later part of the country retreat of first U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, William C. Bullitt, and his daughter Ann, the Bullitt Reservation forms a crucial link in almost 3,000 acres of protected land that shelters state-protected species. Deer and bear emerge from the forest to feed and frolic, while the fields nurture orchids and butterflies. Poland Brook and its feeder streams provide habitat for a variety of fish and freshwater insects and plants. Take an amble along the Pebble Trail for an introduction to the features of the property. The Two Bridges Trail connects to Chapel Brook Reservation, then into a larger network of footpaths in Ashfield and into the broader Pioneer Valley. Bullitt Reservation. 413-628-4485. 332 Bullitt Road, Ashfield, MA. 

LOCAL HISTORY/HIKING. Sunrise-Sunset. From its iconic red barn to an elegant allée of maples, the historic home of William Cullen Bryant is a testament to the celebrated poet’s ideal of living mindfully on the land. When visiting, Wander the Rivulet Trail, where an old-growth forest of hemlock and a magnificent cherry tree hugs the Rivulet, a trickling stream immortalized by Bryant’s 1923 poem of the same name. Or walk the Pine Loop, which features enormous pines that reach heights of 150 feet, among the tallest in the Northeast. The house’s interior will not be open for tours this summer; however, the property is open for outdoor activities. William Cullen Bryant Homestead. 413- 634-2244. 207 Bryant Road, Cummington, MA. 

ART STUDIES. 9:30am. Plein Air Pastels with IS183 Art School of the Berkshires at Chesterwood. 413-298-3579. 4 Williamsville Rd, Stockbridge, MA.

ART STUDIESTake a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.) 

ART STUDIES. 10am. Splatter Painting at Springfield City Library: Mason Square Branch. 413-263-6853. 765 State St, Springfield, MA.

NATURAL HISTORY. 10am & 2pm. What were the forces that created these unique landforms? Discover the human elements that altered them through historical photos and fascinating little-known details that illustrate how this geological and industrial marvel came to look as it does today. Suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a water bottle. Rain cancels. 30-minute duration. 413-663-6392. Natural Bridge State Park Visitor Center. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.

ARTS & CRAFTS. 10am-4:45pm. Teen Grab n’ Go Suncatcher Craft at Southwick Public Library. 413-569-1221. 95 Feeding Hills Road. Southwick, MA.

LOCAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY & CULTURE. 10am-5pm. Muh-he-con-ne-ok: The People of the Waters That Are Never Still, on view through January 9, 2022. “We once called this land home and while forced removal may have physically moved us, our hearts remain. Muh-he-con-ne-ok: People of the Waters That Are Never Still showcases the history of the Stockbridge-Munsee Communities past, present, and future.” Following the symbolic pathway of water throughout the exhibition, visitors will develop new insights into the history and culture of this Berkshire County Indigenous community through objects from the Berkshire Museum collection and those of partner institutions, contemporary oral histories, and historical profiles of members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, timelines, and more. As they travel through the galleries, museum patrons will trace the journey of this region’s first residents from their lands that stretched from the Hudson River Valley to Berkshire County, through forced removal from these lands by white colonizers, to their current home in Wisconsin. Along the way, visitors will explore historical and current-day topics, discover actions they can take to be better allies to Indigenous people worldwide, and unlearn harmful misconceptions and stereotypes. Berkshire Museum. 413-443-7171. 39 South St, Pittsfield, MA.  

WATER PLAY. 10am-6pm. Water spray park at Look Park! Cool off in their 5000+ square foot Spray Park complete with ground jets, bucket dumps, water umbrellas, and more. Changing areas and lockers are available. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

LOCAL HISTORY/SHAKER. 11am-5pm. A living history museum in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, Hancock Shaker Village brings the Shaker story to life and preserves it for future generations. Share your love of history, agriculture, and design with your children or grandchildren as our costumed interpreters engage them in various activities. Farming was at the heart of all Shaker communities. Through agricultural experimentation and wise use of technology, the Shakers made their farms into models of efficiency and innovation. Hancock Shaker Village is still a working farm today, with vegetables, herbs, and a barn full of livestock. Hancock Shaker Village. 413-443-0188. 1843 W Housatonic St, Pittsfield, MA. 

PLAY. 3pm. Simon Says Contest at the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES. 5:30pm. Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center & Gaia Roots World Music offers beginner West African & Caribbean drum and song classes with Aimee Gelinas M.ED. Registration required. Drum rental available: aimee@gaiaroots.com. Town Park. Windsor, MA.  

FAIRY TALES/PERFORMANCE. 5:30-8:30pm. This August at Old Sturbridge Village, experience your favorite fairy tale characters as you’ve never seen them before. Guests will experience an enchanted farm and meet characters from several beloved fairy tales, all now living beside each other at Fairy Tale Farm. Map in hand, guests will walk to various buildings that become the stage for each performance. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA. 

FILM STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 6:30pm. West Springfield Drive-In. This outdoor movie experience, under the stars, harkens back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the drive-in movie experience created life-long memories for people of all ages. Located in the Eastern States Exposition’s Gate 9 parking area. West Springfield, MA. 

CULINARY ARTS. 6pm. Cookbook Club Meeting-The Complete Plant Based Cookbook at the Becket Athenaeum. 413-623-5483. 3367 Main St, Becket, MA.

ART STUDIES. 6:30pm. Painting Summer Flowers with Deborah Rubin at the Northampton Center for the Arts. 413-584-7327. 33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA.

ARTS & CRAFTS. 6:30pm. Craft and Chat at the Southwick Public Library. 413-569-1221. 95 Feeding Hills Road. Southwick, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES. 7pm. Tedeschi Trucks – Fireside Live at The Pines Theater at Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA.

FILM STUDIESHope: Norwegian Film Festival hosted by Images Cinema. Virtual.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021
Music Classes with Jeremy Milligan in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
FEATURED MUSIC CLASSES: Music Classes with Jeremy Milligan in South Hadley, MA

NATURAL HISTORY/WATERFALLS. Sunrise-Sunset. Glendale Falls: Fed by more than five square miles of watershed, Glendale Falls is one of Massachusetts’s longest and most powerful waterfall runs. The surrounding forest comprises hemlock, birch, and beech with an understory of maple, hornbeam, witch hazel, shadbush, and mountain laurel, an intriguing range of species to track during your journey. The reservation was once part of the historic 18th-century Glendale Farm, which operated a gristmill whose foundation you can explore in the woods just north of the falls. Across Clark Wright Road, a logging road traces a natural wet meadow along Glendale Brook. Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of half an hour. Glendale Falls. Clark Wright Road, Middlefield, MA. 

BIKE RIDING. Dawn-Dusk. The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is an old railroad track converted into a 10-foot wide paved trail. The trail runs 12.7 miles through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesborough, and Adams. Cheshire Reservoir and the Hoosic River offer outstanding views of the scenery and wildlife. Parking lots and restrooms are available at selected locations along the way. Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. 413-499-7003. Cheshire, MA. 

ART STUDIES/HISTORY. 9:30am-5:30pm. May Day: An International Labor Poster Exhibit from the collection of Stephen Lewis. This exhibit is part, graphic art, part history, part culture and part political message. Artists may appreciate the various ways a theme is depicted by many different artists, hailing from different countries and cultures. Lewis has made the foreign language posters more accessible by including translation of key phrases to English. Historians can see what social and political changes were being advocated for in different countries at different times. Activists can see some of their favorite causes, including the celebration of May Day itself, agitated for in these posters. On view through Aug 26 in the Hosmer Gallery at the Forbes Library. 413-587-1011. 20 West St, Northampton, MA. 

CULINARY ARTS. 10am. What’s Cooking Cookbook Club with Springfield City Library. Virtual.

WATER PLAY. 10am-6pm. Water spray park at Look Park! Cool off in their 5000+ square foot Spray Park complete with ground jets, bucket dumps, water umbrellas, and more. Changing areas and lockers are available. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

PARENTING GROUP. 11am. Outdoor Parent Group with It Takes a Village. 420 Main St, Ashfield, MA.

FAMILY PERFORMANCE. 11am. Terry a la Berry and Friends at the Lenox Library. 413-637-0197. 18 Main Street. Lenox, MA.

ART STUDIES/STORYTELLING. 12-7pm. “Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration.” Fictional worlds of magic and adventure come to life through fantasy illustration. Myths, legends, fables, romance, and epic battles involving swords and sorcery occur in a world unfamiliar to us. Unlike science fiction, which is based on fact, fantasy presents an imaginative reality built on universal themes—heroes defeating fire-breathing dragons, angels and demons engaging in combat, and mythological tales of love and loss. See the exhibit at the Norman Rockwell Museum, now through Oct. 31, 2021. Glendale Rd, Route 183, Stockbridge, MA. 

FARMERS’ MARKET. 1:30-6:30pm. Northampton Tuesday Market is a vibrant downtown market with the best in local fruits and vegetables, local prepared foods, and the occasional local craft. Entertainment most weeks. Northampton Tuesday Farmers’ Market. 413-320-4799. 1 Kirkland Ave, Northampton, MA.  

SUMMER FUN. 2-4pm. The City of Pittsfield hosts “Make Your Own Summer Fun” at different locations throughout the summer. Drop-in, say hello, pick up supplies for fun summer activity and/or participate when a special activity is scheduled. Pittsfield, MA. 

ART STUDIES/ANIME. 3pm. Outdoor Anime Club at the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

MUSIC/FUNDRAISER. 4pm. Performance 31 Unsung Heroes: Live Tribute Music Fundraiser with the Northampton Arts Council at Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA.

FAIRY TALES/PERFORMANCE. 5:30-8:30pm. This August at Old Sturbridge Village, experience your favorite fairy tale characters as you’ve never seen them before. Guests will experience an enchanted farm and meet characters from several beloved fairy tales, all now living beside each other at Fairy Tale Farm. Map in hand, guests will walk to various buildings that become the stage for each performance. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA. 

PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING. 6pm. Escape Room with the Hubbard Memorial Library. Virtual.

FILM STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 6:30pm. West Springfield Drive-In. This outdoor movie experience, under the stars, harkens back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the drive-in movie experience created life-long memories for people of all ages. Located in the Eastern States Exposition’s Gate 9 parking area. West Springfield, MA. 

POLISH HISTORY. 7pm. Polish History Talk with Chicopee Public Library. Virtual. PARENTING GROUP. 7:30pm. Tuesday Night Online Parents Group with It Takes a Village. Virtual.

FILM STUDIESHope: Norwegian Film Festival hosted by Images Cinema. Virtual.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021
FEATURED PROGRAM: Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center in Shutesbury, MA.

CANOEING. 8-11am. Canoeing October Mountain State Forest. For all, children 10 & up. Buckley Dunton Lake, Becket, MA. 

HIKING. Sunrise-Sunset. Bash Bish Falls is the highest waterfall in Massachusetts and a popular scenic destination. The dramatic final pitch of Bash Bish Brook drops about 80 feet into an emerald plunge pool. Enjoy a hike to experience the wonder and beauty of this deep, verdant gorge. Bash Bish Falls State Park. 413-528-0330. 4G85+29, Mt. Washington, MA. 

HIKING. Sunrise-Sunset. Chapel Brook, a property of The Trustees of Reservations, showcases the region’s rugged beauty, blending steep and deep forests, sensational summit views, and streams that surge and trickle with the seasons. At the heart of the reservation lies 1,420-foot Pony Mountain, whose nearly vertical 100-foot rock face enthralls skilled rock climbers. Down below, Chapel Brook—a tributary of the South River— meanders through a dense hardwood forest before cascading over three bedrock ledges. In times of high water, Chapel Falls are in full roar. Come summer, however, the pools offer a cool, welcome dip. Williamsburg Road, Ashfield, MA. 

PLAYGROUP. 9-10:30am. Indoor playgroup at the Hadley Library. Hadley, MA. 

EDUCATION/KINDERGARTEN READINESS. 9:30am. “Ready for K” Kindergarten Readiness Class hosted by the Hubbard Memorial Library. Virtual.

LITERACY. 10am. Story Time Outside at the Montague Center Library. 413-367-2852. 17 Center Street, Montague, MA.

ARTS & CRAFTS. 10am. Outdoor Knit & Crafts Circle at the Tilton Library. 413-665-4683. 75 North Main Street. South Deerfield, MA.

MINDFULNESS. 10am. Explore healthy, mind-body techniques such as yoga, walking meditation, Qi Gong, and Forest Bathing. Classes are guided by certified teachers and vary in duration (20—120 minutes). No experience is necessary. All ages & beginners are welcome. Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA. 

WATER PLAY. 10am-6pm. Water spray park at Look Park! Cool off in their 5000+ square foot Spray Park complete with ground jets, bucket dumps, water umbrellas, and more. Changing areas and lockers are available. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

EDUCATION/KINDERGARTEN READINESS. 11am. Ready for K Skill Building Zoom Group hosted by the Southwick Public Library. Virtual.

LITERACY. 11am. Bookworms Book Group at the Westfield Athenaeum. 413-568-7833. 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA.

PLAYGROUP. 2-4pm. Pick-up playgroup at Peskeumskut Park. Grab a treat from the farmers’ market happening simultaneously and share with new friends at the playground. Peskeomskut Park. Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA.

SUMMER FUN. 2-4pm. The City of Pittsfield hosts “Make Your Own Summer Fun” at different locations throughout the summer. Drop-in, say hello, pick up supplies for fun summer activity and/or participate when a special activity is scheduled. Pittsfield, MA. 

FAIRY TALES/PERFORMANCE. 5:30-8:30pm. This August at Old Sturbridge Village, experience your favorite fairy tale characters as you’ve never seen them before. Guests will experience an enchanted farm and meet characters from several beloved fairy tales, all now living beside each other at Fairy Tale Farm. Map in hand, guests will walk to various buildings that become the stage for each performance. Old SturbridgeVillage. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA. 

PHOTOGRAPHY. 6pm. Smartphone/iPad Photography Workshop with IS183 Art School of the Berkshires. Virtual.

FILM STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 6:30pm. West Springfield Drive-In. This outdoor movie experience, under the stars, harkens back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the drive-in movie experience created life-long memories for people of all ages. Located in the Eastern States Exposition’s Gate 9 parking area. West Springfield, MA. 

MUSIC STUDIES.7pm. Sarah Lee Guthrie Concert at Hancock Shaker Village. 413-443-0188. 1843 W Housatonic St, Pittsfield, MA.

ANIMAL STUDIES. 7pm. Understanding Your Cat with the Westhampton Public Library. Virtual.

FILM STUDIESWhat Will People Say: Norwegian Film Festival with Images Cinema. Virtual.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021
Discover classes and in-person programming happening through out western Massachusetts!

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Sunrise-Sunset. With trails for all experience levels, Chester-Blandford State Forest is perfect for hiking or walking. Take in the Sanderson Falls, go mountain biking, enjoy a picnic or go fishing. Chester-Blandford State Forest. 413-354-6347. 800 US-20, Chester, MA. 

ARTS & CRAFTS. 9am. Thursday Morning Craft & Play with the Agawam Family and Community Program at Agawam Spray Park. Agawam, MA.

ART STUDIES/HISTORY. 9:30am-5:30pm. May Day: An International Labor Poster Exhibit from the collection of Stephen Lewis. This exhibit is part, graphic art, part history, part culture and part political message. Artists may appreciate the various ways a theme is depicted by many different artists, hailing from different countries and cultures. Lewis has made the foreign language posters more accessible by including translation of key phrases to English. Historians can see what social and political changes were being advocated for in different countries at different times. Activists can see some of their favorite causes, including the celebration of May Day itself, agitated for in these posters. On view through Aug 26 in the Hosmer Gallery at the Forbes Library. 413-587-1011. 20 West St, Northampton, MA. 

PLAYGROUP. 10am.  Pick-up playgroup at the Dow Pavillion playground. Great for kids ages 2-5 to meet up with other families and to make new friends. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

MUSIC STUDIES. 10am. Music & Movement Outside, for Children at the Montague Center Library. 413-367-2852. 17 Center Street, Montague, MA.

PLAYGROUP. 10am.  Pick-up playgroup at the Dow Pavillion playground. Great for kids ages 2-5 to meet up with other families and to make new friends. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

FISHING/KAYAKING. 10am-5pm. Enjoy a relaxing day by the water exploring the rolling Berkshire foothills. Walk or picnic along the Westfield River East Branch, go fishing, or launch your canoe or kayak. C.M. Gardner State Park. 413-354-6347. Rte. 112 North, Huntington, MA. 

WATER PLAY. 10am-6pm. Water spray park at Look Park! Cool off in their 5000+ square foot Spray Park complete with ground jets, bucket dumps, water umbrellas, and more. Changing areas and lockers are available. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

ARTS & CRAFTS. 11am & 2pm. Crafts at Amelia Park Children’s Museum. 413-572-4014. 29 S Broad St, Westfield, MA. 

JUNIOR RANGERS. 1-2:30pm. This program captures the imagination of young people ages 8-12 through fun activities that grow future stewards of the environment. Earn a Junior Ranger Patch and Certificate by attending programs and completing the Junior Ranger Activity Guide activities. Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA. 

SUMMER FUN. 2-4pm. The City of Pittsfield hosts “Make Your Own Summer Fun” at different locations throughout the summer. Drop-in, say hello, pick up supplies for fun summer activity and/or participate when a special activity is scheduled. Pittsfield, MA. 

PLACEMAKING/COMMUNITY. 5pm. Third Thursday Summer Street Fair in Downtown Orange. Orange, MA.

FAIRY TALES/PERFORMANCE. 5:30-8:30pm. This August at Old Sturbridge Village, experience your favorite fairy tale characters as you’ve never seen them before. Guests will experience an enchanted farm and meet characters from several beloved fairy tales, all now living beside each other at Fairy Tale Farm. Map in hand, guests will walk to various buildings that become the stage for each performance. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA. 

ART STUDIES. 6pm. Collage Club with IS183 Art School of the Berkshires. Virtual.

ART STUDIES. 6pm. “Rob Boss” Paint Night with the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

LAWN CONCERT. 6-8pm. The Franklin County Musicians’ Cooperative hosts weekly outdoor concerts. Pack a picnic and bring the kids! Energy Park. 50 Miles St, Greenfield, MA. 

FILM STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 6:30pm. West Springfield Drive-In. This outdoor movie experience, under the stars, harkens back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the drive-in movie experience created life-long memories for people of all ages. Located in the Eastern States Exposition’s Gate 9 parking area. West Springfield, MA.  

FILM STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 6:30pm. West Springfield Drive-In. This outdoor movie experience, under the stars, harkens back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the drive-in movie experience created life-long memories for people of all ages. Located in the Eastern States Exposition’s Gate 9 parking area. West Springfield, MA. 

INTERGENERATIONAL PLAY. 6:30pm. All Ages BINGO with the Westfield Athenaeum. Virtual.

LAWN CONCERT. 6:30pm. South Hadley Summer Concert Series with South Hadley Recreation Department at The Village Commons. 17 College St, South Hadley, MA.

LAWN CONCERT. 7pm. West Springfield Summer Concert Series. Bring blankets or folding chairs to relax or move and groove whenever the mood strikes. Morgan Road Pavilion. 413-781-3020. 459 Morgan Road, West Springfield, MA 

MUSIC STUDIES/TALENT SHOW. 7pm. Community Stage: A Virtual Talent Show with the Community Music School of Springfield. Virtual.

PARENT GROUP. 8:30pm. Post-Bedtime Parents Group with It Takes a Village. Virtual.

FILM STUDIESWhat Will People Say: Norwegian Film Festival with Images Cinema. Virtual.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021
Discover classes and in-person programming happening through out western Massachusetts!

NATURE EXPLORATIONS. Dawn-Dusk. This Kestrel Land Trust map features Broad Brook-Fitzgerald Lake Greenway. Visitors will find one of the most ecologically rich areas of Northampton, consisting of nearly 850 acres of rocky woodlands, extensive wetlands, and abandoned fields. Drawing people and wildlife alike to its prominent feature —the lake—this public space includes an accessible paved path, wooden bridge, and boardwalk that leads through a marsh to a canoe launch. 95 North Farms Rd., Northampton, MA.  

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. 9am-7pm. Come swim, fish, or picnic by the pond at Chicopee Memorial State Park in the summer, or enjoy hiking and biking on the trails year-round. Chicopee Memorial State Park. 413-594-9416. 570 Burnett Rd., Chicopee, MA. 

GARDENING. 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn about the Native American practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together at the Native American Three Sisters Garden at Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA. 

ART STUDIES/HISTORY. 9:30am-5:30pm. May Day: An International Labor Poster Exhibit from the collection of Stephen Lewis. This exhibit is part, graphic art, part history, part culture and part political message. Artists may appreciate the various ways a theme is depicted by many different artists, hailing from different countries and cultures. Lewis has made the foreign language posters more accessible by including translation of key phrases to English. Historians can see what social and political changes were being advocated for in different countries at different times. Activists can see some of their favorite causes, including the celebration of May Day itself, agitated for in these posters. On view through Aug 26 in the Hosmer Gallery at the Forbes Library. 413-587-1011. 20 West St, Northampton, MA. 

PLAYGROUP. 10am Pick-up playgroup at the Dow Pavillion playground. Great for kids ages 2-5 to meet up with other families and to make new friends. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA 

NATURAL HISTORY. 10am & 2pm. Enjoy an easy Interpreter-guided walk along the 0.6-mile-long Elder Nature Trail. The Natural Bridge and historic quarry are surrounded by 25 acres of ecologically rich northern hardwood forest. A leisurely walk in the woods offers the perfect opportunity to slow down and appreciate the natural world around us. Along the path, discover a few secrets of this landscape shaped by glacial forces and human agriculture. Suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a water bottle. Rain cancels. 30-minute duration. 413-663-6392. Natural Bridge State Park Visitor Center. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.

WATER PLAY. 10am-6pm. Water spray park at Look Park! Cool off in their 5000+ square foot Spray Park complete with ground jets, bucket dumps, water umbrellas, and more. Changing areas and lockers are available. Look Memorial Park. 413-584-5457. 300 N Main St, Florence, MA. 

LITERACY/NATIVE SPECIES. 10:30am. Kidleidoscope Story Hour! Kids ages 3-6 can learn about bobcats! Meet at the Great Hall outdoor courtyard, accompanied by an adult. Learn about our wildlife neighbors who share our home in the Connecticut River Watershed. The program includes a story, activities, and a craft and is mostly outdoors. Siblings and friends welcome. Great Falls Discovery Center. 413-863-3221. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA. 

LITERACY. 11am. Outdoor Storytime at the Westfield Athenaeum. 413-568-7833. 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA.

PICNIC PLAYGROUP. 11am-1pm. Pick-up picnic playgroup at Childs Park (Prospect Street side). Pack a basket lunch and picnic blankets, and head to the park to round off the week with outdoor time with family and new friends. Childs Park. 413-584-1991. 71 N Elm St, Northampton, MA. 

DANCE STUDIES. 3pm. Experience the joy of creating simple dances from the comfort of your home with Jacob’s Pillow in this intergenerational 45-minute movement class, designed for movers of all ages to enjoy together. From kids to adults, you are invited to get your whole household moving!  Virtual. 

PLACEMAKING/FOOD STUDIES. 4pm. Food Truck Friday on the Belchertown Common. Belchertown, MA.

FAIRY TALES/PERFORMANCE. 5:30-8:30pm. This August at Old Sturbridge Village, experience your favorite fairy tale characters as you’ve never seen them before. Guests will experience an enchanted farm and meet characters from several beloved fairy tales, all now living beside each other at Fairy Tale Farm. Map in hand, guests will walk to various buildings that become the stage for each performance. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA. 

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT. 6pm. Berkshire Museum’s Whale of a Gala for the Berkshire Museum. 413-443-7171. 39 South St, Pittsfield, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES. 6:30pm. Chicopee Summer Concerts with the Chicopee Public Library. Virtual.

FILM STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 6:30pm. West Springfield Drive-In. This outdoor movie experience, under the stars, harkens back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s when the drive-in movie experience created life-long memories for people of all ages. Located in the Eastern States Exposition’s Gate 9 parking area. West Springfield, MA.   

ORNITHOLOGY. 7pm. Swifts & Swallows. Learn about these fascinating birds and where best to observe their upcoming fall migration in Massachusetts, New England, and beyond. Best for self-directed teens and lifelong learners. Virtual. 

MUSIC STUDIES. 8pm. Lido Pimienta at MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA.

FILM STUDIESWhat Will People Say: Norwegian Film Festival with Images Cinema. Virtual.

Weekly eNewsletter

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 Agawam, Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont/Hawley, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Colrain, Dalton, Deerfield, Easthampton, Gill, Goshen, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Heath, Hinsdale/Peru, Holyoke, Huntington, Leyden, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Northfield, Palmer, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Southampton, Springfield, Tolland, Tyringham, Westhampton, Windsor, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

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