Weekly Suggested Events for September 18-24, 2021

Posted on September 16, 2021 By Hilltown Families

Home > Suggested Events > Weekly Suggested Events for September 18-24, 2021

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!

SUGGESTED EVENTS: SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2021

Saturday, September 18, 2021

Sunday, September 19, 2021

Monday, September 20, 2021

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Friday, September 24, 2021

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING IDEAS

Hispanic Heritage Month

Microbiology

COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

NATURE-BASED LEARNING – Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-267-9654. 30 Peck Rd, Wales, MA.

AGRICULTURE – Apex Orchards. 413-625-2744. 225 Peckville Rd. Shelburne, MA.

GEOLOGY – Berkshire Museum. 413-443-7171. 39 South St, Pittsfield, MA.

LITERACY – Westhampton Public Library. 413-527-5386. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, MA.

BIRDWATCHING – Mt. Tom State Reservation Stone House Visitor Center. 413-527-4805. 125 Reservation Rd, Holyoke, MA.

Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities

**Discover classes and in-person programming happening through out western Massachusetts!**

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FEATURED BEGINNER MUSIC CLASSES
Community Music School of Springfield
Springfield, MA

Community Music School of Springfield offers safe, weekly, in-person music classes for your youngest musician! Babies & toddlers and their parents/caregivers will love Little Notes, a class designed for bonding, brain development, fun, and musical connection with others. For your preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten music lover, CMSS offers beginner classes in guitar, piano, Suzuki violin, and bucket drumming. No instruments or experience is required as your child is introduced to the instrument while collaborating and having fun with the others in their small group. Each class is taught by expert musicians committed to helping your little one develop a lifelong love for music and creativity. Enrolling is easy, and payment plans are available.

FEATURED MUSIC SCHOOL
Berkshire Music School
Pittsfield, MA

Virtual, In-Person/Outdoors, In-Person/Indoors, Private Tutoring or Coaching

Berkshire Music School is enrolling for the fall 2021 semester! Take a private lesson or Community Group Class in-person at BMS’s historic campus or online. Private lessons are offered in any orchestral or band instrument as well as voice & theory. Lessons may be arranged for 30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes each week to meet the needs of the individual student and may begin at any point during the year. Online lessons are conducted via Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype, and students should have access to a computer or iPad with internet connection. BMS’s fun Community Group Classes are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, with suggested tuition listed for each course. For more information: cpearson@berkshiremusicschool.org; 413-442-1411; www.berkshiremusicschool.org

FEATURED SCHOOL
The Bement School
Deerfield, MA

Bement School LIVE Virtual Tours. Join the admission office for a LIVE virtual campus tour. These LIVE virtual tours will give you the opportunity to learn a bit more about Bement and see their students and faculty. Throughout September and October, they are offering one-hour campus tours and Q&A sessions on Tuesday mornings from 8:30-9:30am. Registration is required. Participants will receive a Zoom invitation. Bement School is accepting applications for fall 2022. Contact the admission office at admit@bement.org with questions or to register for one of their virtual tours. The Bement School is a co-ed and boarding school for K-9 in Deerfield, MA. www.bement.org

FEATURED MUSIC SCHOOL
Miss Leticia Music School
Amherst, MA

Virtual, In-Person/Outdoors, In-Person/Indoors

Ukulele, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Rock Band, and Voice in person and online for all ages. Beginning Groups include Beginning I & II Ukulele/Guitar, Bass, Drums, or Voice. Intermediate and advanced groups include Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Drums, Rock Band, and Voice. Adult Guitar, Ukulele, and Rock Band Groups are offered. Teachers include: Miss Leticia (guitar, ukulele, rock band, voice); Rusty Daniels (guitar, ukulele, bass, drums, rock band); Rhys Davies (adult rock band). After school, evening, and weekend classes. For more information: missleticia@missleticia.com; 413-246-7338; missleticia.com.

FEATURED TEEN PROGRAM
Circles for Jewish Living Teen Programs
Northampton, MA

Circles for Jewish Living’s two new monthly teen programs provide a safe space for teens to explore the world they live in and discover who they want to be in that world. Their programs build community, trust, and strong Jewish identity, with resources to stimulate connections between the world teens navigate and leadership that inspires. For more information: cjl.alisonmorse@gmail.com; 413-559-9208; www.circlesforjewishliving.com

FEATURED MUSICAL THEATER CLASSES
The Academy of Music Theatre
Florence & Holyoke, MA

Register now! Youth Fall Classes at the Academy of Music Theatre are open for enrollment. Come sing and dance in musical theater classes for ages 6-8, 9-11, and 13-18.

Classes will be held at Pine Box Studios in Florence and at El Mercado in Holyoke on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings starting October 19th.

For more information, visit www.aomtheatre.com.

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 each week, Hilltown Families can bring your message to thousands of families in Western Massachusetts. Serving the region since 2005, Hilltown Families is an award-winning, online communication network, recognized as a leading family strengthening initiative in the region, promoting “positive parenting through the social norm of community social connectedness.” A trusted partner in your online marketing! To find out how we can partner together in your online marketing and outreach, contact us for info on our affordable options and packages: swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org. Have an event, resource, or opportunity you’re ready to promote? Click HERE to submit your information.

Class Directory

Discover virtual & adapted programming in our Class Directory for Western MA

Preschool and Daycare Directory for Western Massachusetts

Preschool Directory

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List of Weekly Suggested Events

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

BIKE RIDING. Sunrise-Sunset. Ride down the Norwottuck Rail Trail and enjoy the scenic views along the way. Level paths allow you to enjoy the trail no matter your abilities. The trail is also open to walking and rollerblading. 413-586-8706 x3. 446 Damon Rd., Northampton, MA.

ORNITHOLOGY. 8am. Saturday Morning Bird Walk at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA.

BOTANY/WILDFLOWERS. 9am. Asters and Goldenrods at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA.

INVASIVE SPECIES/COMMUNITY SERVICE. 9am. Removal of Water Chestnut from the Lake at the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. 61 N Farms Rd, Northampton, MA.

SUSTAINABILITY/TEXTILES. 9am. Clothing Drive at the M. N. Spear Memorial Library. 413-259-1213. 10 Cooleyville Rd, Shutesbury, 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.

GEOLOGY/GLACIATION. 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. Natural Bridge State Park. 413-663-6392. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.

ARTISAN SKILLS/CRAFT FAIR. 10am-4pm. Old Deerfield Fall Craft Fair on the lawns of Memorial Hall Museum. 8 Memorial Street, Deerfield, MA.

ANIMAL STUDIES/MIGRATION. 10am. Hawks and Butterflies at Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 789 Main St, Hampden, MA.

MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-5pm. Silly Seussian Celebration at the Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.

ECOLOGY/HABITAT. 10am. Guided walk through woodlands and habitats. Approximately 3 miles. Best for older students and lifelong learners. Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-267-9654. 30 Peck Rd, Wales, MA.

ECOLOGY/DENDROLOGY. 10am-12pm. Is it a red oak or a white oak, an eastern hemlock or a white pine, a shagbark hickory or a yellow birch? Learn about local trees and shrubs at the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. 61 N Farms Rd, Northampton, MA.

LIVING HISTORY/REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 10am-4pm. Learn about the Revolutionary War. Raid on Township #1 is a living history event where visitors will experience a recreation of raids conducted by British Regular Forces along with Native and Loyalist allies in the Mohawk Valley after the Saratoga Campaign. From 1778-1783, battles were fought all over upstate New York and the ‘frontier’ over control of land that had long been in dispute between the Native Americans and Colonial Settlers. Takes place at the Bidwell House Museum. 413-528-6888. 100 Art School Road, Monterey, MA.

INTERGENERATIONAL/PLAY. 10:30am. Outdoor Games at the Gaylord Memorial Library. 413-538-5047. 47 College Street. South Hadley, MA.

STORYTIME. 11am. Outdoor Storytime with Cadence the Dog at the Springfield City Library: Sixteen Acres Branch. 413-263-6858. 1187 Parker St, Springfield, MA.

NEW ENGLAND TRADITIONS/CORN MAZE. 11am-6pm. Corn Maze Opening Day at the The Apple Place. 413-348-9628. 540 Somers Road/Route 83, EastLongmeadow, MA.

ART STUDIES/COLLABORATIVE CONSUMPTION. 12-3pm. Art Materials Swap! North Adams’ first official art supplies + materials exchange! This is a one-day event where fellow artists meet to either give away or sell art materials and equipment that they no longer need. Takes place at the American Legion Post #125. 91 American Legion Drive. North Adams, MA.

FOOD FESTIVAL. 12-6pm. First Annual Springfield Fall Food Festival. 1365 Main St, Springfield, MA.

ANIMAL STUDIES. 12:30pm. Chow Time at the Berkshire Museum Aquarium. Learn about turtles, fish, and even a blue-tongued skink, as well as conservation efforts and the eating habits of fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Berkshire Museum. 413-443-7171. 39 South St, Pittsfield, MA.

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL. 1-5pm. Join Musica Franklin for the Third Annual Fun Fest, an afternoon of hand-on activities and music featuring Musica Franklin students, Libro Azul, and The Gaslight Tinkers. Explore our instrument petting zoo, make your own paper marbling bookmark, play with giant bubbles, and listen to some fabulous music, all free! Peskeomskut Park. Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA.

BENEFIT CONCERT. 1-10pm. One Roof Festival, a benefit concert for the homeless of western Massachusetts featuring Lit, Marcy Playground, The Motels, When In Rome, and more at the Three County Fair. Northampton, MA.

FILM STUDIES/SCI-FI. 2-4pm. The Berkshire Museum’s Little Cinema returns with an exciting series of classic sci-fi films – from beloved blockbusters to cult classics. In September, don’t miss Back to the Future (1985). Berkshire Museum. 413-443-7171. 39 South St, Pittsfield, MA.

FASHION HISTORY. 2pm. Learn a brief history of the Edwardian era’s beauty trends, routines, and cosmetics, followed by a hair and makeup demonstration on a live costumed model at the demonstration, “Get Ready with Me: Gibson Girl,” at the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA.

LAWN CONCERT. 4pm. Samirah Evans with guitarist Mathew Dorko & saxophonist Michael Zsoldos brings you soulful jazz and blues ladled with New Orleans spice at the Westhampton Public Library. BYO picnic. 413-527-5386. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, MA.

Self-Directed Learning:
ANIMAL STUDIES/MIGRATION

Sat., Sept. 18 @ 10am. Hawks and Butterflies at Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 789 Main St, Hampden, MA.

Self-Directed Learning:
BOTANY/WILDFLOWERS

Sat., Sept. 18 @ 9am. Asters and Goldenrods at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

ORNITHOLOGY/BIRDS OF PREY. 9am-2pm. Hawks At Mt. Tom is a celebration of the annual raptor migration along the Mt Tom ridge line. Come celebrate this event with Mark and Marcia Wilson “Eyes on Owls”. Marcia will be reading an Owl story to the children with Live Owls. Tom Ricardi will bring his Live rehabilitated Raptors followed by a Raptor release. Marcia and Mark will present “Eyes on Owls” with Live Owls. Face painting will be available for the children. Takes place at Mt. Tom State Reservation Stone House Visitor Center. 413-527-4805. 125 Reservation Rd, Holyoke, MA.

MECHANICS. 9am. 5th Annual Tractor Show at Apex Orchards. 413-625-2744. 225 Peckville Rd. Shelburne, MA.

GEOLOGY/NATURAL HISTORY. 9am-4:30pm. Natural Bridge State Park is home to the only natural white marble arch in North America. According to geologists, the park’s namesake natural bridge, made of 550 million-year-old bedrock marble, was carved into its iconic arch by the forces of glacial meltwater over 13,000 years ago. Today, the bridge spans the bubbling Hudson Brook as it twists and tumbles through a steep 60-foot gorge–one of the best demonstrations of glacial erosion in New England. Inside the park, visitors can also tour an abandoned marble quarry and check out a man-made white marble dam, the only one in North America. Natural Bridge State Park. 413-663-6392. McAuley Road, North Adams, 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. Natural Bridge State Park. 413-663-6392. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.

LIVING HISTORY/REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 10am-2:30pm. Learn about the Revolutionary War. Raid on Township #1 is a living history event where visitors will experience a recreation of raids conducted by British Regular Forces along with Native and Loyalist allies in the Mohawk Valley after the Saratoga Campaign. From 1778-1783, battles were fought all over upstate New York and the ‘frontier’ over control of land that had long been in dispute between the Native Americans and Colonial Settlers. Takes place at the Bidwell House Museum. 413-528-6888. 100 Art School Road, Monterey, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES/SALE. 10am-4pm. Northampton Record Fair. 1 Kirkland Ave. Northampton, MA.

ARTISAN SKILLS/CRAFT FAIR. 10am-4pm. Old Deerfield Fall Craft Fair on the lawns of Memorial Hall Museum. 8 Memorial Street, Deerfield, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES/FOLK MUSIC. 11am. Third Annual Arcadia Folk Festival at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA.

FALL FESTIVAL. 11am-3pm. Fall Festival hosted by the Erving Recreation Commission at Veterans Memorial Field, Moore St, Erving MA.

PHYSICS. 12pm. Montague Soap Box Races. Designing, building, and racing a car can provide a multidisciplinary, hands-on learning experience for kids, making math and science fun, and would be an excellent project to work on this summer! Designing a car requires some basic math, engineering, and design skills, and executing a plan means learning how to use basic tools. The race itself is a physics lesson – racers will learn how to utilize the slope of the hill paired with the size and weight of their car to accomplish the fastest speed possible! Unity Park Hill. Turners Falls, MA.

INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE. 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. Natural Bridge State Park. 413-663-6392. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.

APPLE FESTIVAL. 12-3pm. Apple Festival at the Outlook Farm Barn & Eatery. 413-539-9388. Rte 66, 136 Main Rd. Westhampton, MA.

AGRICULTURE/CLIMATE CHANGE. 1-3pm. How are our local farmers dealing with the challenges of climate change? Join Hilltown Land Trust at Sawyer Farm in Worthington for “Draft Animal Farming and Climate Change” to learn what this small organic farm is doing to minimize the use of fossil fuels, maximize carbon capture, and focus on soil health to continue producing nutrient-rich food for the local community. The event will include a talk by the farmers with a Q&A, a visit to the farmstand, and a demonstration of the horses in action. 19 Sawyer Rd, Worthington, MA.

OUTDOOR MUSIC/PICNIC. 3:30-5:30pm. September Outdoor Music at Earthdance. BYO blanket & picnic dinner. 413-634-5678. 252 Prospect Street, Plainfield, MA.

JEWISH HISTORY. 4pm. Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, is one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in the country, known for its tight-knit community and the profusion of multigenerational families. On October 27, 2018, a gunman killed eleven Jews who were worshipping at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill–the most deadly anti-Semitic attack in American history. Learn more via the Distinguished Lecture Series with Mark Oppenheimer, hosted by the Lenox Library (Virtual)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

LANGUAGE ART/POETRY. 2021 Tell It Slant Poetry Festival with the Emily Dickinson Museum. (Virtual)

PLAYGROUP. 10am. Pick-up playgroup at Stanley Park’s sandbox area. Make not only sandcastles but also new friends at this weekly self-directed playgroup. Stanley Park. 413-568-9312. 400 Western Ave, Westfield, MA.

GEOLOGY. 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. Natural Bridge State Park. 413-663-6392. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.

ART STUDIES/STORYTELLING. 10am-5pm. “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.

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.

PARANORMAL. 6-8:30pm. What is the difference between a ghost and a spirit? What are the different types of hauntings? What is the history of paranormal investigations? What is the best piece of equipment to have on a paranormal investigation? Learn more at Ghostology 101 with Agawam Paranormal. This is the first in a series of programs designed to entertain and educate the public about the world of paranormal investigation at the West Springfield Public Library. 413-736-4561. 200 Park St, West Springfield, MA.

LGBTQ/LITERATURE. 6:30pm. Stories of our LGBTQ Ancestors. Join Storrs Library and Ben Power for the story of Marion Turner, an African American, gender non-conforming person who lived in Florence, Massachusetts, from 1898 to 1903. Turner sometimes dressed in male attire and sometimes in female attire and alternated pronouns to refer to themselves accordingly. Turner lived and worked with Mrs. J.D. Atkins and became involved in abolitionist efforts as they frequented Cosmian Hall. Turner held gatherings of young Black Americans at Mrs. Atkins house, inviting them up from the South to find opportunities in New England. Storrs Library. 413-565-4181. 693 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA.

Self-Directed Learning:
CONSTELLATIONS

Self-Directed Learning:
ASTRONOMY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

LANGUAGE ART/POETRY. 2021 Tell It Slant Poetry Festival with the Emily Dickinson Museum. (Virtual)

ORNITHOLOGY. 8-10am. Bird Walks with Mass Audubon at The Mount. Learn skills to bird by sight and sound, and tips for exploring different habitats in search of swallows, woodpeckers, thrushes, and warblers. Mass Audubon naturalists lead the walks and love sharing their passion for birds with others. Walks last two hours and depart from the main parking lot near The Mount’s ticket booth. Bring binoculars. The Mount. 413-551-5111. 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA.

HIKING. 9am-4pm. At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. From its peak on a clear day, you can see as far as 90 miles away. The trails at Mount Greylock Reservation vary in difficulty from casual to extremely difficult. Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA.

CULINARY ARTS. 10am. What’s Cooking Cookbook Club, hosted by the Springfield City Library. (Virtual)

LITERACY. 10am-6pm. Downtown Literacy Scavenger Hunt in Northampton, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES/PRESCHOOL. 10:30am. Weekly preschool music program at the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

LITERACY. 10:30am. If You Give a Mouse A Library Card at the Springfield Central Library. 413-263-6828. 220 State Street. Springfield MA.

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

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.

STEM. 4pm. STEAM Crafternoon with Agawam Family and Community Program at the Agawam Spray Park. Agawam, MA.

ANIME/TEENS. 4-6pm. Outdoor Anime Club, a club for middle & high schoolers who are fans of anime & manga! Meet every Tuesday afternoon under tents on the library lawn to watch on their big portable flatscreen, gab about anime, try out your cosplay, & eat snacks. Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

LAWN CONCERT. 6pm. School St Park Concert with the Bad News Jazz & Blues Orchestra at School Street Park. Agawam, MA.

Self-Directed Learning:
AGRICULTURE/APPLES

FEATURED APPLE ORCHARD: Apex Orchards. 413-625-2744. 225 Peckville Rd. Shelburne, MA.

Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD HISTORY/APPLE PIE

FEATURED APPLE ORCHARD: Park Hill Orchard. 413-527-6186. 82 Park Hill Road. Easthampt.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

HIKING/BIRDWATCHING. Sunrise-Sunset. Mount Tom features wonderful views of the Pioneer Valley in west-central Massachusetts. The area is also a great place to bird-watch, especially for hawks and self-guided hikes. 413-527-4805. 125 Reservation Rd, Holyoke, MA.

LANGUAGE ART/POETRY. 2021 Tell It Slant Poetry Festival with the Emily Dickinson Museum. (Virtual)

STORY & LEARNING/PRESCHOOL. 9:15-11am. Story & Learning Time at the Tilton Library. 413-665-4683. 75 North Main Street. South Deerfield, 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.

LITERACY/PRESCHOOL. 10:30am. Library Storytime at the Becket Athenaeum. 413-623-5483. 3367 Main St, Becket, MA.

LITERACY/TRANSPORTATION. 10:30am. Transportation & Vehicle Stories at the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.)

ART STUDIES/METALWORKING. 3:30pm. Metalworking Workshop for Teens at the Milne Public Library. Learn how to make and etch a copper bookmark with Heather Beck, a metalworker and jeweler. 413-458-5369. 1095 Main Street. Williamstown, MA.

LITERACY/STORYTIME. 4pm. Storytime for School-Aged Kids at the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

PSYCHOLOGY/MAGIC. 4pm. Magical Moments with Ed Popielarczyk with the Springfield City Library at the East Forest Park Branch Library, 136 Surrey Rd, Springfield, MA.

LAWN CONCERT/PICNIC. 6pm. Bette Smith in Concert. Wind down a September evening with music on the lawn. Rock and soul singer Bette Smith and her band perform in a free concert near the Clark’s Reflecting Pool. Plan to bring a blanket or your own chairs for seating. Clark Art Institute. 413-458-2303. 225 South St., Williamstown, MA.

ARTS & CRAFTS. 6pm. Altered Books Workshop with Erica Manville at the North Adams Public Library. Altered books repurpose old books to make them into glorious interactive pieces of art. Using scissors, glue, and miscellaneous materials, participants will use creative writing prompts to inspire our altered book art pieces. Be ready for hands-on artistic fun! Materials will be provided. 413-662-3133. 74 Church St, North Adams, MA.

HISTORY/PUBLIC ART. 6pm. Wistariahurst Museum Educator Waleska Santiago-Centeno will present a lecture, Monuments and Memorials: Visual Culture and Historical Traumas. This will be a discussion about public art that will focus attention on the intersection between visual culture and historical trauma. The purpose of this presentation is to raise awareness and increase understanding about the sensitivities that advocate the removal, renaming, repositioning, and appreciation of monuments and memorials around the world. (Virtual)

POLLINATORS/ECOLOGY. 6pm. Pollinator Garden Tour.Laura Bentz, of Bee Friendly Williamstown, will tour the pollinator-friendly garden planted and cared for by volunteers at the Spruces Park. Pollinator-friendly plants are also climate-friendly! 60 Main St, Williamstown, MA.

FASHION HISTORY. 6:30pm. Dressing the Lower and Middle Classes in New England, 1675-1875. Did the lower classes concern themselves with fashion in past centuries? Where did they procure their clothes? What was worn for heavy work? How do we find information on people who generally didn’t leave diaries, letters, or portraits? Fashion and textile historian Lynne Zacek Bassett will examine the sources and describe the clothes of the working classes from the colonial to the mid-Victorian period in her richly illustrated lecture. Hosted by the Storrs Library. (Virtual)

LOCAL HISTORY. 6:30pm. Join author Robert E. Weir for a presentation on his new book. “Who Knew?” is a travel guide, an accessible history, and an offbeat love letter to Western Mass. The book explores local oddities, explodes tall tales, and explains the history of sights locals may have wondered. South Hadley Public Library. 413-538-5045. 2 Canal St., South Hadley, MA.

NATURAL HISTORY. 6:30pm. Western MA Hilltown Hikers. This presentation will describe the locations of several beautiful and natural public hiking trails that are located in the Southern Hilltowns, including waterfalls and natural rock formations. We will also speak about “history hiking” going back to the 18-1900’s early settler development in the hills, including the western railroad, mills, and mines. Southwick Public Library. 413-569-1221. 95 Feeding Hills Road. Southwick, MA.

CULINARY ARTS. 7pm. The Art of Stir Fry & Sauté, hosted by River Valley Co-op. (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

LANGUAGE ART/POETRY. 2021 Tell It Slant Poetry Festival with the Emily Dickinson Museum. (Virtual)

ART STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. ArtWeek Berkshires. ArtWeek Berkshires is a collaboration of the five Cultural Districts in Berkshire County: Downtown Great Barrington, Lenox, North Adams, Pittsfield (Upstreet Cultural District), and Williamstown. Berkshire County, MA.

HIKING. 9am-Sunset. The summit of Mt. Sugarloaf offers amazing views of the Connecticut River Valley. The park is great for picnics, hiking, and mountain biking. 413-665-2928. 300 Sugarloaf St., South Deerfield, MA.

PLAYGROUP. 9:30am. Grow Play & Learn, weekly outdoor playgroup at the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

PreK 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.

LITERACY/STORYTIME. 10:30am. Storytime with Ms. Mary at the Westfield Athenaeum. 413-568-7833. 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA.

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

NATURAL HISTORY/ART STUDIES. 12pm. Interpreting Natural History through Art at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA.

ART STUDIES. 12pm. Artist Talk with Christine Sun Kim hosted by the Williams College Museum of Art. Berlin-based artist Christine Sun Kim discusses her wide-ranging practice around sound and language in this virtual program. Her work reflects on her experiences as part of the Deaf community and comments on the visual representation of sound, alongside its social and political operations, using performance, video, drawing, writing, and technology. (Virtual)

PLAY/PHYSICS. 4:30pm. Hooping for All Ages at the Tilton Library. 413-665-4683. 75 North Main Street. South Deerfield, MA.

COMMUNITY SERVICE/SEWING. 6pm. Bagshare Community Sew at the Westhampton Public Library. 413-527-5386. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, MA.

HEALTH & WELLNESS. 7pm. Yoga, Meditation & Gentle Movement for Pain Relief with River Valley Co-op (Virtual)

PARENTS GROUP. 8:30pm. Post Bedtime Parents Group with It Takes a Village (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
MICROBIOLOGY

Self-Directed Learning:
MICROWORLDS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

LANGUAGE ART/POETRY. 2021 Tell It Slant Poetry Festival with the Emily Dickinson Museum. (Virtual)

HIKING. 9am-4pm. The 3,000-acre Mount Holyoke Range State Park features a 7-mile mountain ridgeline. The park also includes streams, wetlands, woods, and thickets. Visitors can explore more than 30 miles of blazed trails. 413-253-2883. 1500 West St., Amherst, MA.

GEOLOGY. 9am-8pm. With many hiking trails and breathtaking views of the Connecticut River Valley, take self-guided geology walking tour at Skinner State Park. 413-586-0350. 10 Skinner State Park Road, Hadley, MA.

PreK 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.

GEOLOGY. 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 vivid splendor of Autumn colors. Along the path, discover the secret lives of native trees through their leaves and other unique features! Suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle. Rain cancels. 30-minute duration. Natural Bridge State Park. 413-663-6392. McAuley Road, North Adams, MA.

LITERACY/STORYTIME. 10:30am. Outdoor Story Time at the Gaylord Memorial Library. 413-538-5047. 47 College Street. South Hadley, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES/BLUEGRASS. 5pm. FreshGrass Music Festival at MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA.

SUKKOT. 5:15pm. Tot Shabbat Sukkot at Beit Ahavah, The Reform Synagogue of Greater Northampton. 413-587-3770. 130 Pine St, Florence, MA.

OUTDOOR MOVIE/PLACEMAKING. 7:15pm. Movies Under the Stars at Colegrove Park screens “The LEGO Movie” at Colegrove Park. Colegrove Park is located on north Church Street between Main St. and Route 2. North Adams, MA.

Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD STUDIES

Self-Directed Learning:
CARDAMOM

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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.