1st Annual North Hadley Asparagus Days
In the spring of 2026, a new asparagus festival takes root in North Hadley, celebrating the region’s deep agricultural traditions with local food, farmers, vendors, music, and community gathering. North Hadley Asparagus Days takes place May 30–31 at 181 River Drive, offering a new location and a neighborhood-centered approach to honoring one of the Valley’s most iconic crops.
This new event follows the conclusion of the long-running NEPM (formerly WGBY) Asparagus Festival, which began in 2013 and brought the community together for 12 seasons on the Hadley Town Common. Over more than a decade, that festival became a beloved spring tradition rooted in food, music, and the first green shoots of the season, often called “Hadley Grass.” After its final year in 2025, changing resources and rising costs brought that chapter to a close.
North Hadley Asparagus Days is not a continuation of the NEPM/WGBY festival. It is a new, independent celebration that honors the spirit of gathering around local agriculture while creating space for something distinct to grow. Visitors can expect farmers, vendors, live music, local foods, and beer and wine, with more details to come.
This event invites the community to both remember what came before and welcome what’s next, offering a reminder that traditions can evolve, shift locations, and still remain rooted in place.
Self-Directed Learning
Asparagus Unveiled: Connecting Culinary Arts, Agriculture, and Science Through a Spring Favorite
