Are you looking for events in western Mass? 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 and learning opportunities to support self-directed learning. And be sure to subscribe to our free weekly eNewsletter so you never miss out!
Families across Western Massachusetts can connect through local playgroups and family resource centers. These gatherings offer opportunities for social play, parent support, and community connection.
In Northampton, caregivers and babies gather weekly for the Early Bird Infant Group. This relaxed drop-in supports early childhood development through community, play, and connection.
At the Mead Art Museum in Amherst, visitors learn by exploring global art across centuries. Open late on Thursdays, it’s a perfect date night spot for culture and discovery.
In Amherst, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art presents an exhibition where visitors learn how food shaped Carle’s art. His collages reveal how everyday meals become lasting stories through creativity.
Sensory Friendly Hours at Sunderland Public Library create a calm setting with adjusted lighting, quiet zones, and tools that support learning and exploration. Visitors can discover how libraries serve as inclusive community spaces for all.
Gather at Springfield Museums for “Math Alive!,” where interactive exhibits invite hands-on exploration of how math shapes sports, art, and engineering. Design challenges, motion experiments, and creative stations support learning across disciplines.
A free community meal in Northampton with Manna Community Kitchen at St. John’s Episcopal Church turns shared food into a learning space. Neighbors connect across generations while volunteer opportunities support service-based learning.
At the Bridge Family Resource Center, families join the Creative Connections Art Group to learn how shared art-making builds communication, well-being, and curiosity through weekly prompts and materials.
The Carle After Dark series brings the UMass Fashion Organization into the gallery in Amherst for “Through the Lens”, an evening shaped by image and presence. Outfits saved for special occasions find their moment under the camera’s gaze, while snapshots and karaoke with Josh Sitron invite new ways of seeing and being seen.
Explore how curiosity leads to invention at the Worthington Library’s Makerspace. From crafting to mechanics and LEGOs, every project invites learners of all ages to connect engineering, technology, and art in meaningful, creative ways.
Typing Club at a Springfield library offers a free way for teens to build digital literacy through guided practice. Using keyboard and mouse together highlights coordination, accuracy, and feedback, showing how basic tools support communication, problem solving, and lifelong learning.
Families across Western Massachusetts can connect through local playgroups and family resource centers. These gatherings offer opportunities for social play, parent support, and community connection.
Downtown Greenfield becomes a community classroom during this free winter carnival, with quote walks, cardboard sled design, chili tasting, and ice carving. Moving between activities invites community-based learning, storytelling, foodways, and illustrates how annual civic gatherings strengthen a sense of place.
A self-guided walk through the Lyman Conservatory in Northampton offers a chance to learn about botany, from ancient ferns to desert succulents and tropical crops.
Gather at Springfield Museums for “Math Alive!,” where interactive exhibits invite hands-on exploration of how math shapes sports, art, and engineering. Design challenges, motion experiments, and creative stations support learning across disciplines.
Visit Magic Wings to learn about butterflies up close. With thousands flying freely, this indoor garden is full of color, motion, and life. Explore butterfly behavior, rainforest ecology, and the delicate balance between pollinators and plants in this living classroom.
Hands-on learning comes alive at The Children’s Museum at Holyoke, where creative free-play and STEM-based exhibits invite children to learn through motion, building, and curiosity-driven exploration.
Explore the Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, where families can learn from 27,000+ works spanning global art and history. With rotating exhibits and free admission on the second Friday of each month, each visit offers a fresh encounter with creativity.
Stone Soup Café in Greenfield welcomes volunteers ages 15+ to join a Friday or Saturday shift. From chopping veggies to serving meals, volunteers learn through service-based learning while helping strengthen food security and community connections.
Yo-Yo School at A2Z Science and Learning Store in Northampton invites kids ages 7 and up to build skills in coordination while learning the physics behind yo-yo tricks. From potential and kinetic energy to axis control and motion, each spin becomes a chance to learn through play.
At the historic Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley, families can learn how candlepin bowling connects to STEM. Every roll reveals physics in action, from momentum and friction to angles and geometry, while the scoring and machines highlight engineering and math skills in a living piece of history.
Springfield Museums hosts an evening astronomy program for ages 8+ that invites noticing how Earth’s tilt and orbit shape seasonal skies. Planetarium tools and rooftop stargazing connect star patterns to real views overhead through observation and modeling.
Downtown Greenfield becomes a community classroom during this free winter carnival, with quote walks, cardboard sled design, chili tasting, and ice carving. Moving between activities invites community-based learning, storytelling, foodways, and illustrates how annual civic gatherings strengthen a sense of place.
Winter fun meets learning at the Snow Tubing Park at Berkshire East in Charlemont. Each run offers a chance to feel how gravity and friction work together, turning a classic seasonal activity into an active science experience.
Through Reading to Dogs at the Hatfield Library, children experience the joy of reading with a gentle listener. This program fosters early literacy by turning reading into a calm, confidence-building experience where learning feels natural and fun.
Visit Whip City Animal Sanctuary in Westfield for a free day with rescued animals. Families can learn about animal welfare and how to support the sanctuary’s volunteer work.
A community walk at Arcadia in Easthampton follows winter clues in bark, snow, and bird feeders. Observations of animal tracks, snow fleas, and feeding patterns connect seasonal survival strategies with food webs in local ecosystems.
At the Greenfield Winter Farmers’ Market, visitors experience how agriculture, local food, and community come together as local farmers offer produce, meats, and handmade goods. This indoor gathering supports regional food systems while families meet growers and learn how to eat locally in the colder months.
Hands-on making at The Print Shop in Holyoke invites families to explore how everyday materials become expressive through print. This free program supports noticing how pressure, texture, heat, and alignment shape images, connecting creative practice with the city’s history of paper and print production.
Slow down with your infant at The Clark in Williamstown during this free program for parents and babies. Shared art viewing supports early visual learning and thoughtful caregiving through everyday moments.
Springfield Museums hosts a tasting talk for teens and adults that traces cacao from drink to confection. Sampling and discussion highlight chemistry, trade routes, and technologies that shaped flavor and texture across centuries.
A free community gathering at Forbes Library in Northampton fills the space with handmade books, puppets, and music. Exploring illustration and bookmaking techniques shows how libraries support creative work and shared cultural traditions.
Paper folding at Holyoke Library becomes a free hands-on workshop for teens and adults focused on 19th-century design. Geometry and symmetry guide forms that open to reveal messages, linking book arts with historical craft practice.
Greenfield Community College hosts this free gathering for all ages featuring circle dances led by Mashpee Wampanoag tribal members. Call and response patterns invite noticing rhythm, tradition, and how movement carries cultural knowledge.
At Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, teens and adults explore herbal traditions through measuring, chopping, and infusion. Making remedies highlights plant identification, historical uses, and the chemistry behind syrups and extracts.
The Youth Performance Festival in Northampton celebrates young artists ages 8 to 18 as they create original performances with mentorship and community
Smith College is where women’s basketball began in 1893. Attending a game offers the chance to support curiosity in history, equity in athletics, and the strategies that shape play on the court.
Bluegrass music grew through listening rather than written notes. At CitySpace in Easthampton, this free jam offers a way to observe how music is learned by ear, shaped through repetition, and carried across generations. All welcomed to listen or join.
At Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, families experience a shadow puppet story that highlights how light and movement shape narrative. A moonlit walk follows, inviting comparison between imagined scenes and real winter woods while listening for owls.
At Old Sturbridge Village, lantern light and fire reveal how families once spent winter evenings while touring homes and shops around the Common. Artisans and household work invite teens and adults learn how tools, routines, and hospitality shaped life in early nineteenth-century New England.
In Greenfield, Madhouse Multi-Arts hosts free D.I.Y. Board Game Workshops where participants learn design skills, prototype games, and build teamwork through playtesting.
Tilton Library’s volunteer packet highlights how Western MA communities thrive through kindness. Learn how giving time and care strengthens local resilience.
The Super Bowl is not just a day of entertainment but also an opportunity to gain insights into the history and cultural aspects of American society. It provides a wide array of topics to learn, question, and engage with, from the physics of a spiraling football to the societal discussions it prompts. The Super Bowl is an annual event that supports interdisciplinary studies while encouraging self-directed learning.
Sensory Friendly Sunday at the Springfield Museums highlights how museums adjust their environments to accommodate visitors with varying sensory needs. These modifications enhance access to science, storytelling, and hands-on learning for diverse audiences.
Winter fun meets learning at the Snow Tubing Park at Berkshire East in Charlemont. Each run offers a chance to feel how gravity and friction work together, turning a classic seasonal activity into an active science experience.
Downtown Greenfield becomes a community classroom during this free winter carnival, with quote walks, cardboard sled design, chili tasting, and ice carving. Moving between activities invites community-based learning, storytelling, foodways, and illustrates how annual civic gatherings strengthen a sense of place.
At Easthampton Winter Farmers’ Market, families can meet farmers, count change, spot autumn root veggies and winter squashes, and learn where food comes from. It’s a fun way to connect with agriculture, support your community, and grow new skills—one sweet potato at a time.
Gather at Springfield Museums for “Math Alive!,” where interactive exhibits invite hands-on exploration of how math shapes sports, art, and engineering. Design challenges, motion experiments, and creative stations support learning across disciplines.
In Amherst, the Yiddish Book Center offers Sunday and Tuesday tours where visitors learn Jewish culture, history, and language through exhibits and stories.
At The Carle in Amherst, families learn how illustration transforms myth into art. Sprites, mermaids, and wizards come to life in picture books that explore cultural history, imagination, and visual storytelling from around the world.
Lanterns, music, and dance shape this celebration of seasonal traditions across East and Southeast Asia for the Lunar New Year in Brattleboro. Hands-on activities invite noticing symbolism and holiday customs while exploring how communities mark renewal through performance and shared gathering.
The Youth Performance Festival in Northampton celebrates young artists ages 8 to 18 as they create original performances with mentorship and community
The Academy of Music in Northampton invites craft lovers to the 2nd Annual Stitch ‘n Flix Series. Enjoy knitting, crocheting, or embroidery in a softly dimmed theater while watching movies. This event fosters a welcoming atmosphere for connecting through crafting and film.
Smith College in Northampton becomes a community hub for an a cappella showcase that blends vocal craft with creative interpretation. Performances by student ensembles highlight listening skills, harmony, and how group voices shape shared musical traditions.
The UMass Amherst Lion Dragon Club welcomes the Lunar New Year with traditional lion dances performed throughout downtown Amherst. With stops at local Asian restaurants, the parade shares a centuries-old tradition believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and positive energy.
GrowFood Northampton invites participants to learn the artisan skill of broom tying. Create a handmade broom while uncovering the local history and cultural heritage of this time-honored craft.
The 35th Annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest invites Franklin County residents and teens ages 12–18 to explore creative writing, local history, and lifelong learning through poetry. All entries must be received or postmarked by February 21, 2026.
Families across Western Massachusetts can connect through local playgroups and family resource centers. These gatherings offer opportunities for social play, parent support, and community connection.
Sojourner Truth’s remarkable narrative of overcoming adversity and advocating for change continues to inspire and educate. Her life exemplifies how individual action can lead to widespread societal transformation, emphasizing the importance of understanding our history to foster a more just and equitable society.
Nordic skiing and snowshoeing at Notchview in Windsor turn winter into a learning landscape. With miles of groomed and track-set trails, visitors can experience how trail design supports classic skiing, skate skiing, snowshoe travel, and even skiing with dogs, connecting recreation with land use and winter ecology.
Lights! Camera! Greenfield! is a two-week community film sprint hosted by Greenfield Community Television. Surprise prompts guide teams as they write, film, and edit a four-minute movie. The process builds storytelling, collaboration, and media literacy, ending with a public screening at the Greenfield Garden Cinema.
Parents or caregivers in Amherst gather at The Bridge Family Resource Center to share experiences from the early months with a new baby. Conversation, listening, and mutual support create space for learning about newborn care, community resources, and how families build confidence through connection.
Families can explore Ventfort Hall in Lenox, a Gilded Age mansion where you can learn through self-guided tours, sketching, or even photographing the historic house and gardens.
MASS MoCA in North Adams is full of creativity! Families can learn by joining guided tours, making art in Kidspace, and exploring music, sculpture, and theater together.
A free community meal in Northampton with Manna Community Kitchen at St. John’s Episcopal Church turns shared food into a learning space. Neighbors connect across generations while volunteer opportunities support service-based learning.
This weekly hands-on class in Pittsfield explores West African and Caribbean drumming and song through shared rhythms and call-and-response. Participants will observe how individual drum parts interlock, building listening skills while learning how music supports storytelling, ceremonies, and community life.
In Northampton, FotoKlub at Northampton Open Media invites participants to learn photography together. Share images, exchange ideas on composition and technique, and explore how photographs tell personal and community stories.
Families across Western Massachusetts can connect through local playgroups and family resource centers. These gatherings offer opportunities for social play, parent support, and community connection.
Nordic skiing and snowshoeing at Notchview in Windsor turn winter into a learning landscape. With miles of groomed and track-set trails, visitors can experience how trail design supports classic skiing, skate skiing, snowshoe travel, and even skiing with dogs, connecting recreation with land use and winter ecology.
A self-guided walk through the Lyman Conservatory in Northampton offers a chance to learn about botany, from ancient ferns to desert succulents and tropical crops.
Visit Magic Wings to learn about butterflies up close. With thousands flying freely, this indoor garden is full of color, motion, and life. Explore butterfly behavior, rainforest ecology, and the delicate balance between pollinators and plants in this living classroom.
Gather at Springfield Museums for “Math Alive!,” where interactive exhibits invite hands-on exploration of how math shapes sports, art, and engineering. Design challenges, motion experiments, and creative stations support learning across disciplines.
Explore the Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, where families can learn from 27,000+ works spanning global art and history. With rotating exhibits and free admission on the second Friday of each month, each visit offers a fresh encounter with creativity.
In Amherst, the Yiddish Book Center offers Sunday and Tuesday tours where visitors learn Jewish culture, history, and language through exhibits and stories.
Explore how curiosity leads to invention at the Worthington Library’s Makerspace. From crafting to mechanics and LEGOs, every project invites learners of all ages to connect engineering, technology, and art in meaningful, creative ways.
Each Tuesday evening in February, new French and Belgian films gather under the theme of family and diversity at Williams College Paresky Cinema in Williamstown. Stories of mothers, sisters, and daughters unfold on screen, tracing experiences of motherhood, queer relationships, adoption, and cultural identity. The festival’s selections offer a window into contemporary Francophone life, where questions of belonging and connection take shape through film.
Sacred Harp is a singing tradition that originated in early American communities. At the Helen Hills Chapel in Northampton, singers form a hollow square and use shape-note notation, making it easy for anyone to join in. Everyone is welcome to listen or sing along.
Explore rhythm and sound at Art in Motion in Easthampton with a mixed-level tap dance class. Participants learn how music and movement interact, practicing listening and rhythm recognition while experiencing dance as both art and self-expression.
Families across Western Massachusetts can connect through local playgroups and family resource centers. These gatherings offer opportunities for social play, parent support, and community connection.
Winter tracking offers a unique perspective on the natural world, turning a snowy day into an educational adventure. Whether you’re a budding naturalist or simply seeking a deeper connection with nature, tracking provides an insightful and enjoyable way to explore and appreciate the hidden lives of wildlife in winter.
Gather at Springfield Museums for “Math Alive!,” where interactive exhibits invite hands-on exploration of how math shapes sports, art, and engineering. Design challenges, motion experiments, and creative stations support learning across disciplines.
Ever wondered what storytime looks like with a splash of song and a dash of design? The Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Program at The Eric Carle Museum turns reading into a full-sensory celebration of words, pictures, and play.
A musical instrument lending library in Great Barrington offers a free way to explore sound through shared resources. Observing which instruments people choose and how they try them reveals patterns in access, curiosity, and how music traditions grow through collective use.
In Longmeadow, Rob Humberston leads a session on Baroque music, where lifelong learners can study Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi while exploring how 17th- and 18th-century history shaped musical traditions.
The Graves Memorial Museum in Sunderland welcomes visitors most Wednesday afternoons to explore local history through artifacts and records. Exhibits and talks highlight how daily life in Sunderland has changed over time, inviting a closer look at the community’s past.
This free program at a Chiopee library introduces ages 6+ to sewing as both craft and problem-solving. Working with needle and thread supports attention to materials, repair skills, and sustainability through hands-on fiber arts.
Parents in Amherst connect with The Bridge Family Resource Center through weekly drop-in time with a Family Partner who offers conversation grounded in shared experience. Listening, asking questions, and exchanging stories support learning about local resources, mutual aid, and how communities care for families navigating everyday challenges.
A Magic: The Gathering Club for ages 10+ at the Forbes Library in Northampton offers more than dragons and spells, it’s a chance to sharpen strategic thinking, practice problem-solving, and build friendships. Whether you bring your own deck or borrow one at the library, the fun unfolds every other week in the Community Room.
Join the drop-in Felting Club at Artspace in Greenfield to learn fun fiber techniques. From needle felting to wet felting, it’s hands-on creativity for all ages.
Families across Western Massachusetts can connect through local playgroups and family resource centers. These gatherings offer opportunities for social play, parent support, and community connection.
Explore the prehistoric past of Turners Falls on a self-guided geologic walking tour that begins at the Great Falls Discovery Center. Perfect for intergenerationallearning, this walk highlights local rock formations and fossil evidence that reveal how the land was shaped nearly 200 million years ago.
In Northampton, caregivers and babies gather weekly for the Early Bird Infant Group. This relaxed drop-in supports early childhood development through community, play, and connection.
At the Mead Art Museum in Amherst, visitors learn by exploring global art across centuries. Open late on Thursdays, it’s a perfect date night spot for culture and discovery.
At The Carle in Amherst, families learn how illustration transforms myth into art. Sprites, mermaids, and wizards come to life in picture books that explore cultural history, imagination, and visual storytelling from around the world.
Visit Magic Wings to learn about butterflies up close. With thousands flying freely, this indoor garden is full of color, motion, and life. Explore butterfly behavior, rainforest ecology, and the delicate balance between pollinators and plants in this living classroom.
Springfield Museums hosts a talk for teens and adults tracing how the Winter Olympics changed over time. Stories and comparisons invite reflection on sports physiology, media coverage, and how global sporting events connect perseverance with cultural shifts.
At the Bridge Family Resource Center, families join the Creative Connections Art Group to learn how shared art-making builds communication, well-being, and curiosity through weekly prompts and materials.
At the Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington, kids explore holiday cooking through measuring, mixing, and tasting. Recipes link nutrition and kitchen science with seasonal food traditions that carry cultural meaning.
Supporting an interest in botany, a talk at Forbes Library in Northampton for teens and adults explores soil restoration and plant succession. Case studies invite noticing how monitoring and patience guide stewardship decisions in changing landscapes.
At Sowing Solutions Permaculture Design in Shelburne Falls, older teens and adults can explore how mutual aid and preparedness shape community resilience. Stories and discussion connect climate response through shared labor and long-term local networks.
Families across Western Massachusetts can connect through local playgroups and family resource centers. These gatherings offer opportunities for social play, parent support, and community connection.
Superstitions like “step on a crack, break your mother’s back” and beliefs about black cats, Friday the 13th, and whistling in a theater often have origins in coincidences, forgotten religions, or outdated advice. Exploring their origins can be insightful for self-directed learners interested in history, psychology, religion, and humanities. If you’re curious, use Friday the 13th as a catalyst to seek answers and support your learning.
Explore abolition and social change in 19th-century New England through this Homeschool Civics Program at Old Sturbridge Village. Designed for ages 10 and up, this program connects local history to broader movements for justice.
Families visit UMass Fine Arts in Amherst for performance art that blends acrobatics and live music. Watching balance and momentum in motion invites noticing physics and creative staging inside a winter-themed spectacle.
Stone Soup Café in Greenfield welcomes volunteers ages 15+ to join a Friday or Saturday shift. From chopping veggies to serving meals, volunteers learn through service-based learning while helping strengthen food security and community connections.
Enjoy a unique date night in Lenox at Ventfort Hall’s chocolate-themed tea, where guests savor tastings, learn about tea culture, and connect over sweet treats. Costumes and conversation make this event perfect for couples looking to relax and celebrate together.
Families are invited to the Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton for a free evening of creativity. Learn through hands-on artmaking and explore galleries featuring works from across the globe, connecting artistic practice with history, culture, and technique.
Dungeons and Dragons returns to the Sunderland library, led by Aaron Damon-Rush of Dungeon Delvers. This self-contained campaign for teens offers a complete RPG adventure, welcoming both beginners and seasoned players.
Yo-Yo School at A2Z Science and Learning Store in Northampton invites kids ages 7 and up to build skills in coordination while learning the physics behind yo-yo tricks. From potential and kinetic energy to axis control and motion, each spin becomes a chance to learn through play.
Families in Great Barrington can join the fun at Berkshire South’s Sweethearts Family Dance Party, where music, dancing, and shared meals create a joyful community celebration. Heart-themed costumes and decorations add to the festive atmosphere for all ages.
West County Community Meals in Shelburne Falls are held every Friday evening and welcome everyone to enjoy good food together. This weekly gathering brings neighbors together to share a meal and foster community connections.
At the Montague Square Dance, music studies come alive in motion. From beginner-friendly moves to intricate patterns, each set reveals how dance links rhythm, culture, and community. A joyful way to learn together while celebrating tradition through movement and song.
School Vacation Week Family Fun at Historic Deerfield invites families to drop in at the History Workshop to play historical tavern and schoolyard games, pretend cook at the hearth, dress in period clothing, read by the fire, or try weaving on a working loom, offering children and adults a hands on way to explore daily life in early New England through stories, play, and traditional skills. Tickets are sold on site for $7 per adult, while kids and members attend free, and children must be accompanied by an adult. The program runs February 16-20, 2026, from 10am-3pm at the History Workshop, 110 Old Main Street in Deerfield, MA. For more information: www.historic-deerfield.org.
Wolf Tree Summer Camp offers children and teens weeks of immersive outdoor adventure in the woods of Montague, MA. Summer Camp for ages 7-12 runs June 22-July 31, while Teen Camp for ages 13-16 runs June 29-July 10. Camp weeks are Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm each day. These nature-based programs foster curiosity, confidence, and connection through hands-on exploration, wilderness skills, and collaborative play. Guided by experienced and engaging instructors, campers build leadership and resilience in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. Each week encourages exploration, skill-building, and meaningful connection with nature, creating space for discovery, friendship, and wild joy. Age Range: 7-16; Dates: June 22-July 31, 2026. For more info: info@wolftreema.com; wolftreema.com/youth-programs.
During the months of June, July, and August, The Bement School campus takes on a new role: summer camp! Every year, children entering kindergarten through grade 9 flock to Bement for a variety of summer program offerings. In addition to our traditional day camp, we are thrilled to offer one and two-week enrichment camps in a variety of topics, including Studio Arts & Crafts, Flag Football, Broadway at Bement, STEM Challenges, D&D, Speech and Debate, Cross Country Running, and more. Programs run June 15 through August 7 (no camp June 29-July 3). The daily schedule is 9am-3:30pm, with both before- and after-camp care available if needed. And….no need to pack a lunch….lunch and snacks provided! Register for six weeks, get week seven free! Age Range: 5-13; Dates: June 15-August 7, 2026. More info: 413-774-7061; summer@bement.org; www.bement.org.
The 13th Annual Easthampton WinterFest returns on Saturday, February 14, 2026, blending winter fun with local stewardship. A fundraiser for the health of Nashawannuck Pond, the celebration features outdoor activities, performances, wagon rides, and family entertainment. Leading up to the event, online contests in photography and snowflake design invite community participation. Highlights include the Easthampton Fire Department’s Polar Plunge, chili tastings, magician and puppeteer performances, bingo, trivia, and historic ice harvesting. Free and donation-based activities reflect a shared commitment to both winter joy and local ecology. Full details at www.nashawannuckpond.org.
Make the most of February Vacation at Red Gate Farm in Ashfield, MA. Winter is a great time to explore. From February 16-20, 2026, kids ages 6-13 start each day by feeding animals like oxen, sheep, goats, and chickens, then head out for farm adventures. They’ll try projects such as tapping trees for maple syrup, working with Jack the Ox, and planting seedlings. Kids will also bake treats, explore the woods, search for animal tracks, and build campfires. For more details, visit www.redgatefarm.org.
January and February bring a quieter rhythm to Western Massachusetts. Our seasonal guide, Winter Activities in Western Mass: 12 Family Ideas for January and February, explores winter activities in the Hilltowns, Berkshires, and Pioneer Valley, highlighting outdoor play, local traditions, and community gatherings that help families stay connected, notice the natural world, and move through winter together.
Berkshire Museum’s Ten Days of Play series brings school vacation events to Pittsfield from February 14-21, featuring a lineup of off-site programs at Hancock Shaker Village, Berkshire Community College, and the Berkshire Athenaeum that invite families to explore creativity, science, and joyful discovery. Highlights include Berkshire Museum at the Big Chill on February 14 & 15 at Hancock Shaker Village, a Presidents Day Bubble Show on February 16 at Berkshire Community College with free performances at 11am & 1:30pm and Days of Play running February 17-20 from 10:30am-1pm daily, and a culminating Day of Play at the Berkshire Athenaeum on February 21, with several events sponsored by Berkshire Community College & Greylock Federal Credit Union.
Registration is open for summer vacation at Glover Piano Studio! These unique programs offer students an opportunity to explore and develop their musical skills in a small, intimate environment. Activities include music theory games, arts and crafts, free play outdoors, playing piano, duets and ensembles with friends, and more. Weeks are tailored by age and experience, so complete beginners through early intermediate pianists are warmly welcomed. Themes such as Musical STEM, Emotions Potions, Music & Arts, Keys for Kids, and Music Mind Games make learning engaging and fun. Half- and full-day options are available most weeks. Join Glover Piano Studio for a musical summer! Dates: July 6-August 28, 2026. Age Range: 4-13. More info: 601-421-5032; gloverpianostudio@gmail.com; www.gloverpianostudio.com.
Hilltown Families Annual Summer Directory is the region’s go-to guide for discovering summer camps, programs, and seasonal opportunities for families across Western Massachusetts and neighboring areas. Whether you’re planning weeks of adventure or just a few special activities, this directory is your trusted resource. Our early bird preview is live and our big debut is in early March: Hilltown Families Summer Directory.
Winter is warm, bright, and colorful at The Carle in Amherst, MA! Families are invited on Thursday, February 5, from 4–8pm for Carle After Dark, a special evening the whole family can enjoy. Strike a pose with the UMass Fashion Organization and show off your most creative outfit! Snap memorable photos together, enjoy cheerful karaoke moments with Josh Sitron, and explore the newest exhibition, CLICK! Photographers Make Picture Books, filled with extraordinary picture-book photography. Mark your calendars for February 19, a FREE day at The Carle thanks to the Highland Street Foundation, featuring family read-alongs, cook-alongs, and lots of hands-on fun. Plus, artist/author Phoebe Wahl will be at The Carle on February 20! Learn more at www.carlemuseum.org.
Berkshire Music School offers music education for all ages! Located at 30 Wendell Ave in Pittsfield, MA, BMS has been providing music lessons for the Berkshires community since 1940. Whether you are interested in private lessons or group classes, BMS has something for all levels! Community Group Classes are offered on a pay-what-you-wish basis, while private lessons provide financial aid opportunities (need-based and upon availability). To register, visit berkshiremusicschool.org.
Join The Bridge Family Resource Center every Wednesday from 3:30-4:30pm, for the “You’re Not Alone” drop-in. Sit with a Family Partner who’s walked a similar path-no judgement, just real conversation and support from someone who has been there. Stop in anytime between 3:30-4:30pm, no registration needed, at 101 University Drive in Amherst, MA. Please reach out to Amanda at amanda.schuster@csoinc.org with questions.
35th Annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest invites writers across Franklin Cty. to share their voices through original poetry rooted in observation, reflection, and a sense of place. Hosted by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, this long-running contest is open to adults and teens ages 12–18 who live or attend school in the county. Honoring poet and naturalist Frederick Goddard Tuckerman, the contest encourages close attention to language, local history, and lived experience. Submissions are accepted by mail or online, with all entries due by February 21. Full guidelines and entry details are available through the Greenfield Public Library.
Barrington Stage Company spring break program for ages 7-15 in Pittsfield: April 20-24, 2026. Young actors create an original musical to be performed at the end of the session. Through ensemble-based activities & improvisation, students develop their skills as theatre makers. There is no audition requirement, and beginners are welcome. This one-week camp offers a non-competitive, collaborative experience focused on the magic of storytelling. Emphasis is placed on asset-based learning & a student-centered focus. Young creators develop skills in playwriting, directing, acting, singing, dancing, and more! Join the last day of camp for a special sharing of an original show developed by the campers with the help of professional theater artists.
Learn to care for & exercise a world-class athlete – the Alaskan Husky Sled Dog. Choose a dog for the week. Learn to feed, pet, play, massage, groom, read to, clean up after & train a sled dog. Hike, swim, jog, ride a racing rig or scooter, all warm weather activities dogs & campers love to do together. Have fun bonding, playing & mushing with the team! “My daughter loved the week-long camp, really bonded with her dog, and plans to return next year. Hilltown Sleddogs is one of Pioneer Valleys” unique treasures!”(JG). “The hands-on connection with dogs is amazing. At the end of the week, my boys don’t want to come home.”(EM) *Bonfire/BBQ eve is back Thursdays – Weeks 2,3,4 & 5. *Older Campers (10-15) Week 3 & Younger Campers (8-12) Week 7. Dates: July 6-August 25, 2026. Age Range: 8-15. For more info: 413-296-0187; hilltownsleddogs@gmail.com; www.hilltownsleddogs.com.
Make music this new year with the Community Music School of Springfield! CMSS offers high-quality private lessons for all ages and skill levels, with flexible scheduling and in-person or online options. Students can learn over 30 instruments, including voice, and receive support in finding the right teacher and instrument. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance your skills, CMSS helps you reach your musical goals in a welcoming, supportive environment. Enroll now for the 2025–2026 school year. Your musical journey starts here! Visit www.communitymusicschool.com or call 413-732-8428 to learn more.
Sojourner Truth's remarkable narrative of overcoming adversity and advocating for change continues to inspire and educate. Her life exemplifies how individual action can lead to widespread societal transformation, emphasizing the importance of understanding our history to…
The Super Bowl is not just a day of entertainment but also an opportunity to gain insights into the history and cultural aspects of American society. It provides a wide array of topics to learn, question,…
Winter tracking offers a unique perspective on the natural world, turning a snowy day into an educational adventure. Whether you're a budding naturalist or simply seeking a deeper connection with nature, tracking provides an insightful and…
Valentine's Day offers an excellent opportunity to explore cultural history, culinary traditions, and science education. This holiday can be celebrated in various ways, such as exchanging cards inspired by Esther Howland or creating handmade valentines with…
Superstitions like "step on a crack, break your mother’s back" and beliefs about black cats, Friday the 13th, and whistling in a theater often have origins in coincidences, forgotten religions, or outdated advice. Exploring their origins…
A drum is more than a beat—it’s a clue. Cajons made from crates, steel pans from barrels, and djembes carved from trees show how people turn what they have into music. These instruments offer a rhythmic…
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Agawam, Ashfield, Bernardston, Chester, Deerfield, Hadley, Heath, Lee, Leyden, Mount Washington, Orange, Plainfield, Richmond, South Hadley, West Springfield, and Westhampton Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency
