Hilltown Families 
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Norman Rockwell Museum Celebrates the Spirit of the Season with “Norman Rockwell and the Ghost of Dickens” Celebrate the holidays as well as the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens with a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum! As a child, Rockwell’s father read him Dickens’ work, and it greatly influenced his painting later in life. The museum is currently displaying an exhibit titled, “Norman Rockwell and the Ghost of Dickens,” which is… Read More
History and the Holidays Come Alive at Old Sturbridge Village Is your family craving a simultaneously delightful and non-commercial holiday adventure? Old Sturbridge Village has just the thing- Christmas by Candlelight! The event will take place during three weekends in December (Fri-Sun from 4-9pm), and the activities and learning opportunities featured emphasize history, tradition, and the spirit of the holidays. Activities include horse-drawn sleigh rides, listening to Victorian carolers, hands-on art activities… Read More
A Charlie Brown Christmas at the McIlquhams Three little figures resembling the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man’s offspring weave in and out of the maze of spruce, firs and pines in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Immune to cold fingers and dripping noses, the threesome separates and soon their voices, muffled by the wind, are heard shouting through the dense man-made forest, staking claim on a tree. As their parents who have been… Read More
Discover fun and educational events happening this week in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast. SUGGEST AN EVENT If you have a family friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening,… Read More
Discover fun and educational events happening this week in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast. SUGGEST AN EVENT If you have a family friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening,… Read More
Holiday Music For Kids Do you hear what I hear? It’s holiday music and Christmas cheer! Despite all the stress, I still absolutely love the holidays, and one of my favorite things about the season is all the happy music. Here are some new CDs and songs that we’re enjoying this year…. Ben Rudnick & Friends Ben Rudnick & Friends are about to play their 9th Annual Holiday Extravaganza Concert at the… Read More
Discover fun and educational events happening this week in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast. SUGGEST AN EVENT If you have a family friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening,… Read More
QUESTION AND ANSWERS The holiday season is upon us! Any recommendations on where to get a locally grown Christmas Tree? Any fun places to go with the family to choose/cut your own? Tonya Lemos recommends: Pieropans Tree Farm in Ashfield! Our fav. Kate Erickson recommends: Cranstons in Ashfield – it seems like it always snows when we go! Fletcher Family Farm in Southampton off Rt 10 is great too! Plus they have… Read More
At the turn of the year, Hilltown Families will be turning five years old … and we will be celebrating all year long! To start the celebration, we have invited five Hilltown mompreneurs to partner with us. These five crafty businesses, located here in the Hilltowns of Western MA, create handmade products that kids will enjoy receiving — and we have one of each to giveaway to one lucky family! It’s our… Read More
America spends an average of $450 billion every year on Christmas. Advent Conspiracy proposes that people buy less and give more–of their time and love through relational giving. In 2006, five pastors decided to create Advent Conspiracy and revolutionize the increasingly commercialized holiday of Christmas by encouraging their congregations to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all. Part of the Advent Conspiracy message is a simple suggestion that people buy… Read More
Eco-Friendly Holiday’s (Web Reviews) Hanukkah: Let There Be (Renewable) Light: A New Look at Hanukkah This site considers “the connection between Hanukkah [Festival of Lights], energy use, and the environment,” and provides “holiday tips and resources for families, schools, and congregations to infuse Hanukkah celebrations with additional meaning,” and “tips for what you can do save energy in your congregation/school and at home.” Includes a “CFL installation ceremony,” an essay about the… Read More
How It All Got Started Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness…. Read More
Happy Winter Solstice, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and all other seasonal celebrations! SUGGEST AN EVENT If you have a family-friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. Suggest an Event | Local Forecast | Get Directions | Free Museum Passes | School Closings and Delays | Family Centers (Ages 0-4) | Facebook Events Happening in… Read More
The Snowman One my favorite films to watch during the holidays is The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, a 23 minute pencil-drawn animation. It’s the purity of The Snowman that I enjoy the most. The film is without words and set to the composition “Walking in the Air” by Howard Blake and performed by Peter Auty. With his wonderful illustrations and a timeless musical composition, Briggs brilliantly captures the innocence of a young… Read More
One my favorite movies to watch during the holidays is The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, a 23 minute pencil-drawn animation. It’s the purity of The Snowman that I enjoy the most.
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW Vintage Holiday Episode with Sienna & Persephone WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA Tuesday evening @ 7pm 12/18/07 PLAYLIST subscribe to podcast | archived shows | contests Jackson 5 – “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” [20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection] Burl Ives – “Jingle Jingle Jingle” [Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer] Steve Blunt – “Johnny Wants a Guitar for Christmas” [Outta School!]… Read More
When our friends at Heifer (www.heifer.org) asked if I would do a holiday video, little did i know that a llama, a goat and a cow would visit my street in Brooklyn. I invited a bunch of high energy neighbors to join me for a crazy afternoon video shoot of laughing, strumming guitars, playing flutes, trumpets, saxophones, banging on drums, and dancing madly, all for the sake of helping Heifer International continue to raise money to combat world hunger.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES THIS WINTER IN THE HILLTOWNS What a snow storm! Think about all the fun outdoor adventures your kids will have this weekend either skiing, sledding or snowshoeing. Which reminds me to remind you about the upcoming afternoon program this winter, Outdoor Adventures for Kids in the Hilltowns. Hilltown Families (that’s us!) has collaborated with Tekoa Mountain Outdoors to offer a ten week Monday afternoon (4pm-5pm) adventure program for kids ages… Read More
Here’s a list of ideas on how to have an eco-friendly, sustainable holiday season with the family.
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW Holiday Party Episode with Sienna & Persephone WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA Tuesday evening @ 7pm 12/04/07 PLAYLIST subscribe to podcast | archived shows | contests Steve Weeks – “You Are Invited to the 15th Annual Week’s Christmas Party” [You are Invited to the 15th Annual Week’s Christmas Party] Dan Zanes – “House Party Time” [House Party] Steve Weeks – “Bring an… Read More
For our local Kids-Made Holiday Bazaar, Persephone (age 5) drew Christmas Spiders for her holiday cards to be sold during the event. Here she gives to a video tutorial on how to draw the Christmas Spider:
THE SHOPOCALYPSE IS UPON US … WHO WILL BE $AVED? There’s a new documentary film out that I’d like to catch, What Would Jesus Buy, produced by Morgan Spurlock (the same guy who produced Super Size Me). An interview with performance artist Bill Talen was recently aired on Valley Free Radio (home of the Hilltown Family Variety Show) that caught my attention. The film is a docu-“comedy” where Talen plays the role… Read More
Cultural Itineraries
- Season: January & February
- Season: March & April
- Season: May & June
- Season: July & August
- Season: September & October
- Season: November & December
