Blog
A Musical March in Hampshire County!
March is for music in Hampshire County! Explore the Back Porch Festival, a 3-day affair featuring 50 bands in 10 venues across downtown Northampton.
Warm Up to Winter in Hampshire County!
Leave hibernation behind and visit The Other Side of Massachusetts!
January on The Other Side
Coming in February...Winterfest!
Ease into 2024 with a New Year's Day Nature Walk or a bit of Winter Birding at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton. Catch a rising star when Nashville musician Jax Hollow appears at The Parlor Room, or bask in the melodic and heartfelt harmonies of Trousdale at The Drake. Bundle the kids into the car and catch the $5 Family Film series at Amherst Cinema for a fun day out. Holiday feasts have you thinking of culinary school? Explore Sutter Meats’ interactive classes, and…
December on The Other Side!
Kick off December with the Lighting of the Merry Maple in Amherst — a beloved tradition that signals the start of the holidays, complete with a marching band and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
November on The Other Side
Hampshire County is the perfect getaway for any age! Check out the Inn on Boltwood's Carle Family Adventure Package, which offers tickets to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a book, and more! Visit the food trucks at Glendale Ridge Vineyard before the grown-ups catch legendary band Roomful of Blues at The Drake. Got teens? They won’t want to miss author Crystal Maldonado at Odyssey Bookshop. All ages will bop with the Young@Heart Chorus at the Academy of Music, while young…
Northampton Jazz Festival 2023
Max Roach Centennial Quintet
Courtesy Northampton Jazz Festival
It's that time of year again in Northampton! The town's annual Jazz Festival returns after a triumphant, sold-out show in 2022. This year brings in the Max Roach Centennial Celebration, an All-Star band of heavyweights paying tribute to one of jazz's all-time greats. Below is just a glance at what's happening this year — the festival runs both Friday, September 29th, and Saturday, September 30th — but for all the details and to buy tickets, head over to…
October on The Other Side!
Art in the Orchard
Photo by Lynne Graves.
An autumn tradition returns when the Paradise City Arts Festival comes to Northampton, showcasing hundreds of artists, jewelers, and furniture makers over a three-day holiday weekend.
August in Hampshire County
August is heating up in Hampshire County! On Friday the 11th, Jazzy Arts Night Out paves the way for the upcoming Northampton Jazz Festival, while Naomi Nye & Kimaya Diggs bring music to the Amherst Town Common.
Check out our 2023 Visitor Guide!
Planning a trip to Hampshire County, and want to learn more? Local looking to discover your favorite new hotspot? Look no further than our 2023 Find Your Side Visitor Guide! Filled with city-by-city listings of events, festivals, lodging, and more, it's the essential companion for visitors and residents alike!
Get outside this May!
Get outside this May! Visit the “living museum” that is The Botanic Garden of Smith College, or stroll through the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge. Find gorgeous contemporary crafts, jewelry, and art at the Paradise City Arts Festival during Memorial Day weekend. When you’re ready to cool off, catch a performance at Amherst’s The Drake (after dinner at local hotspot Protocol!). Beginning May 31st, Summer on Strong transforms a downtown avenue into a…