Western Massachusetts

When you start thinking about holiday shopping, do you ever think about gifts that don’t quite fit in a box? In western Massachusetts, there’s no shortage of memorable hands-on experiences that can take the place of your usual gift-giving. This year consider giving a gift that will truly last a lifetime, whether it be in the form of new skills, new friends, or purely good memories.

Cooking Classes

The Baker's Pin (formerly Different Drummer's Kitchen) in Northampton features a variety of hands-on as well as demonstration style classes. Often local chefs will teach a class like Daniel Martinez from Bistro Les Gras, Alka Kanoujia of India House, or Deborah Snow from the Blue Heron. Browse classes today.

At the Good Stock Farm Cooking School in Hatfield, guests will work with James Beard Award-winning chef Sanford D’Amato to craft a spectacular meal that they will then enjoy with their hosts and classmates. After many successful years in the Milwaukee restaurant business and countless accolades the D’Amatos relocated to western Massachusetts for its fertile land and productive local food movement.  Grab a gift certificate here.

Craft and Artisan Workshops

Country Living’s Executive Editor dubbed Beehive Sewing Studio + Workspace one of her favorite spots in Massachusetts as part of the “Country Living’s Across America” state secret series.  With regular workshops that span multiple skill levels, Beehive Sewing Studio is the perfect place to spend the afternoon in Northampton while learning something new. Browse the Beehive class calendar or buy a gift certificate for someone to use during drop-in hours.

Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program offers a variety of multi-day craft workshops for adults and teens taught by master craftspeople from all over. There are workshops in a variety of disciplines including but not limited to glassblowing, ceramics and metalsmithing.

For the knitter or fiber fanatic in your life, a gift certificate to WEBS in Northampton is a no brainer. But it’s so much more than a place to restock your wares. WEBS has a variety of classes and special events, too!

Brewery Tours 

The Ale Aboard Brewery Tour is the perfect experience for the beer lover in your life. Ale Aboard takes guests to four craft breweries in Western Massachusetts: Fort Hill Brewery, Abandoned Build Brewery and New City Brewery in Easthampton and Florence’s newest brewery Brew Practitioners.

Memberships

For the culture vultures in your life, check out an Amherst Cinema membership or a membership to any of our museums like the Smith College Art Museum or Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Not only will your gift recipient get access to some sweet perks, but your gift will also support one of the many great nonprofit arts organizations we have in Western Massachusetts.

Maybe someone in your life has been talking about trying a new gym or yoga class but has yet to make the commitment. Give them an extra boost with a membership for something new like rock climbing at Central Rock in Hadley or any number of our yoga studios and more in Western MA.

Tickets

Bottom line is that tickets to a play, musical, concert or dance performance make great gifts. Arts and culture entertainment options abound here, from intimate shows at The Parlor Room in Northampton to premier touring acts from around the world at the UMass Fine Arts Center.