6 Ways to Play It Cool This Summer in Western Mass.
As if you thought you already had a lot of plans this summer, there are so many things to do in Western Massachusetts during this truly magical season. Check out summer concerts, theater productions and free outdoor movies; rent a kayak, sip on fresh beer, and enjoy delicious eats from our food trucks and roadside stands!
Catch some tunes
Northampton Summer Concert Series on Fridays, July 22, 29 and August 5, 12 and 19 on the old Courthouse Lawn in downtown Northampton at 6 pm; FREE
Downtown Beats Summer Concert Series on Thursdays July 14, 21, 28 and August 4 at Kendrick Park in Amherst at 5:30 p.m.; FREE
Music on the Porch at the Florence Civic Center every Thursday through September 1 at 6:30 p.m.; FREE
Concerts on the Commons in South Hadley every Thursday through August 25 at 6:30 p.m.; FREE
Arts in the Park concerts at Millside Park in Easthampton at 6:30 p.m. on Friday nights through August 12; FREE
Wednesday Folk Traditions (July 13 and 20 at 6:30 p.m.) and A Perfect Spot of Tea Saturdays through August 27 with seatings at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the Porter-Phelps-Huntington House Museum in Hadley; $
The Lyra Music Festival and Workshop came to Northampton this year and hosts concerts throughout its duration at Smith College and in the community; $
Friends of the Mount Holyoke Range Summer Concerts at the Skinner Summit House Thursdays July 7-August 4 at 7:30 p.m.; $
See a movie or play under the stars
Arts in the Park in Easthampton includes movie nights at Millside Park on Saturdays, July 30 and August 20, movies TBA.
Cinema Northampton presents A League of Their Own Wednesday, July 27 at Maines Field in Northampton and TBA at Forbes Library on Wednesday August 31.
Hampshire Shakespeare Company presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream through July 10 and Macbeth July 20-24 & 27-31 outside at the Renaissance Center in Amherst.
Paddle the day away
BYO boats to the DAR State Forest in Goshen or along the Connecticut River with access points detailed at the Connecticut Greenway State Park
Kayak rentals at Sportsman Marina in Hadley, $35/4 hours and $45/day (9-5:30) Please note, closed on Tuesdays!
Kayak and Canoe rentals at Barton Cove in Gill, $25/2 hours and $40/day.
Take a beercation
ICYMI, Boston Magazine thinks Hampshire County is one of New England’s most overlooked craft beer destinations and Thrillist named Western Massachusetts one of the Best Vacation Destinations in America for Beer Lovers.
Check out our list of other events at breweries and wineries in western Massachusetts this summer, inlcuding Look Park's first Pioneer Valley Beer and Wine Festival on July 30.
Don’t turn on your oven
Remember our list of 8 Roadside Snack Shacks Worth a Stop in Western Mass? Let them make you lunch or cool you down with the creamiest soft-serve.
Food Truck Fridays! Sample some of Hampshire County’s food trucks at Brew Practitioners in Florence on Fridays starting July 8 or Abandoned Building Brewery on Friday, July 29 complete with outdoor beer gardens!
Keep cool in a theater
Amherst Cinema presents Sound & Vision, a music in film series, with a different film every Thursday at 7 p.m. through September 1 in addition to its other robust programming.
New Century Theatre is in the midst of its 26th season at the Mendenhall Center for Performing Arts at Smith College with productions running through the first week of August.
The Ko Festival of Performance kicks off this week at Amherst College for its 25th season which runs through the first week of August.
What else do you like to do in the summer in Western Massachusetts?