There’s a Fest for That… in Western Massachusetts
Flava Evolution at Northampton Jazz Festival | Photo by Robert E. Davis
In the tech world people say there’s an app for everything, but in western Massachusetts it seems there’s a festival (or fair or party) celebrating every interest, artistic medium, hobby, food, or even whole towns! From jazz and upcycled junk to bikes, bread and beer, there’s an event this early fall that will fit every curiosity you’ve been looking to feed. We realize some things overlap on the same weekends, but that just means you get to check out two great events in one visit! Jump to a select weekend: September 12-13; September 19-20; September 26-27; October 3-4.
September 4-7
Three County Fair
Up first is the beloved Three County Fair in Northampton, the longest consecutive running agricultural fair in the country. In addition to the annual livestock and equine shows, demolition derby, horse pulls, and midway at the fair, entertainment this year also includes Moto Maniacs, a live performance of motorcycle stunts and acrobatic feats; Axe Women, an all-female logging sports team from Maine; and the return of the Three County Fair Music Festival. Admission $.
September 6
Northeast Regionals Yo-Yo Contest
Did you know we're got quite the yo-yo scene in western Massachusetts? There's even a yo-yo school. Watch some of the best in their field compete on Sunday at Union Station in Northampton. Free admission.
September 11
Chalk Art Festival
Eleven veteran artists reunite to create masterpieces in chalk on the sidewalks of downtown Northampton during the 6th Annual Northampton Chalk Art Festival presented by the Northampton Center for the Arts. Drawing takes place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. followed by September's Arts Night Out, Northampton’s monthly gallery walk from 5 to 8 p.m. This competitive event kicks off a festive weekend that includes the Northampton Jazz Festival and the Northampton Arts Council’s RETROFAIRE. Free admission.
September 8-12
Northampton Jazz Festival
For the fifth consecutive year the Northampton Jazz Festival brings together national acts, local artists, and jazz students to celebrate jazz in western Massachusetts. The main event on Saturday, September 12 fills downtown Northampton with jazz music all day with a student stage on the Old Courthouse Lawn and main stage behind Thornes Marketplace where there will also be local food vendors, a beer garden, and a second annual home brewer’s contest. The Northampton Jazz Festival is so much more than the main stage event on Saturday, September 12 though! There’s a whole week of jazz-soaked evenings leading up to the fest beginning with a special edition of the weekly Northampton Jazz Workshop at The Loft at the Clarion Hotel on Tuesday, September 8. The rest of the week features nightly “jazz struts” (think pub crawl, but for jazz!) in Amherst on Wednesday, Easthampton on Thursday, and Northampton on Friday. Free admission.
September 12
RETROFAIRE
Happening in conjunction with the Northampton Jazz Festival, the Northampton Arts Council presents this open-air market featuring 30 vendors selling vinyl records, vintage clothing, jewelry, and other items of interest to those with an affinity for the past. ConVino Wine Bar will have an outdoor wine cafe and oyster bar setup during the event. Soak up this late summer day, peruse the vendor stalls, hear the sounds of jazz float through the air, and kick back for a glass of wine. Free admission.
September 12 & 13
ChiliFest
If you're looking to heat things up, check out the Kitchen Garden's annual ChiliFest at Mike's Maze in Sunderland. This event features a chili cookoff and hot sauce competition, fresh local beer, and some of the hottest musical acts from western Massachusetts right like And the Kids and Potty Mouth. Admission $.
September 17
Downtown Amherst Block Party
One Thursday every September, the streets of downtown Amherst are closed to traffic and open for a night of fun at the Celebrate Amherst Block Party! In its fourth year, this event brings thousands of people to downtown for a lively street fair environment including food vendors, multiple stages with music, circus performers, dancing, and vendors from many area organizations. The streets become a playground for all ages in this fantastic community event. Free admission.
September 18-20
Belchertown Fair
Venture to the eastern side of our county and see what Belchertown is all about during its annual fair weekend featuring your favorite fair foods, a midway, and entertainment for the whole family. Free admission.
September 19
Bikefest
Tour scenic western Massachusetts on bike while supporting Northampton Cycling Club and the JAM Fund. Bikefest registration includes five great routes to choose from and a gourmet post-ride BBQ at Look Park with craft beer, live music and a live BMX stunt show. Registration $.
Septembr 19 & 20
McCray’s Farm Truck Fest
For a fest that celebrates an additional two wheels, check out this annual happening at McCray’s Farm in South Hadley featuring mud bogs, rock crawls, and truck pulls. Don’t miss the homemade ice cream at the farm, either! Admission $.
September 20
Hungry Ghost Wonder Not! Bread Festival
Join one of Northampton's favorite bakeries Hungry Ghost Bread for its 12th annual celebration of all things bread featuring local vendors, music, and a puppet parade. Free admission.
September 26
Print Fair North
For the past 13 years Zea Mays Printmaking has opened its space, inviting collectors, museum curators, and the public to an event called Print Fair North. This year the event has been re-conceptualized as an inclusive community project with other print shops, artists, studios, and arts organizations joining the artists of Zea Mays Printmaking, including: Two Rivers Printmaking Studio (White River Junction, VT), Big Wheel Press (Easthampton, MA ), Cherry Press (Rutland, MA), Patrick’s Art House (Florence, MA ), and Pivot Media (Florence, MA ). Look forward to original fine art prints, printed wearables, zines, and more for sale by area artists and studios, as well as printmaking demonstrations throughout the day, gallery show, raffle, food and drink, and a “Make Your Own Print” activity. Free admission.
September 26 & 27
Loop Upcycled Art Market
Loop's pop-up events for upcycled artists and crafters and purveyors of vintage goods is truly a testament that trash can really be treasure. And even better is the location of Captain Jack's Roadside Shack, one of our favorite snack shacks. Free admission.
September 26 & 27
North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Fest
Yep, there's really a festival that's all about garlic in western Massachusetts. This fest is also a celebration of the many local artisans, purveyors, and organizations in our region. But really, what would a garlic festival be without the food featuring these little bulbs of love? Highlights include garlic hot dogs from Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst and garlic ICE CREAM from Bart's in Amherst. Admission $.
October 1-4
Amherst Poetry Festival and Emily Dickinson Poetry Marathon
A four-day reading of all 1,789 of Emily Dickinson’s poems paired with four days of poetry readings and events in the poet’s hometown of Amherst couldn’t be a more perfect combination. The reading marathon begins Thursday, October 1 from 5-8 p.m. and continues at desginated times through Sunday. This year’s main stage on the lawn at the Emily Dickinson Museum is dedicated to poet James Tate, one of Amherst's greatest contemporary poets who passed away in July. Free admission.
October 3
Übeer Fest
Valley Beer Trail returns with its second Übeer Festival this October, a fest that's truly brought to you by people who love beer just as much as you do. Featuring local beer, quality crafts and some AMAZING imports (many of which you can only get locally at a few bars and packies, if at all), this fest aims to offer "all killer, no filler." Admission $.
October 4
Northampton Print and Book Fair
Free and open to the public, the Northampton Print & Book Fair is a one-day event that will take place at A.P.E. Gallery in downtown Northampton. A combination invitational and juried event, the Print and Book Fair will feature over 50 artists, publishers, studios and vendors who will have their works available for display and purchase. Focusing on printed material in the broadest sense, vendors will have a range of works from photographs, shirts, screen printed posters, chapbooks, zines, letterpress prints and more. Sponsored in part by the Northampton Arts Council and Fugitive Arts. Free admission.
October 10-12
Paradise City Arts Festival
A festival list wouldn't be complete without mention of the Paradise City Arts Festivals, happening twice annually every Memorial Day and Columbus Day Weekends at the Three County Fairgrounds. A winner of national awards for its selection of fine and functional art, this fest features work by nearly 300 artists from every corner of the country. Admission $.