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Win Tickets for Historic Theater’s World Premiere Play

The old balcony at the Academy and 'Nobody's Girl,' Mildred E. Walker
The old balcony at the Academy and 'Nobody's Girl,' Mildred E. Walker

This fall, after several months of scaffolding, hammering, painting, and the like happening behind closed doors, western Massachusetts' historic Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton celebrates its grand reopening. And what’s even more exciting is that the theater officially reopens with the world premiere of its first ever commissioned production, Nobody’s Girl, October 17 and 18. Don't miss your chance to catch this new screwball comedy about the Academy's first ever female manager, the feisty and unconventional Mildred E. Walker.

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Enter to Win Tickets to Columbus Day Weekend Events

Paradise City Arts Festival | Northampton
Paradise City Arts Festival | Northampton

Mid-October is not only the peak of foliage season in western Massachusetts, but it’s also especially packed with things to do on Columbus Day Weekend. Since we’ve already told you about some of the awesome things to do this fall, we’d like to give you the chance to win tickets to attend a few of them! Up for grabs is a pair of VIP one-day passes to the 20th Annual Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton at the Three County Fairgrounds (October 11-13) and a pair of full-access passes for the Northampton International Film Festival at the Academy of Music Theatre (October 10-12). Each is a separate prize so there will be two random winners notified on Wednesday, October 8, 2014. Click to read more and enter.

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ICYMI from Visit Hampshire County September 23, 2014

Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Photo by Michael Malyszko
Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Photo by Michael Malyszko

In case you missed it, there's a pop-up shopping event happening in Northampton, new artworks in Easthampton, and a few lists we've made over the past couple weeks. Here's a roundup of our favorite finds elsewhere on the internet we've shared on Facebook and Twitter.

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Pack Your Calendars with Fall Festivals and More in Western Massachusetts

Mike's Maze, Sunderland | Photo by Lynne Graves
Mike's Maze, Sunderland | Photo by Lynne Graves

Are you ready for fall? Well it’s here as the chilled temps have clearly proven recently. If you’re anything like us here in western Massachusetts though, fall is your favorite time of year. While fall can be all about celebrating the harvest and Halloween, there’s also a lot going on in the arts, nature, and on a bike here. (Though we’ve certainly got the harvest festivals and haunted happenings down this year!). We have to admit, even as we were compiling this list we were overwhelmed by the number of things to do in western Massachusetts this fall. But after we took a deep breath, we grabbed our calendars and started planning fall adventures galore. We hope you’ll find something you’d like to do, too!

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Therapy on Wheels: Biking in Western Massachusetts


Someone may visit western Massachusetts for the biking, but it’s the things to do in Massachusetts after you hop off your bike that will keep you coming back time after time—from great restaurants, beautiful galleries, and fun shopping to the natural landscape and a unique blend of people. Learn why this visitor comes to western Massachusetts for her "therapy on wheels."

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Amherst Live showcases local stories

Amherst Live creator Oliver Broudy calls the show "a mashup of The Daily Show, TED Talks, and The Moth Story Hour with a hyperlocal twist." The third installment of Amherst Live happens Saturday, September 13 at the Bowker Auditorium at UMass Amherst at 7:30 p.m. followed by an after party for networking and discussion.

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Date: Sep 8, 2014 | Posted by: vincejackson | Category: Explore, Art, Performing Arts, Culture

In Case You Missed It from Visit Hampshire County Aug. 25, 2014

Fort Hill Brewery, Easthampton | From Facebook
Fort Hill Brewery, Easthampton | From Facebook

Did you see the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile or an unusual peanut truck driving around? How about that Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton opened last week? These are just a few of our favorite finds from Facebook and Twitter last week.

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Date: Aug 25, 2014 | Posted by: vincejackson | Category: Eat, Breweries & Wineries

Five Ways to Eat Your Way Through Western Massachusetts

Good Stock Farm, Hatfield | Photo by Kevin Miyazaki
Good Stock Farm, Hatfield | Photo by Kevin Miyazaki

With several new restaurants and a cooking school open and a handful of food-centric events like the Cummington (Aug. 21-24) and Three County (Aug. 29-Sept. 1) Fairs and Northampton's annual Restaurant Week (Sept. 7-11), you'll have no shortage of ways to fill your belly in western Massachusetts as this summer comes to a close. 

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Date: Aug 18, 2014 | Posted by: vincejackson | Category: Explore, Culture, Festivals & Fairs, Eat, Restaurants

In Case You Missed It from Visit Hampshire County Aug. 8, 2014

#nofilter Sunset over the Connecticut River | Hadley, MA
#nofilter Sunset over the Connecticut River | Hadley, MA

Here are a few more of our favorite finds from our quest for all things Hampshire County this week that we shared on Facebook and Twitter that you might have missed. This week it's sunsets, haunted houses and throwbacks.

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Date: Aug 8, 2014 | Posted by: vincejackson | Category: Explore, Culture, Festivals & Fairs, Recreation, Sports, Water Sports

In Case You Missed It from Visit Hampshire County This Week

Herrell's Ice Cream, Northampton | Photo by Lynne Graves
Herrell's Ice Cream, Northampton | Photo by Lynne Graves

Here are a few of our favorite finds from our quest of all things Hampshire County this week that we shared on Facebook and Twitter that you might have missed, from paragliding over the valley to TV show American Pickers coming to town!

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Date: Aug 2, 2014 | Posted by: vincejackson | Category: Explore, Recreation, Action Adventure, Bird Watching, Eat, Shop, Specialty Shops, Antiques
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