Blog / Festivals & Fairs
5 Awesome Festivals This June in Western Massachusetts
Live Music at Easthampton's Cultural Chaos | Photo by Lynne Graves
When June rolls around, festival season has arrived in western Massachusetts with something happening nearly every weekend. And there’s a festival for everyone, from foodies and cultural fiends to jazz buffs and book lovers. Have fun with the family at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art’s Children’s Book Festival (June 6). Embrace Easthampton’s vibrant cultural scene at its annual street festival with a twist, Cultural Chaos (June 13). Celebrate Gypsy jazz with Django in June (June 19-20). Indulge in local food at the WGBY Asparagus Festival on the Hadley Town Common (June 6) and Taste of Amherst (June 18-21).
3 Reasons to Celebrate Pride in Western Massachusetts
Northampton Pride Parade | Photo by Lynne Graves
It's that time of year again when Northampton lights up with Pride and celebrates the diversity our region in western Massachusetts is known for. This year the 34th Annual Noho Pride Day is Saturday, May 2 beginning with the iconic and colorful parade at noon that marches through Downtown Northampton. The parade consists of many diverse organizations, school groups, musicians, local businesses and many other participants. The parade route ends at the historic Three County Fair Grounds where the celebration and entertainment continue til 5 p.m. and over 20,000 people gather for dancing, eating, shopping learning, socializing and enjoying the freedom to celebrate who they are.
Bees, Books, Bowls and More This April in Western Massachusetts
White Square Books | Easthampton | Photo by Lynne Graves
April is all over the place when it comes to the weather in western Massachusetts. Some years winter’s chill hangs on far too long and other years it’s downright tropical. The list of things to do this month is about as diverse as the weather can be, with really only the letter ‘B’ as the common thread—but who doesn’t love a little alliteration? Enjoy all the ‘B’ words April has to offer, from all the books at Easthampton's BookFest to bowls along the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail. Check out new exhibits about the Borscht Belt and Eric Carle’s Bees, Butterflies, and Other Bugs.
11 New Things to Do in Western Massachusetts in 2015
Snow Farm | Williamsburg
With a new year comes new energy to get out there and try new things. In western Massachusetts, 2015 offers you a handful of new places to shop and eat, package deals, several special anniversaries to celebrate, and new class schedules at our hands-on destinations. Featuring Northampton's new spot, Con Vino Wine Bar, Signature Sounds Presents Backporch Festival, new breweries, packages at the Lord Jeffery Inn, and classes Snow Farm and Good Stock Farm.
Make the Most of a Busy Fall Weekend in Western Mass.
The Haberdashery | Easthampton
This coming weekend, four of the five schools in the area are hosting their annual friends and family weekends, which means it’s going to be bustling all over Hampshire County in western Massachusetts. Why is that a big deal, you ask? It means there’s even more going on for you to enjoy! So whether you’re here to see your student, here by chance, or live here, take advantage of some of the extra happenings this weekend.
Enter to Win Tickets to Columbus Day Weekend Events
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.
Pack Your Calendars with Fall Festivals and More in Western Massachusetts
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!
Five Ways to Eat Your Way Through Western Massachusetts
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.
In Case You Missed It from Visit Hampshire County Aug. 8, 2014
#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.
Kick off New England’s Pride Season in Northampton
Pride Day, Northampton | Photo by Transit Authority Figures
We’re full of pride all year round in Hampshire County, but the sparks really fly the first weekend of May every year when Northampton’s Annual LGBT Pride Day kicks off Pride season in New England. Join the Pride Parade and Celebration Saturday, May 3 from noon to 5 p.m. and celebrate Northampton's newest store for men, Hero Men's Gear, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Extend the celebration to embark on a walking tour of Northampton's LGBTQ history with the Sexual Minorities Archives on Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m.