Blog / Festivals & Fairs
Celebrate American Craft Week in Northampton with the Paradise City Arts Festival
The 19th Annual Paradise City Arts Festival presents 275 competitively juried artists from 24 states exhibiting original works in ceramics, painting, decorative fiber, art glass, furniture, jewelry, metal, mixed media, photography, large- scale sculpture, wearable art and wood this Columbus Day Weekend, October 12 through 14 at the Three County Fairgrounds.
Fall festivals, corn mazes, and more, oh my!
Photo by Lynne Graves
It's nearly time to throw those hands in the air, full of leaves: it's almost FALL in Hampshire County! Like a true New Englander, we love fall just as much as you do, from the abundance of apples and pumpkins to the stunning foliage and crisper weather. Western Massachusetts has an abundance of can't-miss fun fall activities including the very popular McCray's Farm Haunted Hayrides, Belchertown's Austin Brothers Valley Farm annual corn maze and hayrides, and Southampton's Rolling Acres Farm corn maze and fall activities right here in Hampshire County.
Art with a side of apples in Easthampton this fall
Photography by Patrick Brough
Farms and gardens are works of art in their own right, but how about visiting an apple orchard sprinkled with sculptures, poetry and dance this Fall? Art in the Orchard 2013 (AiO13) is a multifaceted sculpture exhibit on the grounds of Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton, Mass. The core project is a sculpture trail showcasing 3-dimensional outdoor works and installations created by local and regional artists open to the public daily beginning in late August. Additional events such as music, moonlight walks and performances are scheduled during most weekends through the festival's close on October 31.
Fair season is among us in Hampshire County
Agriculture is pretty important to us here in Hampshire County, and has been for hundreds of years. Our annual fairs really showcase all that we've got going on in one place. The Three County Fair in Northampton is Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 through Sept. 2; the Cummington Fair is Aug.22-25 at the Cummington Fairgrounds; and the Belchertown Fair is Sept. 20 through 22 on the Belchertown town common.
Want to experience a Hampshire County fair? Like us on Facebook and participate in our Fair Friday Facebook contest! Every Friday leading up to the Three County Fair, we'll post a question for you to answer. We will give a set of 4 VIP tickets to the Three County Fair to the person with the most creative responses for each of the 3 posts!
Discover the Americana Flair of the Hilltowns
Chesterfield Fourth of July
If you’re looking for a quaint and classic New England experience this holiday weekend or summer, look no further than our Hilltowns in Hampshire County. Head West on Route 9 just beyond the city of Northampton and you’ll transcend to a world with with lush tree-lined rolling back roads, no shortage of historic homes, and old-time country stores for pit stops along the way. The Chesterfield Fourth of July Parade festivities take place on July 4; the Hilltown Arts Festival is July 6; Bryant Day is on July 20 to celebrate poet and hilltown native William Cullen Bryant; the 158th Middlefield Agricultural Fair happens August 9 through 11 and the 145th Cummington Fair happens August 22 through 25.