Happy Holidays from Hampshire County
First Night Northampton
Photo by Eric Kaplan for MassLive
Research has shown that the people most susceptible to joy are people consciously fostering gratitude in their day-to-day lives. So this holiday season, in an effort to tip the scales toward joy, we’re going all-in on appreciation. And we’re starting right here in Hampshire County.
Holiday Happenings
Gratitude stop number one — our wide array of holiday happenings. We’ve got movies, we’ve got culture, we’ve got lights and carols galore. There are so many fun and festive options this year, the biggest issue will be figuring out how to fit them all in.
December 6: Lighting of the Merry Maple, Amherst
December 7: Breakfast with Santa at Look Park, Florence
December 7: Jazz, Baby! A 1920s Jazz Age Holiday Party at Hotel Northampton
December 8: 7th Annual Easthampton Holiday Whobalation, Millside Park, Easthampton
December 13-23: Santa’s Train and Holiday Express Hayride at Look Park
December 15: Christmas Bird Count for Kids and Families, Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Amherst
December 17: Beer and Carols, Sok’s Bar, South Hadley
December 21: Winter Solstice Celebration & Forest Luminaria Walk at Mass Audubon at Arcadia
December 21, 23: It’s a Wonderful Life at Amherst Cinema
December 22: The Nutcracker (Bolshoi Ballet) at Amherst Cinema
December 22: Film | Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas at the Yiddish Book Center
This is but a small sampling of the holiday events happening in Hampshire County this month. Explore the full calendar.
Spectacular Shopping
You know what else we’re grateful for this time of year? All of the artisans, craftspeople, makers, and small businesses that make up our community. Come and spend the day wandering our quaint downtowns, buying beautiful, hand-crafted gifts for your loved ones. We’ve got the goods!
December 5: Opening & Pie Party - 9th Annual Small Works Show, Hope & Feathers Framing and Printing, Amherst
December 6: Annual Holiday Cocktail and Fashion Party, Retro Genie Vintage Clothing and Accessories, Northampton
December 6, 7, 8, 13,14, 20, 21, 22: Holidays at CyclePottery, CyclePottery Studio, Florence
December 7: St. Nicholas Bazaar, Grace Church, Amherst
December 7: Christmas Craft Fair, The First Congregational Church of Hatfield
December 7: Open Farm Day and Christmas Sale, Laurel Ledge Farm, Florence
December 14: Janna Ugone Holiday Open Studio & Sale, Cottage Street Studios, Easthampton
Do you have a loved one who lives in or frequents Northampton? Are they just picky enough to make gift giving a little dicey? We have just the thing — the Northampton Gift Card! You can rest assured that your present will be appreciated, and they’ll have over 75 places to shop and dine. We call that a win/win.
Cue the Live Music
We’re always appreciative of the plethora of live music options we have in the Pioneer Valley, and the holidays are no exception. We’ve got performances for all preferences, so no matter the mood you’re seeking, there’s a show with your name on it.
December 4: A Celtic Family Christmas at UMass Fine Arts Center, Amherst
December 5: Irish Christmas in America, Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton
December 14: The Slambovian Circus of Dreams: A Very Slambovian Christmas at the Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton
December 14: Coming to Light, An Advent Progress, Northampton Center for the Arts
December 14-15: The Nutcracker at the Academy of Music
December 17: Keb' Mo's Jingle Bell Jamboree at the Academy of Music, Northampton
December 22 (3pm & 7pm): The Sweetback Sisters' Country Christmas Sing-Along SPECTACULAR! at the Academy of Music, Northampton
Can you believe this list is made up of holiday-related performances only? And it’s just a small selection of that small category of our live music happenings. Trust us, there’s a lot more where these came from. Explore the music scene in Hampshire County.
Ring in the New Year in Noho
To wrap up this gratitude fest, let’s talk about thankful we are for the biggest party of the holiday season. In Hampshire County, we ring in the New Year with First Night Northampton. This year is the 35th edition of this city-wide New Year's Eve party, and we’re going big with the family-friendly festivities. We have 12 hours of art, food, and entertainment planned at 20 different downtown venues. Join us on December 31st as we ring in 2020 with good friends and a fabulous time. To up the ante, the Northampton Chamber of Commerce is doing a First Night Northampton Giveaway! Take a short quiz and you'll be entered to win a family pack of buttons for 2 adults and 2 children. We can't wait to ring in the New Year with you!