Discover fun and educational events happening this weekend in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast.
SUGGEST AN EVENT
If you have a family friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening, along with time, place, age appropriateness and costs before attending.
On Saturday, October 2nd from 10am-5pm -HARVEST FESTIVAL: Berkshire Botanical Garden 2010 Harvest Festival. Live music, crafts, food, rides, silent auction, plant sale, animals, tag sale, and fall fun activities for kids. www.berkshirebotanical.org Stockbridge, MA (>$)
On Saturday, October 2nd from 4-8pm – BARN PARTY: In support of “Grow Food Northampton” there will be live music with Lui Collins, dancing, cider pressing, speeches, delicious local food, dessert potluck, kid activities and more at the Elk’s Lodge. www.growfoodnorthampton.com Florence, MA (DONATION)
On Sunday, October 3rd from 10am-4pm – COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: 49th Annual Festival of the Hills. 10K road race, arts and crafts exhibits, live music, activities for kids, a parade, log-splitting and skillet-tossing contests, and food and wares from local vendors. All proceeds from the Festival go to support scholarships for local high school students. www.festivalofthehills.com 369-4392 Conway, MA (FREE ENTRANCE)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
On Columbus Day weekend from 10am-5pm – FALL FESTIVAL: Ashfield Fall Festival takes place on Main Street (rain or shine) on Saturday & Sunday. A fabulous family event. Arts & Craft exhibits, local food, live music and dance, many kid activities, book & tag sales, seasonal foods. A showcase of Ashfield artisans and businesses. No dogs. www.ashfieldfallfestival.org Ashfield, MA (FREE ENTRANCE)
PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS: Scott Halligan of Ashfield is currently offering in-home private music lessons for students of all ages in the Hilltowns. Lessons are available by the half-hour or hour in piano, guitar, string instruments, and brass instruments. Discounts are available for group lessons and households wishing to host lessons for multiple students. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned player, Scott can help you reach your goals in music! For rates, schedule, and other information please write to email@example.com. Scott holds a MM from the New England Conservatory of Music, and is Director of Instrumental Music at Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield, MA.
Jenn Drumm of Williamsburg, MA writes: Please join us at the 1st Annual Williamsburg Arts & Crafts Fall Festival on Sunday, October 24th from 10am – 4pm at the Williamsburg Grange. Williamsburg will be a hub of activity with a fundraiser for the Meekins Library and other events scheduled, including Hot Air Balloon tethering rides from 3-4:30pm. If you’re a local artist/craftsperson looking for a new opportunity, give us a call. Tables are only $20. If interested, please contact: Jenn Drumm Schmitt @ 268-0131 firstname.lastname@example.org or Lori Burns @ 268-0074 email@example.com Hope to see you there!
Mark Wamsley, Program & Outreach Coordinator for the Highland Communities Initiative of the The Trustees of Reservations writes: The Highland Communities Initiative is looking for someone with woodworking skills to help us build a display rack for our literature/pamphlets to hang at Notchview in time for cross-country ski season. We have a simple design and most of the required lumber on hand, we just need someone with a little bit of time and know-how to build it. Of course we’ll cover the cost of materials. We can pay for the help too, but the amount we have is most certainly less than a professional carpenter would charge. As a supplement, we’re happy to discuss a barter arrangement for additional lumber, etc. Also, since we are a non-profit, any donation of services would be a tax deduction. Thanks to anyone who might be willing to chip in and help us out! 268-8219 firstname.lastname@example.org
Dina Raymond of Goshen, MA writes: Part time helper for a lovely elderly woman, my Mom. Seeking a reliable, responsible and kind companion to help my Mom two days a week with shopping, cleaning, and other errands in and around Northampton. Hours are Monday’s & Friday’s from 11:20 am- approx. 2:30/3:00 pm. Please have a car with a clean driving record. References are great and you need not have prior experience with elders to apply. A sense of humor and good listening skills is a bonus! Please reply to email@example.com
JOIN 4-H BIRD BRAINS! YOUR LOCAL POULTRY 4-H CLUB: A great opportunity to develop a greater knowledge base about chickens and other poultry, to develop youth leadership and teamwork, to provide community service, to experience hands-on learning and to have fun! Our next meeting is Monday, October 4th at 6 PM, at Burgy Bullets (12 Laurel Rd. Haydenville). Please call Nicole 413.727.8239 with any questions.
SKI & SNOWBOARD: Chesterfield Downhill Ski & Snowboard Club is looking for interested participants! Are you interested? Day of the week and cost for the program still underway. More details will be available in November, program will begin in January 2011. If you want to be kept in the loop, please express your interest to coordinator, Joan Griswold at firstname.lastname@example.org or 268-7985. Open to all.
PARENT SUPPORT GROUP: Parents Together Support Groups are happening in both Northampton and Amherst, a FREE alternative support group for parents who learn best in non-traditional ways and have kids 5yo or under. Come play games, learn parenting skills, create art, go on field trips/picnics and discuss ways to keep your family happy and healthy. Transportation, childcare, games, prizes, food and coffee will be provided. Groups meet at the Amherst Family Center (Tuesdays from 9:30-11am) and the Northampton Parent Child Development Center (Time TBD). To learn more about this program and register, call Kris Larson at 834-3344 or email email@example.com
SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Let us help get the word out about your event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement. Email firstname.lastname@example.org for more information. — Help us help you!
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW
This week on the HFVS is our fundraising episode. We’re helping to raise $6,000 for WXOJ 103.3FM (Valley Free Radio.). We’re playing great music while taking a few breaks to ask for your support. – A new podcast will be posted on Saturday, featuring new music by The Okee Dokee Brothers, Fannery Brothers, The Bazilions, Capar Babypants, and story time with a new tale off of Bill Harley’s new CD.
Families have several ways to tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show:
Streaming Audio: Surf on over to ValleyFreeRadio.org on Saturday & Sunday mornings and listen to us live via streaming audio. On Your FM Dial: Tune in to WXOJ 103.3FM if you live near Northampton, MA.
WEEKLY LIST OF SUGGESTED EVENTS
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
♦ On-going Events
Saturday – 10/2
6-10am – FAMILY RADIO: Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) offers 4-hours of commercial-free family programing every Saturday, including the Hilltown Family Variety Show and Spare the Rock. Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.
♦ 8:30am-12:30pm – FARMERS’ MARKET: On the town green. Ashfield, MA (MARKET)
All Day – TAG SALE: Community wide tag sale. Deerfield, MA (SALE)
All Day – BIG E: New England’s Premier Exposition. www.TheBigE.com West Springfield, MA ($)
8am-3pm – CONSIGNMENT SALE: 8th Annual All 4 Kids Fall/Winter Sale at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church (128 Main St.). Easthampton, MA (SALE)
9:30am-4:30pm – FOOD HISTORY: What’s cooking? Open hearth cooking at the Historic Deerfield. Open hearth cooks will prepare select dishes that are on display as part of the exhibition Dinner is Served!: Dining and the Decorative Arts. Come see “what’s cooking” and learn how these dishes were prepared in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The history workshop: Pots, Pans and Porridge: Children in the Colonial Kitchen, will be offered too starting at 12Noon. 775-7127 www.historic-deerfield.org Deerfield, MA (MUSEUM ADMISSION)
9:30am-5pm – FOOD HISTORY: Apple Days at Old Sturbridge Village. See their animal-powered Cider Mill in operation and try your hand at a man- (or woman- or child-) powered version. Learn about heirloom varieties of apples, taste a few (included with admission), take a walk in a Village orchard led by a horticulture expert, see (and smell!) cooking with apples, have a taste of mulled cider, and learn about storing and preserving the fruit that was such a big part of early New England life. 800-733-1830 www.osv.org Sturbridge, MA ($)
10am-12Noon – PARENTING WORKSHOP: Happiest Baby on the Block with Melanie Serman. Learn techniques to soothe your baby. CHP Family Services Building (442 Stockbrige Rd.). 644-0104 www.communityhealthprograms.org Great Barrington, MA (FREE)
10am-3pm – CULTURAL CELEBRATION: The New England Peace Pagoda (100 Cave Hill Rd.) will celebrate its 25th Anniversary with drumming, ceremony, Buddhist traditions and interfaith prayers. Cambodian Traditional Blessing and Flower Dance. Songs, speech, and a social dance led by the Wampanoag Singers and Dancers. A hearty lunch will be served at 1:30pm. 367-2202 www.newenglandpeacepagoda.com Leverett, MA
10am-5pm -HARVEST FESTIVAL: Berkshire Botanical Garden 2010 Harvest Festival. Live music, crafts, food, rides, silent auction, plant sale, animals, tag sale, and fall fun activities for kids. www.berkshirebotanical.org Stockbridge, MA (>$)
10am-TBA – COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Middlefield Heritage Days. Wagon rides, cider, food, art show, variety show, and much more. Town Center. 623-0017 Middlefield, MA
10:30am-4:30pm – HISTORIC TRADE: The Deerfield Museum’s Made-by-Hand-Trades of the Past will feature Hat Making & Redware Potting. See historic trades demonstrations of hat making with Bill Wigham, and redware potting with Rick Hamelin. 775-7127 www.historic-deerfield.org Deerfield, MA (MUSEUM ADMISSION)
11am-2pm – FAMILY PICNIC: Fall potluck for LGBT families at Look Park (picnic table 67K). Sponsored by LGBT Parents in Pioneer Valley. Bring food to share, and toys/clothes for a swap. Crafts for kids. (Rain date: 10/3, 10/9) Florence, MA (ENTRANCE FEE)
11am, 1:15 & 3pm – FOLIAGE CRUISE: Quinnetukut II Riverboat cruises. Join Captain Steve Larivee and first mate Sarah Doyle for this 12 mile cruise along the scenic Connecticut River. Cruises depart from Barton Cove. Make a reservations: (800) 859-2960 Northfield, MA ($)
11am-4pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Opening celebration at MASS MoCA in their Kidspace for Color Forms 1: Pink & Blue Projects by Portia Munson. Explore the colors pink and blue in Portia Munson’s installation of found objects, photographs, and print. Refreshments, art-making activities, meet the artist. 413.MoCA.111 www.massmoca.org North Adams, MA (FREE)
♦ 12Noon-3pm – COMMUNITY MEAL: Montague Farm Zen House presents the weekly Montague Farm Cafe -a free, weekly family oriented meal and gathering, with healthy food, art activities, live music, and games. 367-5275 Montague, MA (FREE)
And many more … Read the rest of this entry »