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
Rhubarb not only makes a great mate to strawberry for an excellent seasonal pie, it can double as a sun umbrella while strolling your local farmers' market! Pick-your-own strawberries this weekend, pick up some rhubarb at the market and find a shady spot to work some culinary magic with this well matched duo! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
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.
DINNER IN THE HILLTOWNS
Friday, June 11th at Blue House Cafe in Haydenville: Quesadillas with organic black beans and local organic spinach. Arugula Pesto with Gluten-Free Pasta. – Gluten-free and vegan dishes too. BYOB. 268-7441
Friday, June 11th at Elmer’s Store in Ashfield: Fish Tacos – or – Veggie and cheese enchiladas with rice, beans and home-made guacamole. BYOB 628-4003
Friday & Saturday, June 12th-13th at Bread Euphoria in Haydenville: Crabcake Po’Boy Sandwiches with Remolude sauce and Brioche buns and Cole slaw. Sandwiches, salads, soups and pizza (including Gluten-Free pizza!). Beer & wine available. 268-7757
FEATURED EVENTS
Saturday, June 12, Shelburne Falls, RiverFest. An annual tribute to the Deerfield River, and the role it plays in people’s lives and the ecosystem of western MA. Entertaining and educational displays and demonstrations, Frog & Flower Parade, musicians and vendors, children’s games, singing and storytelling, creative workshops. Meet some of the birds of prey that soar through local skies, learn how to identify edible wild plants, see specially chosen movies at Pothole Pictures. Take a guided tour of the Gardner Falls power plant to learn how our river makes so much electricity for us and the power grid. Try some quiet-water rafting, ride an 1896 trolley car, or join a guided hike. Call Polly Bartlett for more info 413-625-6628. More info here.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Friday, June 18, 2010, 6:30 PM, Cummington Community House. “City Project” performance featuring students from Berkshire Trail Elementary School. City Project is a week of dance workshops that explore improvisation and choreography, and culminate in a performance. Students are not only the performers, but have done the drawings for the poster and tickets, helped write the press release and contact the media, and will be ushers and ticket-takers for the audience. Free admission. For more information, contact Maureen Shea 413-634-5431 or maureenmshea@gmail.com
BULLETIN BOARD
Deadline to enter to win: July 11th
Dave DelloRusso writes: The Primate Fiasco is playing at the GUTHRIE CENTER on Sat., June 12. It’s the former site of Alice’s Restaurant. This will be a night to remember. If kids show up, there will be some songs from the new kids album “Wheels On The Bus”. Tickets: 413-528-1955
Jaime Michaels, Executive Producer/Director for Out! For Reel LGBT Film Series in Northampton, MA writes: Out! For Reel is presenting a wonderful concert for the whole family, The Topp Twins, on Sat., June 12th, 8 pm at the Academy of Music Theatre. In New Zealand, the Topp Twins are the most popular music and comedy duo in the whole country. Families from all over will go to the Topp Twins concerts because their humor is a delight for children and adults. One of my friend’s son, 8 years old, who saw the documentary about the Topp Twins in February, said, “I like them. They’re funny, and they don’t care what anyone thinks or says about them. I wish I could be like that.” Can it be anymore perfect than that?
Deadline to enter to win: June 14th
FREE CHILDBIRTH ED CLASS: The Hilltown Community Health Center will be offering a free childbirth education class next Saturday, June 19th, from 10am-2pm. This day-long format will prepare families for the childbirth experience in one session. Ann Buscemi, certified childbirth educator, will talk about what to expect in labor and delivery, as well as breathing and relaxation techniques. Call Lee at 238-5511 x155 for more information on location and to register.
Gary Kuntz of Williamsburg, MA writes: Transition Williamsburg invites you to come out to Meekins Library on Thursday, June 17 at 7 PM. We will present excerpts from the movie, What a Way to Go, which addresses issues about peak oil and climate change. Come learn more about these issues and participate in discussion with members of your community. This will be the first of several information sharing/discussion evenings that will be planned over the coming months. Folks from Transition Williamsburg will be on hand to share the latest on activities being planned in our town and surrounding communities. If you want more information about the Transition Town movement go to Transitionus.org or transitiontowns.org. For more info call me at 268-2626 or John Pepi at 268-9276.
Deadline to enter to win: June 22nd
ARENA CIVIC THEATRE will hold auditions for its fall musical ANNIE Friday June 25 at 6:30 pm at the Jones Library (Amherst) and Saturday June 26 at 5:30 pm at Artspace (Greenfield). Roles for 15 girls ages 7-14, 2 boys and 20 men and women ages 15-70. For more information contact director Martha King-Devine at devinekingmartha@gmail.com or http://www.arenacivictheatre.org. Annie will be produced at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls. Directed by Martha King-Devine with musical direction by Susanne Anderson and choreography by Melanie Reneris and Cara Leach.
OPEN HOUSE: Families looking for child care in the Hilltowns: Davenport Child Care in Chesterfield will have an open house and family picnic this Saturday from 12noon-4pm. They are located at 387 Main Road (Route 143) in the lower level of the Hilltown Community Development Corporation (HCDC) building. Call Therese for more info at 296-4785.
Deadline to enter to win: June 16th
FREE ASTRONOMY RESOURCE: Educators and parents: Are you ready to take a Journey to the Stars? The American Museum of Natural History and NASA have joined forces to produce a planetarium show about the amazing variety of stars that dot our cosmos–exploding stars, giant stars, dwarf stars, neutron stars, even our own star! But you don’t have to go to a planetarium to experience this mind-blowing journey. NASA will send you a DVD, for free! More info here.
HCDC NEWS: The Summer, 2010 Issue of the Hilltown Community Development Corporation is now available on-line!
DON’T STOP LEARNING JUST BECAUSE ITS SUMMER: With summer vacation almost upon us, here is some helpful information for parents who see themselves as true partners in their children’s education. The Family Education Website has loads of suggestions on fun ways to keep kids reading, math, science, social studies and arts skills honed. And just some plain old family fun ideas to enliven those wonderful days of summer!
ADVERTISING & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Deliver your message to a large local family based audience while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Advertise your event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement here in the Bulletin Board section of our List of Weekly Suggested Events.
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW
This week on the HFVS we will be spinning new tunes by Verve Pipe, Sugar Free Allstars, Dream Jam Band, Sweet Colleens, Randy Kaplan, Star Fish, Justin Roberts and Treehouse 10.
Tune in on Saturdays from 9-10am, or listen to our podcasts HERE. Encore episodes are aired every Sunday from 7-8am. 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.
PODCAST: Listen to the most recent episodes of the Hilltown Family Variety Show anytime you wish! Click here to see our current select of episodes, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast too!
WEEKLY LIST OF SUGGESTED EVENTS
Suggest an Event | Local Forecast | Free Museum Passes | Family Centers (Ages 0-4) | Movies in the Valley | Movies in the Berkshires | Farmers’ Markets | Listen Here
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
SATURDAY – 6/12
FARMERS’ MARKETS
6-10am – FAMILY RADIO: New tunes by Verve Pipe, Sugar Free Allstars, Dream Jam Band, Sweet Colleens, Randy Kaplan, Star Fish, Justin Roberts and Treehouse 10 on the HFVS! 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.
8am – 11pm – COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Granby Charter Days – held yearly in June at Dufresne Park featuring local country and farm themes, tractor pulls, logging, fireworks, helicopter rides, food, petting zoo, live music, Adult and Kids Idol Karaoke Contest, arts and crafts, midway rides for all ages, and much more. www.granbyma.net/granby-charter-days.php Granby, MA ($)
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Family paddle on the Housatonic River, sponsored by the Housatonic Valley Association from Searles School to Sheffield Covered Bridge. For families with small children only. 6.5 miles, flat water. Longer stop for lunch and relaxation. 394-9796 Great Barrington/Sheffield, MA (FREE)
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Water Under the Bridge Music Festival. Click here for more info. Turners Falls, MA
9am – TOWN WIDE TAG SALE: There will be a town wide tag sale in Worthington. Maps available at the library for a donation. Map proceeds go to the children’s summer programs. Worthington, MA (SALE)
9am-4pm – ARTS & CRAFTS: Belchertown Arts and Crafts on the Common – a benefit for the Teen Center. Belchertown, MA (SALE)
9am-5pm – NATURE STUDIES: Visit the Turners Falls Fishway. Underwater viewing windows offer visitors of all ages a chance to see American shad, sea lamprey and other migratory fish during their upriver spring journey to spawn. At Turners Falls Dam (behind town hall). 659-3714 Turners Falls, MA (Free)
9:30am-4:30pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Garden Day at Historic Deerfield. Discover the important roles that gardens played for early New Englanders. Tours the Cooks’ Garden, Open Hearth Cooking, tastings of herbal foods, culinary-focused house tours, a “Tree and Shrub ID” walk, a talk about Composting and Soil Health, an agricultural walk, and a garden tour focusing on the critical role of pollinators. 775-7214 www.historic-deerfield.org. Deerfield, MA ($)
9:30am-5pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Muster Day at Old Sturbridge Village. www.osv.org Sturbridge, MA ($$)
10-11am – MUSIC PROGRAM: Little Groove Live at the Westfield Athenaeum. Little Groove is groovy, fun, educational music for children. This program is open to children of all ages. Registration is required. Contact: Dan Paquette. 562-6158 x5 Westfield, MA
10am-5pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: The Eric Carle Museum’s 3rd Annual Children’s Book Festival Celebrates Dogs in Children’s Literature. Click here for more info. Amherst, MA ($)
10:30am – COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: RiverFest, an annual tribute to the Deerfield River, and the role it plays in people’s lives and the ecosystem of western MA. Entertaining and educational displays and demonstrations, Frog & Flower Parade, musicians and vendors, children’s games, singing and storytelling, creative workshops. 625-6628. Shelburne Falls, MA (FREE)
10:30AM-12Noon – ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES: Springfield architect William Devlin will lead a walking tour in the Quadrangle-Mattoon Street area. Devlin will discuss how buildings in the area have evolved through the years, from simple changes like filling in windows to major additions. He will point out the distinctive features of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Classical High Condominium, and the Verizon building on the corner of Dwight and Bridge streets. Walking tour tickets may be purchased in the Springfield Museums Welcome Center (21 Edwards St.) the day of the event. 747-1830 Springfield, MA (>$)
11am-12Noon – STORY TIME: Stories from Nature’s Garden at the Lee Library for kids 5yo and younger. 243.0385 Lee, MA (FREE)
1pm – SINGING: Singing Games with Roomful of Teeth at MASS MoCA. Roomful of Teeth and their Inuit throat-singing guests will present a family-friendly workshop. Partly education, partly interactive, and wholly entertaining, this event will have the entire room singing in ways new, beautiful and fun. No singing experience necessary. All ages welcome. If you can talk, you can sing. www.massmoca.org North Adams, MA ($)
1-3pm – FISH ART: Fish Printing for ages 6 and older. Fish print your very own T-shirt or artwork on paper and discover the intricate beauty and important function of fish fins and scales. Drop by the Turners Falls Fishway and bring a T-shirt or other cloth item to use for fish printing. Fish Tee-shirts make great Father’s Day presents! Please wear clothes that can get stained. (800) 859-2960 Turners Falls, MA (FREE)
1-3pm – CHESS: Drop-in Chess at the Forbes Library Mezzanine. Casual meets every Saturday the library is open. All competition levels are welcome. Drop in for part or all of the session. Bring your own set if you have one or use one of the library’s. Northampton, MA (FREE)
1-3pm – SCIENCE ADVENTURES: The Springfield Museum offers Family Science Adventures. Investigate the solar system, examine animal characteristics and discover together engaging activities. 263-6800 www.springfieldmuseum.org Springfield MA ($)
1-4pm – OPEN HOUSE: Easthampton Art School Grand Opening & Open House at The Paragon Arts & Industry Building (150 Pleasant St.) 320-8680 easthamptonartschool.wordpress.com Easthampton, MA (FREE)
1-4pm – VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Volunteer Day at Red Gate Farm. Help out in the garden, paint/organize the classroom, clear trails, or mend fences. Share in the laughter and a spirit of community as you help build a special place. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. All ages welcome. (4 Norman Rd.)625-9503 www.redgatefarm.org Buckland, MA (FREE)
1-4pm – BIKE ADVENTURES: Holyoke Get Outdoors Day. Get outside, get some exercise and see what’s green in Holyoke on a moderate bike tour of the city’s gardens and parks. Along the way you will learn about where you can find some fresh air and fresh veggies in the city and also get a chance to look more closely at this historic city. The tour will start and end at Land of Providence. Helmets are required and guardians must accompany youth under 14. 532.1632 x13 Holyoke, MA (FREE)
2-4pm – FARM EVENT: Wildcat Sanctuary for Peace. There will be circle dancing, hula hooping, a pot luck and possibly some other activities. Route 9 Williamsburg, MA (FREE)
5-8pm – ART WALK: Art Walk Easthampton is held the “Second Saturday” of the month. Locations across the city showcase visual, music and performance art in an energetic sampling of local, regional and national talent. Easthampton, MA (FREE)
6pm – SPORTS FANS: Take the family out to the ballpark to see a Pittsfield Colonials baseball home game at Wahconah Park. www.pittsfieldcolonials.com Pittsfield, MA ($)
7:30pm – FILM: Pothole Pictures Film Series will feature The Deerfield-A Working River at Memorial Hall Theater. The story of the Deerfield River is one of fascinating natural and human histories, environmental successes and challenges, beauty and power. Director Joe DeFelice will be on hand to discuss his film. (51 Bridge St.) 625-2896 Shelburne Falls, MA (>$)
8pm – COMEDY: Out! For Reel will present The Topp Twins, the talented, award-winning music and comedy duo at the Academy of Music Theatre. The Topp Twins are lesbian twin sisters whose talent and popularity in their native New Zealand has won them best Country Western Music Album, their own prime time television variety show, and induction into NZ’s Music Hall of Fame. www.outforreel.org Northampton, MA ($$)
8:40pm – DRIVE-IN MOVIE: Northfield Drive-In movie theater is featuring Marmaduke (PG) as their first show, and Date Night(PG-13) as their second show this weekend. (603) 239-4054 www.northfielddrivein.com Northfield, MA ($)
SUNDAY – 6/13
7-8am – FAMILY RADIO: New tunes by Verve Pipe, Sugar Free Allstars, Dream Jam Band, Sweet Colleens, Randy Kaplan, Star Fish, Justin Roberts and Treehouse 10 on the HFVS! Encore episode on Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA). Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.
HIKING: Two hikes are scheduled and sponsored by the Deerfield River Watershed Association. One in Colrain and the other in Conway. More info here. (FREE)
9am-5pm – NATURE STUDIES: Visit the Turners Falls Fishway. Underwater viewing windows offer visitors of all ages a chance to see American shad, sea lamprey and other migratory fish during their upriver spring journey to spawn. At Turners Falls Dam (behind town hall). 659-3714 Turners Falls, MA (Free)
10am – 6pm – COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Granby Charter Days – held yearly in June at Dufresne Park featuring local country and farm themes, tractor pulls, logging, fireworks, helicopter rides, food, petting zoo, live music, Adult and Kids Idol Karaoke Contest, arts and crafts, midway rides for all ages, and much more. www.granbyma.net/granby-charter-days.php Granby, MA ($)
12Noon – FARM EVENT: Farm stand open 12-6pm at Wildcat Sanctuary for Peace. Join the party from noon onward to recover and re-paint the BUDDHA Stones and landscape the location for their placement. Tired of the wars? Want to paint a giant 20 x 40 foot billboard banner too? Bring frisbee. Bring kites. Bring hula-hoops. Bring food to share. Come paint or watch or weed or walk the land. Fire circle after dark. Route 9. Williamsburg, MA (FREE)
1-3pm – SCIENCE ADVENTURES: The Springfield Museum offers Family Science Adventures. Investigate the solar system, examine animal characteristics and discover together engaging activities. 263-6800 www.springfieldmuseum.org Springfield MA ($)
1-4pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: The Bisbee Mill Museum will have their annual opening with their operating gristmill. A great way for the kids to learn how a mill ran. (66 East Street) Chesterfield, MA (FREE)
2pm – SPORTS FANS: Take the family out to the ballpark to see a Pittsfield Colonials baseball home game at Wahconah Park. www.pittsfieldcolonials.com Pittsfield, MA ($)
3-5pm – SEWING: Ashfield Needles and Threads meets at Elmer’s. Get together and sew, knit, crochet, chat, hook rugs… ibranson@crocker.com Ashfield, MA (FREE)
3pm – CHORAL: Hampshire Choral Society present the rarely performed oratorio St. Paul (op.36) by Felix Mendelssohn at John M. Greene Hall, Smith College. he Hampshire Choral Society will present this work in the original German, and will be accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra. www.hampshirechoral.org Northampton, MA ($$)
7:30pm – SONG CIRCLE: Jewish Women’s Song Circle. 737-2601 www.jfswm.org Northampton, MA (FREE)
8:40pm – DRIVE-IN MOVIE: Northfield Drive-In movie theater is featuring Marmaduke (PG) as their first show, and Date Night(PG-13) as their second show this weekend. (603) 239-4054 www.northfielddrivein.com Northfield, MA ($)
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Hilltown Families 
Monday – 6/14
9:30-11:30am in Northampton – NPC Playgroups: Northampton Skate Board Park with Carrie (FREE)
10am-2pm in South Hadley: Safekids.org is hosting a car seat checkup event at Second Baptist Church (589 Granby Rd.) (FREE)
10am in Easthampton: Playgroup with famlies from the Easthampton Family Center at Nonotuck Park Upper Playground. Snacks will be available, parents are encouraged to bring their own drinks. Parents who attend will rotate bringing fruit or veggies to share. (FREE)
2:15-3:15pm in Dalton: The Dalton Community Recreation Department is bringing back the PLUNGE for the summer. The PLUNGE will be offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2:15-3:15p.m. Children 8 and under must bring an adult with them. Children 9 and up may come with their friends (no adult necessary). Cost: $2 per person. Call 684-0260 for more information. (>$)
5-6:30pm in Cummington: Cummington Family Center end of season potluck at Pettinghill Park. (FREE)
6:30pm in Montague: Evening Sing-Along at the Montague Center Library. Children of all ages and their families are invited to join Children’s Librarian Linda Hickman for a fun informal live music. Linda plays a variety of children’s music on the guitar and banjo, and there are bells and shakers for the children to play. For more information, call the Carnegie Library- 863-3214.
Tuesday – 6/15
9:30-11:30am in Easthampton: Parent-child gardening days with the Easthampton Family Center at the Easthampton Community Garden.
11am-12Noon in Hadley: Goodwin Memorial Library will host a preschool story hour.
2:15pm in Amherst: Baby-friendly movie screening at the Amherst Cinema. ($)
3-6pm in Greenfield: Guiding Star Grange Farmer’s Market in the parking lot at 401 Chapman Street.
Wednesday – 6/16
9:30-11:30am in Cummington: Parent Run Playgroup at the Cummington Family Center. (FREE)
9:30-11:30am in Leeds: NPC Playgroups: Musante Beach.
9am-5pm in Turners Falls: Visit the Turners Falls Fishway. Underwater viewing windows offer visitors of all ages a chance to see American shad, sea lamprey and other migratory fish during their upriver spring journey to spawn. At Turners Falls Dam (behind town hall). 659-3714 (Free)
10:30am in Williamsburg: Preschool Storytime at the Meekins Library with Children’s Librarian Rochelle Wildfong. (FREE)
10:30-11:45am in Amherst: Momma and Baby Yoga (Start after 7 weeks postpartum) at the CDH outpatient offices at 170 University Drive. Get back in shape, connect with other mothers. Recondition your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Whether baby is feeding in your arms or lying on you or next to you, your baby is included in the fun. Momma and Baby Yoga classes are offered weekly as long as there are enough families pre-registered to attend. Cost: $44 for 4 classes; or $13 per single class. Pre-registration is required: 582-2736, press “3” for Yoga
1pm in Northampton: Baby-friendly movie screening at the Pleasant Street Theater. ($)
2pm in Florence: Wednesday Farmers’ Market on the lawn at the Florence Civic Center (Route 9) from 2-6pm
2-6pm in Turners Falls: Great Falls Farmers Market. Located on the corner of 2nd Street and Avenue A. in Turners Falls, right next to the Great Falls Discovery Center.
3:30-4:30pm in Greenfield: Animal Adventures: Animal Homes at Greenfield Public Library (402 Main Street). Learn about animal homes with a story time and multiple art and science activity stations. (FREE)
4-6pm in Conway: Conway Farmers Market. Main Street (Rte. 116) in front of the Filed Memorial Library.
2:15-3:15pm in Dalton: The Dalton Community Recreation Department is bringing back the PLUNGE for the summer. The PLUNGE will be offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2:15-3:15p.m. Children 8 and under must bring an adult with them. Children 9 and up may come with their friends (no adult necessary). Cost: $2 per person. Call 684-0260 for more information.
6-8pm in Pittsfield: Birth Circle at Chapters Bookstore (78 North St.). This month’s theme is emotions in the childbearing year. How have you felt during pregnancy? Elated? Annoyed? Scared? Excited? Probably all of them at one time or another. Birth and postpartum can also bring many conflicting and surprising emotions. The birth circle is a safe and supportive environment to share some of what is going on for you. sarah@berkshirefamilymidwifery.com (FREE)
Northampton: Family Yoga on Wednesdays at the YMCA in Northampton. Free for members!
7pm in East Longmeadow: Summer Concert Series at East Longmeadow High School Athletic Field witn UnionJack. 525-3188
Thursday – 6/17
9am-5pm in Turners Falls: Visit the Turners Falls Fishway. Underwater viewing windows offer visitors of all ages a chance to see American shad, sea lamprey and other migratory fish during their upriver spring journey to spawn. At Turners Falls Dam (behind town hall). 659-3714 (Free)
9:30-11:30am in Northampton: NPC Playgroup at Bridge Street School playground with Rania.
9:30-10:30am in Westfield: Fantastic Fours and Fives at the Westfield Athenaeum. This is a special one time sampler of storytime (formerly Storytime Plus) for 4 and 5 year olds. This program includes stories, song, fingerplays and a craft! 562-6158 x5
11am in Springfield: Public ice skating at Smead Arena (1780 Roosevelt Ave.) until 1pm. Skate rentals available. 781-2599 ($)
12:30-2pm in Easthampton: Hoola hoop show at the Esthampton Council on Aging Enrichment Center (19 Union St.) (FREE)
3-6pm in Orange: Orange Farmers’ Market held in Butterfield Park (83 East River Street). (978) 544-7834
3:30-5pm in Westfield: Teen Game Time at the Westfield Athenaeum. Students in grades 6-12 are invited to drop in to the library to meet with friends and play games. There will be ROCK BAND, GUITAR HERO, DDR, Wii and various board games available. For more information contact Patti or Dan in the B&G. 562-6158 x5
4-7pm in Northfield: Northfield Farmers’ Market held at Trinitarian Congregational Church (147 Main Street). 522-3552
5pm in Pittsfield: 3rd Thursday in downtown Pittsfield
5-8pm in Northampton: Local Strawberry Ice Cream Social at River Valley Market. Kick off the summer growing season! by grilling burgers and sausages outside, and enjoying local Bart’s Homemade ice cream with fresh local strawberries for dessert. Live music by Swing Caravan, and fun for the whole family! And yes, they will have vegetarian burgers available too!
5-9pm in Amherst: Taste of Amherst on the Amherst Common. The Taste of Amherst is a signature community event filled with food, family and fun.
6-8pm in Easthampton: Easthampton 225 Kick-Off Birthday Party at Phillips Stevens Chapel, Williston-Northampton School. Welcome message from Mayor Tautznik, live music, historic costumed figures, giant puppets and birthday cake for all! (FREE)
6-9pm in South Deerfield: Chandler’s Summer Concert Series & BBQ on the Chandler’s Patio (25 Greenfield Road) with John Waynelovich, Jazz Group. 665-1277 ($)
6-8pm in Easthampton: Toothbrushing Workshop at Our Lady Child Care Center for early education and care professionals. Open to all. This workshop will help early education and care providers partner with families and the community in promoting good oral health in young children. Presenter Nancy Lolacono will offer some tips for program planning and development to help make oral health an integral part of your overall curriculum. Registration is required. Call Diana Norman 413-586-4998 x111 or email dnorman@collaborative.org.
6:30pm in Amherst: Spanish Speaking Story Hour at the Jones Library. The story hours will be held in the Children’s Room and are for children 3-8 years of age. The children will develop early reading skills while they listen to stories in Spanish and enjoy a snack. 259-3223 (FREE)
7pm in Williamsburg: Gary Kuntz of Williamsburg, MA writes: Transition Williamsburg invites you to come out to Meekins Library on Thursday, June 17 at 7 PM. We will present excerpts from the movie, What a Way to Go, which addresses issues about peak oil and climate change. Come learn more about these issues and participate in discussion with members of your community. This will be the first of several information sharing/discussion evenings that will be planned over the coming months. Folks from Transition Williamsburg will be on hand to share the latest on activities being planned in our town and surrounding communities. If you want more information about the Transition Town movement go to Transitionus.org or transitiontowns.org. For more info call me at 268-2626 or John Pepi at 268-9276.
Friday – 6/18
9am-5pm in Turners Falls: Visit the Turners Falls Fishway. Underwater viewing windows offer visitors of all ages a chance to see American shad, sea lamprey and other migratory fish during their upriver spring journey to spawn. At Turners Falls Dam (behind town hall). 659-3714 (Free)
9:30am & 11am in Westfield: Terrific Twos and Threes at the Westfield Athenaeum. This is a one time sampler of the storytime that is designed for 2 and 3 year olds. Siblings are welcome. Enjoy songs, activities, a story and a craft. 562-6158 x5
10am in Greenfield: Jump into Fitness Indoor Obstacle Course Playgroup at the YMCA. (FREE)
10-11am in Westfield: The Little Red Wagon traveling theatre group will perform Jack and the Beanstalk and the Two-Headed Ogre at Stanley Park. 568.9312 http://www.stanleypark.org
11:30-3:30pm in Westfield: All About Dad Story & Craft at Amelia Park Children’s Museum. Make cards for dad during story time, & a special gift activity at 4:30 pm. (FREE)
2-6pm in Shelburne Falls: Shelburne Falls Farmers’ Market (53 Main St.)
5-10pm in Amherst: Taste of Amherst on the Amherst Common. The Taste of Amherst is a signature community event filled with food, family and fun.
5:30pm in Holyoke: Pavillion Summer Concert Series at the Summit View House. http://www.summitviewbanquethouse.com 538-7431 (FREE)
6-8pm in Easthampton: Family Ice Cream Social at the Easthampton Congregational Church Fellowship Hall. An “Historical Presentation” describing how church may have been 225 years ago will be presented at 7:00 in the Sanctuary. Historical artifacts and pictures will be on display. The public is invited to share. (FREE)
6:30pm in Cummington: “City Project” performance featuring students from Berkshire Trail Elementary School. City Project is a week of dance workshops that explore improvisation and choreography, and culminate in a performance. Students are not only the performers, but have done the drawings for the poster and tickets, helped write the press release and contact the media, and will be ushers and ticket-takers for the audience. For more information, contact Maureen Shea 413-634-5431 or maureenmshea@gmail.com (FREE)
6:30-8pm in Pittsfield: What do Bears do in the Wood. A great opportunity for teachers to learn how to engage students to learn about nature via scat! At the Berkshire Community College (Room G-10)
7pm in Pittsfield: Take the family out to the ballpark to see a Pittsfield Colonials baseball home game at Wahconah Park. ($)
7:30pm in Lenox, MA: Friday Night Fright at The Mount, a special guided tour of the most haunted parts of the estate. RSVP 551-5111 http://www.edithwharton.org ($)
8:35pm in Northfield: Northfield Drive-In movie theater. (603) 239-4054 http://www.northfielddrivein.com Northfield, MA ($)
Addendum to the weekend calendar:
SATURDAY – 6/12
12Noon-1:30pm – FATHER SUPPORT GROUP: Ever want to get together with other dads of infants and toddlers to: Talk about your experiences, Share your trials/triumphs and everything in between Explore topics of fatherly interest Ongoing group every other Saturday at Cradle (3rd floor of Thornes Market) with father and facilitator, David Ettleman. (FREE)
SUNDAY – 6/13
9:00 am- 3:00 pm – STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Outlook Farm Strawberry Festival (136 Main Rd.). Come shop at the outdoor farm market, bring your family for fun activities, listen to master gardener Jay Zinksey talk about garden design, attend the afternoon pig roast,and relax with live music and ice-cream & strawberry short cake. Part of the Outlook Farm’s Sunday Festival Series. Westhampton
6:30pm – CULINARY ADVENTURES: Cheese Tasting … the last of the 2010 Old Creamery Tasting Series in the Creamery Cafe. This tasting will feature fantastic cheeses from 6 different countries, with a variety of creamy, soft and hard textures and mild, sharp and pungent flavors. The cheeses will be produced from cow’s, goat’s, sheep’s and mixed milk. We’ll have some raw milk and pasteurized cheeses as well as artesian and production made cheeses. The cheeses that arrived this week for the tasting are spectacular. Sign up in advance. http://www.oldcreamerycoop.org Cummington, MA