Hilltown Families 
Giveaway: 5 Annual Family Memberships to 5 Western Mass Museums! (2010)
At the turn of the year, Hilltown Families will be turning five years old … and we will be celebrating all year long! We started off our celebration by offering 5 Gifts Locally Handmade by Hilltown Mompreneurs (see who won here).
Over the years, Hilltown Families has had the great pleasure of letting families throughout the region know about all of the wonderful events happening at the plethora of world class museums we have access to here in Western Massachusetts.
We are continuing our 5 year celebration with the Berkshire Museum, The Eric Carle Museum, Historic Deerfield, MASS MoCA and Springfield Museums! These 5 Western Massachusetts Museums have joined our party and are offering our readers an annual family membership! One very, very lucky family will win a family membership to all five of these local cultural gems! How wicked awesome is that!? It’s our birthday, but you get the presents!
Each week on our list of Weekly Suggested Events, we share family and community activities offered by these local gems, along with educational opportunities, performances and camps. We’ve featured many stellar museum exhibits including: The Art of the Brick at the Springfield Museum; Color Forms I: Pink and Blue Projects at KidSpace at MASS MoCA; and Armed & Dangerous: Art of the Arsenal at the Berkshire Museum.
Contributing writer Karen Bayne has shared her family day visits to Historic Deerfield, Springfield Museums, and the Berkshire Musuem — and our outings have always been equally enjoyable: like our visit to Historic Deerfield for A Cozy Winter Day; Midwinter Magic puppet show at the Springfield Museum; and Constant Wonder’s educational performance Wings of a Feather at the Eric Carle Museum.
The Berkshire Museum continues to delight us with their activities and exhibits. We discovered truly amazing amphibians at the exhibit Frogs: A Chorus of Color; delighted in the Berkshire Children’s Theater’s performance of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid in the auditorium; enjoyed soul food and a performance of Hip-Hop, African and modern dances at their Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday party; and dressed up and attended a fabulously kitchy retro gala to celebrate the exhibit, Kid Stuff: Great Toys from Our Childhood.
Over the years we’ve also shared ways to participate at the Eric Carle Museum, including the Be Kind to Animals Week contest and an invitation to create a butterfly for their Batches of Butterflies community display. And we’ve offered several opportunities to win tickets to family concerts hosted in their auditorium, including Gustafer Yellowgold, Princess Katie & Racer Steve, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, and Elizabeth Mitchell.
The educational opportunities with our local museums are constant. Historic Deerfield has hosted a Homeschool Harvest Day and a historic look at chocolate during their American Heritage Chocolate Celebration. The Springfield Museum has offered many opportunities to learn a bit of American history, including a reading of Frederick Douglass Speech and an Underground Railroad Lecture. And the Berkshire Museum has many programs for homeschool educators and teachers and has participated in the citizen science project, Firefly Watch!
To read more about how you can make your family visit fun to one of our local museums read the post, The Wonderment of Museums.
Deadline to enter to win an annual family membership to all 5 museums: Monday, January 3rd, 2011 by 7pm (EST). Find out more about these museums below and the benefits of membership.
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THESE LOCAL TREASURES
MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA is located at 87 Marshal St. (North Adams). Since opening in 1999 in North Adams MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) has become one of the world’s premier centers for making and showing the best art of our time, exhibiting large-scale and complex installations by many of the most important artists of today. An essential and integral part of MASS MoCA’s mission are the more than 75 performances staged year-round, including popular music, contemporary dance, alternative cabaret, world music dance parties, outdoor silent films with live music, documentaries, and avant-garde theater. (413) 662-2111 www.massmoca.org
Benefits of a family membership: MASS MoCA is offering a free family membership ($90 value), which gives inside access to the best of contemporary art and performance. Members enjoy exclusive benefits, including free gallery admission, invitations to exhibition openings, opportunities to meet artists and performers, and discounts at MASS MoCA concerts, films, and live theater; Hardware: The MASS MoCA Store; The Porches Inn; and the Lickety Split Cafe.
BERKSHIRE MUSEUM
The Berkshire Museums is located at 39 South St. (Pittsfield, MA). At the Berkshire Museum, there’s something for everyone. The museum offers a unique blend of exhibitions, galleries, and attractions for families of all ages. See exhibitions, fine art, and sculpture from around the world. Pet a live starfish in their touch tank and discover their 20 aquarium tanks and assorted terrariums. Be amazed at their collection of artifacts from Native American cultures and ancient cultures. Marvel at the technology that awaits in the new Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation. And their Natural Science Galleries incorporate hundreds of rocks, minerals, fossils, and animal specimens into interactive exhibits, serving visitors of all ages and learning styles with hands-on experiences. (413) 443-7171 www.berkshiremuseum.org
Benefits of a family membership: The Berkshire Museum is offering a free annual family/household membership ($75 value). Annual membership benefits include: unlimited free admission to 1st floor galleries and Aquarium; invitation to exhibition openings; discounts on Museum programs (including performances, camps & lectures); reduced tickets to Little Cinema; discount on Museum Store purchases; and free admission to 260+ museums participating in the ASTC Passport Program worldwide.
HISTORIC DEERFIELD
Historic Deerfield is located at 80 Old Main St. (Deerfield, MA). Historic Deerfield, an authentic New England experience, is a great place for families to learn about early American Life. Their museums and programs provide today’s audiences with experiences that create an understanding and appreciation of New England’s historic villages and countryside. Explore 11 museum houses with trained guides, world- class collections of antiques, special exhibitions, and an outdoor garden and meadow walk. Experience early American life from the 1704 Deerfield Raid and the French and Indian War, to the American Revolution and the first decades of the new Republic. Enjoy family programs, hands-on activities, special events, distinctive shopping, and tavern lunch—all in a 330-year-old village. (413) 774-5581www.historic-deerfield.org
Benefits of a family membership: The Historic Deerfield is offering a free annual family membership ($60 value). The benefits of a family membership includes: free, unlimited admission to all museum houses; a subscription to Historic Deerfield; Special advance notices and member discount information for trips, classes and workshops; Free admission to all of their Hands-On History family programs; Discounts at the Museum Store and Deerfield Inn.
THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BOOK ART
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, located at 125 West Bay Rd. (Amherst, MA), is a stunning, 40,000 square-foot facility in the heart of Western MA, is loved by families, art aficionados and book lovers alike. The Carle houses three Galleries with rotating exhibits of picture book art from around the world, and a permanent collection including works by artists. A hands-on Art Studio allows visitors to create their own masterpiece any time The Carle is open. The Auditorium hosts regular live performances, films, lectures, and guest appearances by renowned authors and illustrators. The comfortable Reading Library is the perfect spot for Storytime. The Museum Shop is stocked with unique gifts and a beautiful array of picture books. (413) 658-1100. www.carlemuseum.org
Benefits of a family membership: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is offering a family membership ($65 value). Benefits of membership includes free, unlimited admission for two adults plus up to four children. Enrollment of up to four children in the Caterpillar Club which includes: A Certificate of Membership with each child’s name. Invitations to Members-Only events. Subscription to the Museum Newsletter, Event Calendar, E-newsletter, 15% discount in the Museum Shop (30% during the annual holiday sale), Advance notice and discounts on various Museum events including classes, workshops, performances, films, and lectures. Free museum exhibition poster.
SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS
Springfield Museums, located at 21 Edwards St. (Springfield, MA). A welcome committee of larger-than-life Dr. Seuss characters greets you at New England’s own “mini Smithsonian” – four outstanding museums filled with science, art and history, plus the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. Encounter a life-size Tyrannosaurus rex in Dinosaur Hall, blast off to new worlds in the planetarium, take a safari through Africa, play among statues of Dr. Seuss’s most beloved characters, meet some critters in the live animal center, see Springfield-built antique cars and Indian Motocycles, enjoy hands-on activities in the Art Discovery Center, and much more. Picnic on the beautiful Quadrangle green in nice weather. One admission fee. Free onsite parking. Museum Store. (413) 263-6800 www.springfieldmuseums.org
Benefits of a family membership: Springfield Museums is offering a household membership ($75 value) for all 5 of their museums. Become a member at the Household level and enjoy unlimited free admission to all museums and the planetarium for two adults and all children. Get discounts on Museum School classes, birthday parties, and Museum Store purchases. Receive invitations to members-only events. Get the museum event calendar, course and travel catalogue, and program flyers in your mailbox. Plus free admission to a host of other science and children’s museums nationwide.
HOW TO WIN:
Your chance to win annual family memberships to the Berkshire Museum, The Eric Carle Museum, Historic Deerfield, MASS MoCA and Springfield Museums is as easy as 1-2-3 (4-5)! To win simply:
- SHARE THIS PAGE ON FACEBOOK BY SELECTING “LIKE” BELOW
- TELL US HOW HILLTOWN FAMILIES HAS BENEFITTED YOUR FAMILY THESE PAST FIVE YEARS in the comment box below, and be sure to tell us your
- FULL NAME and where you
- LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town and state to be eligible. We’ll randomly draw a winner from those who participate and contact the winner via email. So be sure to leave an
- ACCURATE EMAIL in the email field of the comment box (we never share your email address).
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline to enter to win is Monday, January 3rd, 2011 by 7pm (EST). All five annual family memberships will be awarded to one family and issued separately from each participating museum. If you have any questions, please contact us before entering to win at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
Congratulations to:
Jen has won 5 annual family memberships to 5 Western MA museums, including the Berkshire Museum, The Eric Carle Museum, Historic Deerfield, MASS MoCA and Springfield Museums! A big thank you to all five museums for participating in this giveaway and for their support of Hilltown Families!
An a huge thank you to all the families who participated in this giveaway by sharing your birthday wishes with Hilltown Families. Your feedback is treasured!
WHAT NEXT?
Hilltown Families helps us answer the “What do we do today?” question. HF is an incredible resource for us since we are relatively new to the area. We’ve discovered venues and activities that we’ve never heard of before. And, HF reminds us to revisit our favorite places and events. Thank you!
Donnabelle Casis
Florence, MA
Hilltown families is my “go to” when I’m looking for info on activities to do…such a great resource! Thanks.
Stacy Calabretta
Goshen, MA
Hilltown Families is my favorite rumor confirmer. If I hear about an event by word of mouth but I don’t have much info, Hill town Families always has everything I need to know about the when and where. I also use Hilltown Families when we’re at a loss what to do. A quick calender scan always gives us a few options. Thanks.
Florence MA
HILLTOWN FAMILIES has benefited us in so many ways…expanding our abilities to attend family events around the area, be it in nature, music, dance, art. Our child has grown and learned so much (and will continue to) by being able to expand his horizons in so many ways…more than we could have ever imagined. Thank you HILLTOWN FAMILIES! YOU ROCK!
Erin Newman-Long
Easthampton, MA
birdiebunnymama@gmail.com
What an amazing gift Hilltown Families is to the community!
We have enjoyed a bunch of the events, made new friends, and I appreciate the dialog you instigate on your facebook page. Thank you!
Lissie Fein
Easthampton, MA
Happy 5th Hilltown Families!! You have been an amazing resource for all things cool for families in Western Mass and beyond!
I don’t know what we’d do without you!!
Thank you!!!
Happy 5th! So GREAT! Thanks for harnessing all the great events and ideas, and passing along their wonder to us. Would love to get into a rhythm of going to local museums…annual passes would help that a lot!
Hilltown Families is an excellent resource for family oriented fun, information and events in Western Mass. We not only look forward to celebrating its fifth birthday, but its tenth! Keep up the good work.
Geri Pollard
Cummington, MA
Happy 5th! This has been a great resource for our family. Learning what is going on in our area as well as getting to know other areas and families has been really fun.
We live in Belchertown, MA
~ Suzanne H.
I moved to the area this past summer and Hilltown Families has been a wonderful resource for me as a newcomer. It has pointed my family towards some great activities and local eateries (Cummington Fair, Bread Euphoria, etc.). More importantly it has given me, as a newcomer, a broader sense of how active this community is and what people here care about. So thank you for that!
Jenni
Sunderland, MA
Hilltown Families is a great resource in planning family activities! Without fial, I can always find a listing for a great family event!
Carol
Pittsfield, MA
Hilltown Families is such a valuable resource for parents up and down the Pioneer Valley. Thanks for providing us with things to do every day of the week, if we wanted!! HF is my go-to site when I’m looking for music and theater for the kids.
Jara in Florence, MA
Love the listings on your Facebook page, it’s very convenient!
Sarah S.
Hatfield, MA
I am from Cummington, MA.
I am new to Hilltown Families and it has been a wealth of information over the holidays and I am looking forward to a great 2011 with Hilltown Families. Thank you for all you do.
I love Hilltown Families online for staying on top of local happenings.
I’ve raised my kids in the Valleys’ museums.
Great places to take family, friends,exchange students.
We love exploring all of New England coasts to mountains. Love the local flavor of HF. Thanks for creating a great community resource!
We Love Hilltown Families! Thanks for keeping us in the loop and always giving our family great ideas on how to spend our weekends!
We’ve been using the HT information on events for the past year. Gotten into a few heated discussions, too, but that helps keep the mind sharp! I know how hard keeping this site relevant and timely must be, so thanks for the effort you put into it.
Diane H Kanzler
Greenfield, MA
(PS: I can’t seem to get Facebook to accept my click for “Like”. I’ve tried a half dozen times and it just doesn’t register.)
Hilltown Families is one of the best resources for family-friendly happenings in and around the hilltowns. Thank you for spreading the word! And Happy 5th Birthday!
Colrain, MA
This site has really served my family by creating content that promotes arts, culture and connected, informed communities. We all benefit from this site as way to share and learn about what’s happening around us. I really think that makes us stronger and better able to raise healthy and conscientious kids.
Happy Birthday Hilltown Families! Your have been an awesome resource to our family over the last few years and have helped us feel more connected to our community! We really appreciate your website, giveaways and links and events calendar. Thanks for your very important work.
Amy Cullen
Williamsburg, MA
I love keeping up to date with activities geared toward FAMILIES! The site is easy to navigate and the blog content is fascinating (not including myself here).
I LOVE hilltown families and wish them 5 more years to come!
alisa
pittsfield ma
Hilltown Families is THE place to find something cool to do with the kids. I have checked the site for years and enjoy it so much now on Facebook, a weekly reminder of why we love it here and all that there is to do!
Thanks Sienna!
Niki
Whately, MA
Hilltown Families is a great resource! Every time my toddler is getting restless I check the website for fun activities and ideas.
Thank you so much!
–Elena
Holyoke, MA
I check Hilltown families weekly to see the events the happening in the valley.
Dawn
Holyoke
We are into our second year of Hillltown Families being on first and best resources on having fun in the kids here in Northampton and in all the communities just a stone’s throw away from us!
Noho, MA
We always appreciate the neat ideas, information, and thoughts from your writers. And we appreciate that we can be on the email list-serve as well as look at the website — makes it all the more convenient as a reader/user.
Thanks for what you do,
Joanne
Florence MA
I love Hilltown Families, I live in Berkshire County and am much more aware of fun family events in the surrounding towns to take my daughter too. Thanks for such a great site and Happy 5 years :) My daughter has enjoyed so many events we would not have known about.
Rebecca
Pittsfield, Ma
I have used Hilltown families to plan kids vacations and find things to do on the weekends! Also it is a great place to post events to share with other families!
We have benefitted from the excellent listings of things to do!
Helene Leue
Ashfield, Ma
Oops, forgot my town! Bernardston, MA
I appreciate the Hilltown Families event emails, I am much more aware of events my children would enjoy that I’m excited about, too!
Hilltown families is a great resource for all! Thank you!
Beryl Hoffman
Florence, MA
i look at hilltown families weekly for activities… we also listen the the podcasts on the weekends! also love the show outs to the work we are doing at momsrising! thanks –
marianne bullock
greenfield , ma
Happy 5th Birthday HF! We love having an on-line community that connects us with the amazing amount of things to do in our actual Hilltown communities! Thanks Sienna!
Marie Westburg and family
Williamsburg, Ma.
I have been a member of Hilltown Families for about a year now. I have learned about so many going s on through the e-mails! There are events I would have missed and artists I would not have learned about without this! Thanks to Hilltown Families!
Christine Hebert
Chicopee, MA
Hilltown Families just completely rocks. My 3-year-old Lily and I have gotten so much benefit from seeing what’s happening on any given day and deciding what fun and interesting thing to do next. We are going to be (or rather, are) homeschooling and having easy access to a comprehensive site like this is a HUGE plus.
Jen Hartley
Florence, Mass.
Love Hilltown Families….Love all of the museums/venues available to see!
Thank you,
Kathleen
Hilltown Families is my go-to at the end of every week to plan out weekend activities! Thanks so much!
Laine
Florence, MA
Hilltown Families is always a wonderful resource for event and services available in and around our area.
Thanks so much
Gus Perkins
West Chesterfield, MA
This is a great service! We’ve only been in the area for a little more than five years, and Hilltown Families has led us to Music Together, Elmers, and, well, just about everything we’ve ever done in Ashfield, actually.
Libby Maxey
Conway, MA
Thank You Hilltown Families. I always look here first for finding fun stuff to do with the kids. I also am thankful for being able to suggest events that I am helping to host at the Family Centers and Flywheel.
Keep up the good work.
Lei Fay
Easthampton, ma
hilltown families has been a great resource for me since moving up here a year ago. thanks to sienna and the contributors!
sharon castelli
northampton, ma
This is a great resource! I love that i am able to find interesting family events in the area in one place.
We live in Easthampton, MA
I always look to Hilltown Families first when thinking about family entertainment, activities, classes, community events, etc. My boys & I listen to podcasts of the Variety show all the time, we especially love the holiday episodes! Many thanks for keeping this together and creating such a wonderful, virtual community!
Warmest Regards,
jenn drumm schmitt
Williamsburg
I love the fact that I don’t have to go searching for family friendly events in the area. Instead I get a list of great events delivered right into my inbox. Anything that makes the life of a mom easier is great in my book!
Jackie Jones
Holyoke, MA
We just relocated to the area from Colorado. Hilltown Families has helped our family discover local events, local shops, local musuems, and much more that we wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. With 4 kids, we’ve been able to get involved in the community much quicker than if we tried to locate all this information on our own. Thank you, Hilltown Families!
Great site for planning family outings.
Thank you from Amherst.
Hilltown Families has been a valuable resource for finding something to do in the area.
South Hadley, MA
Hilltown Families is the site I check EVERY weekend to put together my list of fun, healthy, local events we can do as a family. Invaluable, whether you live in a hilltown, or on the edge of one!! Thank you.
Deborah Doulette
Whately
Hilltown Families has been a wonderful way to find resources, activities, and friends. Thank you for all the hard work and dedication!
Chrisoula Roumeliotis
Worthington, MA
I have been referring to HilltownFamilies for years — i make my weekly calendar from the suggested events list! As a mother of 3 5 and under, it has been an invaluable resource for our family.
Ellen Ferris
South HAdley, MA
As a partial SAHM for almost four years, Hilltown Families has helped me find things to do with my daughter on weekdays and on weekends. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Sandra Dias
Holyoke, MA
we moved to the area in 2009 – Hilltown Families has given me a new appreciation for western MA – finding the best family friendly places around!
THANKS!!
love hilltown families!!!
tonya
ashfield, ma
HTF has been a great resource for me in finding lots of local hidden gems. From parks to pick-your-owns, I’ve gotten lots of great ideas from your site. Thanks so much!
Alison
Wilbraham, MA
The Hilltown Families blog and Facebook page have been a great resource for our family in 2010. Trying to find fun, engaging activities [in the Valley] for our little guys used to be much more difficult. Now, if we’re looking for a Saturday morning activity or day-trip we just check out what’s happening on Hilltown Families. We’ve also discovered some wonderful small-towns, and small-town events, that we otherwise would have missed. Thanks Hilltown Families!
I’m not a homeschooling mamma(yet?), but my sister and sister in-law are.I love to tell them about happenings that I see through your page!
VirginiaC
Colrain,Ma
ooops, meant to say that we live in Amherst!
Hilltown Families Rocks! We love hearing about all the wonderful family-friendly concerts all around the region. Your site has motivated us to explore the Valley and to get to know new towns and new events. There are so many creative artists, historic places to visit, and fun and inexpensive events listed here that I can’t begin to list the things we have done because of your recommendations. The most recent was the Santa Parade and other events in Shelburne Falls the Saturday after Thanksgiving. What fun! Thank you for all the links and announcements as well.
I LOVE Hilltown Families! When I first moved here, everyone seemed busy, but I couldn’t figure out what they were doing. Hilltown Families has opened my eyes to all of the lovely things happening in this very special place. Thank you.
Melissa
Northampton, MA
I love using Hilltown families on facebook to find out about great events in the area to bring my kids to! I also love reading suggestions about cool places or things to do with kids… Thanks for such a great resource.
Stephanie Gale
Easthampton, MA
Great events! I love it!
Kate B.
Heath, MA
Yet another great giveaway!
We gone to several music events that we’ve heard about through Hilltown Families, and I’m learning more about cool places and events in the area.
Sara Barry
Haydenville, MA
The Linares Family
Chicopee, MA
We moved from Florida in October 1st, 2010 and my husband found this site and started receiving emails about the many things they have to offer in the area. We have five children and they all love Dr. Seuss, it would be awesome to be able to come visit the museum one of these days. I found their page on Facebook and loved all the interesting things and exhibits the museum has to offer. Thank you Hilltown Families for considering us !
Hilltown Families has been an amazing resource for our family. Thank you for all that you do!
Crista Y.
Guilford, Vermont
Hilltown Families really helped us when we moved to this area from a big-city a few years ago. We thought we would be bored here and you quickly proved us wrong! Thank you.
Rebecca
Amherst, MA
Hilltown Families has introduced us to the thriving local kids music scene. Thanks!
Steph
Floence, MA
Hilltown Families is a great resource for us as we discover the area with our kids. Thank you!
Kady von Schoeler
Williamsburg, MA
Hilltown Families is the most amazing resource! I use it constantly to check for local events and activities. It’s also a great way to keep in touch with the rest of our unique corner of Massachusetts . I love the way HF promotes local writers and artists, all while fostering a sense of community. Happy 5th Birthday!
Ellen Doyle
Williamsburg, MA
Having recently moved to MA I was so happy to discover Hilltown Families online. I love staying up to date on activites for my family. Keep up the good work.
Thanks,
Kelly P.
Wilbraham, MA
Hilltown Families has been a huge help to our family! It’s a wonderful resource to find out what is happening in our community (and surrounding communities). We have learned about many things in the area that we were unaware of as well! Thanks Hilltown Families!
Renee H
Easthampton, MA