Hilltown Families 
TICKET GIVEAWAY: Green River Festival
Win a Pair of Tickets to the
GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL
July 16th & 17th, 2011
Greenfield, MA
Enter to win a pair of tickets to the Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA! Deadline to enter to win is Thursday, July 7th. Details on how to enter to win are outlined below.
Hilltown Families and the Green River Festival have partnered up to offer two very lucky families a pair of tickets to the 25th Annual Green River Festival, the weekend of July 16th & 17th, 2011!
With a pair of tickets, and free admittance for children under twelve, two adults can take a gaggle of kids and plan on spending the at this great festival on either Saturday or Sunday (their choice)! Tickets do not including parking or food.
Details on how to enter to win are below. Deadline is Thursday, July 7th by 7pm (EST).
ABOUT THE GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL
Located in Greenfield, Massachusetts, the festival is presented by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce on the campus of Greenfield Community College. This 2-day festival combines music on multiple stages, delicious local food, crafts from a range of artisans, a dance tent, the River Meltdown tent, balloon illuminations and hot air balloon launches (weather permitting) for Western Massachusetts’ biggest outdoor event of the summer!
The Green River Festival began in 1986 as a balloon festival and has gained increasing popularity each year as more and more music and dance entertainment have been added. Today it has become a fantastic summer musical event in Western Massachusetts with three stages of music. This year the festival will feature Toots and the Maytals, Emmylou Harris, Eilen Jewell, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Mister G, Wanda Jackson, Grupo Fantasma, Patty larkin, Terry Adams and the New NRBQ, Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears, Baze & His Silly Friends, Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys, and many many other great acts! See the complete schedule here.
Find out more about this fabulous Western Mass festival at www.GreenRiverFestival.com.
HOW TO WIN
The Greenfield River Festival is a winning event and a great way to spend two days in Western MA! But what about non-events? Share with us a great way to spend one day with your family in the region.
In the spring, maybe you have a favorite sugar shack you enjoy breakfast at every year, followed by cross-country skiing at one of our local park or reservations, then your favorite place to pick up dinner at the days end.
In the summer, maybe you have your favorite morning farmers’ market you like to visit before lunch at a family friendly cafe or favorite picnic spot, followed by an afternoon bike ride or spray park, then an evening concert on the green, stopping for ice cream on the drive home.
In the fall, maybe you have a favorite farm to pick pumpkins in the morning, followed by an afternoon hike to view the foliage, stopping for a hot cup of cider at your favorite apple orchard as the day ends?
In the winter, maybe you know of a great place to get a steaming cup of hot cocoa after sledding, snowshoe hike or ice skating at an outdoor pond with the family?
You get the idea! We’re looking for recommended ways a family can spend a full day here in Western MA during any season. Selected recommendations will be featured on Hilltown Families throughout the year. From those, we will randomly select two winners to receive a pair of tickets to the Green River Festival for either Saturday, July 16th or Sunday, July 17th (their choice)!
To be eligible to win simply:
- POST YOUR RECOMMENDATION AS OUTLINED ABOVE (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
- FULL NAME (first/last) and where you
- LIVE (TOWN/STATE) must include your town to be eligible.
- ACCURATE EMAIL (we never share your email address).
- CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK and “Like” this post.
- We’ll randomly draw two winners and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Thursday, 07/07/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets are available online at www.greenriverfestival.com.
Beryl and Glenda have both won a pair of tickets to the Green River Festival for either Saturday, July 16th or Sunday, July 17th (their choice) and should forward mailing address to hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
Thank you to everyone who entered to win with a recommended way to spend the day in Western MA – inspiring us all to get out and enjoy what this amazing region of New England has to offer.
in the fall, my family went to the great pumpkin roll in westhampton,ma. it was our first time there but not our last. the leaves and music danced in our dreams that night along with all the great food smells and rolling pumpkins. with respect,the jensen family easthampton,ma.
oops…
Niki Lankowski
Whately MA
Any time of year, our family enjoys trips to Ashfield. Breakfast at Elmer’s, check out the Farmer’s Market on Summer Saturdays and visit the Ashfield Hardware Store…
Florence is also a favorite destination for us now and in the past. Safety Village is so fun for new bike riders, Cup and Top is fun for the little ones and Look Park is always a hit.
It’s so hard to choose any one thing, I feel like the whole Valley is our playground!
No matter the season, we go to whatever music event that Bill Childs has organized.
Jessica Morris, Northampton MA
We love going to the weekly concerts at the Greenfield Energy Park. We sometimes get food to go from Mesa Verda and enjoy a picnic while listening to great local musicians. My kids also like to play on the cool wooden train, and if we are lucky a real train will come trough while we are there.
Stephanie Gale
Easthampton
Summer at Look Park, fall at Mike’s Maize, winter skating at the Mullins Center, and spring hiking on the m&m trail
Rory Dexter
Greenfield, Ma
We enjoy going to the Tuesday Farmer’s Market in Northampton. We enjoy getting our produce and flowers there, as well as listening to live music and our daughter especially enjoys the art tent. Then we usually eat out in downtown Northampton as well before heading back!
Christine G
Northampton,MA
oops!
Rob Charette
Holyoke, MA
rob.charette at gmail.com
Just this summer we have discovered the outdoor weekly concert series in Easthampton on the Manhan Bike Trail, near Ferry St.. Brought the kids out to see Eva Cappelli and every week they are chomping at the bit to go back. On a nice night it’s fun for all four of us!
My neice is here now, visiting from california, for one month! we have alot planned in this short month! thursdays, we will go to the Orange Farmers Market, Sunday to the Flea Market and will also visit the Buutterfly museum, lots of rivers and lakes, the Northfield Drive In, one of several Ice Cream shops, the Bridge of flowes and the potholes and sooooo much more. We anticipate doing something new three or four times per week for the entire time she is here. We got a local map and trail guide and she is soooo excited!!!
Amber Ortiz Houghton
Orange, MA
Formerly of Greenfield, MA and Shelburne Falls, MA
Our favorite spot to spend the day is Laurel Lake in Erving!! It is pristine with the perfect amount of sun and shade to lounge in!! There’s a place to fish and the kids love spending the day in search of salamanders to fill their buckets with!! There is also a snack shack with ice cream and the best fried dough!
Kristy Dyer
Hatfield, MA
We like to spend the morning hiking along the river in Shelburne Falls, getting a warm snack and delicious cup of joe at SF Coffee Roasters and then hitting the antique stores along the Mohawk Trail. Lunch at Mesa Verde in Greenfield is always pleasing and then spending the afternoon window shopping in downtown Greenfield. There are some wonderful surprises to be had in some of these shops. Franklin County is stunning in its summer glory.
The Chesterfield Gorge is a sweet spot to spend a warm day. Then you have to follow it up with dinner at the Williamsburg snack shack!
We enjoy visiting Smith College’s botanic garden. It’s interesting to see the variety of plants around the greenhouses and outdoor gardens. Another place we like to go is Amherst College’s Museum of Natural History. The fossil exhibits are really neat. Plus, both places are open year round and are close to the downtown/town center areas for getting a snack afterwards.
Michelle Lee, Northampton MA
Our family enjoys going to the green river or Ashfield Lake. We usually go to country pie pizza afterwards for some delicious pizza.- Alexis Fox, Plainfield
Swimming at the bend at the chesterfield gorge followed by pizza from bread euphoria and ice cream from florence soft serve.
Hike a myriad of the trails at Mt Tom State Reservation and then take the slow ride up RT5 to Noho for Bueno y Sano then Woodstar, Haymarket, Bill’s Chocoalte Emporium. We do this all seasons.
We love to head to Stanley Park in Westfield at any time of year, walk the dog on the great wooded trails and let him swim, then hit the duck pond and the playground (with a huge covered sand pit). Then head off to Northside Creamery for great ice cream and 50’s music, or to Zuber’s for a cone and playing on the playscape.
-Karen Jaiclin
Westfield, MA
Although I’m not exactly pining for snow at the moment, one of my fave winter activities is cross country skiing at Notchview in Windsor. Such a great workout–and they offer snowshoeing as well on their miles and miles of well groomed trails. Afterwards, I love heading to the Creamery in Cummington for cocoa and something sweet and wicked :)
Kate Blair, Conway MA
We like to spend our summer days as we did on Father’s Day at the River, swimming, playing w/our dog, & having a picnic. Since our weeks are so busy w/the farm we try to do this every sunday. We always end the day w/ice cream either from Mo’s Fudge Factor or the Ashfield Hardware Store. This past sunday because it was father’s day we started off the day w/breakfast at Elmer’s.
In the fall our family loves to hike up Mt Toby in Sunderland. The sweeping views of the Connecticut River Valley with the changing colors of the autumn trees is breathtaking. After a nice hike we’ll drive a few miles North and dip into the Montague Bookmill. At the mill the kids will pick through books and read on the floor. To top the day off we’ll have a hardy lunch with warm drinks at the Lady Killgrew. It’s the perfect afternoon in the fall!
In the summer, we like Musante Beach in Leeds, Look Park (the shady playgrounds, the water spray area, and exploring by the river) and the Jackson St. school playground with the wood fortress and the climbing web.
Beryl Hoffman, Florence
One of our favorites is on Saturday morning heading out to the Ashfield Farmers Market picking up fresh foods, baked goods and coffee. Taking a dip, laying out in the sunshine at the Ashfield Lake, nibbling on the fresh berries and/or carrots we bought at the farmers market. Then before heading home, stopping by Ashfield Hardware for a chilly, refreshing icecream cone.
Glenda Spurling Ashfield, MA
My 5 yrs old daughter and I also like Ashfield Lake…and Elmers combo..and their Farmers Market.
Pamela Snow Shelburne Falls
I just took a fabulous bike ride on the Ashuwillticook Trail from Lanesboro to Adams — 22 miles round trip but well paved, scenic, and flat, so great for all abilities. We left in the morning, arrived in Adams, had brunch, walked around town, then took the trek back. :)
Jaclyn Stevenson, Lenox
We like to go for a bike ride on the Canal Side trail in Turners, then head over to the Patch to explore the woods, maybe go over to Barton’s Cove to hike some of the trails…
Turners Falls, MA
We like to go for a bike ride on the Canal Side trail in Turners, then head over to the Patch to explore the woods, maybe go over to Barton’s Cove to hike some of the trails…
A great summer day for us might include a bike ride at Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke, followed by a drive out to Leeds for a swim at Musante Beach and then a stop to hit golf balls at Scotti’s in Leeds and a burger or a hot dog afterwards.
Sandra Dias
Holyoke, MA
This first week in June is a spectacular time to stroll/run/bike on the Nonotuck Rail Trail from Leeds to Haydenville. The path is the new extension of the Northampton bike trail. Catch it just below the Leeds elementary school . At this time of year there are miles of beautiful mountain laurel in spectacular bloom.
Megan O’Brien Leeds
MA
I grew up in Windsor, so I would start the day with a picnic breakfast in Notchview. After hiking around a bit, since Windsor Jambs is unstaffed this summer, I’d bring the kiddos to splash and swim in the river. Cummington Creamery is way cooler now than when I grew up, so we’d have lunch there before heading to the Williamsburg General Store poking around for knick-knacks. An afternoon treat of soft-serve at the stand on Rt. 9 would follow before heading home!
Natasha Anderson, South Hadley
I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old — we love to spend time outdoors exploring nature and history. My son’s ideal family day is a hike/bike ride to look for rocks, eagles, and dinosaur tracks at Barton’s Cove in Gill, followed by either lunch at the Wagon Wheel (also in Gill), burritos at Burrito Roso (3rd Street in Turners) or a picnic off the bike trail (also in Turners). We sometimes stop by the Great Falls Discovery Center or head over to Laurel Lake at Erving State Park for an afternoon swim, hike, and salamander search (we know they are there, but have yet to find any). If it’s too rainy, we head over to French King Entertainment Center for some family bowling.
My kids love to swim at the D.A.R. and take a midday break for lunch and a treat at the Cummington Creamery. Then more swimming!
Gina Wyman
Easthampton, MA
Drive down route 5 (from Bratt) hitting on the farm stands. Pack fresh fruit and berries (and other farm stand treats) in the cooler and head out for a bike ride on the bike path in Northampton. After a lazy lunch at Look Park (and naps of course!) take a leisurely stroll in town and get an ice cream cone at Herrell’s. Then head home – happy and content!
Crista Yagjian
Guilford, Vermont
We like to spend a late spring/summer day along route 5/10 in Deerfield. Start at Deerfield Farm for a pick your own strawberry experience that is fantastic. You might even see a train cross the tracks that sit right next to the berry patch. Then up to El Jardin for a bakery coffee/snack. And on to either Historic Deerfield where you can do formal visits to the houses, or, just take a walk and make up your own tour. Don’t miss the farm path. If there’s still time in this long day, head up the hill toward the Eaglebrook School and find the trailhead at the top. Hike out on the ridge for a view of the Deerfield River valley.
Deborah
Whately, MA
northampton, ma
taking that beautiful drive to Mass Moca, spending hours there, and then eating indian food in williamstown. that’s a fun day for us.
A hike or program at the Summit House is a great way to spend the morning during the summer with a stop at Barstow’s afterwards for lunch and/or ice cream.
Chris Curtis
South Hadley, MA
saturdays at the farmers market in ashfield, wednesdays at the kids market, tuesdays at the csa and any day at the lake.
tony(a)
ashfeild
In the spring, as soon as the warmer weather hits, we check out the local school playgrounds (our current favorite is Crocker Farm in Amherst – great zip line, although we’ve had LOTS of fun at the Leverett ). Summer brings the town beach. This summer we’ll check out Ludlow – Haviland. I think this fall we’ll go to Hamilton Orchards in Shutesbury again.
Chrisanne Cirillo Montgomery, MA
I would recommend an afternoon at Look Park. There are so many things to do: sprinklers, train ride, swings, mini-golf and the petting zoo. Picnic too. Northampton has good eats and always fun to walk around/shop.
We Spend our summer by going to events that are listed in recorder or town crier…My 8 year Son loves going to the park and playn baseball or having a pinic…or going for some ice cream at the creamy in montague and we love the farmers market in greenfield or picking strawberries in hadley..I moved to Greenfield,Ma in 06′ and i am so pleased to live here…Greenfield and surring areas have alot of family and kid events to do…Kids grow up so fast and I Love that We get to do alot of family things together…Thanks You for having these events available to us…
We spend many Spring/Summer Sundays at the Hadley Flea market (checking out antiques and feeding the horses) followed by brunch at Esselon Cafe. They have a great outdoor space for kids and delish food and drinks. Later you can check out Look Park to ride the train, splash in the spray park or just play on the playgrounds!
A great way to spend a summer’s day would be to visit the Farmer’s Market in Ashfield, where you could pick up all kinds of tasty goodies, followed by a lovely afternoon swimming in the sunshine at Ashfield Lake. You could stop in at Elmer’s or Country Pie Pizza for dinner that night.
Jessica Thompson, Ashfield