Hilltown Families 
Ticket Giveaway: Summer Night Out at Mountain Park with The Decemberists
The Decemberists
at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA
Sunday, July 31st, 2011 @ 7pm
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see The Decemberists at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA on Sunday, July 31st! Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, July 27th. Details on how to enter to win are outlined below.
Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets!
The Decemberists were one of the first bands to play at Mountian Park in Holyoke in 2009 and the Portland, Oregon band whose artistic and career trajectory has continued to rise will return to the outdoor mountainside venue this summer on Sunday, July 31st at 7pm – and we’re giving away two pair of lawn tickets for two lucky couples to enjoy an evening out!
Win the tickets and take your spouse, partner or good friend for a night out. Deadline to enter to win is Wednesday, 07/27/11 @ 7pm (EST). Details below.
The Decemberists have just released the video for “This Is Why We Fight,” a cinematic tour-de-force by acclaimed director Aaron Stewart. “This Is Why We Fight” is the second single from the band’s new album The King Is Dead (Capitol Records), which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 after its January 2011 release.
ABOUT THE DECEMBERISTS
With their brilliant sixth album, The King Is Dead, The Decemberists illustrate the power that comes from continual artistic evolution. One idea spawns a fully realized project and, from a seed within it, the next is born. The band’s wildly ambitious 2009 song cycle The Hazards of Love was a narrative suite that grew out of old English folk tunes. Colin Meloy took a few songs that had been left off of Hazards and started working on a set of more stripped-down, country-based songs. The mostly-acoustic arrangements on The King Is Dead, which included cameos from Gillian Welch and Peter Buck, showcase the ways in which The Decemberists’ Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query, and John Moen sound just as glorious in simple, concise compositions as they do on the elaborate structures that have defined their work for years. Says Meloy, “I guess I’ve kind of come back to a lot of the more American music that got me going in the first place; R.E.M. and Camper Van Beethoven and all these bands that borrowed from more American traditions like Neil Young and The Byrds.” The Decemberists take their live shows as seriously as their albums, and there is never a dull moment. www.decemberists.com
ABOUT MOUNTAIN PARK
Following its opening in 1894 as a picturesque retreat on the side of Mount Tom, Mountain Park expanded and evolved into one of the most beloved amusement parks in New England. At the beginning of the 20th century, Holyoke was the most prosperous community in the state and the first planned industrial city in the United States. The city’s progress drew crowds of visitors to Mountain Park, and the park gradually developed into a bustling destination. Although the park closed its gates in 1987, the echoes of laughter from generations of visitors still reverberate throughout the Pioneer Valley. Today, Mountain Park evolves into the next millennium as a new host for music, entertainment and outdoor family fun.
HOW TO WIN
Your chance to win a a pair of lawn tickets to see The Decemberist at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Sunday, July 27th, 2011 @ 7pm is as easy as 1-2-3 (4)!
To enter to win simply:
- CONSIDER SHARING ON FACEBOOK by selecting “Like” below
- TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A DAY IN WESTERN MA WITH THE FAMILY (any season) below (one entry per household) and be sure to tell us your
- FULL NAME and where you
- LIVE (TOWN/STATE) Must include your town to be eligible.
- ACCURATE EMAIL IN THE EMAIL FIELD BELOW (we never share your email address).
- We’ll randomly draw a winner and will share the results below.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE! — Deadline is Wednesday, 07/27/11 @ 7pm (EST).
If you don’t win, tickets can be purchased at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, by phone at 413-586-8686 and online at IHEG.com.
Congratulations to:
Both have won a pair of lawn tickets to see The Decemberist at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Sunday, July 27th, 2011 @ 7pm – and should contact us at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com for directions on claiming their tickets.
Thank you to everyone for their great suggestions on how to spend the day with your family in Western MA.
Scroll down to see all of the other great suggestions on how to explore and enjoy paradise we call Western MA! And if you have any other ideas, please share!
We love to go for a swim in our pool and grill out with friends and neighbors.
Jennifer Martin
Shelburne Falls, MA
A favorite day in Western Mass is spent in our community garden plot, eating tomatoes from the vine.
Another way I love spending the day in Western MA is spending the day at Look Park! It never gets old no matter how many times we go! My kids find the same amount of joy playing on the playground, visiting the animals, and taking a ride on the train. If it’s a Tuesday we might even go to one of the awesome summer performances they offer. Afterwards, a trip to the Tuesday Market and burritos from Bueno y Sano rounds out a great day!!
Kristy Dyer
Hatfield, MA
Oh, I meant to say that we live in LEYDEN!
My favorite way to spend the day with my family is to pack a nice picnic dinner and hike up Skinner Mountain and watch the sunset over Western Massachusetts.
Kate Putnam
Westfield, MA
We don’t stray too far from home. We have a little path through the woods behind our house, a sand box, and a garden. So after a day of enjoying all that fun we can ride bikes to the local swimming hole a work up an appetite for a delicious dinner.
My favorite way to spend the day with my family is to pack a nice picnic lunch and hike up Skinner Mountain and watch the sunset over Western Massachusetts.
A favorite summer day involves bicycles, playgrounds, swimming, some sort of treat (ice cream or fried, salty things) after too much sun and water, then an early bedtimes for the exhausted little ones.
Nelson Geis
Hatfield
Picking blueberries at Nana’s house up in Leyden! Yum! Some for the freezer, but most for immediate consumption. Then off for a dip at Laurel Lake…
Going for a run in the early morning or the late evening and smelling all of the wonderful scents that waft into my nose.
Justin Cassavaugh
Hancock, MA
My favorite way to spend the day with my family in Western MA is to pack a picnic lunch and head to a local waterfall spot or the Chesterfield Gorge for a hike and a picnic…
Swansea Benham Bleicher
Chesterfield, MA
Kite flying at Beacon Field and swimming at the Y
Rory Dexter
Greenfield MA
Natural Roots in Conway
Williamsburg, MA
Bike riding on the Rail Trail.
Beth Roberge Friedrichs
Sunderland, MA
My favorite way to spend a summer afternoon is in the hammock by the lake with my daughter curled up next to me.
Jen Geertsma
Easthampton, MA
Taking a walk in Northfield, in the crunchy leaves in the fall, along the Connecticut River.
Jenna Shearer Demir
Dummerston VT
We like to play in the snow, making snow houses and snow runs for the sleds. When we’re too cold to feel our fingers inside our mittens, we pile into the house for homemade hot cocoa and warm dry clothes. That’s a good day!
Diane H Kanzler
Greenfield, MA
Apple picking with old friends. Hot cider on a cool fall day.
Lauren Oliver-Hall
Scituate, Ma
Having breakfast at the Charlemont Inn then skiing and tubing at Berkshire East is a great way to spend a winter day!
Stephanie Gale
Easthampton, MA
A perfect summer day in Western, MA: Swimming at DAR state park, then stopping at the Williamsburg Snack Bar for a clam or lobster roll on the way home. We like to sit in the Adirondack chairs on the small hill overlooking the shack. A lil’ shade and great people watching!
Barbara Solow
Florence, MA
Sleep in late–then brunch at Silver Spoon (home made corned beef hash). And when it gets REALLY hot–spend the day at Lake Wyola!!
When my brother is home, take a ride on the motorcycle with him through Southampton, & stop for ice cream somewhere along the way!
We live in Easthampton, MA. The kids love Look Park! There is so much to do…mini golf, spray park, playground, and lots of space to run! We also frequent the Mountain View farm for morning flower and vegetable picking. We love to seek out special craft, nature, and music activities whenever possible. We love new adventures and this website really helps with making that happen! Thank-you!
We love to go for a swim at Musante Beach and then stop at Scotti’s on Route 9 for a hot dog and a swing at some golf balls!
Sandra Dias
Holyoke, MA
We love visiting all the local farms to see the animals and enjoy the fairs in the fall.
Wendy LaPointe
Gill MA
My wife is a fantastic “cruise director” and always plans excellent day trips for us and our daughter. Whether it’s hiking to the cascades at the end of our street or spening a day at Look Park, whatever she has in mind is my favourite thing to do.
Eric Nottke
North Adams, MA
My favorite day actually all takes place in the town where I live, Ashfield. Saturday morning we wake up and head to the Ashfield Farmer’s Market. It’s small but we love it; we have gotten to know the people and the fresh berries, yogurt, bread, cordial, snacks, and veggies that they sell. We also collect our CSA at the Farmer’s market and often meet friends there. Next, we head to Elmer’s for brunch – Pope Florentine, French Toast, Breakfast Burrito, Hot Chocolate – Yum! Then we head to the Lake for a dip, some playtime for our 1 year old son, and more friends, sun and fun. If we still have energy, on our way home or in the late afternoon, we’ll take a walk at Chapel Brook, up to see the view from the cliffs or down by the cooling rock water slides. And all of that is only a few things that Ashfield has to do!
My favorite way to spend a day is walking the woods.
Helene Leue
Ashfield, Ma
We like to go hike Mount Sugarloaf and then enjoy dinner at Bub’s BBQ!
A morning run at the dog park in nojo. Followed by breakfast at home on my patio with my family. And then a lunch picnic on the top of mt tom!
roaming around in any of the wooded and field areas looking at the flora and fauna
Katie in North Amherst
I like to spend a day hiking the trails on Mount Tom.
I like walking up Poet’s Seat in Greenfield, or hiking the trails nearby. Sledding at Beacon Field (below Poet’s Seat) was great this winter too.
Judy Bennett
Greenfield, MA
We love spending the day having a picnic at Look Park during the day with the kids and then listening to music at Mountain Park in the evening!
Jane Riley
Holyoke, MA
There is nothing I love more then just walking around in downtown Northampton! There is always something fun to see, people to chat with and good energy all around!!! Oh, and then taking in a concert at the beautiful Mountain Park! heehee
Alli Winston
Easthampton, MA
We (my kids and I) have a few things we enjoy doing together and we are discovering more but my (our) favorite thing to do together is just hang out and watch a good movie and eat popcorn or ice cream.
Lisa Deroin
Springfield, MA
brunch in northampton, a walk with my dogs at the dog park, then relaxing and having a cookout and bonfire at home with friends!
sarah schaberg
greenfield, ma
Floating down the Deerfioeld River
I have four teenagers and it’s rare that our whole family would be together to visit any of the beautiful spots in Western MA. Therefore, my favorite way to spend a day in Western MA with family is to take a long time preparing a Sunday dinner at home in Monson that we can all enjoy together.
Hiking at the Notch in Amherst and taking in the beautiful views and kayaking at Aldrich Lake.
Chris Curtis
South Hadley, MA
Irish Breakfast at Mrs. Mitchell’s
Lunch at Fernandez
Dinner outside at 80 Jarvis
Glenn Sullivan
Holyoke
My favorite day in Western MA with my family (summer) starts with an early morning trip to Brad’s in Greenfield for a tasty and inexpensive breakfast, then off to our town library to stock up on books for us all to read during the week, followed by a trip to the farmer’s market for fresh, local food to fill our fridge and our bellies, capped off by a trip to Harrell’s in Northampton for ice cream (they have dairy-free for my son and myself, AND sugar-free for my husband – perfect!). We might even dip our toes in a river (like the Deerfield or the Green river) to beat the heat, or catch some music and coffee.
Riding my bike or seeing a show at PaintBox or New Century Theatre!
Northampton, MA
Helen Stauder
Florence, MA
We love to cool off at the beach at DAR State Park.
My favorite way to spend a day in Western MA with friends & family is to go for a bike ride on the Northampton Bikeway to Look Park and spend the day having a picinic lunch (with watermelon!), and playing mini golf or ladder ball!
Kayaking Stockbridge Bowl!
Jaclyn Stevenson
Lenox MA
With my dog in in the field by my house in Northampton.
Christina Coursey
Northampton, Ma