Oct 6 – 29
Connecticut Trolley Museum will hold their popular Pumpkin Patch event starting Oct 6th and will run the rest of the month every Fri, Sat, & Sun including Monday, Oct 9th for Columbus Day. Pumpkin Patch is a family fun filled adventure where you ride on a trolley car out to the pumpkin patch field and each person can pick out a free pumpkin. Additionally, when you return back to the Museum you can decorate the pumpkins, get your face painted & enjoy the outside play area with spooktacular Halloween activities. Don’t forget you can take as many Trolley rides as you would like. Visit www.ct-trolley.org for hours of operation. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $10 for youth (ages 4-12) and $3 for children (under age 3).
Oct 4
The Amherst BID’s 6th annual Block Party is on Wednesday, October 4, 5-9 pm. Portions of North Pleasant Street will be closed to cars and music, food, crafts, entertainers, businesses, and community members will join in the fun. WRSI The River brings the music with DJ Kaliis on the Futurliner stage and Trailer Park, ARHS local student band Glass House and lively traditional Valley favorites, Banish Misfortune. UMass Athletes will be there to meet and greet. A live performance demonstration by UMass bellydancing club on the Futurliner. Fun activities for children, including face painting, balloon art, and games. Show Circus returns to dazzle all ages. www.amherstdowntown.com. ann@amherstdowntown.com. This event is free and open to the public!
Oct 7
The New England Air Museum will hold an Open Cockpit Day on Saturday, October 7, from 10am to 4pm. Special activities include climbing aboard in historic aircraft; flight simulators; hands-on Build & Fly Challenges. A variety of aircraft will be open for visitors including the WWII era Republic P-47D “Thunderbolt,” the Vietnam War era Bell UH-1B “Huey” helicopter, as well, as supersonic jet fighters including the North American F-100 “Super Sabre” and the Lockheed F-104C “Starfighter.” See the new view of our collections from our mezzanines in two exhibit hangars. Food and beverage will be available, and all activities are included with museum admission. Rubber-soled shoes recommended. www.neam.org.
Oct 8
Magic is afoot! The Center Dance Studio invites community members of all ages to audition for A 21st Century Nutcracker, an exciting spin on a timeless classic. Auditions will be held on Sunday, October 8th at The Center Dance in Amherst (321 Main Street). Visit The Center’s Nutcracker page for details. For more information, email thecenterdanceschool@gmail.com or call 413-230-1944. Let’s play with tradition! www.thecenterdance.com.
Oct 8
Sukkot Harvest Festival at Abundance Farm! Sunday, October 8th from 11am-3pm at 253 Prospect Street, Northampton, MA. Come celebrate the harvest with a bonfire, apple cider pressing, cob oven baking, live music, harvest games, nature-based arts and crafts, food and drinks, tea making, and seed saving activities. Rain or shine! Suggested donation: $5. More info at https://www.facebook.com/events/114208499277011.
Oct 14
Amherst Montessori School invites families to an Open House on Saturday, October 14 from 9-11am and a Harvest Festival immediately following. Meet teachers and administrators, tour AMS’ beautiful school in south Amherst, and learn about their child-led Montessori curriculum for infants through sixth grade. Amherst Montessori is a warm, safe, and supportive community that nurtures a lifelong love of learning. Learn more and register online at amherstmontessori.org.
Oct 15
Save Farms, Eat Food, & Have Fun with Kestrel Land Trust! Don’t miss the 5K for Farmland & Farmers’ Market Festival on Sunday, October 15, at 11am. on the West St. Common, Hadley. Family-friendly 5K race on a flat route through scenic farmland or a beautiful 2-mile riverside walk. Farmers’ Market Festival after the race with music by “Banish Misfortune,” local crafts and seasonal produce for sale, plus nature & animal exhibits, and entertainment for kids with Trevor the Games Man. For adults, free local beer by Valley Malt for registered participants. Receive a commemorative pint glass and be entered into a drawing for lots of great local prizes when you pre-register! Register online and learn more at 5kforfarmland.org.
Add your class
Hilltown Families has put together an After-School Classes & Enrichment Programs Directory of classes and programs happening across Western Massachusetts throughout the school year. Our community is rich in learning opportunities to supplement the interests of children, teens, and life-long learners and our directory makes it easier to find these gems while connecting families with resources that support their interests and education. — Have a class or program you’d like to include in our directory? Click here to find out how to have it added. New and updated opportunities are added throughout the year.
Add your school
Hilltown Families Preschool Directory: Are you looking for a preschool that fits your child’s personality and reflects your family’s values? Check out our growing Preschool Directory, covering all four counties in Western Massachusetts, and find the perfect place for your young one! — Have a school you’d like to include in this list? Click here to find out how to have it added.
ADVERTISE HERE: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! See your summer camp, class, community event, school, open house, audition, homeschool program, workshop, volunteer opportunity, wellness program, local business, after-school class, or non-profit featured here in the Bulletin Board section of our list of Weekly Suggested Events and in our weekly eNewsletter, reaching thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! Find out more about our advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by emailing us at at sales@hilltownfamilies.org.
JOIN OUR TEAM OF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Interested in becoming a Contributing or Guest Writer for Hilltown Families? We welcome writings that reflect the community-building and educational efforts parents, teens, teachers, artists, activists and community leaders work towards and accomplish, and how that affects, supports and empowers our families. All writing styles welcomed, including local reviews, DIY posts, seasonal cooking/local food, and community-based educational & community service learning opportunities/resources. Send your query to info@hilltownfamilies.org.
