8 Places to go if you have a break or need one during the “Jam-Packed Weekend”

The Red Sox are coming! The Red Sox are coming! As Paul Revere would say. Downtown Springfield will host an estimated 7,200 visitors from all over New England on January 17 and 18th. MGM Springfield’s hotel rooms are already booked and visitors are spilling out to surrounding area hotels. The Red Sox Winter Weekend is a kick-off to Spring Training.

The Red Sox will say goodbye to the cold weather and head to their training grounds in Fort Myers, Florida after making their appearance in Springfield. The weekend will be filled with fun festivities, including autograph signings, a kid’s press conference, and breakfast with Wally!

But the jam-packed weekend doesn’t stop there. Springfield College hosts the “2020 Spalding Hoop Hall Classic,” January 16-20th.

To facilitate the huge crowds expected for Red Sox Winter Weekend, Downtown Springfield will shut down streets surrounding Main Street from Boland Way to State Street. A tent will act as a heated walk-through for Winter Weekend ticket holders to walk from MGM Springfield to the MassMutual Center.

It’s going to be crazy-fun but if you are participating in one of these events and need a break from the action, here are some options:

Palazzo Café is located across the street from the MassMutual Center and will be open from 7 am to 5 pm, Friday & Saturday.  The menu will include breakfast sandwiches, bagels, coffee, tea, and breakfast pastries.  Lunch will include grilled cheese, sandwiches (tuna, chicken), pasta with meatballs and much more!

Escape the crowd at the Escape Room, located on State Street across from the MassMutual Center.  The lobby has tables and chairs to relax and enjoy beer or wine! Kids are welcome, and light snacks are available.  Hours on both Friday & Saturday are from 10 am to midnight. If you plan on trying the Escape Room itself, book ahead on their website.

TAP Arcade & Bowling is fun for all ages. The bowling alley has six lanes, a bar, live music, lounge area for each path.  Relax and let the servers take your food and drink order while you watch the game. The arcade is only ten dollars for two hours of unlimited games.  With all this to do, it won’t be hard to tap into some fun!

MGM Springfield’s Topgolf Swing Suite is the first of its kind in New England, offering a high tech golf simulator screen and access to the world’s most excellent courses in any weather.  Gather your friends and book a private lounge, which includes a full-service bar and dining menu.  Stay dry on the course and don’t let Mother Nature rain on your parade.  Booking a room ahead of time is suggested, and it is $80 for two hours.

The Ice Rink at MGM is 45 by a 76-foot ice skating rink open to all guests of all ages on The Plaza.  On Fridays, the rink is open from 2 pm to 9 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 9 pm.  Rentals are available and cost $5, children and first responders $8, and adults are $12.  Enjoy the music and occasional “pop-up” entertainment.

The Springfield Museums is one of the most popular attractions in Western Mass and includes the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss.  One admission gets you into all five museums, adults are $25, seniors (60+) and college students are $16.50, youth (ages 3-17) are $13 and children under 3 are free.  The museums will be open Friday, and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.

The Basketball Hall of Fame or “Hoop Hall” for short, is another big attraction of Western Mass.  If you need to walk around, this would be the place to go!  Other than the museum itself, the actual “hall” has several restaurants, including Samuels at the Basketball Hall of Fame, Max’s tavern and more!

Hours to the museum Friday, 10 am – 4 pm. Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Admission is $24 for adults ages 16 to 64, $18 for seniors ages 65 and up, $16 for youths ages 5 to 15, and free for children under age 5.

Not to be confused with The Armory building at MGM, The Springfield Armory National Historic Site is onsite at the Springfield Technical Community College campus.  They are open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, no admission fee.

General George Washington chose the armory in the early Revolutionary War because of its location on the top of a hill.  It is the first national armory in the United States and began manufacturing muskets in 1794.  Year-round public programs, exhibits, and special events are hosted on the grounds of the National Historic Landmark regularly.