Upcoming Events In Western Mass
We strive to post the most current and accurate event information but changes and cancellations do occur so please check the official event website to confirm all details.
When you think back to some of your favorite childhood moments, very few of them probably happened when you were sitting at home watching TV. Instead, your most poignant memories probably revolve around that time you ended up with the home run ball at a baseball game, and the crowd cheered and you felt like a rock star, or at least like Babe Ruth.
Or maybe it was that time your family attended The Big E together and your dad bought you cotton candy and let you get all sticky-faced, and you watched your mom beat the midway games, and you felt like your heart was going to overflow with contentment and happiness.
In Western Massachusetts, events bring us together to celebrate our successes and recollect on our heritage. We’ve put together a list of some of the top yearly events in Massachusetts, things we and our local friends love doing to feel connected to our area and our community.
Top Yearly Western Massachusetts Events
Because of the beautiful area where we live, there are distinct Western Massachusetts-specific events that take place in each and every season. From leaf peeping in the fall to river rafting in the spring to skiing in the winter, you can find a wide range of things to do throughout the year, and some of our local events reflect the joyous beauty of our seasons.
Top Western Massachusetts Events for Spring
Springfield Annual Pancake Breakfast
Does anything scream “neighborly get-together more than a pancake breakfast? If your mouth is already watering over the thought of fluffy, buttery, syrupy goodness, you’re not going to want to miss the Springfield Annual Pancake Breakfast, typically hosted in May in downtown Springfield.
Bring your appetite, because it’s billed as the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, and be ready to feast on both good food and friendly conversation.
Paradise City Arts Festival (Northampton)
This Paradise City Arts Festival is ranked among the best in the country, and includes exhibits from more than 250 artists in all mediums. Artists flock to Western Massachusetts from around the country to be part of this visually dazzling display.
Come out to enjoy the weather that’s not quite summer, not quite spring, and stay to buy way too much from the vast selection of contemporary art pieces on display.
Brimfield Outdoor Antique Show
With spring in the air, you’ll want to get out and enjoy the largest outdoor antique and collectible show in the country. The Brimfield Outdoor Antique Show features over 5000 dealers throughout the quaint country town of Brimfield. And once is never enough – they do this in July and September, too!
Top Western Massachusetts Events for Summer
Baseball Season Opening Night
Baseball is the quintessential American pastime, and there’s really nothing that can top the nostalgia of being present on opening night.
The Westfield Starfires and Valley Blue Sox will kick off their seasons right at the start of the summer, and both promise to bring plenty of excitement to the community. Be sure you arrive ahead of gametime to root, root, root for the home team.
Yankee Candle Christmas in July
We love the unforgettable scents of the holiday season. Fir and balsam, spicy gingerbread, warm apple cider – the list could go on and on.
So naturally, Christmas in July is a must. At the flagship Yankee Candle Village, you can enjoy the holiday season, snap selfies with Santa (who might have traded in his traditional red velvet for a more relaxed Hawaiian shirt vibe) and enjoy crafting with Mrs. Claus.
It’s just what you need to get a little dose of holiday spirit and deal with the fact that you probably won’t be decorating your tree for at least a couple more months.
Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement
Meet Basketball’s best in the birthplace of the sport! Each summer, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrines the best in the sport in Springfield. Rub elbows with the greatest to play the game and save time for a tour of the Hoop Hall.
Top Western Massachusetts Events for Fall
The Big E
Would this even be a reliable listing of Western Massachusetts events if The Big E weren’t included? The community gathering, more formally known as the Eastern States Exposition, is the biggest and best county fair you could imagine.
Every fall, The Big E brings together amazing food, parades, musical entertainment, agricultural exhibitions, car shows and more. There’s so much to see, do and taste – you’ll need more than one day to fully enjoy all The Big E has to offer.
Six Flags New England’s Fright Fest
Each autumn, Six Flags New England transforms into a fright-filled funzone for teens and adults. You’ll find scary shows, walk-through attractions and thrill rides that make the most of the season.
Top Western Massachusetts Events for Winter
Springfield Thunderbirds
The Springfield Thunderbirds are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League affiliated with the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues. Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Thunderbirds play their home games at the MassMutual Center.
Springfield, Parade of the Big Balloons
Can’t quite make it to New York City for the Thanksgiving parade? We’ve got you covered, with the Parade of the Big Balloons in downtown Springfield.
Enjoy bands, community gatherings and balloons that represent the best Western Mass has to offer – our favorite is definitely the 75-foot Cat in the Hat balloon.
Bright Nights at Forest Park
Holiday memories are made at Bright Nights at Forest Park. It’s just not the holiday season until you’ve driven through this holiday lighting extravaganza! Look for Santa’s Magical Forest, Dinosaur World and Seuss Land – it’ll become an annual tradition after the first mile.
Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Run, walk or float over to the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This celebration of Irish heritage brings more than 400,000 guests to the community for a parade, music, food and fun.
It also includes traditional performances by the Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band and the Road Race, Western New England’s largest race (featuring a 10k, a 2 mile walk and a Kids Fun Run).
Community events help us to celebrate what we have in common – a love of the arts, of sport, of nature. The human connection these events create is so important to both mental and physical well-being.
If you’d like to learn more about these community events and dozens of others coming up in Western Mass, or about the top yearly events in Massachusetts, check out our Events listings and customize a schedule just for you. Or, contact us, and let our team of knowledgeable locals help you prepare for a fun and unforgettable Western Mass adventure.
Events Search and Views Navigation
December 2020
Yiddish Book Center, Online
A New Take on Gefilte Fish Any foodie will delight in the story of the Gefilteria, a company which reimagines old world Jewish cuisine, including an Ashkenazi classic: gefilte fish. I’m a big admirer of their mission to attract both younger customers who are unfamiliar with traditional Jewish cooking and older people who can re-experience their favorite dishes—in a way it reminds me of the multigenerational audiences of the Yiddish Book Center. Listen Well-Said: Beser gefilte fish eyder gefilte tsores (Better Stuffed…
Find out more »Springfield Museums, Annual Gingerbread Competition
The Springfield Museums present the annual gingerbread competition and exhibit, ongoing through January 3 in the Springfield Science Museum. This year the theme is Gingerbread in Wonderland! Amazing, fully edible creations inspired by holiday fill the gallery with the wonderful smell of fresh gingerbread and sugary fondant! Created by local baking enthusiasts of all ages. Gingerbread in Wonderland is based on the classic Lewis Carroll story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Gingerbread creations will be on display from November 27, 2020-January…
Find out more »Bright Nights at Forest Park
This extraordinary light display lights up the dark of winter and warms the hearts of all those who visit. There are more than 675,000 lights that bring Bright Nights to light. Spirit of Springfield and the city of Springfield have developed protocols to provide a safe and festive event that has been a holiday tradition since 1995. They include masks, regular cleaning, online ticketing, and more. The usual bustling gift shop, amusement rides, horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides, and visits…
Find out more »Connecticut Science Center, Exhibit
FINAL WEEKS! Ends Jan 3. Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed uses a combination of hundreds of authentic artifacts, immersive environments, multimedia components, and hands-on exhibits. See more than 200 spectacular examples of Maya artistry made by masters of their craft, along with objects from everyday life. Plus, get a peek at the scientific work being carried out at key Maya sites across Central America to understand exactly how we know what we know of the once-hidden Maya of the ancient past.…
Find out more »Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Homegrown
For this edition of Homegrown, Principal Trumpet Thomas Bergeron transports us to the stage at Deerfield Academy, where he is Director of Chamber Music and Orchestra. Bergeron conducts the Deerfield Academy Chamber Orchestra in a socially-distanced performance of The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns that also features pianist Ben Wolfson, former member of the Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras and winner of the SSO Rhodes Concerto Competition. Maestro Kevin Rhodes and Bergeron introduce this very special presentation. The SSO…
Find out more »Connecticut Science Center, STEM in a Box
Bring the fun of going to the Connecticut Science Center home with you. Introducing, STEM in a Box, a virtual after school program with materials provided. Get hands-on with three weeks (one box) of engaging science activities, interactive sessions with our STEM Educators, and some fun surprises. We are offering three separate, three-week, boxes that each have their own fun theme and science experiments – you can try one box or all three. WINTER BUNDLE BOX: All 3 Boxes January 11…
Find out more »Yankee Candle Village, Meet Santa – a Virtual Santa Experience
Join us at Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield for a Santa experience like no other! We invite you to walk through our magical winter wonderland, stop along for fun photo opportunities and end your walk with a live video visit with Santa! After your virtual one on one visit, you’ll take a photo with Santa using the magic of our Green Screen. Remember, children are encouraged to bring a letter for Santa and drop it in our special North Pole…
Find out more »Yiddish Book Center, Hanukkah ideas
Hanukkah is approaching! Shop the creatively curated books and gifts in the Yiddish Book Center Museum Store. If you're a Yiddish Book Center member, don't forget to use the code MEMBER at check out to get your 10% discount! Hanukkah Children's Books From the story of Hanukkah, to stories about dreydls, latkes, and miracles Hanukkah Gift Ideas Menorahs, household items, book-related accessories, and other fun ideas Hanukkah Toys and Games Puzzles, stickers, dreydls, crafts projects, and even Lego menorahs! Children's…
Find out more »Williamstown Theatre Festival, Live Stream
The WTF Season on Audible begins next week with the release of A Streetcar Named Desire. Be the first to hear this new production, directed by 2020 Tony Award nominee Robert O'Hara, and starring Emmy, Grammy, and six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as Blanche DuBois and Carla Gugino as Stella. In response to the unprecedented challenges of 2020, Williamstown Theatre Festival embarked upon an innovative artistic endeavor, collaborating with the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment…
Find out more »Eastern States Exposition, Farmers Market
“Sweeten Your Holidays” with the fifth and final Eastern States Farmers Market Victory Cheese Package for 2020! Packed with a variety of cheeses, and delicious sweets, this offering is perfect for gift giving or sharing with family. Cheeses from Crowley Cheese Company, Smith’s Country Cheese, puddings from Echo Farm, Inc., and cinnamon rolls from B’s Breads. And a scrumptious Big E Blueberry Pie! Order by Thursday, Dec. 10 for pickup on Dec. 18. ORDER NOW! THE BIG E MERCHANDISE! Give…
Find out more »Kringle Candle, Holiday Shopping
Enjoy an array of robust candle scents in Kringle's signature white wax candles and our Country Candle brand of multicolors, carefully crafted candle collections featuring Kittredge family recipes of yesterday and today. Our Cyber week Sale is going on now!! 30-50% off selected candles. And checkout our new Caregivers Thank You candles. 🎄𝑼𝑷𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑫 𝑯𝑶𝑳𝑰𝑫𝑨𝒀 𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑹𝑬 𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑺 🎄 As a reminder our new store hours are: 🕚 Friday through Sunday from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm 🕖 The Flagship store is closed Monday through…
Find out more »Richardson’s Candy Kitchen, Hanukkah
A Hanukkah selection of our finest handmade chocolates wrapped in a festive holiday box! Sixteen pieces of our favorite assorted chocolates ensures there will be a little something for everyone. The perfect hostess or thank you gift. SHOP EARLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS! IN-STORE SHOPPING - MASK REQUIRED - *PLEASE LIMIT SHOPPING GROUP TO 1-2 PEOPLE AVOID THE LINES, ORDER AHEAD ONLINE! TUESDAY-SATURDAY 10AM - 4PM SUNDAY NOON - 4PM PRE-ORDER ONLINE - FOR CURBSIDE OR IN-STORE PICKUP - ORDER 2…
Find out more »Eastern States Exposition, Winter Wonder Drive-Thru
The Winter Wonder Drive-Thru, a unique lighting experience, special effects and a 3-D hologram show, where the spirit of Christmas comes alive! The region's first-ever drive-thru special effects event. Guests will experience a lighting, special effects, and 3-D holiday hologram show like they’ve never seen before! Tickets are $15 and sold in two-hour time slots. Enter fairgrounds via Gate 1 and follow signs and staff to Door 5 of the Better Living Center. Tickets for this event must be purchased in…
Find out more »Atkins Farms Country Market, Holiday Shopping
We’re feeling Festive. Holiday gifts and treats are hitting the shelves. Don’t procrastinate! Shop early. Shop local. And check out out holiday cookies!!
Find out more »Downtown Springfield, She Shapes History
Join us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, in which women won the right to vote. Discover the stories of the unsung heroes, including local heroes, Elizabeth Freeman and Sojourner Truth, and also African American women’s suffragist clubs and women factory worker labor union organizers, who fought the struggle and impacted US history of the past two centuries. Art for the Soul Gallery 1500 Main Street, 2nd Floor Springfield, MA…
Find out more »The Eric Carle Museum, Exhibits
Let's Talk! Animals from the Collection August 8, 2020 - January 24, 2021 Frog and Toad, Stuart Little, Peter Rabbit, and Noisy Nora are some of the beloved picture book characters visitors will meet in Let’s Talk! Animals from the Collection. The exhibition examines the longstanding tradition of anthropomorphism—giving human characteristics to animals—in children’s literature. Let’s Talk! features art from The Carle’s world-class holdings. Included are E. H. Shepard’s watercolors of Winnie-the-Pooh, Beatrix Potter’s exquisite drawings of Peter Rabbit, curiosities from Alice…
Find out more »South Hadley, Village Commons Days
Our Annual Shopping Event - save up to 20% off at participating retailers, plus enter our drawings for two chances to win a $500 Gift Basket! To enter the online drawing, click here; to enter the postcard drawing please visit one of our participating retailers.
Find out more »Randall’s Farm & Greenhouse, Holiday Bonus Weekend!
Holiday Bonus Long Weekend - December 5th, 6th, & 7th. Spend $75 in Randall’s Christmas GREENHOUSE Receive a $10 Coupon. Purchase $50 in Randall’s Gift Cards Receive a $5 Coupon. Check Out Our Holiday Menus And Bakery Specialties. Order Your Holiday Gourmet Gift Baskets Fresh Holiday Wreaths Beautifully Decorated by Randall’s Designer ~ Welcome Baskets ~ Door Pieces ~ ~ Kissing Balls ~ Fresh Greens and Garlands Memorial Pots and Logs Fresh Christmas Trees - Balsam & Fraser Fir - 4 foot to 10 foot…
Find out more »Norman Rockwell Museum, Exhibits
Returning to New England this fall after a 6-city international tour is the first comprehensive exhibition devoted to Norman Rockwell’s iconic depictions of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms—Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Fear, and Freedom from Want. Norman Rockwell: Imagining Freedom explores how the 1943 paintings came to be embraced by millions of Americans, providing crucial aid to the War effort and taking their place among the most indelible images in the history of American art. The power…
Find out more »Volleyball Hall of Fame, Shop and Support
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame remains committed to our efforts to share the story of volleyball globally at all levels of the game. However, now, more than ever, we need the help and support of volleyball fans worldwide and our local community to help us accomplish this. This continues to be a challenging year for the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Our Museum is operating on reduced hours and our annual large public events so vital to our fundraising have been cancelled. Whether it's a…
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