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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Located at Brunelle’s Marina in South Hadley, MA. You will be provided an individual Hydrobike, which can be use to explore the beautiful Connecticut River and the streams that feed into it. This eco-friendly, pedal-powered vessel, will have you going a comfortable 4-6 mph with easy effort. You can rent it for a beautiful day […]
1.1 Million Red Hot Summer Sweepstakes Win big during the 1.1 million red hot summer sweepstakes at MGM Springfield. Now through September 25th, up to one thousand players will win a share of 1.1 million dollars in prizes! Plus, eight lucky players will win a new Mercedes e-coupe. M life Rewards® members will receive one […]
September 2021 Events at Mount Holyoke Range State Park All programs are free and open to the public. Bring water, wear sunscreen/bug spray, dress in layers, and wear good footwear. An adult must accompany children. Inclement weather cancels outdoor programs. For questions, call (413) 253-2883, or email [email protected] Please follow all current COVID guidelines. NOTCH BIRDING Sundays, 10:00—10:30 a.m. […]
Explore the magical grounds and discover original sculptures by regional contemporary artists inspired by the special exhibition Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration. Land of Enchantment: Fantastical Sculptures • July 10 – October 31, 2021 A new juried show featuring 25 sculptures of fantastical creatures by regional artists appear across Museum grounds. Imaginative original works of […]
Disconnect from the day-to-day and reconnect to each other on our unique 3-hour Zip Line Canopy Tour. 11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels. We offer a one-of-a-kind zipline experience at Zoar Outdoor. Our three-hour canopy tour consists of 11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 rappels that whisk you through a […]
Note for 2021: all reservation groups will have their own private raft(s) and River Guide(s). Most of our rafts hold 6-7 people, a few can carry 8. Rafts perform much better and are more fun in Class 3-4 rapids when full, so try to plan for 5-7 paddlers (6 is ideal) in your raft whenever […]
While a few of our Maine neighbors join us for the day, most of our whitewater rafters enjoy a comfortable night’s stay in our riverside lodging before a day of rafting. After breakfast (included with rafting and lodging packages) each rafter begins by gearing up into comfortable river gear and listening to safety instruction from […]
Ai Weiwei: Tradition and Dissent July 17, 2021–January 2, 2022 D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts Ai Weiwei: Tradition and Dissent features selections from three decades of work created by internationally renowned artist and social activist Ai Weiwei (Chinese, born 1957). One of today’s most versatile creative minds and a vocal critic of the Chinese government, Ai creates work […]
Complete all-Beethoven concert (free) from Sevenars on Youtube Sevenars is delighted to present the complete concert video of Jiayan Sun, pianist, playing Beethoven's Op. 109, Op. 110, and Op. 111 Sonatas at Sevenars, July 25, 2021. We are so grateful that Jiayan has generously agreed to share the entire unedited recital, and we think you'll […]
Looking to power your own adventure down Charlemont’s Deerfield River? Kayaking is an excellent way to explore the Deerfield River Valley. There are sit-in or sit-on-top whitewater kayaking options available through Zoar Outdoor. Zoar Outdoor’s Guided River Kayak program is a great afternoon family activity for folks who love paddling their own sit-on-top craft. Zoar Outdoor’s Paddlesports School, one […]
This beautiful rafting trip through mild whitewater (Class I & II with one Class III) is the perfect outing for families, friends, groups and youth organizations. Rafting time is approximately 2.5 hours with a deli style lunch included for morning trips and a cookout following afternoon trips. Meals are served dry and warm at Crab […]
MassWildlife will stock over 65,000 trout this fall! These fish, coupled with the 500,000 stocked this spring, will provide some great fall fishing. Beginning in mid-September, anglers can get daily stocking updates. Here's the breakdown: Nearly 28,000 rainbow trout 14+ inches Over 33,000 rainbow trout 12+ inches About 4,000 brown trout 9+ inches long Find out where […]
Our half-day guided Float Trip is the perfect introduction to rafting for folks who want to dip a toe in the water before taking on our Zoar Gap trip or for groups with children as young as 5 years old. Our Family Float trip showcases the beauty of the Deerfield River as it meanders through […]
Come check out our new exhibitions, enjoy storytime at The Carle or online, or create something in the Art Studio. Now open Thursday through Sunday! Book your visit ahead online and learn more here. Boundless: Picture Books About Disabilities July 22, 2021 - January 2, 2022 Reading Library Explore picture books for and about people with […]
The Center is now open to visitors Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you’re in the area or passing through New England, please plan a visit. Currently on exhibit is Through the Hat and Tales from the Golden Medina, a collection of works by New York City artist, Steve […]
Take your family, office, church, or scout group rafting on the Deerfield River's most popular rafting section, Zoar Gap. With a minimum age of 7, these Class II whitewater rapids with one Class III rapid are ideal for beginner rafters. Our full day ten-mile white water rafting trip on Zoar Gap begins at Fife Brook […]
It's back. Featuring the Valley’s best live entertainment! Thursday 6-8:45pm, Friday and Saturday 6:30-10:00pm. Thursday, September 9th – Joe Pereira Friday, September 10th – 60s Experience Saturday, September 11th – Union Jack Thursday, September 16th – Baird Souls Duo with Lici and Tom Friday, September 17th – Emotions Saturday, September 18th – Union Jack Thursday, September 23rd – […]
The Farmers Market at The Longmeadow Shops is returning for another season! Stroll the shops and the Farmers Market every Thursday, through October 28th from 12-6 P.M. Expect to find local produce, flowers, bakery items, milk, honey, butter, cheeses, and more. The Farmers Market accepts cash or card payment, minimum purchase required when using a […]
Get your game on for some serious table tennis competition right here in Downtown Springfield. Rally In The Alley is a month long ping-pong points league held on Market Street in Downtown Springfield Thursdays beginning September 9th. The event is free to participate and open to all ages. The matches will be round-robin style, 1 […]
Sunderland Islands Evening Paddle Unwind with us after work with an easy, evening paddle in Sunderland. After a long work week, there's nothing quite like this gentle loop around the First and Second Sunderland Islands to help you relax while giving you that little push you need to get to the weekend! Starting next month, […]
