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.
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April 2021
Connecticut Science Center, Exhibits
We will be OPEN DAILY for school vacations from April 9–25. When the kids are out of school, don’t panic, the Connecticut Science Center will be open daily to explore! Start planning your adventure to travel back in time and walk among life-size dinosaurs in our new blockbuster traveling exhibition, Dinosaurs Around the World. And while you’re here, you can also visit a tropical butterfly oasis, journey into space, and discover what makes you…YOU in our new permanent exhibition, Genome in Me.…
Find out more »Williamstown Theatre Festival, Live Stream
The World premiere of Wish You Were Here The WTF Season on Audible continues today with the release of Wish You Were Here! Set over the course of 14 years, Sanaz Toossi’s timely world premiere play, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, shines a light on the daring potential of friendship amid the relentless aftershocks of political upheaval. Listen to Wish You Were Here now on Audible, and stay tuned for Row, the final show in the WTF Season on Audible,…
Find out more »Western New England University, Steps for Stawasz
Western New England University (WNEU) faculty, colleagues, family members, and students are invited to participate in a commemorative event in memory of Assistant Vice President of Marketing Communications Dave Stawasz, who passed away peacefully on Jan. 28, surrounded by his family, after a courageous two-year battle with stage-4 colorectal cancer. Steps for Stawasz is a virtual walk taking place throughout the month of April in his honor. Participants will log as many virtual steps as they can during the month…
Find out more »Yiddish Book Center, Online
Sports, Memoirs, Photography, and More: Browse Titles by our Remarkable Roster of Presenters Maybe you’ve missed some of the virtual programs we’ve hosted during the past year featuring an extraordinary array of historians, filmmakers, musicians, anthropologists, artists, and educators presenting on Yiddish and Jewish themes. Or maybe you just want to dive a little deeper into the topics and questions explored within these presentations. Many of these presenters’ books are available in our online store, showcasing the rich diversity of…
Find out more »Springfield Museums, How People Make Things
Every object has a story of how it is made. How People Make Things celebrates that story—the people, the manufacturing processes and the technology used to make everyday objects in our world. Once, every product we used was made by hand, usually one at a time. Some things are still made that way. But over the years, people invented machines to make things quickly, more efficiently and less expensively. Almost everything you buy at a store is made in factories, by many…
Find out more »Springfield Museums, Exhibits
The Outwin: American Portraiture Today; through May 9th. The Outwin: American Portraiture Today The Outwin: American Portraiture Today premiered at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in the fall of 2019. Every three years, artists living and working in the United States are invited to submit one of their recent portraits to a panel of experts chosen by the museum in the call for the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. The works of nearly 50 finalists were selected from over 2,600 entries. For the first…
Find out more »WEBS – America’s Yarn Store, Anniversary Sale
Shop the WEBS 47th Anniversary Sale—our biggest sale of the year! Save up to 50% on over 100 popular yarns for knitting, crochet, and weaving. Most sale prices end April 30 with new items on sale May 1.
Find out more »Springfield Museums, Hall of Heroes
Extended by Popular Demand Through May 30 Hall of Heroes brings visitors into the world of their favorite superheroes, crime-stoppers, gadgets and more through immersive experiences! As soon as you enter, you immediately find yourself in the thick of the action in an ambitious, custom-built space. Your journey takes you through several themed environments with surprises around each corner. An adventure fit for all ages that includes: Challenging, highly engaging interactive displays and tests Replicas and rare artifacts from past and present…
Find out more »MGM Springfield, Choose Your Ride
360 winners will share $400,000 in prizes including FREEPLAY® and four brand-new Mercedes-Benz valued at $65,000! M life Rewards® members will receive one entry for every 50 Slot Points or 100 Tier Credits earned from table play. Win up to 10x Entries on Mondays and Tuesdays. Drawings take place each Saturday every two hours from 2pm-10pm. Grand Prize drawings each Saturday night at 10pm. Choose Your Ride is back by popular demand. Now through April 24th. Mystery Point Multiplier TUESDAYS &…
Find out more »The Ranch Golf Club, Open
Book your tee time today! The golf experience you have dreamed about finally awaits you at the Foothills of the Berkshires. Blue Sky, emerald green grass, and 18 of the most beautiful golf holes you have ever played. Each hole a stunning new picture; a new challenge of risk and reward. Which route to take, which club to use, the choice is yours. The Ranch Golf Club introduces a new golf experience to New England. Great golf and tournament conditions…
Find out more »Springfield Museums, Festival of Flowers
Celebrate the arrival of spring at the Museums! Soak up the color and the fragrance while enjoying interpretive floral arrangements in the Springfield Science Museum, George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum and D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. Now in its eighth year, Festival of Flowers features the talent and creativity of local florists, garden clubs, and flower enthusiasts. Festival of Flowers will be powerful and filled with emotion, welcoming spring, but reflecting on the past year we have experience together.…
Find out more »MassWildlife, Spring
Young wildlife in spring You may assume that young wildlife found alone are orphaned, but parents will leave their young for long periods as they search for food. If you find young wildlife this spring, leave them alone—their best chance for survival is in the wild. Learn more... Attract birds without feeders You don’t need a bird feeder to attract songbirds to your yard. Bird feeders can draw the unwanted attention of squirrels, turkeys, mice, rats, and even black bears.…
Find out more »Crumpin-Fox Golf, Open!
THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER...IT'S TIME TO GOLF THE FOX! OPENING DAY APRIL 9TH! We can't wait to welcome you and experience all that makes Crumpin-Fox the special place that it is. BOOK YOUR TEE TIME ONLINE What an honor to be included on Golf Advisor Top 50 list! Do you golf the Fox for it’s beauty or because it can bring some of the best golfers to their knees?! Ranked #33 on Top 50 toughest golf courses in the…
Find out more »WEBS – America’s Yarn Store, Trunk Show
Stop into WEBS March 26-April 12, 2021 for the Rowan Trunk Show. Featuring projects from Rowan Union, this trunk show highlights favorite yarn Softyak DK. Trunk shows are a fantastic way to try on projects and see and feel how a yarn will work up. Don’t miss the Rowan Trunk Show at WEBS!
Find out more »Norman Rockwell Museum, Exhibits
Pat Oliphant: Editorial Cartoons from the Nixon and Clinton Eras through May 31, 2021 Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Patrick Oliphant was described in 1990 by the New York Times as “the most influential editorial cartoonist” of his time. Spanning more than sixty years, Oliphant’s finely-tuned drawings have cast a clear eye on global politics, culture, the economy, and scandals, and his caricatures of American presidents and other powerful leaders are world renowned. In addition to thousands of daily editorial cartoons, he has…
Find out more »Zoar Outdoor, Millers River Rafting
When the spring thaw turns New England rivers into a torrent, the Millers River in western Massachusetts comes into its own. Class III and IV rapids peak at the Funnel where the large diagonal waves and holes demand total concentration and all-out paddling from everyone aboard the rafts. At high flows the Millers is a non-stop roller coaster. At medium and lower levels, it's a moderate raft trip with a big burst of excitement at the Funnel. Rafting on the…
Find out more »Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Spring Chamber Concert Series!
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce our Spring 2021 Chamber Music Concert series, three professionally-filmed, on-demand concerts for you to enjoy from the comfort of home (or wherever)! We spent three days at the beginning of March in the Focus Springfield studios recording musical selections from three chamber groups comprised of our phenomenal SSO musicians: String Quartet – Masako Yanagita, Violin; Marsha Harbison, Violin; Delores Thayer, Viola; Boris Kogan, Cello String Trio – Beth Welty, Violin; Noralee Walker,…
Find out more »Six Flags, Dinosaurs in the Park
Six Flags New England, the Thrill Capital of New England presents, Dinosaurs: A Walk Thru Experience running weekends and select days April 10 through May 23. Journey back in time hundreds of millions of years ago to behold the wonder and majesty of creatures that walked the Earth long before humans. Take an adventure with us in a one-way Dinosaur Experience featuring 20 life-sized dinosaurs with realistic movements and sound. Dinosaur fans will be transported to a bygone era with a self-paced virtual educational tour. There will…
Find out more »Northfield Mountain, StoryWalks and Scavenger Hunts
Walk from page to page and enjoy the enchanting children’s story, The Salamander Room. A young boy’s imagination goes wild as he transforms his bedroom into a woodland paradise. Colorful, detailed paintings illustrate the salamander’s habitat needs. Our April StoryWalk® migrates from Firstlight's Riverview area to Fuller’s Field where the trails, fields, and forest provide the perfect backdrop for your family adventure filled with reading, walking and exploring. Vernal pools tucked along the edges of the forested trails are breeding habitat for wood…
Find out more »Sonny’s Place, Vacation Week
It's that time of year again..... time for an epic April School Vacation Week! Sonny's Place will be open daily for two weeks while the kiddos are on spring break! Our special hours from April 10th to April 25th are: Sunday- Thursday: 11:00am to 8:00pm Friday & Saturday: 11:00am to 9:00pm All out activities are open, as well as Sonny's Grill & Ice Cream during all of our operating hours. Planning a visit? Don't forget to book your Laser Tag…
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