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.
Uno Pizzeria & Grill is extending its summer courtyard series into September with a scaled-back schedule, running Thursdays through Sundays, 6 to 10 p.m. weather permitting. There is no admission charge for the series, which is held on the outdoor courtyard patio. Thursdays will feature Good Acoustics playing eclectic hits, followed by Tom Ingram taking […]
As the fall chill fills the air, on the darkest of nights, mournful cries of the abandoned dead are heard on the tracks at the Connecticut Trolley Museum. Come for a scare if you dare...the next trolley ride is an express to the Darkside! During this haunted experience, ride vintage trolleys into the dark woods […]
This is an all-levels yoga experience in the beautiful woods on the protected lands of Mount Warner. Mount Warner sits nestled among 500 acres of protected land and overlooks the Connecticut River Valley, providing us with a perfect place to enjoy the sounds, sights, and smells of nature through an embodied exploration of mindfulness, movement, […]
Fall Open 4-Ball Date: Saturday, September 25th & Sunday, September 26th Eligibility: Open; players must have active hdcp index Format: Better Ball of partners match play(4-ball); Full handicaps partners course hdcp must be within 8 strokes of each other (higher cap cut if needed). Six teams constitute a flight, flights will be determined by combined hdcps. Each team plays […]
Join us for a variety of family friendly, social distanced activities every weekend. Flights of Fun Family Programs are included with general admission and schedules are subject to change. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for adults ages 65+ and free for 3 and under. Veterans are free every day in 2020 courtesy of KeyBank Please […]
We are pleased to announce that the Botanic Garden of Smith College's Lyman Plant House and Conservatory is reopen to the public. The Botanic Garden is a great place to visit through the seasons. Winter offers an escape to an indoor tropical paradise in the Lyman Conservatory. Spring comes to life with our Bulb Show, and […]
Foods of the Fall Harvest Autumn was a busy time in early American kitchens. The abundance of fresh produce needed to be processed and preserved for the winter. This September our cooks will be making dishes featuring apples, pumpkins, and corn.
One of the many highlights of working at Springfield Armory is our blank firing demonstrations! On these days, we dress up in period costume and take out some of our historic firearms and give a demonstration on how they are loaded and fired, along with some history behind each firearm. We don’t blank fire daily, […]
The Foundation for TJO Animals invites you to our Pawzaar Craft Fair! We are so excited to present this OUTDOOR event, held in the parking lot of the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center on Saturday, September 25th from 10am-3pm. There will be vendors, amazing raffle baskets, rockin' music from Visual Sound Productions, delicious food […]
Brooms were so important to the economy of 19th century Deerfield that at one time there were eight broom-making shops along the Street! Join us in the History Workshop to watch a broom being made by hand, learn about growing and processing broomcorn, and see broom making tools and equipment. Learn the story of Caleb […]
Stitcher Saturday! Dressmaking with Linda Oakley, Shoemaking with Peter Oakley, and Tailoring with Henry Cooke See demonstrations of dressmaking, shoemaking, and tailoring today.
Pumpkin Patch is a family fun filled adventure where you ride on a trolley car out to the pumpkin patch field and each child can pick out a FREE pumpkin. Additionally, when you return back to the Museum you can decorate the pumpkins, get your face painted, play in the corn box, enjoy the outside […]
Join author Jacqueline Tourville as she shares her book How to Build A Hug, the inspiring true story of autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin and how she invented a “hug machine” to help her cope with sensory issues. Jacqueline will read from the book and invite kids to create their own hug books! WHO YOU'LL MEET JACQUELINE TOURVILLE […]
Come explore the museum’s 19 rooms of art, culture and history! We are located in the village of Deerfield, Massachusetts, but as the earliest historical society in the region, people from throughout Franklin County—as well as Hampshire and Hampden counties—entrusted their family stories to the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association. From fossils of dinosaur tracks to […]
Fun with Miniature Worlds at the History Workshop Join us for an adventure into the wonderful world of miniatures and tiny houses. We are delighted to display a masterpiece dollhouse replica of the c.1750s Dwight House, complete with miniature furnishings in each room. Other miniature houses will be available for play and exploration, including a […]
Take in all that fall in New England has to offer and enjoy toe-tapping music with your family and friends at our Fall Folk Festival on September 25, 2021. Relax and unwind as you take in the sounds of folk and Americana music from across the region and the sights of the New England autumn […]
BANDTOBERFEST – A FAMILY-FRIENDLY CELEBRATION OF AUTUMN ON THE AMHERST COMMON The UMass Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band, conducted by Matthew Westgate, will perform on Saturday, September 25 from 2 to 5 pm in a program of non-stop live musical entertainment. The outdoor concert is free to attend with a rain date of September 26 […]
Downtown trick or treating and more. Business will have candy or treats to hand out (4 to 5:30 p.m.). Pick up your free trick or treat bag on the Town Common. March in the Rag Shag Parade. Line up at Mohawk Mall parking lot into costume categories for the parade led by the Greenfield High […]
Annual Spring Sampler Craft Fair on Saturday and Sunday. The craft fair focuses on the gift giving needs of spring... Easter, Mother's Day, weddings, and graduations as well as gardening and outdoor living interests that bloom in the spring. Cute little felt bunnies, handmade birdhouses for the spring, award-winning handcarved animals, and artisan jams and […]
National Amelia Earhart Day celebrates the inspiring life of famous American pilot, Amelia Earhart. July 24 was chosen in honor of her birthday. Earhart’s fateful flight around the world began on June 1, 1937, out of Oakland, California. She and navigator Fred Noonan left New Guinea on July 2 with 7,000 miles remaining of their […]
