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.
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 Beats - Free Summer Concerts Jazz in July 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert. Featuring performances by: Sheila Jordan, Avery Sharpe, Steve Davis, Winard Harper, Jeff Holmes, and many more artists from our World-Class Faculty!
Downtown Beats - Free Summer Concerts Our first concert on the common opens with the incredible talent of Grayson Ty and headlining local heroes Soul Magnets - a horn-heavy 9-piece ensemble, playing a mix of old-school, funk and neo-soul originals, deep covers, and dancefloor favorites in Western Mass. Sip on some local craft brews, wines […]
The South Congregational Church in Amherst, will host a public reading and discussion of Frederick Douglass’s famous “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” speech on July 4 at 3 p.m. The event is supported by a grant from Mass Humanities. The event will take place at the South Town Common. UMass Professor of […]
On Saturday, June 19th 2021, for the first time, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will celebrate Juneteenth as an official state holiday. The Town of Amherst, in partnership with The Civil War Tablet Committee and The Mill District, will celebrate Juneteenth with a daylong event spread over four locations. Uplifting African American culture, traditions, and community […]
The Daffodil Run 5K/10K in support of CHD’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County takes place Sunday, April 25 in downtown Amherst, MA. Join us in supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters and their mission to provide local youth facing challenges with caring, adult mentors. CHD’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County has decided to […]
Ice Sculptures on the Common! A Drive-Through Experience. Welcome one and all to Winterfest 2021! This fantastical event will feature at least 11 life-sized animal ice sculptures displayed on the Amherst Common. Your favorite Winterfest mascot, Flakey along with mascots from our local colleges and businesses will join us in waving to passers-by. Please DRIVE […]
Ice Sculptures on the Common! A Drive-Through Experience. Welcome one and all to Winterfest 2021! This fantastical event will feature at least 11 life-sized animal ice sculptures displayed on the Amherst Common. Your favorite Winterfest mascot, Flakey along with mascots from our local colleges and businesses will join us in waving to passers-by. Please DRIVE […]
The Annual Lighting of the Merry Maple on the Amherst Town Commons. The Amherst BID and Amherst Area Chamber are excited to announce the celebration of the Lighting of the Merry Maple on Friday, December 4th at from 4:30 to 6 pm. The 50-plus-year-old tradition of lighting a living tree in the North Common was first […]
