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.
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 […]
Silversmithing with Steve Smithers Experience the art of silversmithing this fall with silversmith Steve Smithers as he crafts silver items in the Parker & Russell Silversmith Shop.
It's Time for Dinner Visit with our open hearth cooks as they prepare dishes inspired by the faux food exhibits at the Williams House and the Sheldon House. The cooks will use period recipes to prepare dishes like pork and beans, forced cabbage, or carrot pudding.
It's Time for Dinner Visit with our open hearth cooks as they prepare dishes inspired by the faux food exhibits at the Williams House and the Sheldon House. The cooks will use period recipes to prepare dishes like pork and beans, forced cabbage, or carrot pudding.
Celebrating the Fiber Arts: The Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery The Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery showcases Historic Deerfield's important collection of fashion, needlework, and domestic textiles. The core of the collection was assembled through the efforts of one of the museum's founders, Helen Geier Flynt (1895-1986). Considered one of the finest collections in America, […]
Let's Play Games! Join us at the Visitor Center at Hall Tavern for an afternoon of indoor and outdoor fun and games for all ages. Come try games of skill and chance like Fox and Geese or Checkers. Play outside and learn how to roll a hoop, play Quoits, the Graces, and Battledore and Shuttlecock. […]
Digging Deeper: Stebbins House Archaeology Project Historic Deerfield continues its archaeological investigation of the Stebbins House site. Museum visitors are invited to visit the excavation and talk to archaeologists at work as they follow-up on clues from a ground-penetrating radar survey. Artifacts unearthed at the Stebbins House Site will be processed at a field lab […]
Digging Deeper: Stebbins House Archaeology Project Historic Deerfield continues its archaeological investigation of the Stebbins House site. Museum visitors are invited to visit the excavation and talk to archaeologists at work as they follow-up on clues from a ground-penetrating radar survey. Artifacts unearthed at the Stebbins House Site will be processed at a field lab […]
Digging Deeper: Stebbins House Archaeology Project Historic Deerfield continues its archaeological investigation of the Stebbins House site. Museum visitors are invited to visit the excavation and talk to archaeologists at work as they follow-up on clues from a ground-penetrating radar survey. Artifacts unearthed at the Stebbins House Site will be processed at a field lab […]
The Dublin Seminar for New England Folklife is pleased to announce the schedule for this year’s conference, Living with Disabilities in New England, 1630-1930. Since 1976, the Seminar has embodied the vision of its founder, Peter Benes, by offering an annual conference as well as publications devoted to exploring everyday life, work, and culture in […]
Welcome Back!! Historic Deerfield’s museum houses, the Flynt Center of Early New England Life, and the museum store will open Memorial Day weekend. Admission to Historic Deerfield during the 2021 season includes at least ONE historic house open for touring. Inquire on the day of your visit which house is open for touring that day. We […]
Welcome Back!! Historic Deerfield’s museum houses, the Flynt Center of Early New England Life, and the museum store will open Memorial Day weekend. Admission to Historic Deerfield during the 2021 season includes at least ONE historic house open for touring. Inquire on the day of your visit which house is open for touring that day. We […]
Welcome Back!! Historic Deerfield’s museum houses, the Flynt Center of Early New England Life, and the museum store will open Memorial Day weekend. Admission to Historic Deerfield during the 2021 season includes at least ONE historic house open for touring. Inquire on the day of your visit which house is open for touring that day. We […]
Join us for this bonus event of the free winter lecture series, “Speaking Up: Histories of American Protest and Activism.” Screen the film "Borderland – The Life and Times of Blanche Ames Ames" and then join us for a live discussion and Q&A session with the filmmakers on Sunday, April 18, at 2 p.m. The […]
Historic Deerfield will present a virtual forum, "Invisible Makers: Textiles, Dress, and Marginalized People in 18th- and 19th-Century America," on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET. Globalized manufacturing in the 21st century has stimulated a greater need to understand where, how, by whom, and under what conditions our clothing is […]
2021 Winter Lecture Series Protest and dissent are an integral part of American political and cultural identity. Join us this winter for three virtual webinars devoted to exploring vibrant, lesser-known histories of American activism including the radical abolition movement of the 19th century, how women of color transformed the women’s suffrage movement, and the raucous […]
2021 Winter Lecture Series Protest and dissent are an integral part of American political and cultural identity. Join us this winter for three virtual webinars devoted to exploring vibrant, lesser-known histories of American activism including the radical abolition movement of the 19th century, how women of color transformed the women’s suffrage movement, and the raucous […]
Enjoy the beautiful handmade wreaths on the houses of Old Deerfield! This year, 40 wreaths were made and placed in 30 locations on Old Main Street. Download our wreath walk guide before your visit or stop by the Deerfield Inn to pick up a copy before your stroll. Three cheers to the volunteers who made […]
2020 marks the 316th anniversary of the raid on the English settlement of Deerfield by French soldiers, Canadiens, and their Native allies on February 29, 1704. The 2020 Winter Lecture series shares new scholarship and insights on an event that continues to captivate more than three centuries later. Join us for afternoon lectures (March 1, […]
Help create beautiful natural wreaths to decorate the doorways of Deerfield during this annual tradition. Bring your creativity, enthusiasm, and an extra pair of pruning shears. No experience required. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. Help us to dismantle the wreaths in January, too! PLEASE NOTE: BOTH MONDAY AND TUESDAY WREATH WORKSHOPS WILL BE POSTPONED TO […]
